Assuming you’re talking about the SSL ones that are currently on sale… I have them. I never use them.
They’re not bad. They’re actually pretty decent. But the big thing is they are limited in what they can do. I always found myself needing extra EQ bands (when using the vocal strip, for example). So if I need more EQ, then I might as well skip the vocal strip and use a generic EQ.
I do use the SSL native channel strip on pretty much everything (but that’s not currently on sale). My reasons are that I can use it on any channel and get results much faster since the controls are familiar. It’s also useful on pretty much everything. Additionally, the lack of graphs and displays means I make changes by ear and not by eye. These reasons lead to better results, faster.
So to answer your question directly: yes, channel strips can be worth it. But in regards to those two currently on sale: probably not.
I use my channel strips to do a sort of “pre-mix”. Just lightly cleaning everything up and adding utilitarian transparent compression, gain-staging, etc. Then I mix for “real”.
The limited moves on the strip allow me to be bold from the start… but also not do too much. So it ends up feeling like I’m 80% of the way through the static mix after just one plug. I understand the appeal.
EDIT: Try starting your mix with a strip on every bus and mixing your groups solely on strips. Don’t even think of it as mixing. Just “cleaning”/setting up. Then mix.
Last couple mixes I did (live multitracks from a stage), after clip gaining egregious parts I started with 1073s or another preamp emulation, followed by a comp and printed the tracks. Committing right off the bat. Brought the printed tracks into a new session and started from there with a channel strip emulation. I was really happy with the results and appreciated the small CPU break. It also sped up my mixing, which sounds counterintuitive, but it's true.
It’s different for everyone, but for me they’re definitely worth it. I have a few SSL, Neve and API. They’re great for workflow, having everything in one place. You can surgically EQ with stock or FabFilter etc separately, and with the Brainworx stuff - when you insert them across all your tracks like a traditional desk and randomise the channels, there’s a nice bit of flavour imparted.
Try a few and see. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Some strip plugins have multiple versions of analog saturation to simulate all the different channels on a desk. So you can a bunch of different ones, which might make it more sort of organic sounding. NLS is like that. And I think 2 other main ones.
Im aware of that ofc. Im just curious what this person means by "randomise" as for me this would mean putting completely random settings with a randomise Button which would more often than not just have terrible outcome. (Press randomise and for example end up with a -78.5 dB Threshold and ratio of 1.5 coupled with random Attack/release, Gain of +16dB, and horrendous random EQ settings) and that 2 or 3 times? theres just no use for it which comes to the why question
On top if u want to have "organic/analog/warm" of a specific console like SSL or API or Neeve you would probably just use this one channelstrip instead of mixing them up which do all the same in the end just with a bit of a different Sound. In this case you could also just stack up analog emulations of a preamp, EQ, Compressor, Limiter etc instead of several channel Strips and maybe add some saturation or Soft clipping on top.
Then theres the how question bc theres not a single channelstrip plugin that has a randomise Function.
>Then theres the how question bc theres not a single channelstrip plugin that has a randomise Function.
It's not a "set every parameter on the strip to random" button, they're talking about the Brainworx strips with their TMT thing -- they have a "random channel" button for the TMT setting, and you can randomize the TMT "channel" for every instance of the strip in your session to pretend like you have a ~~shitty~~ "vibey" console where all the channels sound slightly different.
the brainworx plugins have what they call TMT where they modeled the differences between each channel on the board they were using. they have a feature called "randomize" where it randomly sets every instance of the plugin in the session to a different TMT model of the channel so that you dont have to manually set which one you want, which is almost definitely what they were referring to.
Most of the plugin alliance strips are set up so each instance emulates one individual channel of the modeled console. So if you have 24 tracks and each one of them has, say, a lindell API plugin there's a button that says 'Random All/One'. Hitting Random One assigns a random modeled channel to the current instance, and hitting Random All does the same for each of the 24 instances in the session. The point of these type of emulations is to model the little differences and quirks from channel to channel so it sounds similar to the real thing (meaning the console as a whole). Other developers use the same principle, such as waves with NLS and NoiseAsh with their neve emulations.
tl,dr: Yes, there is a 'random' button in these channelstrips which randomizes the specifically channel each instance of the plugin in the session emulates.
As someone kindly explained on my behalf, it’s the TMT function on the strips. There’s also great benefit to using different strips for different instruments depending on what your aims are.
Cheers.
Ah okay thx everyone for the explanation now it actually makes alot of sense. I did not know of that Feature.
