[The Eternal Echo] Universal Audio Lion - '68 Super Lead Amp - Everything There Is To Know Literally

[@jesperjacobsen3050]

So glad you're back making videos! Cool stuff, thanks!

[@lemonlimecola]

Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it, and I'm glad to be back! New Year - New Channel, or something like that. I'm trying to invest more time into this and like I said at the end building a supportive and creative community. This is my goal moving forward.

[@Mr_Frog_Reviews]

Another fantastic video! Really appreciate this in depth look. Looking forward to the next installment of this series.

[@lemonlimecola]

^_^/ thanks so much, as always I appreciate you supporting, watching the videos and more so watching this thing full through, you deserve the kudos more than I do hah

[@jesperjacobsen3050]

Posted this comment 4 days ago, but I guess youtube didn't like me commenting twice on a day, so I'm going to try again. I agree with everything you said: It's a beast of a pedal. I do have a comment on the pricing. I was able to buy the entire UAD native bundle over the holidays for slightly less than what the pedal costs. That bundle includes the Lion, the Dream and the Ruby, plus all the other stuff they make. For less than the price of the Lion pedal. I know it's latency free through the pedal, but with a decent DI and a low enough buffer setting your DAW is gonna be pretty much latency free as well. Well below what you will feel. So, unless you absolutely need the pedal itself - ie. for gigging, you should consider buying the plugin. I'd feel pretty bummed if I'd paid full price for the pedal to use in studio setup only to find I could have gotten all of the first three amp pedals (plus all the other stuff) for less. Once again, a great video. Looking forward to the next one :)

[@lemonlimecola]

KZbin is not cooperating and isn't transferring everything properly. I just noticed this for the first time. I'm always open about my gear because I think avoiding the topic isn't helpful for anyone. I spent $200 on the Lion, which is definitely the least I've paid for a UA pedal. I managed to find a used one, which is amazing. At $200, it's a fantastic deal, and I wouldn't hesitate even if it were $250-what I paid for my UA Golden. Even at $300, it's still a great value, especially considering it offers nearly 1:1 emulation of a $3000+ amplifier. However, at $400, I found myself taking more time to consider the purchase. While it’s still a solid tool at that price, it prompts you to evaluate what other options exist in that range, since $400 is a significant amount for most people. The true stereo in and out feature played a big role in my decision since I run a stereo pedalboard - kind of solidifying it. But I also think, if I'm going to spend $400, why not invest a few more in something else. In my case the major thought process was to the $900ish price range by buying two used Vox AC15s for the authentic stereo experience, right? While this is my logic, it may not be that way for everyone - I also refuse to pay full retail price for any piece of gear and always negotiate with a sales rep. If I find used gear for an excellent price like I did the Lion - I wouldn’t hesitate to buy. That's always been my approach, always will be, and it's why I have so much gear. That being said, yes, this product will be a game changer for gigging musicians who want great tone without the hassle of an amp or a Kemper. Plus, it’s a fantastic studio tool if you're looking to save on your computer’s resources. I believe that latency is hardly an issue with a quality interface, so you're right that there’s no reason not to view the plugins as a highly viable choice. Ultimately, two things are certain: you’ll save money and achieve fantastic tones right within your studio PC setup. The big thing is conserving computer resources and how sound quality may differ when using a dedicated device versus sharing RAM and CPU from a computer. This touches on the broader discussion about the CPU and other components within a computer, which can influence performance. For instance, I believe a 12-year-old MacBook Pro or a PC with a 5th Gen Intel CPU might not perform as well with a UA plugin compared to a dedicated pedal, although I would like to test this. Therefore, I think investing in separate hardware can be worthwhile for better performance. I would want to test this out, but all my computers are newer, they perform as intended. That being said, I just love physical things. It's why I collect vinyl and pedals partially, nothing like having physical media, hardware, etc. It's a dream come true even if it's a bit more of an out of pocket expense. There's also the con of cost and space, once again validating you a million percent that it's absolutely worth considering the plugins and I think this should be a major consideration in the final options for "studio amp sim" of choice. I own several real amp heads and cabinets, and I truly enjoy mic'ing up a cab to achieve an authentic, rich tone. However, the first time I ever felt I could skip that process was when I tried the newer UA pedal simulations. They seem to surpass even the original three. While I mainly use the Lion as a studio tool for crafting incredible tones and layering with various amps-including VSTs, pedals, and actual amps-my Dream 65 is my go-to in the studio as a pedal platform for demos, making it the UA pedal I utilize most often. I also frequently incorporate my Anti, and soon the Knuckles, for direct recording and jamming, as well as for live streaming, without needing extensive virtual software, mixers, or cables. This setup allows me to connect directly to OBS and Discord for streams: Guitar > Pedalboard > Interface L and R INs for stereo, then switching the input in OBS or Discord. I imagine this would be fantastic for guitar teaching as well, especially over platforms like Zoom or Discord, assuming your interface supports multiple inputs. I vividly remember the first time I tried the UA Amp Sim VSTs-even the free trials left me amazed. Universal Audio has truly excelled in modeling and emulating classic amp tones. Their replicated metal heads are impressive, rivaling Kemper Profiles, the Quad Cortex, and the Helix, all at a fraction of the cost. I find myself getting lost in the pursuit of tone, often experiencing option paralysis. That's why I appreciate how the UA gear functions as a straightforward rock machine; it focuses on one aspect and excels at it. If I need something different, I simply choose the appropriate tool that specializes in that area. Whether it's UA plugins or hardware, their amp emulations are outstanding. I do appreciate you watching again, and being supportive. I really appreciate that. I love discussing gear and hearing the thoughts of others and seeing their use cases and how gear works for them. I thank you! I can't wait to release the next one in the series.