Best channel strip plugin that's NOT emulation of SSL, Neve, API, Amek, etc.

[fese]

Voxformer does look quite interesting and clever, but for the perfect CS for me it would have a) good old knob-based EQ instead of a graphical one and b) not a Voxengo GUI design (not bad, just not visually pleasing to me) and c) different compression types, e.g. FET, optical, VCA.
Is the routing of the individual processors fully configurable? Also, it says “resizable”, but does that scale fonts?
But individual presets for the different sections is a really good idea. Might need to demo…

With regards to flexibility and configurability, TBProAudio CS5501 is pretty good, but I didn’t really take to it from the usability and GUI side.

[Zoopy]

With regards to flexibility and configurability, TBProAudio CS5501 is pretty good, but I didn’t really take to it from the usability and GUI side.

This one seems pretty good too! I couldn't really get the sound I'm looking for out of it, not that it sounds bad, it's def user error.


I was also kind of thinking about trying to build one in Kilohearts Snapheap or Multipass but I'm not super familiar with that ecosystem.

[Ploki]

Skeuomorphism makes for a poor experience

[plexuss]

Skeuomorphism makes for a poor experience

Or not.

[Ploki]

Voxformer does look quite interesting and clever, but for the perfect CS for me it would have a) good old knob-based EQ instead of a graphical one and b) not a Voxengo GUI design (not bad, just not visually pleasing to me) and c) different compression types, e.g. FET, optical, VCA.
Is the routing of the individual processors fully configurable? Also, it says “resizable”, but does that scale fonts?
But individual presets for the different sections is a really good idea. Might need to demo…

There are individual presets for all modules.
Routing is not configurable, it's "pre-wired" aside EQ and De-esser that can be Pre/post.

Different compressor types would be great, i'd love if Alexey just stuck his three compressors (Crunchessor, Deft and Marquis) into it and you could pick either in one of the two compressors slots.

Skeuomorphism makes for a poor experience

Or not.

I was replying to cryophonik and SSL strips in context to Zoopy/this thread, but didn't account for a page change and 5 posts in between

Funny, re-skimming this thread, I was thinking that the new SSL channel strip v2 and vocal strip should be considered. I'm like the OP - I don't give a flying f### about which developer's emulation more perfectly matches a console that I've never touched in my life, I just care about whether or not it works for my purposes. So, taking that out of the equation, the channel strip is excellent IMO, as is the vocal strip (which is not an emulation, but obviously optimized for vox).

[Zoopy]

I'm gonna stick with VCS-1 for now and see how things feel after sticking to it for awhile. Seems like the best balance of all features/UI/flexibility/simplicity/workflow and it's 50% off right now !

[fese]

VCS-1 is a quite nice, everything directly accessible and light on CPU, but has also some usability issues, mostly the layout and poor optical separation of the EQ section. That is still throwing me off once in a while.
Also I could’ve done without the mixer view and the half baked M/S functionality, always visible in/out metering would be more useful.
Still excellent bang for the bucks!

I still like the IK White Channel as a channel strip, as a direct emulation is has much less features, but sometimes that’s all it takes, I like it especially for drums and bass guitar.

[Ploki]

Worth mentioning is softube american channel too.
Unlike their neve, they nailed gui on that one imo

[MogwaiBoy]

Worth mentioning is softube american channel too.
Unlike their neve, they nailed gui on that one imo

And you don't even need the Console 1 hardware for it now right?

[LFO8]

Skeuomorphism makes for a poor experience

I tend to agree for most cases. I actually prefer a layout like Ozone or Neutron as channel strip for working with a computer and a mouse.

[Ploki]

And you don't even need the Console 1 hardware for it now right?

yes!
it's a decent tradeoff between skeumorphism and digital. I'd prefer if EQ curve was interactive, but it's something at least.


unlike their neve which throws all that out the window.

I tend to agree for most cases. I actually prefer a layout like Ozone or Neutron as channel strip for working with a computer and a mouse.

yeah i agree - the issues with izotope is responsiveness on mac, i don't know if they fixed it but their stuff kind of "lagged" as audio units at least.

[LFO8]

Agree on the lagging.. meaning; Ozone takes quite a bit longer to load in Logic Pro versus say Crave EQ2. But once loaded, the plugin responds fine in my experience.

[Ploki]

I’ve sold it a while ago, but had issues on my Mini 6-core if another window was open next to izotope.
Granted a lot of devs started implementing async drawing lately so it’s probably not an issue anymore

[Ah_Dziz]

I like a setup I made in MXXX for most things. On top of eq compression and such it also has simple flanger and chorus that can he thrown on easily.

[Zoopy]

I like a setup I made in MXXX for most things. On top of eq compression and such it also has simple flanger and chorus that can he thrown on easily.

Does it run light enough to throw on lots of channels? Haven't used MXXX much