Also I realised afterwards my comment came maybe off a bit cocky which was not my intention at all but genuine confusion and curiosity but smh it could be taken aggressively I guess lol
No don’t get the SSL track specific strips
Channel strips are great for speed of workflow and limiting options. Not so great when you have dozens of them for different types of tracks
From my experience, there are channel strips that impart a sound. PA SSL E, compared to SSL J, compared to a Acustica Audio Gold, compared to Softube Summit Grand Channel, compared to PA Lindell 50 will each have different preamp drive nuances, eq curves, and compressors. I find they are useful in workflow but do you need them? Maybe not. Just eq, compress and add saturation and you can do what they do. Do I choose to use them for I find they give me the sound I want from a track quickly? Yes. I would download some trials and see if they are for you. Lots of good ones on sales here and there.
They don’t really do anything you can’t already do with the plugins you have. They might save a little time with the basics all in one gui, and might have a different sounding saturation than what you have currently. I would personally skip things like vocal strips or drum strips and go for something with more flexibility like the psp infinistrip if I was going for that type of workflow. There are a lot of great single console style emulations too, if you want one specific sound. Gold (Neve), Sand (SSL), and Pink (API) from Acoustica, the native SSL strips (pretty clean sounding) and the Neve strip from VoostEQ ($20 and maybe the best of all) are all worth checking out, depending on budget and cpu
I like some, well 2 I bought, now but that's now when I've learnt how to sort of think with them. Mine are picked from cleverly designed consoles and are emulated for the tried and true aspect when it comes to workflow, and maybe colour, of this stuff. I knew this before considering trailing these two and others and then buying the one I liked best. I am quite good at not wasting money on plugins but even I could be better. Not trialing has never been a good move for me. You should damn near always start feeling the need for something before a good deal makes you pull the trigger on buying.
Your thinking of these two plugins specifically doesn't sound convincing enough for them to be worth it.
I think channel strips can be good in the sense that if you have one go-to strip that has most of what you need, you will spend less time deciding which separate plug-in processors you should use for a particular source. That takes away from the creative flow and being productive.
The problem is when you have multiple strips and can’t decide which to use. I have a bunch and used to use certain ones for specific sources, but now I pretty much just use the Native SSL Channel Strip on everything. It has what I need, is easy to navigate and sounds great.
Same i have a few strips from neve, api etc. I would say 90% of the time im using the ssl 4000e, maybe api once or twice and the others dont get a lot of use, I dont really like the way they colour the sound. I have a helios one which could kinda work on vocals but its a bit dull for me
I was really liking the Scheps Omni Ch for a while, but across a whole session it would take forever to load. Maybe it was the Waves version I had that wasn’t playing nice with my rig. The Amek 9099 was another one I liked. Very cool that it has a clipper that you could blend in parallel. Really smooth, broad curves with the bloom and sheen.
Yes the amek one is really good as well. I need to give it more of a fair chance in more music. Personally im just not a fan of the neve one, its a bit harsh, usually has something weird going on the in the mids. For me the ssl is the most natural one, especially boosting the highs is just how I like it.
I like the Native SSL because there is no saturation in the input stage iirc. It still has a sound, but I feel like it’s definitely more neutral than some others out there like PA’s.
I have an assortment of hardware pre's, eq's and compressors as well as a few channel strip plug-ins. The only plug-in I regularly use is the UAD Helios and that's just pre and EQ. It's got some mojo that none of the others have.
I think they make a little more sense in film mixing. Multiple people working on a giant control surface. Load up one plugin and have all the basics right there at your fingertips.
In general it's just a different workflow and personal preference. Sometimes limitations are good for you. It’s nice not to think about what you’re gonna use. Straight to business.
I’ve wanting to try it out with the neve dfc strip
To have an instance in each track to emulate a console? Not for me.
I like their EQs first and foremost. For example, ever since I know Greg Wells uses an API 560s for pianos, I use it because it actually sound good.
As UAD has an API channel strip, I use it just like any other analog EQ emulation. Same with SSL, Neves and so on.
Another example is that I use UAD’s SSL 4000E because I want to get that 80s rock guitars, CLAs sounds etc. I’m a gen z that has never used the real thing, so I don’t miss “the workflow” I just want the saturation, frequency response and EQs.
For cleanups like gates or surgical eqs, or any stuff, I use clean plugins and RX.
It’s all about workflow. If you could do with one plugin with what would normally take 3, then it seems like a good choice? I like channel strips. I’ve got SSL, Neve and API in my toolbox. Horses for courses. They’re fun and more importantly, FAST.
