Channel strips - What's your preference?

[G-Ro124]

I use Ozone, T-RackS, and the PowerSuite 5

I personally find iZotope Ozone to have the best quality, although it is VERY hard to program.

T-RackS is good for it's limiter/clipper pair

PowerSuite5 is good for all other effects.

Although I admit, all of them together are VERY cpu using

[BobYordan]

I have Voxformer that I did use on vox a while back, but only with some of the included effects, but I think it is a bit to cpu intensive using on more than one track & I also got the UAD C1 (that I actually never used).

Instead I use an own developed plug that is more of a 'peak limiting dynamic shaper thingy'. And it only uses 4-7% in my DAW.

Cheers Bob

[G&L_player]

61 views and no responses....I know you have a tainted view of me, but I think you were quite mistaken about me...however putting that aside I'm gonna respond anyhow.

No problem; only solutions. Although we didn't get off on the right foot, I'm willing to work from here, and I admire the fact that you are, as well.

I think you would be very wise to stick with what you have for now, voxformer is a great channel strip anyhow. Trust me I know how much fun getting new toys is, but shop wisely.

By using what you have now you will be able to gauge what the strengths and weaknesses are of your current DAW. Though you might not want to use any of the above mentioned for a channels strip forever, it can give you some good guidance as to what to get, what your needs are, what is lacking...all too often we buy on impulse because everyone likes it, and end up with a useless pluggin because it didn't suit our needs.

You're a student I believe you said (which coast are you on? just curious), been there, I know money is tight...even with student discounts. You already seem to have a good start and seem to have the knowledge...so I would suggest instead of waiting for forum members to make suggestions (but keep asking anyhow, more input is always good) you should determine what will best suit your needs...it's not like you can't make music with what you have now...but you can make better purchases directed at your needs by using and getting use to the tools you have now.

Take it or leave it, but that's my advice...

It good advise. Thanks, for the response.

FYI: I picked up TrackPlug, basically because it was sitting there for $35 (i.e. after the discount; was going for $150 a few months ago). How could I not? It's treats my CPU with respect and sounds great. From a channel strip standpoint, I'm done...got everything. I agree, the Voxformer is fab! I prolly could have just done everything with that, however, the whole music production arena is very arty to me...kind of like having some new colours/textures to work with. My thinking is that I can use the Voxformer for some stuff; the TrackPlug for others. In fact, I could even mix them together on the same track! Interestingly, I have not bothered with the UAD-1 channel strip since I got it...usee mostly Dreamverb, LA2A, 1176, and the amp (Nigel) if I have enough cycles.

Actually, I was just gonna buy MasterVerb, but couldn't pass up the strip for another $35. In addition, I figured WaveSurround was worth what I paid for it, and I didn't have anything decent in that arena. Now, I do. The "4" series isn't as cool graphically, as the new and improved stuuf (i.e. 5 series), however, it's much simpler to operate, very efficient, and sounds fab! In my mind, they'll be phasing this stuff out in the near future, so I wanted to grab some great plugs at an unbeatable price, simply put.

[G&L_player]

My god - you don't want to use your LA2A and 1176? I'll take em.

I haven't found a channel strip that works as well as inserts yet. I think Trackplug is pretty darn cool, though.

B-man, I've been using mostly the verbs, LA2A, 1176/SE, and Nigel (if I have enough cycles; it uses half the card). I love the LA2A and the 1176/SE the best. They are invaluable, simply put. What's to say I won't shut the compressor(s) or the strips that I have and use the UAD-1 stuff with them? There are lots of options here, which is cool from an artsy/engineering standpoint. In fact, I plan on finding out which combos work best in particular situations. I went to the WaveArts site to grab the verb, and just couldn't leave the strip (TrackPlug). Dude, I picked it up for $37.50 (with my discount)! How could I go wrong? I'll probably use it on some tracks; the Voxformer on others. It will help mix things up (i.e. colours) in the overall mix.

BTW, I remember you from the NI/Kontakt forums. You were a great help then- always a pleasure, man.

