Packing preamplification, EQ, and compression into one tidy chassis, channel strips save you money and studio space. If you’re on a tight budget, however, premium channel strips can still be pricey. So Sweetwater set out to round up the best economical models for your studio. Check out our list of the best channel strips under $1000; you’re sure to find one that fits your needs — and your budget!
PreSonus Studio Channel
The PreSonus Studio Channel is an ideal way to upgrade the sound of your recordings. This full-featured channel strip is equipped with a Class A tube mic/instrument preamp, variable VCA compressor, and 3-band parametric equalizer; it’s complete with VU metering — all for a nice gentle price. If you’re currently working on a budget interface or mixer preamps, you won’t believe how good the same sources sound through the Studio Channel. Once you experience its fat tube tone and extensive tweakability, the PreSonus Studio Channel will likely become your go-to front end.
ART Pro Channel II
The ART Pro Channel II is a value-packed channel strip that any serious engineer can appreciate. The Pro Channel II has the warmth of a tube preamp, the smoothness of an optical compressor, and the versatility of a console EQ. All together, this powerhouse processing package provides you with extensive control over your sound. Throw in two sets of insert points for your outboard gear and a DI input for your guitar or bass, and you’ve got a formidable channel strip at a very affordable price.
ART Voice Channel
Designed to provide the ideal all-in-one input solution for analog or digital recording, ART’s Voice Channel tube channel strip delivers warm Class A tube preamp sonics and clean gain with an integrated dynamics processor and semi-parametric EQ. The EQ can be patched before or after the dynamics for added flexibility, and a separate insert jack lets you take advantage of even more routing options. The Voice Channel also features generous digital connectivity — ADAT, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and USB-to-host — which makes it a versatile, powerful front end for the modern hybrid studio.
Joemeek threeQ
Packing the inimitable Joemeek sound and vibe into a compact desktop chassis, the threeQ is an affordable way to instantly improve the sound of your recordings. Incorporating the same Burr-Brown ICs found in higher-end studio channels, the threeQ gives you a stellar front end for the money. You also get a Joemeek equalizer to dial in your sounds, along with first-class optical compression — all with the same sonic elixir that made Joemeek gear a studio staple and at a price that won’t break the bank.
dbx 676
In two rack spaces, the dbx 676 channel strip serves up classic tube warmth and punch, plus everything you need to sculpt your tracks to perfection. Over 40 years of dbx dynamics processing know-how is packed into this 2RU rackmount chassis. It all starts with an immaculate high-voltage, Class A tube preamp section running on 250 volts, delivering a signal that can be as pristine or as harmonically distorted as you wish. From there, the 676 gives you the compressor/limiter design from the acclaimed dbx 162SL, as well as a 3-band parametric EQ with swept mids. It all adds up to a very compelling package.
Aphex Channel
The Aphex Channel gives you a complete pro channel strip in a single rackspace. The RPA tube preamp sounds great with any mic, and with the EasyRider Class A compressor, logic-assisted gate, split-band de-esser, and parametric EQ, the Channel gives you tons of sound-shaping power. In addition, the Channel adds Aphex’s acclaimed Aural Exciter, which enhances your tracks with a vibrant sparkle you can’t achieve any other way. The Aphex Channel is a workhorse channel strip that will boost your productivity and upgrade the quality of your recordings.
Drawmer MXPRO-60 Front End One
Drawmer gear has graced the racks of top studios since the 1970s. Now with the MXPRO-60, you can affordably upgrade the signal processing capabilities of your personal or project studio with world-class Drawmer sonics. The MXPRO-60 Front End One is a full-featured channel strip for mic, line, and instrument sources. With it, you get all the tools necessary to achieve great results in your studio or at front of house. Drawing its roots from a long lineage of great Drawmer products, the MXPRO-60 Front End One offers up a high-quality preamp (with a similar design to the classic Drawmer 1960). What’s more, there’s a premium de-esser, program-adaptive gate, musical EQ, and a VCA compressor to fine-tune your sound. And you can use the multiband “Tube Saturation” section to obtain subtle tube-style warming effects. If you’re looking for a front-end solution that doesn’t explode your budget, the Drawmer MXPRO-60 Front End One should be on your short list.
SPL Track One
You can count on the SPL Track One when you need a versatile channel strip that adeptly handles a wide variety of microphones and instruments. Track One’s mic preamp provides plenty of gain for your mics and instruments, and SPL’s acclaimed De-Esser is onboard for taming sibilant vocalists. Optimize your dynamics with the compressor/limiter, sweeten your tone with the 3-band EQ, and you’ve got radio-ready sound. For maximum flexibility, use a pair of Track One channel strips across a submix or mix bus. Linked for stereo compression with just one set of controls, the EQs will still be independent, so you can fine-tune the stereo image simply by using slightly different EQ settings on each side.
So there it is — our list of the best channel strips under $1,000. Whether you’re upgrading or building a studio from scratch, budgetary considerations are critical to success. We get it. With one or more of these in your rack, you’ll upgrade the sound of your studio without draining your finances. Questions? We have answers! Give one of our expert Sales Engineers a call at (800) 222-4700, and be on your way to creative nirvana in a cost-effective, great-sounding studio.