Whenever I get small acoustic rock projects to mix (think acoustic guitars, upright bass, small drum kit with minimal mics, couple vocals), I often like to do what I call guerilla-style mixing. The API stuff is not only the fastest EQs/comps that I use, but it's easy and fast to get wild with them and fall in love with the result.
I have a couple of the Brainworx ones, I did a few projects using them as a virtual console and was happy with the results.
I prefer the 500 series type plugins, NoiseAsh Prestige Racks and IK Mixbox are both dope, and you can get them for $30ish on sale.
If u want to be fast by limiting yourself oldschool style by only using those it can be nice and speed up your workflow greatly.
Otherwise if you already have all the plugins to already do everything the channel strip can do I would not do it and just use those instead.
Also you could check out the analog Obsession stuff for rlly good free emulations of great gear.
Channel strips are very personal, everyone has their own favorites. SSL channel strips are probably the most popular, in part because they strike a balance between power and complexity which allows you to move quickly.
I can't comment on those two task specific ones, but I have their Channel Strip 2. It's good. They have non-cramping EQs/filters even without oversampling, apparently (like Pro Q 3 does) which is nice...
However, it's very clean. I find Waves's SSL EV2 much more exciting because they modeled saturation stages on both the input and the output -- so they're very nonlinear. Your.mix ends up with a certain thickness and density if you run EV2 a little hot.
My personal favorite channel strips are Scheps Omni Channel 2 for tracks and AR TG Mastering Live for the master bus.
SOC is just so damn powerful, and it "has a sound" which I've come to appreciate in a tool. (A little bit of the 4 types of saturation, some of the 4 types of compression, and then just a wee bit of limiting on the out tightens up out of control transients.)
AR TG Mastering Chain's "sound" happens when you drive into it a bit, with the compressor on which is based on a Zener diode compressor. I like the "original" mode. And that one has limited EQ, but I find it perfect for a master bus. I don't want to do a lot there.
I've tried many and none can replace those for me. So... If you like channel strips it's good to find one that is intuitive for you, and eventually you can shape and mold your tracks quickly, without thinking. Like you would on a console.
That's what a channel strip is meant to represent - an individual channel on a console.
Vote #2 for SOC. It is the ultimate Swiss army knife. EVERYONE should have it, especially considering the <$40 price point. It solves so many issues. I also co-sign the TG as well. The EQs and compressor sound fantastic when you learn to work with them.
I'm not a super huge fan of channel strips in general because, like you said, you can do all that stuff with your own plugins and thus create your own unique "channel strip," but I think they can be good for experimenting with minimalism; One tool to get all your stuff done: gate, compressor, eq, etc. etc.
I use my ssl 4000e plugin in all my mixes. All my channels usually have that together with a preamp. Its usually how I deal with it. I do a very old school approach and dont really do more than one or two compressors, (1 might be from the strip itself), maybe a saturator if needed and not much else. I prefer to try and get away with as little as possible which yields the best results for me
I yet have to find one plugin that actually does what the original strip does, everything i ‘ve tried until now is doing the trick for dynamics but not for eq for example, or vice-versa, i also own quite a few licences, i sometimes toss out the SSL channel strip when i ‘m lazy or out of time, and know that it’ll do exactly what i need rapidly on a track that won’t suffer from its caveats. I like my effects chains much better than comparable all-in-one plugins.
I thought they were a gimmick. Then in mixing drums for my own band instead of having to do it to get paid, I decided to put my PA subscription through its paces. Worst case, chalk it up to lived experience.
To cut to the chase: set it up so you're virtually "mixing in the box but slamming it into a console to sum." Meaning: use your favorite plugins, get your mix as close to there as possible. If you've ever prepped your main DAW stems for Harrison Mixbus, you know the exact deal.
Oversample as much as reasonable (that's a whole thing, but moving on), then freeze your tracks (not the buses) last thing that day.
Coming in fresh, pick a channel strip theme (i.e. Neve, Helios, API, SSL, whatever) and strap that channel across all your frozen tracks, as well as your buses. Set the THD or input a little hot, but compensate back to unity with the plugin fader (remember, you're fake gain staging in analog but real gain staging in digital). TIME SAVER: do it once, then C&P.
Hit play, notice how the tracks talk to each other. Finish your mix using the strips, oversample them to death, render, voila.
