The Spirit of a Harrison Motion Picture Console
The MPC Channel Strip features six mixing tools that use the same DSP found in Harrison’s world-famous Motion Picture Consoles. It’s an all-in-one signal processing suite that, while initially designed for mixing and editing post-production audio, can also deftly take music productions from start to finish. The six tools comprising the MPC Channel Strip are an 8-band parametric Equalizer, two multi-pole Filters, Compressor, De-Esser, De-Noiser, and a module for adjusting Routing, Trim, and Polarity. You’ll also get a high-resolution Real Time Analyzer (RTA) display with multiple modes for the Equalizer and De-Esser modules. Many of our Sweetwater studio engineers work in both music and post, and they’re thrilled to finally see a channel strip that handles both with certitude: the MPC Channel Strip from Harrison Audio.
8-band parametric EQ
The MPC’s Equalizer module is a powerful, precise parametric 8-band EQ that comes equipped with a pair of additional filters and an optional RTA display. Its four sections are easy to read and navigate. Meanwhile, there’s a Graph that provides visual feedback, Band controls for the eight different bands, Filter controls for your two new filters (represented by A and B), and controls for the RTA display. Each band/filter also has adjustable Frequency, Gain, Shape, and Bandwidth (Q) parameters, as well as an on/off button.
A protean compressor
The uber-flexible functionality of the MPC Channel Strip’s Compressor module allows it to rise to any occasion. The ranges of its various controls are quite extensive, including Ratios of 1:1 to 100:1, Attack times from 0.1ms to 100ms, and Release times from 5ms to 500ms. The Program button located between the Attack and Release knobs will enable Program Dependent mode when selected. This option will automatically adjust the Attack and Release times based on the dynamic character of the input signal.
Fantastic utilities
The MPC Channel Strip’s De-Noiser and De-Esser comprise a veritable dynamic duo of utility modules. Preset for speech optimization, the De-Noiser also operates essentially as an expander for frequencies outside the human voice’s range, with sliders to control gain reduction and a Threshold that sets the level separating noise from your ideal clean signal. Next, the De-Esser is derived from Harrison’s esteemed de-essing algorithm with both Bandwidth and Depth controls for Ess(S) and Hi(H) bands. These controls function horizontally (Bandwidth) and vertically (Depth) to determine which range of frequencies gets attenuated, and by how many decibels (up to -12dB).
Routing, trim, and polarity — oh my!
The MPC Channel Strip’s final module contains its Routing, Trim, and Polarity controls. Due to the MPC Channel Strip’s modular design, any module can be arranged in any order. Trim can be used to control both Input and Output depending on where you arrange it in your signal chain; the Polarity switch inverts the output waveform’s phase by 180 degrees.
An RTA you can view your way
Finally, Harrison Audio’s MPC Channel Strip features an RTA display with several different modes for the Equalizer and the De-Esser modules. These modes allow you to view the plug-in’s visual information however you’d like, including Graph, Bar, Scroll, and Lightning modes (with Graph and Lightning being only available on the Equalizer module). There’s also a “Post” button for setting the RTA to make Pre/Post-EQ measurements. Lastly, the RTA includes a mode for summing multichannel audio; however, Sweetwater studio engineers suggest you only use the RTA for mono channels as potential phasing issues between multiple channels could result in inaccurate RTA readings.
Harrison Audio MPC Channel Strip Plug-in Features:
- Comprehensive channel strip for post-production or music
- Parametric 8-band Equalizer module with controls for Frequency, Gain, Shape, and Bandwidth (Q)
- A pair of multi-pole (slope) filters with various selectable types including High/Lowpass, High/Low Shelf, Bell, Notch, and Search
- 2-band De-Esser with maximum Depth (gain reduction) value of -12dB
- 2-band De-Noiser that removes unwanted background noise from speech and acts as an Expander on frequencies outside the normal range of human speech
- Compressor with a variety of adjustable parameters and a selectable Program Dependent mode that automatically adjusts Attack and Release times based on the incoming signal
- Routing, Trim, and Polarity section for re-arranging the order of signal flow, toggling Polarity, and adjusting input/output Trim
- Each module can be reset, soloed, or bypassed
- RTA display with multiple mode options for the Equalizer and De-Esser modules, including Graph, Scroll, Bar, and Lightning
