"Getting it right on the way in": Channel strips, risk

[logancircle]

There is a risk when tracking instruments/vocals/drums through a channel strip? I've always liked it, when I had access to one.
I'm in the market for something basic -- dbx 286s, ART Pro Channel II or something on that level.

Any recommendations for an all-around channel strip?

You get it. A lil analog squeeze and shine goes a long way to "Getting It Correct" before it ever hits the A/D converters. It is risky, but it's fun. Less/no saturation/coloration plugins in DAW, and less cleanup later.

Anymore when mixing, the tracks I get from people are already well cared-for, and that's very nice. Not overly-processed, but just right.

Thanks!

[joninc]

i'm gonna try and say this in a non-gearslutz kinda way

bottom line is "if YOU think it sounds cooler - go for it". Whatever is inspiring you is good.

I'm a big proponent of commiting to sounds on the way in and using as much outboard as I can get my hands on while tracking to make things sound great and therefore inspired better performances and therefore get a better end result. What's the risk?

HOWEVER - i've sold off almost all gear that is "transparent" and lacking in "character" and "mojo" as I've found it is no better than plug ins and in some cases a lot worse.

I've owned a lot of the cheaper stuff that gets talked about like RNC, RNP, ART TUBE preamps... as I've had $ to replace with better gear. Over time my ears have also developed and I have a different point of view now on what I think sounds good and why.

So my opinion now in retrospect would be to wait longer and buy higher quality things, "

1 at a time, as you can afford them

and learn them really well.

Start with a great pre amp. There's a lot of good choices - 500 series, whatever.

Then add a compressor and then maybe later an eq.

Hopefully you have at least a decent mic or 2 - don't have to be expensive - an SM7 is a GREAT MIC.

Learn to place that mic in the best spot possible - and don't clip your converters going in!

I just don't think a ART, Presonus, or DBX channel strip is gonna sound way better than a Focusrite scarlett pre amp and a few WAVES plugins (or whatever) for $29 will give you some decent compression (CLA-2A or CLA-76 for starters) and then some plug in eqs. SO many of the native plugins that come with DAWs are already really good and some are even kinda vibey.

That's my 2 cents!

[digitaldrummer]

I have a Universal Audio LA-610 - probably closest to "channel strip" that I own - and I use it quite a bit. Great for some vocals and some bass tracks. The EQ is limited, but the pre and comp are nice. I've also got a Yamaha PM1000 that has pre and EQ, but no comp... so not a full channel strip I suppose. otherwise I also choose a pre I want to color (or not color) on the way in, and then do the rest in the box.

[kslight]

I’ll be totally honest, I’m in the “not convinced that any of the above brands will add any of the kind of mojo that I want to commit to” category. Yes, I’ve owned or used some of them.

I do agree that committing to sounds is a preferable way to work, just not sure that these are the way I would go.

[logancircle]

I get what you're saying about these units not being much better than plugins (if you dive deep into how to really use plugins). I think I'll wait!
I used to have the original Grace 101 pre and it was better than my Mbox

Learn to place that mic in the best spot possible - and don't clip your converters going in!

Mic placement is the ultimate EQ! That took a long time to learn, but it's the most fun part about having a modest home studio situation (2 mics, 3-day-vacation, parents out of town, neighbors overseas, big open house) You have to get in there like a scientist and move the mics around.
As far as

learning well

compression took me a long time to learn, how to play one off of another in series, etc. I agree that, once learned, you can get good results with a couple of Dyn3 and some EQ.

[drumsound]

After doing this for a while you start to know what you want from tracks. There's nothing wrong with tracking with compression or EQ. In some ways, it helps to inform the rest of the production. You want to fit each overdub into what is already recorded. So, if you've committed a sounds early, you can make sure easier decisions as the productions evolves. Its a big part of the reason I like to do basic with multiple people. You can hear more of the whole, and make better decisions on sounds as well as performance.

To that end, we all must remember that we need to start at at the source. Swap instruments,and sometimes change the part, some things need a different amp or pedal. Then think about mics and placements, EQ, compressors, and whatnot.

[vvv]

I really like my Pre/Comp/EQ Meeks, the VC1Q for everything but especially vox, and the VC3Q mic'd and DI bass. They're like, instant colour green to me, thick and kinda gooey.

I also think the Eureka is one of the best available hardware deals going, pretty transparent if ya want, but able to color, also; it's a go-to for me on vox when I want to hear the mic (a nice tube or ribbon or FET mic, in particular).

That said, I do my drums recordings with a ZOOM R16, and then process ITB, as a matter of convenience and due to space limitations.

If I could, I'd use a pair of Eureka's on OH's, my 1589b Altec into a compressor (1176?) on snare, and the VC1Q on kick (I'm just riffing this).

BTW, an 1176 can be used without a pre (I've DI'd bass and it works well); I'm sure some other 'pressors can be, also.

[Nick Sevilla]

Any recommendations for an all-around channel strip?
Thanks!

These are great and not horrifically expensive for what they are.

Don't waste your money on the ones you mention.

https://heritageaudio.net/#

Cheers

[losthighway]

I think some people above were kind of getting at this:

There's nothing wrong with doctoring a signal on the way in if you know what you want and you trust what you're hearing/deciding.

This is not channel strip dependent. I'd take a good pre and a dbx 160 over a lot of the prosumer all-in-ones. The channel strip could also be a few separate boxes you cultivate over time.

Or you can buy my Focusrite Trakmaster on the cheap. It's not going to do bad things to your recordings, but if you stay in the game long enough, you'll end up selling it later.