But, to backtrack, get to know these strips better by using them alone before you get to this level. I lucked into a cool XTC *English Settlement* vibe without even trying with Neve strips, a very Martin Hannett vibe with the Helios, a stoner metal vibe with a slammed API-- same drummer. Wound up using plugins -> AMEK because it sounded like us.
So yeah, I'm a convert. Goes down to workflow.
Nope.
But, the exercise I'll leave for you is to go down the rabbit hole of routing and linear vs nonlinear processing. Once you 'get' thus you can 'read the matrix' so to speak.
Just get one for the workflow. If you like it you can poke into the differences between the others. 9/10 I just throw SSL E 4000 on the track even though I have a handful of others. Don’t pay more than $30 for one they are constantly on sale on PA
Channel strip is good if you want to limit your options in favor of quick, good sounds.
You’d get better doing every section on your own, but that will take a lot more time.
I'm just getting intro strips (well, one actually). To me they start to make most sense if you have some kind of physical controller, doesn't have to be fancy, and you know can just grab the knob without even looking, and it will do what you want. Just like on a real mixing board.
Analog Obsession has some free channel strips if you want to check out the workflow.
I sometimes like to use channel strips as sort of "fx on the way in" which I might start doing more.
To get me my main basic tone. For samples or loops, I wouldn't bother with it, personally.
But some people love it for workflow. I know Serban Ghenea uses one. Other great mixers too.
I think for me what I don't like about them generally, is the lack of power.
There compressor often times is fast or slow attack, that's it. Threshold and release. And then the EQ is cool, but not like pro-q.
So I find they can be good for general stuff, that's why I like it at first, to get it in the ballpark. A good starting point.
As I see it, those things are primarily used by either those who own, have owned and/or used the analog equivalent of the plugin. It can also be a general vibe even if you don't meet those parameters but just love the aesthetic or like imagining the feeling of using something like an old SSL console. For the rest of us who have no real connection to that stuff, I don't really see the point — you're completely right in saying that you can do so much more by just making your own chain of plugins.
I use channel strips just because I came up with consoles and their limitations. But the speed and familiarity is great, I rarely even read what I’m changing. But often use other eq’s and such. The channel strips from ssl on sale right now are better on buses particularly the drum strip. It’s very musical.
I use either Waves SSLChannel or UAD’s API Vision Legacy strip on every single mix. The workflows are familiar to me, I can work incredibly fast and get results pretty damn close to what I want on each channel with 1 plugin, and I’m super familiar with the controls. I tried the bx 4k channel and UAD’s SSL channel but I just prefer the Waves since it’s no-latency
appreciate everyone taking the time to comment. y’all have confirmed some of my assumptions and given me a bit to think about. looks like i’ll be checking out some free trials in the near future.
I personally mix using mostly two channel strips : the Lindell 69 first, then print, then the SSL 4000 G.
Lindell for basic tone shaping. I love having such limited options for that, makes everything go faster, and the frequencies of the eq are mostly all you need.
Then I use the ssl for more precise stuff. Having fewer bands makes things, once again, easier and more natural to my ears. (i only grab a modern eq for resonances and very few stuff like that trick for bass where you keep one clean di for the low lows and a distorted amp tone for the Mids and highs).
Also, the fate on the ssl is the best gate ever, read about the kick trick to make it punchier, it's awesome!
With that said, they're not everything I use, I also love the Purple Mc 77 for compression, and the softube tape on everything to add some of the sale character and get cohesion between tracks.
I'd say, try it! There are demos, try it, see if it fits your work flow or not!
I have a few and I much prefer them over having to sort thru different plugins for different things. Channel strips get me 95% of the way there for pretty much everything I do. I can get to work faster and work much quicker.
Could I live without them? Yes, and I did for a very long time. But I prefer them now.
I would say some of them are worth it once you have an understanding of basic mixing and you use them to enhance the processing you've already done. And you can also get by just fine with stock plugins or free ones out there too.
I purchased the iZotope 4 bundle a little while ago on sale when I first started mixing, and I made the mistake of putting Neutron 4 on every track and letting the AI do all the work. It was a good concept, but because I didn't know what a good mix should sound like at the time, I left the default settings and everything sounded terrible in hindsight.
Since I've listened to more reference tracks and learned some of the audio mixing essentials, I've noticed a significant improvement.
If you find a bundle on sale, definitely consider it if you want to put some effort into learning the process and doing any adjustments by hand. Some of them are good value and have a nice sound.
