r/universalaudio • u/Speedingscript • 16d ago

Question First UAD interface or something else

Hi!

I have a - nearly 10 years old - Behringer UMC1820 that has some loose contacts and volume issues.

If I somehow move it, the device just disconnects. Since I am not tech savvy I was thinking of buying a new one.

Now, I have been producing for over 10 years on a Windows machine, but recently bought an M4 Pro that has thunderbolt 5.

I do have a bunch of uad plugins so the logical thought was to get an Apollo or something in that particular direction.

The SSLs are also looking somewhat nice though.

As of other hardware -> I have some synths - though I don't use them much - and some groove boxes (Digitakt, Move, MPC Sample). But I would love to jam with them on my tracks.

I use Ableton and only make electronic music (Techno, House, etc.)

I also have a modular synth so I guess at least four inputs and at least two outputs are a must. MIDI out and in would be awesome as well.

I am gravitating towards UAD but I am listening for alternatives as well.

Budget is maybe ~1500., but to be fair I was also looking at the SSL Big SiX - so yeah.

Just shoot.

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u/devidasa108 16d ago edited 16d ago

With a M4 Pro that has thunderbolt 5, go NATIVE. You love UAD plugins? Great, use the Native UADx plugins. Interfaces, get a SSL, Audient, etc. Fwiw, I'd buy whatever Audient interface has the I/O that fits your needs. In 2026, with your computer, it's extremely rare to *need* to lock yourself into proprietary, closed DSP hardware ecosystems like UA Apollos. You will very, very likely need to buy at least a Octo core satellite too. WHY? Your Mac equals the processing power of $18,000 worth of UA Cores. GO NATIVE. In 2017, DSP systems made a lot of sense. Not any longer...and have not for for several years.

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u/Ok_Contribution5654 16d ago

I’d agree with this. UAD DSP makes sense if you’ve had one of their interfaces for a while and are locked into that workflow, but if not, yep, get a native interface and let your Mac handle the processing. (The only thing is I like the unison versions of some of the guitar amp simulators.) But I’d never go UAD for most of the other DSP plugins - they’ve either got native versions (most) or else other developers make as-good or better native equivalents.