Universal Audio DSP Usage | What is CPU vs DSP | Plugin Usage Explained

[@warpold]

Very clear explanation, thank you. I just purchased the API Vision Chanel Strip, Curve Bender, API 2500 and Ampex Tape Machine for my Apollo 8 Duo, and quickly maxed out my DSP Load. Disappointed, but still will consider getting a Satellite Octo.The price is steep, but I like the idea of running plugins through DSP and not taxing my Quad core CPU

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thank you for watching!

[@guerraxav]

Super clear. Thank you. Native french here. Subscribed !

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for the sub!

[@Stormsurf001]

Thanks for the explanation. UAs website is very much not clear on this topic, so your video is very helpful.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@djstatic2005]

quick question. at 18:48 of the video why did your cpu spike around 30% when you reactivated the plugins? besides that this a very well explained video. keep em coming

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

no idea, sorry

[@alsstudiocreative2102]

Thank you for doing this video. The explanation was clear and concise.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for watching!

[@musicman3000]

Great tutorial!! Answered all my questions!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Glad I could help!

[@bassfaceinspace]

Very helpful video. I'm realizing I've been leaning too hard on UA plug-ins since I got my Apollo. Didn't realize how DSP heavy the Amp simulators are. Thinking rather than getting a satellite I'll get more Wave and Guitar Rig plug ins to balance the CPU/DSP usage.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

IK Multi-Media Amplitube is amazing s well

[@SaintLaurynn]

2 years later I just bought my UAD TWIN X Duo heritage and boy this video is still CLUTH ! thanks so much for helping musicians like me who aren’t engineers but have to be bc we want creative control and to save money lol God bless you thank bro keep dropping knowledge ❤️

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Happy to help! Thanks for your support

[@SaintLaurynn]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy I do have a question. Do you have a video where you explain logic and the Apollo ? Bc I’m jumping back and forth with Luna and logic trying to see which is easier. I love logic but I struggle with the control panel of the UAD

[@EdsonAjamuMitchell]

any tips on the Render meter in Luna?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

nope. I dont use Luna sorry

[@EdsonAjamuMitchell]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy ok, thanks

[@LegoBeto]

This really cleared things up for me. My computer straight up chocked up when i tried to run a UA plugin. I wish they would have told me that when i was buying it. I'm mad at them now.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Sounds like you purchased something with doing the research.

[@justusspillner953]

Great work. Its much appreciated. Am I correct that I can run third party and stock plugins (non UAD) on my Macbook Pro using Logic that will tax the M1 processor while during the same session run UAD plugins on my Apollo taxing its DSP chips?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Yes

[@justusspillner953]

And the same would apply if I ran Luna? Do you have any issues running Luna on your M1? Thanks

[@bnosel]

noobie: I'm about to buy the Apollo X6. forgive me for missing this answer somewhere in the vid & comments but, does the DSP inside Apollo provide "processing power" during playback/recall during mixing sessions, OR only during tracking? (I find that's the confusion) i.e. , if Apollo hardware is off/unplugged during playback in Reaper DAW, will the computer then, take over the "processing" duties of all the UAD plugins, or do they simply...not function during that time? I suppose you did say, "you CANNOT run them on your internal CPU" so....

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Yes, the Apollo provides DSP processing power during both recording and playback. NO....if you unplug the unit or it looses power the UAD plugs will not work. Your internal computer CPU has nothing to do with the UAD plugins. I am about to sell my extra X6 on Reverb.com for a heck of a deal. If you are interested in saving some SSSS then contact me via my website [e-mail]

[@manndalay]

Hi! Very informative video, thanks a lot! I have a question. I'm an Apogee user. Can I buy UA Satellite only and use it without Apollo? Especially the console. I need to put some plugins before the signal goes to Source Connect or a similar platform. Thank you!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Yes you can!

[@russellharris9674]

I would watch more of your videos if you came in under 20 minutes. I do find them informative when I watch them. Thanks, Russell Harris

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

If you find them informative then have some patience. LOL

[@russellharris9674]

Well, you got me there. Good one!

