UAD Spotlight: Ocean Way Studios

Getting a great drum sound in a small room can be a challenge. But with the UAD Ocean Way Studios plug-in, you can effortlessly transform flat, uninspiring drums into something spacious, rich, and mix-ready. In this blog, we’ll explore different scenarios where Ocean Way Studios can dramatically improve your drum sound.

The Ocean Way Studios plug-in is a faithful recreation of the legendary Los Angeles studio where countless hit records have been recorded. Its re-mic and reverb modes, classic microphone modeling, and detailed room emulation let you place any instrument in a world-class acoustic space.

Enhance Ambience with Famous Rooms

The Ocean Way Studios plug-in provides two beautifully modeled rooms — Studio A and Studio B — that offer natural depth and realism. The Source control helps tailor the room characteristics for different instruments, while classic microphone emulations allow you to dial in the perfect balance of direct and ambient sound.

Here are some ways you might use it:

The next time you record drums in that small room, consider using a mono room mic or a stereo pair. While these may not contribute much on their own, you'll appreciate having them during the mixing process.

1. Apply Ocean Way Studios to your room mic track.
2. Select Studio A’s drum voicing to create a big, open-room sound
3. Use re-mic mode to replace the existing room tone completely
4. Blend mics to balance punch and spaciousness

Once you engage Ocean Way Studios, you’ll immediately hear a richer, more three-dimensional drum sound. The once-flat, uninspiring room now has depth, warmth, and life. Whether you're working with an untreated space or simply want more control over your drum room sound, this plug-in provides a seamless way to elevate your mix.

Add Excitement with Parallel Processing

After shaping the room sound with Ocean Way Studios, you might want even more depth and energy in your mix. That’s where parallel processing can take things to the next level.

For another option, try using Ocean Way Studios on a send rather than inserting it directly on your drum tracks. This lets you blend the original room sound with the enhanced studio ambiance for more flexibility in the mix.

Want to push it even further? Insert an 1176 compressor in “All Buttons In” mode before Ocean Way. This adds energy and sustain, making ghost notes and subtle dynamics pop through the mix. The result is a drum sound that is more aggressive, punchy, and engaging—perfect for modern productions.

Final Thoughts

The UAD Ocean Way Studios plug-in is an essential tool for achieving professional drum sounds in any space. Whether you're working in a small room or looking to expand your mix’s depth, it provides the ambiance needed for a polished result.

And don’t stop at drums—try this technique on vocals, guitars, or synths to bring real-world ambiance into your productions.

Want to learn more? Watch our detailed walkthrough video and explore the full potential of Ocean Way Studios in your next mix!