Let me explain again...

Apollo Twin X + Unison-enabled DSP Neve 1073 preamp
VS
RME Babyface + Native UADx Neve 1073 preamp

Do you really think that they will sound very different?

 

They will. Unison is unique technology. It’s not just monitoring with plug-ins. It’s change impedance in input channel inside Apollo

 

I was reading at gearspace post, where Universal Audio is posting too and stated that ilok3 win is not cracked so the uadx win version will be developed, incredible how they are afraid to lose the game, why don’t immediately have both worlds as native? The intel win side is not so different from mac intel side.
Anyway: ilok3 is really not cracked for win?

 

Uhmmm the unison isnt hardware managed by software difference? If i do track with best preamp neve and an la-2a native plugin in my apogee converters and i have the right impedance set, will this sounds better the unison preamp and la-2a plugin? I guess not this i think is what the guy wanted to say.
Off course the unison tech helps, you can use lots of emu pre and emu eq and compressors this is the real advantage that all we know, but if you already own the hardware you will be happy also with the rest of emulation chain fx.

 

Well Sonnox, Soundtoys, PT and probably others have not been cracked in years. Sonnox maybe even a decade on Win.

 

What @glassybrick said:

 

it’s more that when R2R release ilok stuff, they have basically freed the plug-in of the ilok code within it. Ilok isn’t cracked, the software acts like it wasn’t wrapped or protected by it (well, that’s my understanding anyway!).

 

Unison sounds like a hoax to me. Has anyone actually scrutinised UAD's claim about "changing impedance"? Or are you taking any fancy marketing frame thrown at you for face value?

 

Certainly not a hoax. A lot of records/albums have been recorded with Unison exclusively.
Apollo Artist Sessions

 

What do you mean by "recorded with Unison exclusively"? Sure, they used UAD plugins to process their recordings, but I don't get the "Unison exclusively" part. If you think Unison offers real benefits, you should be able to explain what it actually does. For example: how would changing the impedance affect the sound compared to just processing the signal with regular plugins (UAD or not)? If Unison is needed to make a proper recording or emulation of a hardware device, this would make all non-Unison processing obsolete, since (according to that narrative) they are all flawed and can't deliver.

Just use gain staging and regular plugins and you will be fine. No need for "Unison".

 

Guys, How do you want to track (record) with UADx plugins?
could you explain how would you do that please?

Edit:
explain the routine how do you track/record with uadx with other interfaces (no apollo)

 

Last edited: Apr 4, 2022

Under the Hood
As noted, Unison‑enabled UAD plug-ins reconfigure Apollo mic preamps’ physical input impedance, gain staging response, and other parameters to match the emulated preamp’s characteristics. So when you place a Unison-enabled preamp plug-in like the Manley VOXBOX in the Unison insert slot, you get a spot-on emulation of the original hardware.

The secret is the bi-directional communication between the Unison plug-in and the digitally controlled audio interface mic preamps — a feature found only on UA audio interfaces. Because the UA interface hardware and UAD software are tightly integrated, Unison provides continuous, realtime, two-way control and interplay between physical mic preamp controls and the software settings.

Watch this

 

You obviously don't understand how it works. @Hooman.Leys explained it further in a post above and you can find tons of videos explaning more + on UA website.

Sorry, I'm too tired explaining. Turning off notifications for this thread. Cheers!

 

As I already said: nothing that cannot be achieved by manually gain-staging.

 

Quite simple: you need to gain-stage the input levels. Most analog emulations expect an input level that peaks around -18dbfs. Depending on the kind of signal you want to track (mic w phantom power, mic wo phantom power, HI-Z, line signal), you need to raise or lower the gain on your audio interface input channels to target that -18dbfs level. Use something like TBProaudio's mvmeter2 to monitor the input channel's level in your DAW and put the plugin you want to track into right after it.

 

Total bullshit. Unison is nothing. It's just a convenience for those who do mobile recording without a mic pre. In normal mixing, unison does nothing when using the uad plugin.
In the digital audio world, only the digital method works.

 

Is what I wrote up...

I do use 1073 real pre and tracking in real time with on my Apogee Symphony MKII with UAD plugins without the need of UNISON!
Gain staging is what all we needs to pay attention if you do use analog emulation plugins.
Impedance is manually sets...wtf im doing it since 35 years only sounds away far better then UAD unison pre on Apollo audio cards, yes is more expensive then an Apollo 8x but every time I turn on the NEVE is like a pornhub fest)

 

People like to believe in theses bullshits because they are insecure and need something to validate them. They can't believe that a kid with a cheap laptop can sound way better them him. And companies like UAD take advantage on this and make a LOT of money on theses fools.

 

i track daily with a 1973 into a cl1b hardware. i for fun an giggles did the same chain with the client being present with unison and uads 1073 cl1b because the client uses this at home. the client now makes his scratch ideas at home but comes for tracking with the real thing.

 

UPDATE: I own the legacy versions of LA-2A and 1176 because I have an Apollo. For my surprise, I won't get any licenses for the native versions, only until I purchase the new ones. That really sucks.

Not a UA fanboy anymore with their greedy decisions.