Mic Preamps VS Channel Strips. Which Should YOU Buy?

Today I want to talk about the differences between a mic preamp and a channel strip. Both will include a mic preamp but that is where the similarities stop. By the end of the video you should know exactly what the differences are, and why you might want to choose one over the other for your home recording studio.
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Preamp VS Channel Strips. Which Should YOU Buy?
0:16 - Differences between a Mic Preamp and a Channel Strip
0:56 - Mic Preamp VS Channel Strips - Scenario One
1:43 - Mic Preamp VS Channel Strips - Scenario Two
2:19 - Mic Preamp VS Channel Strips - Scenario Three
3:02 - So, should you buy a Mic Preamp, or a Channel Strip?
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ABOUT EMR
Recording music at home doesn't need to be difficult. Any musician, whether you're a guitarist, bassist, drummer, can easily record and produce great sounding tracks in your home studio. My goal is to help you make the recording process as easy as possible.
We also look at many other aspects of just being a musician in general. From keeping your guitars in top shape, to philosophies about creating music, and anything else that comes along with being a musician.
#logicprotutorial #recordingstudio #homestudio #homerecording

[@hereticsoul666]

Love your videos!! Keep the good work !

[@Rantila718]

This is the first video of yours I’m watching and within the first minute and a half I said to myself I like this guy already so I subscribed

[@JackHaveman]

This was very helpfull! Thanks! 👍🏼

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

No worries Jack 🙂

[@NeilSmallerFilms]

These videos are excellent!!

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Thanks Neil, glad you liked them 🙂

[@ovid5424]

Thanks dude!

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Anytime my friend =)

[@ericcartier5382]

Great video.

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Thanks Eric 🙂

[@KyawKyaw-vp8ms]

cool man!

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Thanks my friend 🙂

[@joshuasarabjit]

How necessary is compression on the way in vs passing it through the compressor afterward? - For Vocals and acoustic guitar. I’m looking at a 6176 Channel Strip. Thanks so much for the great videos.

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Hey Josh. It’s more of a preference thing really, so it doesn’t matter if you compress on the way in or after the fact. The only thing I would be careful on tho is that if you compress on the way in you can’t undo it if you over compressed. But if you’re comfortable using a compressor and you think you’d like to compress on the way in then I’d say go for it. And in most cases you’d only be using light compression on the way in anyway 🙂

[@joshuasarabjit]

Thanks so much! Your channel is gold.

[@yobigmerce]

Looking at Channel Strips right now, saw your videos, you are a tank

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

I’m not sure what you mean by “tank” lol Which channel strips are you looking at?

[@yobigmerce]

@@EverythingMusicRecording hahah tank is a good thing your videos are awesome, but maybe the Black Lion eighteen

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Oh lol. I wasn’t sure if tank was a fun jab at my super ripped physique 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 That looks like it could be a sweet channel strip. Doesn’t Warm Audio also use cinemag transformers as well? Too many companies now lol. It’s impossible to keep track of it all 😬 Do you have a compressor to pair with the eighteen if you get one?

[@yobigmerce]

@@EverythingMusicRecording no unfortunately I been looking around I just want something to fix some of the eq coming in from my microphone, a lot of high end pick up I want to tame

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Oh ok. Which mic and what are you trying to record with it? Instead of buying a channel strip you might get away with just moving the mic a little bit. Like most people have always said to stick an SM57 straight at the center of a speaker in a guitar cab and you’re done. And I absolutely hate that sound. It’s harsh and brittle to me. I always use a 57 on a guitar amp off axis and somewhere closer to the edge of the speaker, as an example. So I’m not saying don’t grab a channel strip, but if you haven’t yet, try some different mic placements first. It could save you a hunk of $$$

[@CarlosKTCosta]

Hey, recent subscriber here, loving you content. Could you make or point me to a video explaining what to look for in a channel strip? I mean, I know you usually get what you pay for but where are the lines of "nothing bellow this is worth your money" and "above this price range it's diminishing returns"

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Thanks Carlos!! I could add that topic to the list for sure. In the meantime I’m pretty sure either Warren (produce like a pro) or David (mixbus tv) have done videos on this topic. “I mean, I know you usually get what you pay for” I’m of the mindset of buying the best that I can afford, or save a little longer if it isn’t something I urgently need. But that also doesn’t work for everyone. So since money is always a factor, figure out what you can afford to spend, then make a list of any features you NEED to have in a channel strip, and a list of features that would be cool to have, but aren’t make or break either. From there start checking out channel strips and make a list of the ones that check as many of your boxes as possible that fit your budget. Then it’s just down to checking out videos and such on the ones on your list and eventually shelling out some money lol. I hope that helps for now. Let me know if I missed anything or if you have anymore questions 🙂

[@CarlosKTCosta]

@@EverythingMusicRecording thanks 🙏

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Anytime Carlos 🙂

[@benbeazley2974]