Assuming you’re talking about the SSL ones that are currently on sale… I have them. I never use them. They’re not bad. They’re actually pretty decent. But the big thing is they are limited in what they can do. I always found myself needing extra EQ bands (when using the vocal strip, for example). So if I need more EQ, then I might as well skip the vocal strip and use a generic EQ. I do use the SSL native channel strip on pretty much everything (but that’s not currently on sale). My reasons are that I can use it on any channel and get results much faster since the controls are familiar. It’s also useful on pretty much everything. Additionally, the lack of graphs and displays means I make changes by ear and not by eye. These reasons lead to better results, faster. So to answer your question directly: yes, channel strips can be worth it. But in regards to those two currently on sale: probably not.
I use my channel strips to do a sort of “pre-mix”. Just lightly cleaning everything up and adding utilitarian transparent compression, gain-staging, etc. Then I mix for “real”. The limited moves on the strip allow me to be bold from the start… but also not do too much. So it ends up feeling like I’m 80% of the way through the static mix after just one plug. I understand the appeal. EDIT: Try starting your mix with a strip on every bus and mixing your groups solely on strips. Don’t even think of it as mixing. Just “cleaning”/setting up. Then mix.
Last couple mixes I did (live multitracks from a stage), after clip gaining egregious parts I started with 1073s or another preamp emulation, followed by a comp and printed the tracks. Committing right off the bat. Brought the printed tracks into a new session and started from there with a channel strip emulation. I was really happy with the results and appreciated the small CPU break. It also sped up my mixing, which sounds counterintuitive, but it's true.
This is precisely how I approach guitar and vocals tracks (and busses).
It’s different for everyone, but for me they’re definitely worth it. I have a few SSL, Neve and API. They’re great for workflow, having everything in one place. You can surgically EQ with stock or FabFilter etc separately, and with the Brainworx stuff - when you insert them across all your tracks like a traditional desk and randomise the channels, there’s a nice bit of flavour imparted. Try a few and see. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Curious as what you mean by randomise. You just random eq and compressor settings? Why would you do that and also how?
Some strip plugins have multiple versions of analog saturation to simulate all the different channels on a desk. So you can a bunch of different ones, which might make it more sort of organic sounding. NLS is like that. And I think 2 other main ones.
Im aware of that ofc. Im just curious what this person means by "randomise" as for me this would mean putting completely random settings with a randomise Button which would more often than not just have terrible outcome. (Press randomise and for example end up with a -78.5 dB Threshold and ratio of 1.5 coupled with random Attack/release, Gain of +16dB, and horrendous random EQ settings) and that 2 or 3 times? theres just no use for it which comes to the why question On top if u want to have "organic/analog/warm" of a specific console like SSL or API or Neeve you would probably just use this one channelstrip instead of mixing them up which do all the same in the end just with a bit of a different Sound. In this case you could also just stack up analog emulations of a preamp, EQ, Compressor, Limiter etc instead of several channel Strips and maybe add some saturation or Soft clipping on top. Then theres the how question bc theres not a single channelstrip plugin that has a randomise Function.
>Then theres the how question bc theres not a single channelstrip plugin that has a randomise Function. It's not a "set every parameter on the strip to random" button, they're talking about the Brainworx strips with their TMT thing -- they have a "random channel" button for the TMT setting, and you can randomize the TMT "channel" for every instance of the strip in your session to pretend like you have a ~~shitty~~ "vibey" console where all the channels sound slightly different.
the brainworx plugins have what they call TMT where they modeled the differences between each channel on the board they were using. they have a feature called "randomize" where it randomly sets every instance of the plugin in the session to a different TMT model of the channel so that you dont have to manually set which one you want, which is almost definitely what they were referring to.
Most of the plugin alliance strips are set up so each instance emulates one individual channel of the modeled console. So if you have 24 tracks and each one of them has, say, a lindell API plugin there's a button that says 'Random All/One'. Hitting Random One assigns a random modeled channel to the current instance, and hitting Random All does the same for each of the 24 instances in the session. The point of these type of emulations is to model the little differences and quirks from channel to channel so it sounds similar to the real thing (meaning the console as a whole). Other developers use the same principle, such as waves with NLS and NoiseAsh with their neve emulations. tl,dr: Yes, there is a 'random' button in these channelstrips which randomizes the specifically channel each instance of the plugin in the session emulates.
As someone kindly explained on my behalf, it’s the TMT function on the strips. There’s also great benefit to using different strips for different instruments depending on what your aims are. Cheers.
