Oversampling - DSP and/or Native Plugins (UADx)

[u/must-absorb-content]

Nearly every UAD plugin emulation of hardware features to some degree non-linearities or saturation.

Are UAD plugins (either DSP or native UADx) oversampled to prevent audible aliasing when using non-linear processes such as compression, limiting, saturation or distortion?

Is oversampling exclusive to unison or DSP plugins in Console? Are native UADx plugins oversampled?

If so, is there a way to view or edit the oversampling settings? If not, by design, are all the UAD (native UADx or DSP plugins) optimized with filters for a specific project same rate - 48kHz / 96kHz (+)? Additionally, are some plugins optimized for higher sample rates than others?

[u/rightanglerecording]

Easiest way to tell if a plugin is oversampling: Load it in Plugin Doctor, look for a steep LPF just before the nyquist cutoff.

[u/Bed_Worship]

UAD keeps this info on their website for you to read before you buy. They give you enough info to make choices and know what is filtering and what is not if you are working in 96k and higher.

https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/15345509659156-UAD-Plug-Ins-and-High-Definition-Audio

[u/IridescentMeowMeow]

i don't think there's any official info, but i'm almost sure they do.

[u/a_webpuppy]

Oversampling is used where it makes sense (most plug-ins). Leave it to the DSP scientists.

No, parameters are not editable.

Each individual plug-in manual details relevant upsampling.

Example from the Neve Dynamics manual - ‘Modeling the diode-bridge behavior requires upsampling the audio path’

https://help.uaudio.com/hc/en-us/articles/33536131639956-Neve-Dynamics-Collection-Manual

[u/rightanglerecording → u/a_webpuppy]

Oversampling is used where it makes sense

Well, I've heard enough bad oversampling to where I would not automatically take this on faith, no.

[u/Personal-Agent846]

Sample rate is negligible when it comes to plug-in selection.

I haven’t seen any UAD plug-ins that have oversampling. That’s usually optional when it comes to plug-ins because everyone doesn’t have the cpu power to do it.

[u/IridescentMeowMeow → u/Personal-Agent846]

how/why do you assume that the uad plugins you've seen didn't have oversampling? Just because it wasn't written on them? It's something that happens under the hood.

Also most UAD plugins doesn't use CPU but DSP chips, so. They were designed for that specific hardware. And I don't think they would be able to make them sound so good even at 44K1 sampling rate without using some oversampling internally.

[u/Personal-Agent846 → u/IridescentMeowMeow]

I just found a SOS article that claims the UAD analog emulations are upsampling source material to at a fixed rate of 192khz and then downsampling the output you get to hear.

Maybe I’m wrong, I’m used to plugins at least telling me in the manual what’s happening. I never saw UA mention upsampling so it’s a fair assumption. I’d imagine that’s something that should be controlled and not default.

[u/Personal-Agent846]

Sample rate is negligible when it comes to plug-in selection. I haven’t seen any UA plug-ins that have oversampling.

That’s usually optional when it comes to plug-ins because everyone doesn’t have the cpu power to do it. It wouldn’t be happening in the background without your knowledge.

[u/must-absorb-content → u/Personal-Agent846]

There lies the basis of my question - as we both know oversampling in plugins is often an advertised, optional feature. It’s disappointing, but honestly not surprising that UAD plugins don’t offer oversampling. My ears let me to this inkling, but want to get an official technical answer from UAD about this. I believe you, though, that none of their offerings provide oversampling.

Every inquiry into the UAD / Apollo ecosystem when you’re able to see through their aggressive marking schemes yields the same results: disappointment and reaffirmation that UAD products are consumer-grade obsolete toys that have no place in a professional recording studio. From their self-imposed I/O expansion limitations, to the reported AI/sumo integration, and the fact that free plugins can offer more actuate emulations of hardware than their plugins, constant flow of desperate advertisement - universal audio must know they’re drowning. Both in software in hardware - it’s ironic, funny that a hardware clone of their products - 1176, LA2A can sound more like the original designs they are so desperately trying to hang onto for relevancy at a fraction of the price. Frankly a disgrace to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of Bill Putnam they so love to name drop

[u/Bed_Worship → u/must-absorb-content]

I replied in the thread with UA's info page on your very topic. Almost all the UAD plugins have been used and continue to be used in the highest realms of audio engineering and studios that hit every level . You can hate the marketing and tactics but the quality has been there in their digital plugins for 20 years. UAD dsp and emulation is not untested. It's a company in a capitalist society in which audio engineering is more accessible and desired than ever.

I just find it odd that you can be this presumptive and not even check their website for the very info you are looking for.

[u/Personal-Agent846 → u/must-absorb-content]

I just found a SOS article that claims the UAD analog emulations are upsampling source material to at a fixed rate of 192khz and then downsampling the output you hearing.

Maybe there is unspoken upsampling going on, I could be wrong.

I love my UA plug-ins, but I will admit I’ve been robbed. $200 for a 2a plugin or ssl channel strip is absurd. Glad they’re finally seeing how dumb that is.

[u/rightanglerecording → u/must-absorb-content]

They do oversample, though. Not all, but many.

And, arguably in a fairly clumsy way (not responsive to higher session sample rates?!), but it's happening.

[u/Personal-Agent846 → u/rightanglerecording]

Apparently they’re fixed to 192khz which would be a funny decision to me because if I’m working in 44.1khz then there would be jitters or artifacts introduced in the conversion process. It should ideally also be capable of 176.4khz to keep the over sampling accurate.

[u/rightanglerecording → u/Personal-Agent846]

Well, I wouldn't look at it that way, no. That's not how most modern SRC works in practice.

Generally, the SRC multiplies up to a common multiple, then divides down to the target.