This is super helpful and really not something I have fully thought through. I relatively new to this world as have only used others studios before. About to jump into 500 series and I just want something to track my own vocals. So no chance to isolate myself from myself. Is it dumb to record with a channel strip and then check and tweak it? (Pause and repeat)

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Hey Ben, thanks!! No you can absolutely do the pause and repeat. I warn you tho it can be quite the PITA, I’ve done it in the past and wouldn’t want to do it again, which is why I decided not to mention it in the video. If you could get a friend to give you a hand, and trying singing a room or two away it would save you a lot of time. Then just take a pic of any settings just incase so you have a record of it. Just remember to try and be a little conservative with the settings, especially compression on the way in. You can always add more later when mixing if need be, but if it’s overcooked on the way in you’re either stuck with it, or you’d have to re-record. 🙂

[@benbeazley2974]

@@EverythingMusicRecording Great thanks for letting me know. I'm guessing it isn't something that you could set up for your voice once and then leave it there. Again, apologies just trying to get my head around it. Otherwise it's as you say, a good Preamp and then EQ, compressor to use as inserts.

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

No need to apologize for anything Ben. You could dial in settings that work for you voice and just leave it. IF your singing is more or less the same from song to song. We aren’t looking to do final EQ and compression on the way in anyway. Just more general shaping. But if your singing changes from song to song or even section to section (singing, screaming, rapping, etc) then you would want different settings for each style. Like if you had things set for regular singing but then had to scream a chorus, the timbre of your voice will change so you would EQ a little differently. Unless you’ve really backed off the mic you could now be starting to overload the mic pre (which depending on what you’re going for you might want to help with a scream) and you could also be hitting the compressor too hard. That’s the long and short of that. When I recorded bands, if the singer sang every thing the same I’d set things up once. But if they sang and screamed I would track all the singing parts, then reset up for all the screaming parts. Let me know if that all made sense 🙂 I’ve always kinda been torn on 500 series. What are you picking up?

[@benbeazley2974]

@@EverythingMusicRecording Great thanks for your help - really cool channel and (having just found it and subscribed) you will definitely have more people coming. I'll spread the word. Interested in what you think about the Camden 500 preamp but that's another post/video

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Glad you’re liking the channel Ben and thanks! I think I’ve heard of the Camden but I’m not certain. I’ll check it out tho

[@jerrychiasson9857]

I’m running a Personius studio 1810c and I used a pro MPA II for me was useless so I was a little sceptical about getting a preamp, but I went with the lunchbox BAE DMP all I can tell you is buy it…lol it was like rediscovering my Mic’s all over again huge difference I’m looking forward to direct lining my bass in through it….. I’m only sad that I couldn’t buy another one…lol plus I can take it to the gig…. Worth every penny I paid….. would I trade it for a channel strip no way…. I love your videos, but I’m still thinking on getting a really good compressor…..lol

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Lol seems everyone has BAE stuff. Apparently they do Neve better than Neve… I’d hope so for the $$$ I’d love to be able to justify some nice preamps one day. But my Focusrite 18i20 is more than good enough for my current needs. Question would be do I give my money to Neve or Chandler Limited… it would be one of the two for sure!! Any compressors you have in mind?

[@jerrychiasson9857]

@@EverythingMusicRecording I’m thinking of wesaudio bata76 ….. that’s the thought anyways …. Then for the big finish remastering. Neve 8803 dual channel EQ…..

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Whoo hooo!!! That’s a big fish!! Pair that with a 33609 and wow!! The Wes audio rings a bell. I’ll have to check it out. So many companies now it’s hard to keep track lol

[@primee5730]

@@jerrychiasson9857the VLA II does wonders bro...

[@omarrivera9140]

Why not both?

[@michaelyolch79]

Dude, I’m scenario 1…everything in ONE room. Somehow, it never even occurred to me why a channel strip is such a bad idea for tracking this way. I’m a moron. 😫

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

lol I’m sure you’re not a moron, but yea being in the same room kinda makes it pointless. I mean you could always just pass the signal back through after tracking, so I wouldn’t call a channel strip a total waste in a one room studio.

[@alekp6822]

Cool T shirt

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Oh thanks! I actually had to double check which one I was wearing. I might have too many band shirts lol

[@mrvron]

i think regardless of the situation a channel strip will be better

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

On a personal level I agree with you because I would rather have, and can fully utilize a channel strip. Lol honestly if money was no object I’d have a Neve console. But from a channel perspective, even tho my channel is very small, I have to be very aware that what is right for me isn’t right for everyone and to try to present the information (even if I give some recommendations) in a way that helps anyone who watches make the best decision for their studio and situation. 🙂

[@mrvron]

@Everything Music & Recording you are spot on bro

[@EverythingMusicRecording]

Thanks, I do what I can 🙂