Where does Avid's Channel Strip stack up against competition

[PatriotsBiker]

I asked a similar question a little while ago and didn't get much response.
I've since tried the Channel Strip on each track that I was otherwise going to use an EQ and compressor. The most commonly replaced was the BF-76 and the the 7-band stock EQ. Tey didn't sound exactly the same, and that was not the goal, but they did sound very good. I think I've caught up the the BF-76 and the EQ strategy I've been using.

My question is how does the Avid channel Strip stand up against others in the market, like from Softtube and the likes. I'm looking to stay in that price range, fwiw.

[Craig F]

I's good,
Try the McDSP stuff they have a 14 day demo
there native packages are reasonable

Try anything that has a demo

[elicious]

compressor is the closest i've found to my hardware 160x...

e

[YYR123]

Originally Posted by elicious

compressor is the closest i've found to my hardware 160x...

e

Compressor by who ? The channel strip compressor ?

Sounds close to the dbx ? Nice

[elicious]

yes, the channel strip comp
when set right
comes closest to the dbx 160x,
particularly when used as parallel processing.
e

[PatriotsBiker]

Thanks, folks. That gives me something to look at for the compressor. I should be able to start there and find out what it's historically good for, not good for, usage tips, etc, etc.

How about the EQ and the Exp/Lim? Any decent comps there to look at?

[JFreak]

Originally Posted by PatriotsBiker

How about the EQ?

If you feel that you need something else than ChannelStrip or EQ3, then take a look at Sonnox EQ which has four different modes (5 if you have DSP). It is a godsend. But the stock EQ's are pretty good and they are free.

[panamajack]

Just downloaded a trial of the AAX Avid Pro Expander. I was cleaning up a short video shot with an internal video camera mic that needed work: a night/dawn scene with crickets, red wing black birds, water sounds, crows and gulls (and some nasty low rumble} .

I started with the Channel strip, and got part way there. The new Avid Pro Expander has a few presets, and its interface is familiar. Highly recommend.

The crickets were boosted in the Channel Strip at just above 5K, and a steep rolloff of the low pass beneath 300-500 was a start. But the threshold setting in the expander and a ratio of 1.5 really quieted things down. The crickets and near vs. distant nature-made aviary sounds are much better now.

[PatriotsBiker]

I'd be pretty surprised if I actually needed anything at this point. I have the NI Komplete Ultimate 9 bundle and I got in on the recent 40 plugs for $99 special. That's all in addition to the free AAX plugs on Pro ToolsExpert and what comes stock on PT-10. Hopefully a similar set on PT-11. I saw the Channel Strip in the demos from the other night, so that would be a good thing.

Right now I'm trying to gain a much deeper understanding of what I have. I do not want to make any purchasing decision based on holes that are the result of not knowing how to use what's in my tool-box already.

[WorldStudios]

I found the Metric Halo AAX version of Channel Strip to be superior to the Avid one in most aspects, eq as well as comp. More "there", for lack of better words. The Avid Pro Comp is cool, though.