Hi!! I'm intrigued by FrontDAW, "Turn your DAW Mixer into a real Analog Console." There are many other plugins that can be added to individual tracks (or busses, etc.). There's DDMF The Strip, Eventide UltraChannel, several by Acoustica Audio, iZotope Neutron, etc. Sonimus has a couple nice ones, and I am aware of a new one they are developing. In short, there are many options out there.

Any thoughts of which channel strip provides the most analog-ish vibe with the least CPU hit (important as this might be on front-end of many individual tracks).

Thanks in advance for any thoughts . . .

The way that Universal Audio bridges their hardware interfaces with their Luna DAW sort of achieves an analog workflow, especially with the unison preamps.

Have to go with UA. Still the king of analog emulations to me.

If you're talking about the interface and workflow, SSL UC1 or Softube Console 1 are the popular choices, however, if you're searching for the sound, you'd better forget about the idea of inserting the same channel strip plugins on all the channels. It's just more harm than good in my experience. I don't know why you want the sound of analog console, but it's way better to get a real analog console before wasting your time and money for the emulation. Even Midas Venice sounds more analog than any of the software console emulations.

Solid State Logic Channel Strip 2 with UC1 is the best if you really want to do it ITB, but I would not call it an analog sounding plugin. It's very clean unlike the other analog emulations that just smear the mix with aliasing and cheap saturation.

All FrontDAW does is add some saturation to your track. I got that for free when it came out, but don't see why they insist its 'turning your DAW into an analog console', all it does is add distortion of a few 'flavors' to the front end. There's no EQ's, dynamics, anything remotely related to a 'channel strip' in it.

It was neat, but there's 1000 other saturation plugs all the same now and I was never impressed by anything FrontDAW did..

AirWindows does some lovely console emulation stuff, where you put an insert into every channel that creates some harmonics, then a summing insert on the mix bus - I think they sound really good

They are also free (with or without donation, I donate) and low CPU - well written code from a guy who cares

Sometimes these boutique developers create a diamond in the rough . . . seems worth checking out AirWindow. Anyone else use?

BTW, I'm intrigued by NoiseAsh plugins. I've always admired them from afar. Any users here?

we’re so spoiled for choice in no particular order:
UAD - api, beefy for drums or synths with bass and punch
UAD - neve, sweetening high end, strings
SSL - channel strip 2, hd sound, clean and transparent

Eventide - ultra channel, swiss army knife some transformer, some good dynamics/eq, etc. the eventide might be getting the most use lately especially cause i’m mostly writing a new album not doing a ton of mixing. this isn’t a knock in any way it’s super fast to dial in and sounds great

plugin alliance - focusrite sc, funky purple and fun
plugin alliance - neve, similar to uad if you don’t have their dsp
plugin alliance - ssl 4000 g, ssl 9000 j, pretty excellent classics with no complaints, don’t get a ton of use

softube - i think i have some of these american/british/etc ones but i use the other softube stuff a lot more like the softube/ni passive eq, enhanced eq, vari comp, etc if i’m out of uad dsp for the manley massive passive

izotope - neutron and ozone, i use ozone a lot on my 2 bus for quick & dirty mastering. i’ll tweak a preset for a while or scrap it and go with uad shadow hills, plug-in alliance hg-2, etc

There is something to be said for MixBus in this regard. I find the DAW a bit of a mess at times, but it does often cut out the middleman, so to speak.

Good to see you around mate!

Yeah MixBus replaces the analog emulation middlemen but for me personally it introduces the have-to-learn-a-new-DAW middlemen!

On the topic of channel strips: I've been enjoying the SSL 4k B quite a lot lately, lovely sounding overall and it's the best SSL I've tried so far. It's locked to a sub, so I reckon it's not for everyone.

The UAD API Vision is another one I really like, and with the recent UAD native options (sub or perpetual license) it has become a lot more interesting.

I agree with gregwar on this, we're totally spoiled these days with lots of good stuff out there!

Cheers

Diogo, we are both still alive!! LOL Great to hear from you too. Thanks for the post. Yeah, MixBus . . . I've tried so many times because I love the idea of it, but I never seem to get it going. I'm trying to simplify things as it's quite chaotic at home and at school . . . trying to work fast, but sound decent. I'm thinking a channel strip would be more streamlined and use less CPU than a chain of several FX. Oohhhhhhh

I've always liked the idea of emulating an analog workflow in the DAW and I try to implement it as much as I can.

