Support Report
UAD-1 and Apple G5 Status & Opening VST Presets in Digital Performer

UAD-1 and Apple G5 Status
by Jim Wintermyre

UA has been working diligently with Apple to address existing UAD-1 issues concerning compatibility with the G5. Now that there are several different G5 models available, we thought it was time for an update.

“The dual 1.8 G5 is the machine that we currently recommend for UAD-1 users who are considering upgrading to a G5.”

For those of you who don't like to read manuals, or more than a few paragraphs in these support report articles (you know who you are!), here is the bottom line:

• The UAD-1 performs very well on the current dual 1.8 G5. On this machine, UAD-1 performance is basically identical to the way it operates on the G4, and in some cases superior. The dual 1.8 G5 is the machine that we currently recommend for UAD-1 users who are considering upgrading to a G5.
  
  
• The new single 1.8 G5 appears to employ a similar hardware design as the dual 1.8 G5, so we expect UAD-1 performance on this machine to be similar to performance on the dual 1.8. However, we have not yet been able to test with the single 1.8 G5, so UA cannot offer a definite recommendation at this point.
  
  
• The UAD-1 performance in the current dual 2.0 or 2.5 G5 is similar to performance with the first-generation G5. The 2.0 and 2.5 machines require AMD-8131 DMA mode to be enabled in the UAD-1 Meter. The UAD-1 performance in these machines is not as good as what we have seen in the dual 1.8 G5 (though we are still working on improving the situation-see below for more details).
  
  
• On G5 models that have separate PCI buses (see chart below), we recommend installing the UAD-1 card on its own bus.
  
  
• NOTE: All users should update to the current UAD-1 release, which can be found on UA's customer support page. In version 3.7.0, we added some G5-specific fixes which affect users on the new dual 1.8G G5, as well as those using the UAD-1 in a PCI expansion chassis with a G5. Version 3.7.0 also does a better job of automatically setting the 8131 DMA mode when it detects that the UAD-1 is in a new hardware configuration (for example, if you update from a G4 to a G5, or if you move your UAD-1 cards from inside a G5 into a PCI expansion chassis).
  

G5 Models
To date, Apple has released eight different G5 models! This can make it a little confusing when trying to figure out exactly which UAD-1 settings are appropriate for your exact G5. To clarify things a bit, we've put together this chart, which lists each G5 model, the date it was introduced, the Apple part number, and any special UAD-1 notes for that model. Note that the Apple part number is not specified anywhere on the machine; this number is only used when someone is actually ordering the machine. You can find the number on your original receipt.

Notes:

1. Uses AMD-8131 PCI-X controller. This requires AMD-8131 DMA mode to be enabled in the UAD-1 Meter's Configuration window.
   
   
2. Has two separate PCI-X buses. We recommend installing the UAD-1 on its own bus. Slots 2 and 3 are on a shared bus, and slot 4 is on a separate bus.
   
   
3. Does not use AMD-8131 PCI-X controller. AMD-8131 DMA mode should be disabled in the UAD-1 Meter Configuration window.
   
   
4. We have received reports of TC Electronic PowerCore PCI cards not being recognized in these machines when certain other hardware devices are present, including the UAD-1. This is an issue for TC Electronic to resolve, and the company is investigating the issue.
   
   
5. UA has not yet tested this machine with the UAD-1.
   

Special Note For PCI Expansion Chassis Users
If you have your UAD-1(s) in a PCI expansion chassis connected to your G5, you will probably want to disable AMD-8131 DMA mode in the UAD-1 Meter's Configuration window. I say "probably," because the answer may be different, depending on exactly what your hardware/session setup is, and exactly how you are using the plug-ins. This issue is described in more detail below.

Conclusion
There you have it: all you ever wanted to know about the G5 and UAD-1, and then some! Hopefully, this article will help you to get the best performance out of your UAD-1 on whichever G5 model you have. And once again, rest assured that we are continuing to work with Apple to address the remaining UAD-1/G5 issues.

Opening VST Presets in Digital Performer
by James Cigler

So, you are a Digital Performer user, you've got the UAD-1 and the additional AudioUnit presets, but you can't figure out how to load them. Well unfortunately, you can't directly, because Digital Performer does not currently allow you to load AudioUnit preset files (.aupreset). But don't worry; you can still load the additional presets through the handy, little Load VST Preset button at the bottom of the AudioUnit versions of the UAD-1 plug-ins. To get started, you'll first need the VST preset files.

“Digital Performer does not currently allow you to load AudioUnit preset files. But don't worry; you can still load the additional presets through the handy, little Load VST Preset button at the bottom of the AudioUnit versions of the UAD-1 plug-ins.”

From the UAD-1 software downloads page, select the Mac OS X VST section. At the bottom, click the Download Now button for the Extra VST Presets. (Dial-up users, use the FTP protocol.) Once the download is complete, unstuff the file (if your browser does not do it automatically), and you will have a folder on your desktop that is chock full of VST presets.

This folder can actually live anywhere, but to make things a little easier, move the presets into the Universal Audio support presets folder, located here:

Take all of the individual preset folders (you can ignore all the folders with the (m) label at the end, because you will not need these special "mono" versions with AudioUnits), and copy them into this folder. Then, fire up DP and pull up a plug-in. Take, for example, one of my favorites, the 1176.

Click the Load VST Preset button at the bottom of the plug-in GUI, and notice that you will go directly into the 1176 folder of the presets you just moved! Next, select a preset you want to load, and click Open.

You will see the setting of the 1176 change to reflect the settings from the VST presets file. Cool huh? Now, to make it even easier to gain access to your favorite additional presets, click the Mini Menu from DP's plug-in window and select Save Settings.

Here you can save the settings from the plug-in just as if you had made them by hand. I have chosen to use the same name for this preset, but feel free to name it anything you like; it will not affect any settings.

Once you have saved these settings from the Mini Menu, they will remain accessible from the Mini Menu every time you load up DP.

Also, as is the case with UAD-1 software Version 3.7, we introduced a Save VST Preset button at the bottom of each AudioUnit plug-in. This will save the current settings in standard VST preset format (.fxp), and can come in very handy when you are trading your own presets with friends who use other host programs, such as Logic or Nuendo/Cubase SX.