Channel Strip Surfing

Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito

           
 

A LOOK AT FIVE AFFORDABLE MIXER-CHANNEL PLUG-INS

Whether you were an early adopter of mixing in the box or you were dragged kicking and screaming into the console-free world, you're sure to appreciate the utility of channel strip plug-ins. These processors — which help simulate the signal path of a hardware mixing console — combine a compressor, equalizer and a gain stage, and they often tack on a gate, a limiter and more. While some people may consider them jacks of all trades but masters of none, I love the workflow efficiency they provide. Although the elite EQs and dynamics plug-ins on the market will cost you top dollar, you can find plenty of worthy software channel strips that are quite reasonably priced. It is that segment of the market where this comparison test is focused.

I limited my choices to those plug-ins that work without extra DSP hardware, are available for individual purchase and cost less than $350. Some of them are also offered as part of larger bundles. With the exception of the Mac-only Metric Halo ChannelStrip, these plug-ins run on both Mac and Windows, and all are AU/RTAS/VST-compatible except for the RTAS-only McDSP Channel G Compact.

I did my testing in Ableton Live 8 and/or Pro Tools LE 7.3.1 on a 4-core 3GHz Mac Pro running OS 10.5.7. To compare CPU usage, I used a 16-track session with an instance of each respective plug-in on each instrument track, as well as the master fader. The following are my reviews of the five products, presented in alphabetical order by manufacturer. The prices quoted here are direct from the manufacturers.

McDSP Channel G Compact Native

Like the URS Classic Console Strip, which I'll cover later in this story, the McDSP Channel G Compact Native ($295, requires iLok) is a feature-reduced, less-CPU-intensive version of a premium plug-in — in this case, Channel G Native ($495). Channel G Compact doesn't feel like a limited version. It has a beautiful sound, a sharp interface (see Fig. 1) and a formidable amount of functionality.

FIG. 1: With flexible signal routing, excellent EQ modes and high-end sound, McDSP Channel G Compact is hard to beat for Pro Tools LE users.

Its signal path begins and ends with input and output gain knobs. A Filter section then gives you 12dB or 24dB low-cut and high-cut filters, which can be bypassed. Both filters have frequency knobs, and the filter input can be either the original or a sidechain input.

You can select the input for the compressor/limiter from the original signal, the compressor's own output, a sidechain input or the filter section output. Parameters include knee, attack, gain, ratio, release and threshold. The compressor can be bypassed or placed pre- or post-EQ. Each of the four EQ bands includes Q, frequency, gain and bypass controls, while the low and high bands have switches that toggle between parametric and shelving EQ types. There are also six EQ modes from which you can choose. Music and Post modes are McDSP originals, and the others are based on popular consoles: Type E (SSL E Series), Type G (SSL G Series), Type N (a hybrid Neve setting) and Type A (API 550).

Channel G Compact includes two displays: One shows multiple level meters, and the other toggles between showing the internal signal path of your current settings and the frequency graphs of the comp/limiter, EQ and filter sections.

Although Channel G Compact comes with only 32 presets, they are well-organized into six folders and provide good inspiration for your own settings. I really liked loading a preset and then flicking between the EQ modes; the aggressive SSL modes contrast particularly well with the more subdued API setting. I also love the McDSP sound, and Channel G Compact keeps that sound well intact even though it's a limited version of another plug-in. This was one of my favorites of the bunch for placing over multitrack sessions (see Web Clip 1). A drawback is that this plug-in is RTAS-only so it can only be used in Digidesign Pro Tools.

Metric Halo ChannelStrip Native

The main components of ChannelStrip Native ($345, see Fig. 2) from Metric Halo are an expander/gate, compressor and 6-band parametric EQ. There's also a 255-sample delay for time alignment or to compensate for other plug-ins in your mix.

The expander/gate has threshold, attack and release controls, as well as a selectable sidechain with gain, frequency and bandwidth controls for the single-band sidechain filter. ChannelStrip's compressor has threshold, ratio, attack and release controls, as well as a sidechain just like in the expander/gate. Additional controls let you place the compressor post-EQ in the chain, set auto or manual makeup gain and set the compression character to Smooth, Warm or Fast.