[@thatchinaboi1]

There is however a common issue among Windows 10 computers and that is high system latency due to all the built in telemetry and spyware. A relatively high computer system latency will limit how low of a buffer setting your computer can handle before clicks and drop outs occur. In order to achieve very low system latency, I recommend installing your own custom version of Windows 10 specifically for audio production using an amazing tool call NTlite. There are some decent KZbin videos that walk you through the process. It is a bit of work to do, but well worth it if you are one of those people that wants extremely low RTL.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Ok, great. thanks for watching

[@ivansanmiguel4607]

Amazing analysis. Very clear and useful.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamesmuller3763]

A review of ProTools Carbon and/or a shootout with UAD, if such a thing could be arranged, would be very cool.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I doubt it. The Pro Tools carbon is not something I have or will be able to get my hands on.

[@mariojosepr]

That's why I love UAD. I love my Universal Audio Apollo Twin X QUAD.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I love UAD as well. Been using it since the UAD 1

[@SynthMan65]

Nice video as usual, Dave! I guess I am spoiled. I started out in the box with just a single UAD-2 OCTO Satellite. I liked UAD's quality, accuracy, and abundance of plug-ins so much that I got an Apollo x8 with 6 DSPs and then built an external box with an OCTO PCie card and room for lots more. In total, I have 22 DSPs and I've yet to run into a session where I come close to running out of DSP power, even running a twenty-four (24) concurrent Neve 88RS channel strips. The only thing I regret was buying an Apollo x8 instead of the Apollo x8p with 8 UNISON ports versus 4 that my x8 has (handy for recording drums with effects with near zero latency). I love, but I wish they would respond to enhancement requests. I would love for the Console app to have a decent searchable/filterable plug-in list!!!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for watching!

[@peterfedak9682]

Now that Universal Audio is doing their native plugins via Spark, I'm curious about which chips will run plugins more efficiently or which will offer more bang for your buck: Apple's M1 CPUs or the UA Analog Devices Sharq processors. Do we go buy a brand new Mac or should we continue to invest in the UA hardware?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I am not aware on UA plugins running solely native. I think you still need their hardware but if you are correct, then I would think the new Mac M1 chips may be a good option

[@YOLO-pj3hh]

How many plugins the UAD-2 Satellite Quad & Octo may run? what's the maximum capacity before push it hard? may I combine the DSP and CPU for use more plugins or just possible choose between one?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Totally depends on which plugins you run.

[@JV8901]

Can you render bus processing??? My guitar, bass busses are the most doing with cpu usage

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Yes, for sure

[@75Blvd]

I am using a UA Apollo Quad FW (using the Thunderbolt add on) and I am using it for at home demos (for studio sessions later) I added a tape machine on the master. I am taxing out the DSP on one… One track instance of vocals. Yea. Using Manley VOXBOX, Auto Tune (not even compression 1176 )and I am definitely not able to do the possible 8-10 tracks of UA processing I need. Again, home recording for demos for reference. To evolve, and refer to when consulting with my engineer for studio recording. Yea. Well, I am thinking about the processing power and high end mics that are not here with me but totally available at the studio. Yea. whilst attempting to create a template at home to save me money and extra time when at the studio. My question today is…. Should I invest in an UA Octo Satellite? By my understanding, other than painstakingly “painting in” each track by track and then removing the DSP taxing plug-ins off of each individual vocal track. I would think I could get more UA plug-ins on each vocal track with an Octo and then shoulder the high DSP issues 4-5 tracks in. Please advise. I am an R&B artist by the way….

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

If you are running put of DSP then the only solution, if you want to use U/A plugins for recording / mixing is to upgrade to an Octo. However, these days U/A also makes native plugins called SPARK and those a free if you own the plugins already. Do a Google search to learn more

[@MattCess]

The processors that apollo uses are very old, being in 2022 they could update them or improve the resource consumption of their plugins because it is a shame with how expensive they are and how little performance they give.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for watching!

[@SmudgeTAC]

Great info Dave!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks!

[@CamariMusic]

Massenburg Design Works have recently released their eq in vst format and the cpu hit is so minimal, but the results are just great!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for the info!

[@davidcolinburt]

Is it an issue or not to combine Waves and UAD plugins in a Pro Tools session? Thanks. dcb

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

not at all you can do both in any DAW

[@Smoothhh_One]

Does using the UAD plugins in your daw as inserts instead of running them on console give you more processing power ? Or do they use the same amount? I can’t seem to find an answer in this

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

its the same.

