BritStrip with Successor-Like Compressor

Heritage Audio is proud to announce the availability of the BritStrip — beautifully representing the culmination of 50 years of analog design in a single-space 19-inch rack device that nails the sound of yesteryear’s iconic recordings for present-day demanding engineers as a British-spec discrete Class-A console channel strip with the same diode bridge compressor found in the European pro audio manufacturer’s multi-award-nominated Successor stereo bus compressor.

The BritStrip begins its journey to tasty console channel strip glory with the same preamp found in Heritage Audio’s 73JR II — flavored with a new custom input transformer co-designed with renowned British company Carnhill, also responsible for the custom output transformer that completes its all-discrete, Class-A, three-gain stage design. Flexible features worth noting from a preamp perspective include -80dB of gain, a 20dB PAD, phase reversal, and an impedance switch for 1,200 or 300-ohm input.

The BritStrip console channel strip’s D.I. is also taken from the highly-acclaimed design found in the 73JR II, an all-discrete Class-A JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor) circuit fronting the microphone transformer to provide all the colour and weight any present-day demanding engineer could conceivably ask for. Furthermore, the D.I. also includes a passive THRU output to feed a separate amplifier.

As an expanded 73 equalizer, effectively, the BritStrip’s EQ features three Vinkor pot core inductors in the MID band and H.P. (high-pass) FILTER sections, such that the impact is hard to believe with extreme boosts being exceptionally musical. Moreover, the MID band is great for sculpting fat and punchy snare, kick, guitars, vocals, and anything else! No need for subtlety — as is the case with most EQs — since the BritStrip does not sound ‘phase-y’ or lose headroom in extreme settings. Indeed, its inductor-based low-pass filter, directly taken from the 73 design, lets users control out of range low end without affecting the quality of sought-after frequencies. Furthermore, the BritStrip’s HIGH SHELF and LOW SHELF settings have been extended to include a bell mode, making them more versatile.

Veering into compression territory, its implementation in the BritStrip renders it perfect for tracking, thanks to the BLEND control and elaborate SC. (sidechain) FILTER flexibly giving instruments ‘record-ready’ dynamics to provide performers with a ‘finished feel’ in real time. The compressor section provides plenty of sidechain flexibility, with five frequency choices and an external sidechain (SC. EXT) option. Owners of two BritStrip console channel strips can even LINK their respective compressors, creating the ultimate stereo tracking solution!

Further flexibility abounds as the BritStrip allows for compression and equalizer routing, with pre-compression EQ’ing making the compression detector more sensitive to the boosted frequencies and less sensitive to those cut, while post-compression EQ’ing makes the compression detector unresponsive to the EQ settings.

Saying all that, then, as the culmination of 50 years of analogue design, BritStrip is surely specified to nail the sound of yesteryear’s iconic recordings for present-day demanding engineers as a British-spec discrete Class-A console channel strip with a Successor-like compressor, conveniently housed in a single-space 19-inch rack- mounting chassis that looks and feels the part. 

Pricing and Availability

The BritStrip is shipping and available now via RAD Distribution in the US — with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $2,499.00 USD — and elsewhere — with an SSP (Standalone Selling Price) of €2,499.00 EUR (including VAT) — via Heritage Audio’s growing global network of dealers.

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“500 series”-style plug-in offers processors derived from IK’s T-RackS, AmpliTube, and SampleTank to cover a massive range of FX needs

IK Multimedia announces MixBox, a “500 series”-style virtual rack plug-in for Mac and PC. It offers musicians, producers, and engineers of every genre all the effects they need in one “rack” to mix faster and more efficiently while enjoying the professional sound quality and convenient, lightning-fast workflow.

MixBox includes 70 studio processors and creative effects derived from IK’s T-RackS mixing and mastering workstation, AmpliTube guitar and bass tone studio, and SampleTank sound and groove workstation, as well as four stunning new reverb algorithms. It packs these processors into a convenient and intuitive channel strip layout that can be used as a plug-in for any DAW or in stand-alone mode.

Key Features

• Create your own custom channel strips
• 70 FX from T-RackS, AmpliTube & SampleTank
• Dynamics, EQs, Filters, Modulation, Channel Strips, Saturation, Reverbs, Delays, Distortion, and Amps
• 4 all-new algorithms for the hall, room, plate, and inverse reverb
• Chain up to 8 processors in a single instance
• Lightning-fast workflow with all controls at your fingertips
• Save and recall entire chains, instantly
• Over 600 presets for every situation, including single-processor and whole-chain, presets
• Stand-alone hosts up to 8 full racks for live mixing

Beginners will benefit from having high-quality effects and 600+ presets at their fingertips to kick-start their creativity, while advanced users can speed up their workflow by using the customizable format to save and recall whole custom effects chains instantly.

