Don Gunn favorably reviewed the original Ocean Way Studios plug-in [Tape Op #128] in 2018, and I've been using it constantly since then. Both the Deluxe and original versions allow us to place a "track" in a studio room via Re-Mic mode, adjust the mics, and have the ambience around the drums, vocals, strings, etc. that one would get recording in Ocean Way – you can even pick the mics used and move their placement in the room. Beyond that, in Reverb mode one can generate just the reflections and blend back in the initial sound or place it on an aux bus for control. Ocean Way Studios Deluxe goes way beyond the original, adding in three custom Chambers, post-reverb EQ and Dynamics, Speakers mode (see below), and more. The two original United Recording rooms modeled here were designed by Universal Audio's founder, the legendary Bill Putnam Sr., and they sound spectacular – I know, I've been in there. Allen Sides [#106] owned Ocean Way and this sonic space when the plug-in was created, and his expertise, mic collection, and attention to detail helped make this a worthwhile tool.
What do I love that is new to the Deluxe edition? The Chambers are way cool. Universal Audio has done a perfect job with the chambers from Hitsville [Tape Op #155] and Capitol Studios [#134], and it's nice to have a very different version modeled on Ocean Way's. The Speakers mode is awesome. I love re-mic'ing in my own studio, and now we can do so in these rooms via URIE 813 or Altec A-2 monitors. It's a very different effect than the main Re-Mic mode, and it's one worth investigating. Speakers mode also has two different guitar cabinet re-mic'ing setups, and these are stellar. I get a lot of DI/amp-sim guitars sent my way for mixing, and this is already adding some life and depth to these tracks. Thank you, UA! As I've noted elsewhere over the years, I usually put EQs and dynamics before and/or after my reverb and delay, so having these two built in (post-reverb) in the Effects section had me designing my own presets immediately. There are a lot of touches that make setting up Ocean Way Studios Deluxe easier, including a little strip of buttons to open the Mixer and Effects and the ability to turn off the Room (to use just the Chambers or the Effects). All these were intuitive and sped me up.
I've been building up a new in the box mixing template, moving away from my trusty UAD2 platform in order to have flexibility on mic recalls. It's been a dream to have so many UADx native plug-ins surfacing lately, and I'm putting Ocean Way Studios Deluxe on an aux bus for drums as my first option. With more features, native hosting, and such usable ambience, it's a real winner in my book.