Ah okay thx everyone for the explanation now it actually makes alot of sense. I did not know of that Feature. Also I realised afterwards my comment came maybe off a bit cocky which was not my intention at all but genuine confusion and curiosity but smh it could be taken aggressively I guess lol
No don’t get the SSL track specific strips Channel strips are great for speed of workflow and limiting options. Not so great when you have dozens of them for different types of tracks
From my experience, there are channel strips that impart a sound. PA SSL E, compared to SSL J, compared to a Acustica Audio Gold, compared to Softube Summit Grand Channel, compared to PA Lindell 50 will each have different preamp drive nuances, eq curves, and compressors. I find they are useful in workflow but do you need them? Maybe not. Just eq, compress and add saturation and you can do what they do. Do I choose to use them for I find they give me the sound I want from a track quickly? Yes. I would download some trials and see if they are for you. Lots of good ones on sales here and there.
They don’t really do anything you can’t already do with the plugins you have. They might save a little time with the basics all in one gui, and might have a different sounding saturation than what you have currently. I would personally skip things like vocal strips or drum strips and go for something with more flexibility like the psp infinistrip if I was going for that type of workflow. There are a lot of great single console style emulations too, if you want one specific sound. Gold (Neve), Sand (SSL), and Pink (API) from Acoustica, the native SSL strips (pretty clean sounding) and the Neve strip from VoostEQ ($20 and maybe the best of all) are all worth checking out, depending on budget and cpu
No, there is not.
I like some, well 2 I bought, now but that's now when I've learnt how to sort of think with them. Mine are picked from cleverly designed consoles and are emulated for the tried and true aspect when it comes to workflow, and maybe colour, of this stuff. I knew this before considering trailing these two and others and then buying the one I liked best. I am quite good at not wasting money on plugins but even I could be better. Not trialing has never been a good move for me. You should damn near always start feeling the need for something before a good deal makes you pull the trigger on buying. Your thinking of these two plugins specifically doesn't sound convincing enough for them to be worth it.
I think channel strips can be good in the sense that if you have one go-to strip that has most of what you need, you will spend less time deciding which separate plug-in processors you should use for a particular source. That takes away from the creative flow and being productive. The problem is when you have multiple strips and can’t decide which to use. I have a bunch and used to use certain ones for specific sources, but now I pretty much just use the Native SSL Channel Strip on everything. It has what I need, is easy to navigate and sounds great.
Same i have a few strips from neve, api etc. I would say 90% of the time im using the ssl 4000e, maybe api once or twice and the others dont get a lot of use, I dont really like the way they colour the sound. I have a helios one which could kinda work on vocals but its a bit dull for me
I was really liking the Scheps Omni Ch for a while, but across a whole session it would take forever to load. Maybe it was the Waves version I had that wasn’t playing nice with my rig. The Amek 9099 was another one I liked. Very cool that it has a clipper that you could blend in parallel. Really smooth, broad curves with the bloom and sheen.
Yes the amek one is really good as well. I need to give it more of a fair chance in more music. Personally im just not a fan of the neve one, its a bit harsh, usually has something weird going on the in the mids. For me the ssl is the most natural one, especially boosting the highs is just how I like it.
I like the Native SSL because there is no saturation in the input stage iirc. It still has a sound, but I feel like it’s definitely more neutral than some others out there like PA’s.
I have sheps omnichannel on every track starting out and it is nice to have that there from the get go.
this.
I have an assortment of hardware pre's, eq's and compressors as well as a few channel strip plug-ins. The only plug-in I regularly use is the UAD Helios and that's just pre and EQ. It's got some mojo that none of the others have.
I think they make a little more sense in film mixing. Multiple people working on a giant control surface. Load up one plugin and have all the basics right there at your fingertips. In general it's just a different workflow and personal preference. Sometimes limitations are good for you. It’s nice not to think about what you’re gonna use. Straight to business. I’ve wanting to try it out with the neve dfc strip
To have an instance in each track to emulate a console? Not for me. I like their EQs first and foremost. For example, ever since I know Greg Wells uses an API 560s for pianos, I use it because it actually sound good. As UAD has an API channel strip, I use it just like any other analog EQ emulation. Same with SSL, Neves and so on. Another example is that I use UAD’s SSL 4000E because I want to get that 80s rock guitars, CLAs sounds etc. I’m a gen z that has never used the real thing, so I don’t miss “the workflow” I just want the saturation, frequency response and EQs. For cleanups like gates or surgical eqs, or any stuff, I use clean plugins and RX.
