I thought I knew what I was getting into before opening the oneQ box, but simply reading the specifications couldn’t completely prepare me for working with the oneQ. The first thing I noticed upon pulling this two-rack-unit beast out of the package is how accessible all the features are: everything from the preamp settings to the fine-tunings of the compressor and de-esser can be easily accessed without having to break out the magnifying glass, and the different colored LEDs and large VU meter add both function and character to the overall look.
After giving everything a quick once-over, pressing all the buttons, and turning all the knobs, I got right down to figuring out if all these features could stand the test of a light tracking session with acoustic guitar and vocals. It was shortly thereafter that I rendered my judgment: the oneQ is indeed a signal processing monster. It all started with the “iron” switch in the preamp stage. The pre sounded good from the beginning, but this special transformer circuitry added a completely different flavor. From here I gave the optical compressor a shot. I have done over 15 different test tracks with different settings on each, and I have yet to hear something I don’t like. From extreme squishing to light dynamics control, this compressor can deliver a wide range of sounds for just about any application. This soon became a common theme for this channel strip: its versatility and ease of use are amazing. In addition to a fully functional de-esser, the “Meequalizer” provides very musical adjustments across four bands, and the “Enhancer” can make your acoustic guitar, vocals, or anything else you’re running through this strip cut through the mix. Let’s not forget its digital capabilities either: 24-bit/96kHz operation coming right off the back panel without having to install any expansion cards.
Using the oneQ is like having multiple pieces of equipment in two rack units. Its open layout, high level of versatility, and simple operation – all for under $800 – make this unit a valuable addition to most anyone in recording situations.