[@Prodoozer]

Can I run my Waves plugins on an UA Apollo? JUST KIDDING Uncle Dave. I have an Apollo x8 and two Thunderbolt 3 Octo units. I love this setup because I use the DSP for processing and channel strips and my PC CPU for running the virtual instruments such as EZ drummer and EZ bass. Probably going to get one more Octo before the end of March, they have extra free plugins with the purchase of a Quad or Octo by the 31st.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Yes, they do. Their 50% off sale runs until March 31st......dont forget to use a special link.....LOL....just kidding!

[@progressivedemagogue8480]

Does DSP/Apollo help with non UAD plug ins?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

No, only UAD plugins

[@yantoaldama6813]

I rarely finds any CPU problems with VST plugins. I'm using AMD 7850K CPU and it takes lots of RAM usage when we load lots of plugins, especially third party ones... IMO, more RAM is better..

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

true, thanks for watching

[@yantoaldama6813]

Your video is really helpful man... Very few youtubers discuss about this. :)

[@CesitarLabarthe]

Good idea to make some videos of de basics of computers. Thank you 🙏

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I did an entire podcast I on that topic

[@frijiisland]

I only have one question. Sorry i dont understand that well englisch. (Google translator hehe) So i had an apollo twin usb. I was recording only vocals threw it. So i slapt some plugins (reverb, chorus, autotune) on a mixer channel in FL studio where i record my vocals into. To hear the effects while recording. I could not spot any latency it was fine. Even know it only works if you use the uad plugins inside the console you have the full low latency potencial. Which I didnt. Because i only used the preamp of the uad plugins. Now my apollo twin is broke and i consider to buy just a focusrite or something like that because I didnt use the uad console inside plugins. I used the plugins inside fl studio. And as i said while recording to hear myself with effects. So would the focusrite just do good as the uad apollo twin in order to use it like that? Sorry even i think you answered this question in youre video. ✌️

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

The Focusrite wont work as well as an Apollo. You may end up with latency when recording those vocals

[@EP-dy7rq]

Now I have a Volt 476, and I've just started using SIM amps and IRs. However, it's too demanding for my processor to run at 64 because it's clipping, not to mention if I were to use other plugins. If the DSP from Apollo only works with UA plugins, does it mean it makes no sense to buy the single version or a UAD DSP satellite?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

It only makes sense if you are planning to use UA plugins

[@DouglasComical]

Maybe a dumb question, but are other plugin companies able to utilize the DSP chips or is it only UA plugins that are coded that way? Is there anyway of doing this with non-UA plugins to save CPU resources?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Waves makes something similar but I have never tried it

[@CaptainCricket3D]

If you have a UAD processor (satellite or apollo) you can run only UAD plugins on that processor. You can't load Waves plugins on a UAD satellite. Companies do this for obvious reasons such as better support for their plugins on their own processors. And the most obvious reason of all, to gain a loyal customer base where you not only purchase their plugins but also purchase their hardware (processor cards). Universal Audio is a great company but with computers becoming more powerful each year, I think it'll soon be time for Universal Audio to remove the satellite requirement for their plugins... Plugin Alliance is another great company that doesn't require additional processor chips. Acustica Audio sounds incredible for ITB processing but their plugins are a cpu hog... Give it time for them to work the code out and hopefully their plugins become more efficient on modern computers.

[@wolleagger]

Thanks dude! Great info...

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@hornstrum]

You didn’t say that Satellite DSP is not used during recording; only during mixing/mastering per se. You kept saying DSP, I think you should in that case say Satellite and/or PCIe so there is no confusion between DSP in the Apollo interface and DSP in the Satellites. And, which are used during recording and playback with automation. Thanks for video.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Oh well, sorry

[@diegoselma]

thanks thanks thanks !!!! here is a new subscriber

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thank you very much for the sub!

[@edouardphilippe5271]

Greetings. I having a hard time with the UAD. I have an Apollo Twin x and Satellite Quad. The uad meter is telling me I only 38% while studio one is showing (One or more UAD plug-ins are disabled because DSP resources were exceeded.) Could someone help pleases?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

You need to contact UA support

[@cwhowell369]

Thank you! Good info!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

You're welcome!

