What's the point of a channel strip/multi effect VST?

[publicradio]

I've been looking at two VSTs, Nasty CS and Nasty VCS, both from Bootsy/Variety of sound. Why would you need a channel strip VST? I read a channel strip roundup from Sound on Sound, and the only reason they could give for using a channel strip as a plugin was that it saved input slots (which isn't a problem for me).

Nasty CS has a high pass, low pass and two mid range EQs, so basically it's an EQ. I can see why it would make sense to have these in a strip to tease out the frequencies you want. Nasty VCS, however, has HP, LP, compression, pre-amp saturation, EQ and more. If I already have plugins for these, separately (indeed, from the same developer), is there any reason to hold onto this, or other channel strips?

[geroyannis]

the only reason they could give for using a channel strip as a plugin was that it saved input slots

That. Also it can be convenient to have your main fx (eq and compressor) on one interface without having to go back and forth between plugins.

[publicradio]

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you put EQ and compressor on every channel? I get the idea that a lot of people do.

[geroyannis]

I have EQ always on, even as just a high-pass. I don't put compressors on EVERY channel but definitely most of the time, mostly to even out the dynamics of less than perfect performances. I don't like heavy compression.

[LeVzi]

I use Mixcontrol Pro for my Channel strip, and it's about 5 (I think) different effects in one, EQ, Compressor, Stereo, Limiter, Saturator. It seriously cuts down on CPU, and tbh, has a character of it's own.

I love the fact it's VST3 and sidechains like a beast in Cubase too

Sometimes it's nice to just use an EQ, in which case i'd use EQuality or something.

[publicradio]

When you don't use a strip, does it matter what order you line up the EQ and compressor?

[LeVzi]

Some of them have fixed effect chains, but others allow you to alter the chain yourself, so i'd check that out if you are serious about getting one.

I think it was a recent CM MAgazine did a review of some popular ones.

[publicradio]

No, I mean is it better to have EQ, then compressor, or the other way, or does it depend on the circumstance?

[geroyannis]

I put the EQ before the compressor, mainly because I want my signal to be high-passed before hitting the compressor. That way there's no chance the compressor will be accidentally triggered by some loud low frequencies that I would remove later anyway.

[Dean Aka Nekro]

Personally I have quite a few channel strip plug-ins, I find them really useful and quick to work with, Especially on say a big multi-tracked drumkt.
Yes I can see where you are coming from and sometimes I will create my own channel strips inside an ableton live rack using the 8 macros for the most important parameters but ultimately its all in a nutshell what geroyannis said about having everything in/under one GUI instead of flitting between different plug-ins

[nilhartman]

I've been using SSL Duende Channel Strip on everything for years.

It sounds great, its UI is simple and clear, it's also quite flexible.

I know it upside down and it makes me work faster. It prevents me from wasting time testing 100s of EQ, I just rely on its EQ curves and dynamic section and mix with it. The same way I would if I had a mixing desk.

And as I use it on every individual channel on every piece of music I make, it helps giving coherence to my music.

I hope it helps !

[jam92189]

channel strips are more than just to save space they save CPU and are for convenience. And yes it dose matter what order lets say you do distortion compression than eq. the sound will be totally different than eq comp than distortion.

[Amon1973]

No, I mean is it better to have EQ, then compressor, or the other way, or does it depend on the circumstance?

It may depend on the circumstance - if the track you want to compress have unwanted content that might trigger the compression, you want to EQ before the compressor. On the other hand, it is sometimes useful to EQ ranges that have been affected by a compressor. I actually sometimes use a paragraphic EQ before the compressor and a "character" EQ after, but there's no rule of thumb, just make up your mind about the subject and experiment.

[EDIT - Geroyannis already wrote about the most common unwanted content that would trigger compression: low end energy. So sorry if this is redundant.]

[Burillo]

whether to put it before or after depends on what you want to achieve. try boosting a narrow frequency before compression, and after compression (boost it enough so it will affect compressor). the results will be different. this is an exaggeration and no one ever does that, but it makes a point.

basically, i prefer to shape the sound first and compress it later so that it stays true to the sound i want even when compressed.

as for channel strip vs. individual plugins - space, really. CPU - not so much, you still run the same FX, just in a single plugin rather than several. compression algo is still a compression algo.

[jam92189]

whether to put it before or after depends on what you want to achieve. try boosting a narrow frequency before compression, and after compression (boost it enough so it will affect compressor). the results will be different. this is an exaggeration and no one ever does that, but it makes a point.

basically, i prefer to shape the sound first and compress it later so that it stays true to the sound i want even when compressed.

as for channel strip vs. individual plugins - space, really. CPU - not so much, you still run the same FX, just in a single plugin rather than several. compression algo is still a compression algo.

yes and no if you run something like eareckons channel strip you save some cpu because you dont have the limiters on everything. and not to mention that you forgot that the GUI takes up cpu on all plugins. Its not much of a problem for most computers now but what about those people who cant buy the best of whats new