[G&L_player]

I have Voxformer that I did use on vox a while back, but only with some of the included effects, but I think it is a bit to cpu intensive using on more than one track & I also got the UAD C1 (that I actually never used).

Cheers Bob

Bob, I don't use the UAD-1/CS either. As you know, some the effects eat into the cards'resources, where one is trading off a LA2A for a CS than isn't doing all that much, IMHO. I found myself using the SE's (i.e. lite versions) and getting pretty much the same punch, which enables me to free up some resources for other tracks. However, I never could get to the point where I could satisy my mix and use Nigel, as it's a pig, man! I now have 2 UAD-1 cards, and hope to throw some of Nigel's colours in there...perhaps, mix them with another axe that's grinding some Amplitube.

I just got the Voxformer before Christmas, as Voxengo had a sale. I tried it on an old mix, and really liked what it did. I really need to spend some more time with it. I found it running about 5%-7% on my AMD 3200+, which I don't believe is too taxing for a plug that included compression/EQ/etc...

[multree]

nowadays I use the URS FullTec & Smack! as my channel strip for my reverb needs I tend to use D-Verb which I actually like very much and WizooVerb

[BobYordan]

I have Voxformer that I did use on vox a while back, but only with some of the included effects, but I think it is a bit to cpu intensive using on more than one track & I also got the UAD C1 (that I actually never used).

Cheers Bob

Bob, I don't use the UAD-1/CS either. As you know, some the effects eat into the cards'resources, where one is trading off a LA2A for a CS than isn't doing all that much, IMHO. I found myself using the SE's (i.e. lite versions) and getting pretty much the same punch, which enables me to free up some resources for other tracks. However, I never could get to the point where I could satisy my mix and use Nigel, as it's a pig, man! I now have 2 UAD-1 cards, and hope to throw some of Nigel's colours in there...perhaps, mix them with another axe that's grinding some Amplitube.

I just got the Voxformer before Christmas, as Voxengo had a sale. I tried it on an old mix, and really liked what it did. I really need to spend some more time with it. I found it running about 5%-7% on my AMD 3200+, which I don't believe is too taxing for a plug that included compression/EQ/etc...

Sorry if I did come with some bad information it was on my old DAW that it was a cpu hog.

I have not used it in my new DAW, I just realised when I started to think in a more structured way, I have not even installed the upgrade.

I will give it a new test run.

Cheers Bob

[fgimian]

I own most the Kjaerhus Gold plugins except the GAC-1, however, after also trying that out (and after using my GCO and GEQ for the past few months which are quite similar), I can say without a doubt that the Kjaerhus GAC is the THE best channel strip in the VST world (with the exception of the UAD stuff which I haven't tested).

I also own Voxformer, but the compressors are too limited for tracking.

I have tried TrackPlug and disliked its sound.

I haven't tried the UAD1 strip so I'm afraid I can't compare to that.

Cheers
Fots

[G&L_player]

I use Vincent Burel's free Striptool v1.0 - Gain, EQ and COmpressor in one. Lovely and v. low CPU

So, you never got that Voxformer you sold me?

[kritikon]

I don't bother with anything remotely like a channel strip or any regular chain of inserts. I literally have a blank channel and use what I feel the channel needs as and when I feel it needs inserting. I don't always use Eq except as a standard HPF, I may or may not compress, and usually I'll use a different comp for different instruments anyway, I do gating on the audio as an audio editor tool from the host ( I generally work most of the channels from audio rather than run live synths etc).

I'll be getting a UAD card very very soon, but I'll most likely still render to audio with that. Just the way I now work.

I tried having preset insert chains, but it just got in the way - I invariably ended up deleting some plugins and adding others, and usually in differnet orders too. For me personally it's one of the benefits of DAW music - no pre-formatted strip like on a desk.

I generally use compressors from a choice of maybe 4 or 5 that I'm comfortable with (Kjaerhus GUP-1, Compadre, SX multiband, Endorphin, Magneto...and occasionally some others more rarely for different flavours). I'll still turn on my LA4C h/w on some occasions when s/w just won't do.