[@thedonbros]

Ok, I didn't realise UAD plugins required UAD hardware. Waves Audio have a similar system called SoundGrid. I have the SoundGrid Mobile server that has similar mixing software. The difference is you can run the waves plugin in your DAW as normal or you can use a plugin called SoundRack that acts like a channel strip that can toggle the routing of the plugin processing to the SoundGrid DSP or use the native CPU. The only drawback is that you cannot daisy chain the DSP units.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I have heard of the sound grid but never tried it myself. Thanks for the info!

[@tobysalmon3172]

Just following up on this - if you have a ridiculously powerful computer (say 128 core), after the UAD dsp's are maxed out can the UAD plugins harness spare processing power on the host workstation?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

No, thats not how the UAD plugins work

[@tobysalmon3172]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Thanks for the quick and definitive reply. Would be interesting to hear your thoughts; with Mac Pro options in the 50k region, wouldn't it be good for UAD to look at harnessing potential extra processing power?

[@TobeWubbox]

Well explained. thanks

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MustacheVerra]

Thank you uncle Dave. ;-)

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

You are very welcome

[@MegaSoteris]

Hey Mike. I will apriciate if you can help me. I have an octo +appolon twin. That means 10 dsp. On the dsp usge i am at 88% and trying to load a New plug in(Eden bass w800) And stil get the msg - - dsp exceeded- I try it by its self the plug in and It gets 5%.That means that logical i will go to 93% but it doesent do it.. Do you any idea why?? Thanks in advance!

[@MegaSoteris]

And btw i made that dsp pair thing even i dont use it in chain!)

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

who's Mike?

[@MegaSoteris]

Sorry i thought your name is Μike for some reason.

[@MegaSoteris]

I was asking you. Home recording make easy!

[@Ehabmxd]

Hello friend, I want to know something important if i have 2 apollos x8p will it give me low latency and processing for live recording with plugins I don't want to use a console APP , I want to add the plugins directly into the DAW Until I record a live session for the band, which I will be one of, and after that I can edit the tracks or delete some plugins and add others Will it give me low latency ? we are 12 person and i think i will use alot of plugins . all i want to use the plugins inside the DAW and recording If the answer is no, I may go to the waves company and buy a digigrid iox with the waves server.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

No, if you want low latency for recording you need to use the console app.

[@rustymcaron5379]

Universal Audio = Apple of the plug ins world ahahah, they are the top of that but it is so expensive... thanks for this video, it helped me a lot!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

My pleasure!

[@CloD44]

Thank you for the explanation 👏👏👏👏👏👏 …

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

You are welcome!

[@bboymac84]

Will M1 Max chips replace DSP??

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

They are completely different things. One is on the computer and one is in the U/A hardware. go back a rewatch the video. I tried to be as clear as possible on the differances

[@bboymac84]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy ok I get it. Thanks

[@jarred23]

What workstation can I use with dsp?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I don't understand your question

[@jarred23]

fl studio will work with dsp?

[@TheFalkingFive]

i think the m1 chip will kill the need for this. u buy a box just for processing audioplugins?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Universal Audio is so much more than just for processing plugins

[@TheFalkingFive]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy what does it give me more than effects processing?

[@bigkidband911]

I just started using Plugin Alliance BX_ plugins and get random CPU Spikes In S1 5.5 about every 30 seconds which I can see while monitoring CPU usage. I'm assuming it's because of the way their server addresses activation verification, but not 100% on that. Anyone know if there's a fix for this? I created a support ticket, but no reply as of yet.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I am really not sure. I recommend that you go to the Presonus user forum and post your question there. I am sure someone there can help. Thanks!

[@bigkidband911]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy thanks for the reply! I’ll do that.

[@blessed_by_welfare5922]

Did you sell your other satellites?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

yes, I upgraded them to thunderbolt 3 units

[@najinelson6742]

Do you know why there are sometimes cpu peaks, they come and go!?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

no, sorry

[@oldbluzguy]

Good stuff! UA always keeps me guessing.. :O

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks!!

[@ilo0076]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Would Studio One be good for producing electronic and film music?