Custom processor chain creation

Users can create and save their own custom channel strips in an 8-slot “rack” that can be used in all major DAWs. With drag & drop routing and a range of advanced controls like wet/dry mix, sidechain, and individual processor gain, users can assemble even complex, professional processor chains in seconds. In stand-alone mode, users can create up to eight racks of eight processors each, for a highly optimized mixing environment.

70 processors for more mixing variety

Immaculate-sounding processors deliver powerful digital effects and warm, authentic physical models of classic analog gear. In addition, MixBox introduces four all-new, reverb algorithms for the hall, room, plate, and inverse.

A modelling powerhouse

A selection of ultra-precise digital models of some of the most iconic mixing gear in history is onboard, as well as creative models such as amplifier distortion and tape saturation. MixBox leverages many of the most advanced and popular models from AmpliTube & T-RackS to add ultra-authentic analog warmth and vibe to any track.

View the complete gear and effects collection here.

Creative FX for every need

In addition to standard EQ Dynamics and Channel Strip processors, MixBox also offers onboard Filters, Modulation, Saturation, Reverbs, Delays, Distortion and Amps to cover a multitude of scenarios such as tracking vocals, sound design, customizing virtual instruments and more.

Quick and convenient workflow

MixBox enhances workflow efficiency by keeping every parameter immediately accessible in a compact and easily editable GUI, eliminating the need to switch between plug-in windows when adjusting multiple effects.

Users can more easily adjust multiple processors from a single window, and can save entire processor changes to recall favourites at any time, saving time and energy and keeping them inspired.

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Instant inspiration with 600+ presets
MixBox comes packed with more than 600 individual processor and whole-chain presets covering a range of uses, styles, genres and more, to offer a creative starting point. User presets can also be saved and recalled for future use.

Powerful multi-rack live mixing in stand-alone mode
MixBox’s stand-alone mode offers a complete, easy-to-use mixing experience for nearly any situation, with up to eight separate racks of eight processors each.

Audio can be fed into a computer from any source such as a digital mixer or audio interface, and the MixBox main panel will offer control over all eight racks at once. Users can load rack presets, add or remove processors from each rack, activate the side-chain, and manage input/output channels and gain for each rack, all from one panel.

Pricing and Availability

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MixBox is now available from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide for an introductory price of $/€199.99* (regular price will be $/€299.99).

Existing owners of any registered IK product that retails for $/€99 or more can purchase MixBox for an introductory crossgrade price of $/€149.99 (regular crossgrade pricing will be $/€199.99).

From September 17 through October 31, 2020, registered owners of select T-RackS, Total Studio 2, Lurssen Mastering, and iLoud products will receive a $/€50 automatic discount off the crossgrade price when purchasing MixBox through the IK Multimedia online store. Visit here for details.

SAND3 is a VST/AAX/AU plug-in suite that reproduces the sonic behavior of a series of high-end British consoles which literally dominated the Pop and Rock scene from the ’80s onward. Sound engineers from all over the world swear by their forward, slightly ‘aggressive’ sound as well as their logical layout.

With the SAND3 suite, Acustica Audio has faithfully recreated the sound characteristics of classic British high-end mixing consoles and recording studio hardware. It includes a powerful channel-strip featuring a combination of many devices into a single plugin, characterized by unique color with incredible new features. First of all let us briefly look at some of the plugin’s key features before moving on to its specific controls.

SAND3 Includes 6 Different Plugins

• SAND3 Channel Strip ( Full channel strip with EQ, compressors and preamp options )
• SAND3 EQ ( 3 band EQ module with 3 selectable per band models including a complete PREAMPS section )
• SAND3+G EQ (Homebrew EQ)
• SAND3+E EQ (Homebrew EQ)
• SAND3 COMP ( 3 switchable Single-band compressors)
• SAND 3 PRE (56 different preamps: 32 MIC, 16 LINE, 8 GROUP)

Sound engineers from all over the world swear by their forward, slightly ‘aggressive’ sound as well as their logical layout. Last but not least, SAND3 packs the experience of 7 renowned engineers, who have been directly involved in the development of dedicated AI presets, ready for use.

SAND3 is equipped with different multivariable meters for the INPUT and OUTPUT stages including VU, Peak, True Peak, LUFS, K12, K14 and more. Acustica Audio did this to give you the utmost in level reference during mixing.

Pricing and Availability

Combine the code below with your personal Loyalty Coupon to save even more! Oh right, do not trash these codes even if you cannot make it in time. They could come in handy someday.

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