The Importance of Musicality in Mixing

For many, the home studio journey starts with learning a musical instrument. This musical foundation can be seamlessly incorporated into the mixing process with the right tools. A channel strip plugin, especially one modeled after classic analog gear, offers a musical way to work, resonating with the intuitive understanding of sound many musicians already possess.

 

Why Use a Channel Strip plugin?  

Hardware channel strips (and their respectively modeled digital plugins) have been used in countless recordings throughout the last several decades. This familiarity makes it an excellent choice for adding musicality to your mixes. Such plugins often include EQ, compression, saturation, and more, providing a versatile toolkit for shaping your sound.

 

Mixing Vocals with a Channel Strip 

Using a channel strip at the start of your mix allows for broad, musical decisions early on. This approach is akin to an artist applying broad strokes to a canvas, setting the foundation before refining the details. Here’s how to use a Neve-style channel strip on vocals:

 

Saturation: Add a touch of saturation to liven up the vocal and introduce subtle compression.
High Shelf EQ: Boost the high frequencies to add air and presence.
High-Pass Filter: Remove unwanted low-end rumble to clear up the mix.

 

 

Practical Example

Here’s a practical application using the Blackbird N73:

 

Initial Setup: After gain staging and creating a static mix, insert the channel strip on a vocal track.
Saturation: Add saturation to enhance the vocal’s warmth and presence.
High Shelf: Boost the high frequencies to make the vocal shine.
High-Pass Filter: Use the high-pass to remove low-end noise, allowing the vocal to sit better in the mix.
EQ Adjustments: Make broad EQ adjustments to add body and clarity to the vocal.

 

 

Enhancing Various Instruments

Channel strips are also excellent for processing instrument tracks. They encourage the use of ears over visual cues, making it easier to dial in musical tones. By adjusting mid-range frequencies and adding saturation, you can achieve a cohesive and vibrant sounds.

 

Conclusion 

Using channel strip plugins can significantly enhance your mixing process by bringing a musical approach to your workflow. Whether you’re mixing vocals, guitars, drums, etc., these plugins help create a solid foundation, allowing your mixes to come alive with musicality and character. Experiment with these plugins in your own home studio and discover the difference they can make.