Fuse Audio Labs releases the VCS-1 All-In Channel Strip

[fceramic]

The EQ is so confusing. The placement of parameters seems almost random. Sad that we also try to emulate hardware UI issues.

[tonymax]

yeah io noticed that too, thought it was just me... not knowing.. hee hee

The EQ is so confusing. The placement of parameters seems almost random. Sad that we also try to emulate hardware UI issues.

[Qkimat]

Should the 50% voucher from Focusrite apply for the new channel strip? It doesn't seem to work for me.

[fuseaudiolabs]

Should the 50% voucher from Focusrite apply for the new channel strip? It doesn't seem to work for me.

No, it shouldn’t. Please note that the plugin is 60% off already.

[Unaspected]

How is this channel strip comparing to any of PA's offerings?


EDIT: First question answered whilst I was posting.

[Tronam]

As a fan of FAL this is almost certainly an instant buy for me and I've recently grown to really like these types of multi-processors that force me to use my ears for general mixing. They help discourage me from getting distracted by spectrum analyzers, dozens of compressor types and infinite parametric EQ points. My one general criticism of almost all channel strip plugins though is the continued insistence on tall interface design. Computer monitors are widescreen with far less vertical screen real estate, especially on laptop displays. It's one of the reasons why I often reach for IKM's British/White Channel. It would be nice if others also provided a wide alternative skin.

[fuseaudiolabs]

The EQ is so confusing. The placement of parameters seems almost random. Sad that we also try to emulate hardware UI issues.

I don’t know if that helps, but there is a pattern: All the band gains are in the right column, with the mid band Q stuffed in the middle.

In the left column the frequency and Q knobs alternate. The shelving bands do not have a Q knob.

5 fully parametric bands make up a lot of knobs, I know. You may get used to the arrangement if you give it a chance

[Halonmusic]

noice

[tonymax]

that does make sense now, especially now ive been playing a while with it... again my old brain... hee hee

The EQ is so confusing. The placement of parameters seems almost random. Sad that we also try to emulate hardware UI issues.

I don’t know if that helps, but there is a pattern: All the band gains are in the right column, with the mid band Q stuffed in the middle.

In the left column the frequency and Q knobs alternate. The shelving bands do not have a Q knob.

5 fully parametric bands make up a lot of knobs, I know. You may get used to the arrangement if you give it a chance

[fese]

I have a bit of a problem with the mixer view. It steals the key command <F3> from Cubase, which is the default for opening the mixer windows. If a plugin uses key commands, it would be nice if they were user configurable.

You can also use the ‘m’-key instead.

No, what I meanr that I don’t want the plugin to use F3 at all. It is my key command (and the default in Cubase afaik) for opening and closing the mixer window. Imagine my surprise when suddenly (because I had VCS1 in focus) the mixer didn’t close as indented but VCS1 tripled in size. I first had to click somewhere else and the again hit F3.

As nice as key commands in plugin windows could be, the problem is always that they can override DAW functionality which can be annoying. So an option to either configure them in the plugin or disable them would be nice.

[Qkimat]

Should the 50% voucher from Focusrite apply for the new channel strip? It doesn't seem to work for me.

No, it shouldn’t. Please note that the plugin is 60% off already.

Sure, the price is more than fair. After demoing it, it's an instant buy. I'm a cheapskate and just needed to make sure.
Great product, congrats. I enjoy working with channel strips - they fit my workflow. This one is a great sounding channel, and, with the mid/side stuff, and beautiful saturation, is a complete mixing tool.
Now, I'm just missing the opto compressor from Fuse to get all I want. Currently I mostly use BRA's optos for that sound, and love them, but, as we so know, you can't have too many compressors.

[ZargonTheMagnificent]

I tried it for about 2 minutes, but it seems simultaneously massive (too big for my laptop), and also really hard to read quickly. I mean, I admit that my eyesight is quite poor. As others have said, the EQ controls are very unclear.

[escalona]

Frequencies on the left, gain on the right... the Q knob is the only one that wanders, but it's easy enough to identify though... what's so difficult about it? (or better yet: what makes other eqs that look pretty much the same any easier to read?) [I'm genuinely curious, folks, not trying to be an a$$]

[fuseaudiolabs]

Now, I'm just missing the opto compressor from Fuse to get all I want. Currently I mostly use BRA's optos for that sound, and love them, but, as we so know, you can't have too many compressors.

Well, the VCL-4 is an opto comp

[ZargonTheMagnificent]

Frequencies on the left, gain on the right... the Q knob is the only one that wanders, but it's easy enough to identify though... what's so difficult about it? (or better yet: what makes other eqs that look pretty much the same any easier to read?) [I'm genuinely curious, folks, not trying to be an a$$]

Why use colours at all if the difference is so minimal that it isn't quickly obvious to the eye. I suppose that's what I don't like about it; as others have said, I want the entire knob coloured.