Eq, I'll actually mostly use the SX Eq...only because I use it almost exclusively as an HPF, not parametric. For the odd Eq when I do use it higher up, I make do with Paris, QuantumFX or either Camelspace filter or Tonic filter (I prefer that method of wideband filtering than surgical Eqing on channels). I'll no doubt be using Eq a little more when I get the UAD, as one of the plugins I'll be buying is the Pultec and Cambridge as a 2nd option. But on the whole Eq doesn't figure as an essential FX for me.

I just find channel strips too restricting.

[daverich]

personally I use trackplug from wavearts - It's a great starting point for basic sound shaping, but it won't give you much vintage mojo but then, that's not what I would want in a channel strip.

Trackplug is WAY light on the cpu also.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

[G&L_player]

I own most the Kjaerhus Gold plugins except the GAC-1, however, after also trying that out (and after using my GCO and GEQ for the past few months which are quite similar), I can say without a doubt that the Kjaerhus GAC is the THE best channel strip in the VST world (with the exception of the UAD stuff which I haven't tested).

I also own Voxformer, but the compressors are too limited for tracking.

I have tried TrackPlug and disliked its sound.

I haven't tried the UAD1 strip so I'm afraid I can't compare to that.

Cheers
Fots

I'm a big fan of Kjaerhus gear. I own the GPP-1 and the GPO-1, as well. I don't doubt for one minute that the GAC-1 is fab, as everything this guy done is simply outstanding! However, I don't see myself forking over $200 for a channel strip, particularly when I have a few already.

Please understand, I picked up the TrackPlug4 because I got it in a bundle at a great price (Educational discount). Ergo, it's kind of lie a throw-in to me, as I was really going after the verb. However, I am very impressed with the level of servive that I've gotton from WaveArts, and have a fond appreciation for plugs that play nicely with the CPU. I'm pretty sure I'll be finding some spots for TrackPlug in my mixes...maybe all of them?

I had been doing everything with LA2A/1176/SE/ and some verb (mostly Dreamverb; KJaerhus Classic Reverb). My objective is to add some new colourations that will differentiate my mixes within the overall mix, if ya know what I mean? More precisely, there is a place for everything, and I hope to find the right place for these tools...at the right time. So, having a Voxformer, TrackPlug4, and CS-1 is not really such a bad thing, particularly for an artist.

[scuzzphut]

I use Vincent Burel's free Striptool v1.0 - Gain, EQ and COmpressor in one. Lovely and v. low CPU

So, you never got that Voxformer you sold me?

[G&L_player]

I don't bother with anything remotely like a channel strip or any regular chain of inserts. I literally have a blank channel and use what I feel the channel needs as and when I feel it needs inserting. I don't always use Eq except as a standard HPF, I may or may not compress, and usually I'll use a different comp for different instruments anyway, I do gating on the audio as an audio editor tool from the host ( I generally work most of the channels from audio rather than run live synths etc).

Krit, this is what I have been doing to date. However, after grabbing a copy of Voxformer and applying it to an older mix, I was very pleased with what it did to the mix. Is this to say that I will "force" this tool on every mix? Of course, not. However, I will pick-n-choose my spots, if ya knwo what I mean? (Likewise for the TrackPlug4)

I'll be getting a UAD card very very soon, but I'll most likely still render to audio with that. Just the way I now work.

Personally, I enjoy having the use of some great sounding plugs, without touching my CPU meter, which, of course, enable me to apply my non-UAD-1 plug more generously. The LA2A/SE and 1176/SE are outstanding! I also like the verbs (Dreamverb and Realverb Pro). However, Nigel is a pig, and will use half of the cards' resources, which is too bad, because it sounds great.

[G&L_player]

http://www.vb-audio.com/

Striptool page is down right now, tho

maybe search for StriptoolDemo5_DXVST.zip

Scuzz, it appears that just the older version (i.e. v1) is free, yeah?