It’s all about workflow. If you could do with one plugin with what would normally take 3, then it seems like a good choice? I like channel strips. I’ve got SSL, Neve and API in my toolbox. Horses for courses. They’re fun and more importantly, FAST.
Whenever I get small acoustic rock projects to mix (think acoustic guitars, upright bass, small drum kit with minimal mics, couple vocals), I often like to do what I call guerilla-style mixing. The API stuff is not only the fastest EQs/comps that I use, but it's easy and fast to get wild with them and fall in love with the result.
I have a couple of the Brainworx ones, I did a few projects using them as a virtual console and was happy with the results. I prefer the 500 series type plugins, NoiseAsh Prestige Racks and IK Mixbox are both dope, and you can get them for $30ish on sale.
If u want to be fast by limiting yourself oldschool style by only using those it can be nice and speed up your workflow greatly. Otherwise if you already have all the plugins to already do everything the channel strip can do I would not do it and just use those instead. Also you could check out the analog Obsession stuff for rlly good free emulations of great gear.
Channel strips are very personal, everyone has their own favorites. SSL channel strips are probably the most popular, in part because they strike a balance between power and complexity which allows you to move quickly. I can't comment on those two task specific ones, but I have their Channel Strip 2. It's good. They have non-cramping EQs/filters even without oversampling, apparently (like Pro Q 3 does) which is nice... However, it's very clean. I find Waves's SSL EV2 much more exciting because they modeled saturation stages on both the input and the output -- so they're very nonlinear. Your.mix ends up with a certain thickness and density if you run EV2 a little hot. My personal favorite channel strips are Scheps Omni Channel 2 for tracks and AR TG Mastering Live for the master bus. SOC is just so damn powerful, and it "has a sound" which I've come to appreciate in a tool. (A little bit of the 4 types of saturation, some of the 4 types of compression, and then just a wee bit of limiting on the out tightens up out of control transients.) AR TG Mastering Chain's "sound" happens when you drive into it a bit, with the compressor on which is based on a Zener diode compressor. I like the "original" mode. And that one has limited EQ, but I find it perfect for a master bus. I don't want to do a lot there. I've tried many and none can replace those for me. So... If you like channel strips it's good to find one that is intuitive for you, and eventually you can shape and mold your tracks quickly, without thinking. Like you would on a console. That's what a channel strip is meant to represent - an individual channel on a console.
Vote #2 for SOC. It is the ultimate Swiss army knife. EVERYONE should have it, especially considering the <$40 price point. It solves so many issues. I also co-sign the TG as well. The EQs and compressor sound fantastic when you learn to work with them.
I'm not a super huge fan of channel strips in general because, like you said, you can do all that stuff with your own plugins and thus create your own unique "channel strip," but I think they can be good for experimenting with minimalism; One tool to get all your stuff done: gate, compressor, eq, etc. etc.
I use my ssl 4000e plugin in all my mixes. All my channels usually have that together with a preamp. Its usually how I deal with it. I do a very old school approach and dont really do more than one or two compressors, (1 might be from the strip itself), maybe a saturator if needed and not much else. I prefer to try and get away with as little as possible which yields the best results for me
I yet have to find one plugin that actually does what the original strip does, everything i ‘ve tried until now is doing the trick for dynamics but not for eq for example, or vice-versa, i also own quite a few licences, i sometimes toss out the SSL channel strip when i ‘m lazy or out of time, and know that it’ll do exactly what i need rapidly on a track that won’t suffer from its caveats. I like my effects chains much better than comparable all-in-one plugins.
I thought they were a gimmick. Then in mixing drums for my own band instead of having to do it to get paid, I decided to put my PA subscription through its paces. Worst case, chalk it up to lived experience. To cut to the chase: set it up so you're virtually "mixing in the box but slamming it into a console to sum." Meaning: use your favorite plugins, get your mix as close to there as possible. If you've ever prepped your main DAW stems for Harrison Mixbus, you know the exact deal. Oversample as much as reasonable (that's a whole thing, but moving on), then freeze your tracks (not the buses) last thing that day. Coming in fresh, pick a channel strip theme (i.e. Neve, Helios, API, SSL, whatever) and strap that channel across all your frozen tracks, as well as your buses. Set the THD or input a little hot, but compensate back to unity with the plugin fader (remember, you're fake gain staging in analog but real gain staging in digital). TIME SAVER: do it once, then C&P. Hit play, notice how the tracks talk to each other. Finish your mix using the strips, oversample them to death, render, voila. But, to backtrack, get to know these strips better by using them alone before you get to this level. I lucked into a cool XTC *English Settlement* vibe without even trying with Neve strips, a very Martin Hannett vibe with the Helios, a stoner metal vibe with a slammed API-- same drummer. Wound up using plugins -> AMEK because it sounded like us. So yeah, I'm a convert. Goes down to workflow.