What I try to do is add a consistent setup of plugins for the "console channels" and then add different emulations of gear when available if I'm using several of them in the session, like: 2 or 3 different LA2 emulations, or 1176, or just one Fairchild... That way, I feel there is a bit of variation on the way they react just like you would expect from an analog studio and limit myself with the amount of plugins that I use in my sessions.

For the "console channels" my favourites are: Sonimus Britson+Burnley73, PA Focusrite CS, UAD Century Channel and Satson CS.

I have recently bundle up the Sonimus A-Console and the API vision and I love it! I still have to try the API summing from UAD but the combo that I mentioned works really well.

I would love to try Softubes consoles as well, but I think part of the charm there is using them with their Console-1 system.

Tape is another one that is always on my sessions. Whether as individual tracks or in the master channel. Softube's Tape is one of my favorurites but Krammer Taper or the recently added PA Tape Face are also in my templates. Oxide Tape in Luna is cool aswell but I haven't used Luna that much.
What I haven't found yet is a tape emulation that "talks" between its instances for crossover effects just like a real multitrack tape would do. Softube's Tape has a crossover effect that you can dial but it only affects the stereo channels on that track. I guess If you combine several of them adds up in a similar way.

SSL 4k B now available to purchase outside the sub - quite expensive I must say but a discount may happen eventually.

+1 for UAD API Vision. It may be their best one and I have most of them. Also love mixbus BUT, lol, same thing for me. I just installed V9 32C and it's really close, I may try to do a whole tune on it to see if I can get the workflow speed close to my Studio One flow.

SSL 4kb. Lovely anlog channelstrip emulation.
SSL UC1 controller together with a DAW controller - it feels like an old console. If you want a not-so-colored sound, the basic SSL native channelstrip 2. They both come free with the UC1.

Ah, yes. I use Console7 as it's a system.

Do give AirWindows Console 7 a whirl. Trust me : )

It emulates the very subtle channel interaction thing that makes a desk sound like a desk.

I use Console 8 in my template and it is great once you get used to the setup and workflow (don’t use faders). I’ve done comparisons a few times and always prefer the Console mix.

I’ve got the NoiseAsh Console 84 and have been using it on some demo sessions as a quick way to get things gelling. The eq and overall tone is good. The saturation feels a bit cartoonish relative to my BAE hardware, so a little goes a long way, but it is solid. I haven’t compared it to UAD or other similar strips.

I don't personally use or subscribe to the 'fake mixer' ethos of having a c-strip on each channel, though sure it can help you work fast, the fact is not one size fits all (for the best) and any tonal deficiency can build up over a mix if you have a strip in there just for the sake of it.

I treat each track to its own bespoke plug-ins, BUT I will say this.. there IS one C-Strip that I took to like no other I tried (and I tried many) it gives me fast results, great sound and lifted my mixing... Softube's American Class A (API C-Strip basically).... the non console 1 version with the actual knobs (I control it from my 24 fader D-Command's dedicated EQ/Comp knobs which is waaaaaaay better than console 1 could ever be so no probs there).

If I had to rec one I'd go with that, but certain stuff may not suit it.. just like not all stuff suits SSL or Neve.

I'm a Waves SSL E guy (also have the API plugs), but bought that this week once this all started, and am really digging it. Getting used to the whole API stepped controls again but liking it enough I was actually considering the Console 1 now so I could get the E channel heh.

(Although I am getting that SSL 4KB as soon as it goes on a decent sale hah)

I'd for sure recommend checking out Softube, Sonimus and Izotope. These brands, in their own distinctive way, provide high-quality analog emulations and unique sound characteristics. To my ears, the very best analog sounding software out there.

Softube's Console 1 system is a breeze to use and helps me achieve that analog sound every time.

Izotope's Neutron and Ozone are also really impressive, they offer intelligent mixing and mastering tools that allow me to achieve a natural sound as well. This is more of a customizable processing to achieve the analog touch but works awesome with the analyzer.

Sonimus' analog emulations like Britson, Satson, and A-Console may be the best sounding console emulation software if you're looking for a distinct, professional sound. Great great sounding console plugins that use minimal CPU, which is a huge benefit for those of us who need to keep our systems running smoothly. The Britson + Burnley73 combo is such a wonder, it gives natural warm vibe at its finest.

I would also mention Acustica Audio's analog gear emulations, such as the Diamond Color and Coral2 Bax-ter EQs. These offer accurate and versatile options to add warmth and character to your mixes as well. The problem with their plugins is that they can be quite CPU intensive, which can be a challenge when working on large projects.

Hope it helps!