Channel Strip Buyer's Guide
by JD Mars
Many pieces of gear have been labeled the "Swiss army knife" of this or that audio realm. And how many of you have really used the fish scaling tool, or successfully engaged the Swiss army toothpick? When all you really need are the fork, knife and spoon, the channel strip module provides the essential elements needed to get signal to tape (or hard drive, or whatever)—mic/DI/line input, EQ, and dynamics processing.
Everyone knows the value of a good mic pre. In an increasingly digitized world, controlling the dynamics of the signal before it is digitized is a way to optimize the signal level. Analog EQ has a quality that digital is attempting to model. Recording consoles give you mic pres and EQ, but only the higher end consoles give you dynamics processing, and in a digital console these functions occur in software—after the signal has been digitized. If you're recording to a DAW, bussing isn't really necessary, so the very idea of a recording console is in question.
The bottom line is, the channel strip module offers excellent value, and guaranteed interconnectivity. This buyer's guide highlights the units that I have found to date, and the list will continue to grow and fester, be tweaked and groomed. In fact, if you know of a module that I've missed, please drop me an email. Use these short descriptions and click on DETAILS or SPECS, or use "The Rack" as the Table of Contents.
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Amek Purepath "Channel in a Box"
The Channel in a Box is designed by Mr. Rupert Neve and crafted by Amek, as part of their Pure Path series of rackmount gear. The mic input, at unity gain, will handle signals up to +20dBu—no pad is needed, though +/- 6dB trim is provided.
EQ sections are extensive, addressing frequencies up to 200k (check out the unit's overall specs—ahhhsome). Compressor provides soft knee, 40:1 ratio for virtual limiting, microscopic attack and release times, can be stereo linked to another unit, with mic/line or key inputs. MSRP is $3,250. View the SPECS.
API 7600 Rack Mounted Input Module
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The new API 7600 fits into one rack space unit. It includes genuine API mic pre, a compressor and an EQ right out of the glory days of rock 'n roll. The 7600 mic pre and compressor are the same units currently available in the 200 Series Legacy Console modules - the 212L and the 225L. The EQ is AN EXACT reissue of the famed 550A, offering 3 bands of API EQ but with 7 frequency choices PER BAND. List price is $2,995. View MORE DETAILS
ART Pro Channel
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The Pro Channel features many new and exciting design enhancements to ART’s pro and home studio staples, including the addition of a Variable Mu circuit to the compressor module. The Pro Channel allows you to select between ART’s optical/tube compressor or the Variable Mu circuit (a design made popular by the sound of the old broadcast limiters – now costing much more). The Variable Mu circuit is fast, fat and a bit aggressive. The four-band parametric equalizer has selectable Q for the two sweepable mid-bands. As with all design elements of the Pro Channel, these Q options were fine-tuned by some of the industry’s top studio and live-sound engineers. Likewise, all new additions were made without compromise to the sound of the original designs (Pro MPA, Pro VLA, Tube EQ), which are in wide use in professional studios and FOH rigs around the globe. List price is $799. View MORE DETAILS, or just the SPECS.
ATI PRO6 Multi-Mode Audio Processor
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The Avalon VT-737SP
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Drawmer 1960
Two Channel 2U Tube Active DI, Tube Mic Pre, Tube Compressor
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