[@TheMusicFactory_Channel]

Yeah man ik multimedia tape machine plugin sounds wonderful but it kills ur cpu I have them and I have to use them sparingly

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for watching!

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Oh man... I wish you had a Twitter account. If I may ask, do you allow tutorial requests for Presonus gear? I got a used 1818VSL and need to know how to ADAT into my UAD interface.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I do have a Twitter account and no I dont do Presonus gear demos unless I own the gear

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy That's cool. I didn't know if you owned an 1818VSL. I understand. BTW, I did look in your KZbin profile for a twitter link earlier, and it didn't show one... So, I didn't know.

[@MishkidDtwister]

Pls i have i7 core MacBook Pro with Apollo Twin Duo Core. Do i actually need an Apollo satellite ? Do the numbers of Apollo plugins in one Project determine the space left on other projects?

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

no, each project is unique to itself.

[@MishkidDtwister]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy Thanks so much 😊

[@HAPfilm]

Thanks a lot

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Most welcome

[@MixedByGHuncho]

Ima just pick up a twin mkii solo

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

NICE! Great piece!

[@Bhallmed]

All the brainworx plugins in PluginAlliance that are also on UA are the same plugins and code. UA just requires there hardware. So if you want native go PA. If you want to buy hardware and dsp go UA.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks for the info!

[@thatchinaboi1]

I'm happy with my Ryzen Workstation for all my processing and real time processing needs to go along with my Quantum 2626 Audio Inferface. In fact, I can use any low latency plugin and achieve a faster RTL than what Universal Audio can achieve with their DSP chips. Universal Audio's DSP implementation for their software products is an outdated model that the company has made somewhat popular, even though it is an overpriced solution with many limitations that a native system don't have. In other words, UA is for dummies who don't know any better and bought into the system. There are plenty of excellent plug-ins that don't require a proprietary DSP chip that does high quality analog emulation of some of the very best audio gear, many of them better than UA's emulations.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Ok, thanks for the info

[@DeadOriginal]

Apple M1 will smoke your Ryzen Workstation, time to get an apple 🍎 weeeeeeeeeeeee

[@creativeartsmediallc]

Hey, myself being an experienced pro audio user, I agree with what you're saying for the most part, (I now use Acustica Audio plugins, but used UA for several years) except for "UA is for dummies who don't know any better and bought into the system". Maybe they are purely creative individuals who don't want to mess with the tech side and just prefer deal with making music, and are willing to pay others who will handle the tech aspects. Music is, after all, an art form that can still be created/recorded without computer tech, if you really know music (that is); but it's true computers make it cheaper and easier in some important ways. I left windows because I got tired of being half music maker and half technician, so now I'm using 2020 i7 8-core iMac with 64 gb of ram with SSL Nucleus 2 so I am able to continue to create great sounding music and have plenty of native processing power that will remain relevant for at least few more years until I upgrade to AS once the cpu paradigm has settled. More music...Less tech.

[@menelik23dedon]

Dave i got to tell you from my heart, i do not trust Slate. i suspect Parallel processing going on top of some sort of Fixated Settings being distributed thru hidden wet dry knobs disguising themselves as other Parameters, does this make sense? hence why they don't use a lot P Power, i don't know about you but don't care too much about the P Power a Plugin is using as opposed to the quality

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

I am not into the conspiracy theory. If you dont trust a company, do use their products. I have no clue if what you are suggesting is true or not

[@menelik23dedon]

@@HomeRecordingMadeEasy yeah i hear you but I'm no youngster in this thing been using protools since 5.3 so remember the contrast when i purchased waves Q10 to the stock eq's way back when DUY plugins was the the optimal choice for analog emulations

[@mhavock]

"Maybe in 5 years but as of this video, you cannot run UAD plugins without the hardware" .. 1 year later... UAD spark: "Subscribe now! Our plugins run on CPU, no hardware needed" LOL LOL LOL What the F did changed? their hardware did what better? Yikes!

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

That's a question for Universal Audio

[@vektacular]

It doesn’t get more clear than this.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

Thanks! i am glad it was helpful

[@spaceiswater6539]

It would be cheaper to buy a new CPU and motherboard than buy this product.

[@HomeRecordingMadeEasy]

You can certainly so that if you are into building computers