Thermionic Culture Vulture
Customer Reviews
Thermionic Culture Vulture
Only registered users can write reviews. Please, log in or create an account.
R. Ketchem
Not UAD's finest hour
From the silly promo video to the actual plug-in, this one is a disappointment. I've used the hardware for years and the plug-in manages to capture, maybe 40% of the magic. For $299, it's still a bargain, but I'm hoping for a sweeter version with future upgrades.
L. Sicilia
Il meraviglioso plug in valvolare?
Dirò solo due parole: ho acquistato sia la versione hardware che il plug in del Culture Vulture. Unica differenza: maggiore soundstage dell hardware, soprattutto nel trattare le voci. Per il resto il plug in e l'hardware sono INDISTINGUIBILI !!!!!!!!! Meraviglioso...
B. Marchant
Great Plug!
I am finding myself using the vulture on most mixes :)
J. Jacobsen
Lovely plugin
This is my new fave plug. Just a hint of triode
distortion, mm mm mmm. On vocals it 's gorgeous.
I use it for glue and color, warm color
T. Bulwer
Defo my fav warmth tool ever
I haven't been able to stop using this since I got it. Sounds incredible on drums and top top end drums. Used on my last remix with pride. I had access to the real box for a while and was so happy to see UAD model this. Sounds so true to the hardware although I'm not comparing like for like! Issue is the DSP usage - I mean you really can only have one running and not much else (barely anything in fact!) - BUT the sound this beast makes far outweighs the issue and tbh encourages me to mixdown. Top stars on this. LOVE
G. Piazza
Please don't review based on DSP usage!
Caveats:
I do not yet own this plug-in or the hardware, nor have I demo'd it.
BUT, I have to chime in here on all the reviews complaining about too much DSP usage.
As most professional engineers know, the main point of having UAD cards is to facilitate unrestricted plug-in development. I.E. no compromises circuit emulation.
To me, it is a good thing that UA are developing plug-ins without concern for DSP usage.
Think about it - if you want 'efficient' plug-ins (that often sound so-so) then buy something else.
Eventually, UA will release UAD-3 cards, and we will be glad they did not compromise to save DSP.
Until I try CV, 4 stars for ignoring the 'too much DSP' blowback.
D. King
Well.....I like it
Is this as the original.....no idea?
Is this DSP hungry.....Yes
Is it a good plug.....Yes!!
Started using this on a project I was working on and it now sounds better...
It's as simple as that, and to me that's all that matters.
Thanks again UAD! (Please keep making the best sounding plugs possible and if it takes DSP then so be it)
D. King
Well.....I like it
Is this as the original.....no idea?
Is this DSP hungry.....Yes
Is it a good plug.....Yes!!
Started using this on a project I was working on and it now sounds better...
It's as simple as that, and to me that's all that matters.
Thanks again UAD! (Please keep making the best sounding plugs possible and if it takes DSP then so be it)
M. Ilbert
Greatness !!
This one works like a treat!
Had a mix with some tracks lacking a little in attitude... I banged it on some guitars and bass and now the song glued.
Thanks UAD !!
M. Mcclusky
Beasty
This guy is great it really puts that old world charm on what ever it touches!
J. Carmo
UAD Culture Vulture vs HW
I have give already a bad review to the CV plugin because the type of distortion
this plugin delivers, is IMO very digital, not Warm/Tube like, but after watching the demo
of the original HW unit in a guitar and other stuff, my opinion is different. I really dont´t like the sound otf the HW because IMHO the saturation is not warm like other tube gear, but the emulation of UA is not so bad. If there are people who like the HW, i understand they like the UAD CV and they will be happy with this. I really love UA, but not this particular Plugin, but it depends also of personal taste...
V. Cañas
LaineREC - Dope tips.
