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UAD-1 Tips & Tricks: Using Nigel

Nigel, the guitar amp simulator and virtual multi-effects processor for the UAD-1 bundle, is probably the most versatile plug-in of its kind on any platform. Utmost care was taken with effects modeling, and we also took a custom approach to the amp modeling. Instead of trying to emulate a specific brand and model of amp, we took the approach of giving the user the ability to select two separate amps from a list of basic amp types and blend them together to make custom amp sound found nowhere else. Also, the different sections of Nigel can be used as separate plug-ins. All together, the Nigel bundle comprises 7 separate plug-ins. One of my favorite tricks is using Preflex, the amp/cabinet section of Nigel to simulate one amp playing into multiple cabinets.

"One of my favorite tricks is using Preflex, the amp/cabinet section of Nigel to simulate one amp playing into multiple cabinets."

This can be done in any application, and requires one audio track, and at least two aux (or group) tracks. Here are the steps to set this up:

  1. Set up a session with at least one audio track and two aux (or group) tracks.
  2. Insert a Preflex plug-in on an audio track
  3. Disable the cabinet
  4. Mute the track, and send prefader sends to both groups
  5. Insert a Preflex on both groups, but disable the Preflex section and just use the cabinet
  6. Set the cabinets to two different types

Now you are playing one amp through two different cabinets. Add a third aux and you’ve got three cabinets. Since the cabinet section takes very little DSP, there is very little CPU hit to the UAD-1 as you add more cabinets. Try adding a Pultec and 1176 after each cabinet, or buss the outputs of all the cabinets to one aux track for global EQing and compression.

If you're overdubbing on a full mix, you might find that you need to keep your ASIO buffer size high enough that the latency induced by all of these plug-ins makes this difficult. The best solution is to bounce a stereo mix of your song and import it back into the session and overdub the guitar to this track. This way you can mute all the other tracks and bypass any host-based plug-ins, greatly reducing the load on the host CPU. This should allow you to reduce your ASIO buffer down to a size that will make overdubbing possible.

Questions or comments on this article?