Signal Processing & 500 Series
48-month financing* on select brand purchases.
Top Brands in Signal Processing & 500 Series
- Acme Audio
- AEA
- AJA
- API
- Apogee
- Appsys
- ART
- Arturia
- Audient
- Avalon
- Avid
- BAE
- Behringer
- Bettermaker
- Black Box
- Black Lion Audio
- Blackmagic Design
- Boss
- Bricasti Design
- BSS
- Burl Audio
- Chameleon Labs
- Chandler Limited
- Cranborne Audio
- Crane Song
- Dangerous Music
- Dave Hill Designs
- dbx
- DiGiGrid
- Digital Audio Denmark
- DirectOut
- Drawmer
- DW Fearn
- Echo Fix
- Elektron
- elysia
- Empirical Labs
- Erica Synths
- Eventide
- Fairchild
- Ferrofish
- Focusrite
- Freqport
- Gamechanger Audio
- GML
- Golden Age Project
- Grace Design
- Great River
- H2 Audio
- Harrison Audio
- Hazelrigg Industries
- Headrush
- Heritage Audio
- Hosa
- Karno
- Klark Teknik
- Lexicon
- Lindell Audio
- Little Labs
- Lynx
- Maag Audio
- Manley
- McDSP
- Merging Technologies
- Meris
- Millennia
- Mutec
- NEAT
- Neutrik
- Neve
- On-Stage
- Phoenix Audio
- PreSonus
- Prism Sound
- Pultec
- Purple Audio
- Radial
- Retro Instruments
- RME
- Roland
- Rolls
- Rupert Neve Designs
- Shadow Hills Industries
- Solid State Logic
- SPL
- Summit Audio
- Symetrix
- TASCAM
- TC-Helicon
- TC Electronic
- TK Audio
- Tonelux
- Triton Audio
- Tube-Tech
- Universal Audio
- Walrus Audio
- Warm Audio
- Wave Distribution
- WesAudio
- Zoom
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Signal Processing Gear That’s Trusted by the Pros
Whether you’re fine-tuning your mastering chain or sculpting the perfect live monitor mix, Sweetwater has the signal processing tools to elevate your sound. Here, you’ll find an elite lineup of top-tier outboard gear from trusted effects makers and pro audio leaders like SSL, API, Heritage Audio, and more — all handpicked and tested to perform at the highest level.
The Secret Gear Behind Great Records
Ever wonder what’s standing between you and career-defining mixes and masters? It could be your signal chain. Many producers spend years chasing the sounds of their favorite albums, often unaware that so much of the magic came from analog consoles and generous helpings of outboard signal processing.
At Sweetwater, we’re here to bridge the gap. Our state-of-the-art recording studio is a proving ground for the latest outboard gear. Not only that, but our expert Sales Engineers put new audio tools through their paces every day—both in our commercial facilities and their home studios.
From the tube gloss of a Pultec-style EQ to the dimensional punch of an LA-style hardware compressor, we’re here to help you achieve professional-sounding signal processing without breaking the bank.
From EQ to Compression: Hardware That Delivers
Let’s say you’re outfitting your rack from scratch. These essential signal processor categories form the backbone of every well-equipped studio or stage rig:
Channel strips
Many engineers prefer the audio signal processing convenience of console-style channel strips. These units roll two or three key functions into one unit. So, instead of juggling separate preamps, EQs, and compressors, you’ve got all your essential tone-shaping tools in one place.
Compressors and gates
If you’re piecing together your rack one unit at a time, a high-quality compressor or limiter is essential. These signal processors control and shape the dynamic range of a sound source to create a more consistent and polished sound. Expanders and gates, another category of dynamics control, help clean up your signals by keeping unwanted bleed out of your tracks.
Graphic equalizers
Graphic EQs are a staple of live sound, often used to “ring out” loudspeakers and eliminate feedback. Many modern outboard EQs also feature automatic feedback reduction: another front-of-house essential that pinpoints and attenuates problematic frequencies.
Parametric equalizers
Parametric EQs are versatile sound-shaping tools, available in flavors ranging from harmonically rich British console EQs to ultra-transparent mastering EQs.
Delay and reverb
Delay units add space to your sources with touches of tape echo or digital repeats. Reverb units let you add natural or otherworldly ambience to your signal.
Multi-effects units
Multi-effects units include an endless variety of sounds, from ‘70s-style phasing and flanging to overdrive and distortion to signal-morphing pitch and frequency shifting, spectral warping, and more.
Aural exciters
Exciters are a class of signal enhancers that use dynamic EQ, phase modulation, high-frequency harmonic synthesis, or slight amounts of harmonic distortion to add sonic “excitement” to a source.
Outboard mastering gear
Mastering requires a subset of the tools used in recording (EQ, dynamics, etc.,) specifically aimed at optimizing the sound of mixes for radio, optical disk, MP3, or other formats.
Wanna Make Your Mixes Shine? Don’t Neglect Your Clocking and Conversion
Almost all contemporary studios deal with digital audio in one way or another. Signal processors such as AD/DA converters let you digitize analog signals for development in your DAW and convert them back to analog for monitoring and routing to outboard processors. Miscellaneous digital converters combine the functionality of, for instance, eight preamps with AD/DA conversion in a single chassis.
Clock sources are signal processors that share time code to ensure your studio’s digital components are operating in sync. This eliminates smear and other undesirable digital artifacts that can degrade your signal. Sweetwater also carries product-specific signal processor accessories such as rackmount kits, stereo adapters, remote controls, and more.
Find All Your Signal Processors at Sweetwater
Sweetwater’s commitment to our customers doesn’t stop at the sale. With our fast, free shipping, you’ll be tracking up a storm with your new outboard gear in no time. Plus, we want you to invest in quality signal processing equipment without worry. That’s why we include a free extended 2-year warranty with nearly every product we sell and free tech support to keep you from getting stuck on a critical session.
Ready to get started? Check out our informative signal processing buying guide, or give one of our Sales Engineers a call. You’ll soon be on your way to realizing the studio or live sound rig of your dreams!
Categories in Signal Processing & 500 Series