As usual a good and useful review. Really appreciate the demo on 4 kinds of instruments really show the possibility of the Culture Vulture. Impatient for getting to the studio and try it. Cheers
M. Olsen
Pros FAR outweigh cons
I just spent over an hour with this plugin, using my electric bass through both the new 1073 and the API Unison Preamp plugins. In both cases, the Culture Vulture was a priceless addition. I also played extensively with the distortion and found it to be incredibly responsive over the full dynamic range of the bass. It's über fat, beautifully harmonic, and full of thick analog personality. If only I could control Console sessions with a MIDI pedal board, I could plug straight into a PA system and have people on their knees, based on the tone alone. Drawbacks are the 15% DSP loss per instance, the delay compensation pop-up warning, and the high price (which will force me to have wait for a sale). Still, five stars for making this a reality!
J. Edwards
Great Low End, Poor Top End
After the success of the 1176, LA2a, Pultec, and Neve additions, I really had high expectations for this release. I think Fab-filter, Trash, or Kombinat would be a better option for the money. The plugin doesn't sound bad on the low end. I thought it sounded pretty thick when it is used just to fatten things up. It really sounded great when i was re-sampling bass lines in a Neuro Drum and bass track. It really does have a nice low end character. On the other hand, It really sounds digital on the high end. Whenever you push the drive it starts to break up and sound like a cheap digital distortion. There is no resemblance to the hardware unit. Stereo Multiband Distortion is the future guys! Make a multi-band dist with a super fat analog sound
C. Mcdonald
Thermionic Culture Vulture Plug-In-Mixing
I love using this in the final stages of mixing to help warm up a mix.
This brings back the "old school analog sound" that I am used to that I love.
Coming from the era of live recording this is familiar to my ears.
Thanks to Universal Audio for bring out another great plugin.
G. Dayal
This is it!!!!! I just sold my hardware Culture Vulture
I was waiting for this one to come and , and i just used it today... It just blew my away..
Tracked my MPC, Electric Guitar through it on the Apollo.... just the SAME as the hardware...
I used to own the red mastering version... of the culture vulture..
I'm glad i sold it.. this is the SAME!!!
UA has done a brilliant job!!
Hats off again!!!!
The video and demos they have on site are misleading.. they just shot themselves in the foot by doing lame demos...
TRY this for yourself and see why this is phenomenal!!!
Finally digital audio is getting there!
LOVE IT!
D. Matthies
Sounds awesome, uses an insane amount of DSP
This thing is really beautiful sounding and does what you would expect, but uses A LOT of DSP, enough that is should come with a disclaimer. I'm used to The ATR-102, which is a heavy DSP hitter, but this seems to use almost twice as much.
Y. Harvey
very nice. love the vibe of this plugin
So - i demo'd this plug and put it on a few tracks in current mixes i'm working on. It's a great tool for sterile tracks, very nice on vocals in parallel - adds a thickening glue to vocals that makes them sit in the mix in a way that i love. Killer or drum bus and bass. I too was a bit turned off by the demo video - way overcooked sounds. A little goes a long way is how i have been using it - me likey.
J. Carmo
Culture Vulture Reviews
Please remove all the duplicate 4 and 5 star reviews for this product and others.
I have over 2500$ plugins from UA, i love your stuff, have Satellite DUO, Apollo Quad, LA-610 and gonna buy Octo core, but i want to continue trusting UA company. Even if im opinion about CV is very negative, it does not mean i am not satisfy with your products...i really love UA stuff, but after demo several times CV, i really think this plug IMHO is a mistake...but, everybody makes mistakes.
P. Tavasoly
Thiz plugin is amazingly amazing !
Got in love with it at the first use !!! I mean WOW !¡!¡
I do not understand those guys who say it is not a good plug ....
Maybe you need to switch to better speakers or converters !
This thing is one on the most advanced modelings I have ever came across.
The sound is extreamly real. Injects life to everything I tried.
But I warn you ! You must have hi quality material to hear this baby correct.
It does do magic but can not make badly recorded material into gold.
It is not a home studio toy. It is hi end stuff. You need to be pro to use it.
THANS UA ... You nailed it just like always.... Love you !