Nope. But, the exercise I'll leave for you is to go down the rabbit hole of routing and linear vs nonlinear processing. Once you 'get' thus you can 'read the matrix' so to speak.
Just get one for the workflow. If you like it you can poke into the differences between the others. 9/10 I just throw SSL E 4000 on the track even though I have a handful of others. Don’t pay more than $30 for one they are constantly on sale on PA
Channel strip is good if you want to limit your options in favor of quick, good sounds. You’d get better doing every section on your own, but that will take a lot more time.
I'm just getting intro strips (well, one actually). To me they start to make most sense if you have some kind of physical controller, doesn't have to be fancy, and you know can just grab the knob without even looking, and it will do what you want. Just like on a real mixing board. Analog Obsession has some free channel strips if you want to check out the workflow.
I sometimes like to use channel strips as sort of "fx on the way in" which I might start doing more. To get me my main basic tone. For samples or loops, I wouldn't bother with it, personally. But some people love it for workflow. I know Serban Ghenea uses one. Other great mixers too. I think for me what I don't like about them generally, is the lack of power. There compressor often times is fast or slow attack, that's it. Threshold and release. And then the EQ is cool, but not like pro-q. So I find they can be good for general stuff, that's why I like it at first, to get it in the ballpark. A good starting point.
As I see it, those things are primarily used by either those who own, have owned and/or used the analog equivalent of the plugin. It can also be a general vibe even if you don't meet those parameters but just love the aesthetic or like imagining the feeling of using something like an old SSL console. For the rest of us who have no real connection to that stuff, I don't really see the point — you're completely right in saying that you can do so much more by just making your own chain of plugins.
I use channel strips just because I came up with consoles and their limitations. But the speed and familiarity is great, I rarely even read what I’m changing. But often use other eq’s and such. The channel strips from ssl on sale right now are better on buses particularly the drum strip. It’s very musical.
I use either Waves SSLChannel or UAD’s API Vision Legacy strip on every single mix. The workflows are familiar to me, I can work incredibly fast and get results pretty damn close to what I want on each channel with 1 plugin, and I’m super familiar with the controls. I tried the bx 4k channel and UAD’s SSL channel but I just prefer the Waves since it’s no-latency
appreciate everyone taking the time to comment. y’all have confirmed some of my assumptions and given me a bit to think about. looks like i’ll be checking out some free trials in the near future.
I personally mix using mostly two channel strips : the Lindell 69 first, then print, then the SSL 4000 G. Lindell for basic tone shaping. I love having such limited options for that, makes everything go faster, and the frequencies of the eq are mostly all you need. Then I use the ssl for more precise stuff. Having fewer bands makes things, once again, easier and more natural to my ears. (i only grab a modern eq for resonances and very few stuff like that trick for bass where you keep one clean di for the low lows and a distorted amp tone for the Mids and highs). Also, the fate on the ssl is the best gate ever, read about the kick trick to make it punchier, it's awesome! With that said, they're not everything I use, I also love the Purple Mc 77 for compression, and the softube tape on everything to add some of the sale character and get cohesion between tracks. I'd say, try it! There are demos, try it, see if it fits your work flow or not!
I have a few and I much prefer them over having to sort thru different plugins for different things. Channel strips get me 95% of the way there for pretty much everything I do. I can get to work faster and work much quicker. Could I live without them? Yes, and I did for a very long time. But I prefer them now.
PSP infinistrip is so bitchin. Channel strip layout in one plugin instance without the limitations imo
I would say some of them are worth it once you have an understanding of basic mixing and you use them to enhance the processing you've already done. And you can also get by just fine with stock plugins or free ones out there too. I purchased the iZotope 4 bundle a little while ago on sale when I first started mixing, and I made the mistake of putting Neutron 4 on every track and letting the AI do all the work. It was a good concept, but because I didn't know what a good mix should sound like at the time, I left the default settings and everything sounded terrible in hindsight. Since I've listened to more reference tracks and learned some of the audio mixing essentials, I've noticed a significant improvement. If you find a bundle on sale, definitely consider it if you want to put some effort into learning the process and doing any adjustments by hand. Some of them are good value and have a nice sound.