Preamps / Channel Strips

The SOS team pick their favourite hardware and software from the past 12 months.

Both of these devices are part of ART’s new ‘multivoice’ series, which aims to provide a wide range of tonal options.

Can an 80‑year‑old mic preamp design still cut it in the 21st Century studio?

Hot on the heels of their wonderful 32Classic console, Harrison have delivered their first ever 500‑series modules...

Universal Audio’s vast plug‑in range majors on licensed emulations of hardware products. Many of these represent...

With bold looks, original designs and affordable pricing, Teknosign’s preamp, EQ and compressor offer an intriguing alternative to better‑known names.

This 1972 dual‑channel mic, line and instrument preamplifier puts two identical channels of what appear to be the same preamp design as in the 1977 into a 2U 19‑inch rackmount case.

These classy preamps combine exemplary technical performance with some unusual stompbox‑friendly features.

SSL’s PureDrive preamps bring the sound of their Origin console to a new audience.

Drawmer have been offering no‑nonsense professional audio gear since the early ’80s, but their current range of processors offers more possibilities than ever.

Neve’s latest 1073 variant bridges the gap between microphone and computer.

With a Transient Designer, a de‑esser and an unusually versatile input section, there’s more to SPL’s recording channel than most.

Gainlab’s channel strip delivers high‑quality valvetube preamplification and optical compression, along with some interesting tone‑shaping options.

With separate control over mic and line/instrument inputs, as well as variable high‑ and low‑pass filters, Trident’s 80B‑Pre is more versatile than most 500‑series preamps.

This compact, versatile channel strip boasts SD card recording, USB audio interfacing and mix‑minus phone integration.

Designed to get the very best out of passive ribbon mics, AEA’s preamps offer way more gain than most. But they’re not just for ribbons...

Contrary to popular reports, preamps don’t all sound the same — and this clever modular system makes it easy to hear the ‘magic’.

This all‑in‑one, five‑module channel strip is based on the sonic characters of the processors and plug‑ins Grammy‑winning mixer Andrew Scheps uses in his studio.

We try one of the keenest‑priced 1073 clones currently available.

There’s a lot of competition in the 500‑series preamp market, but this one offers something a little different.

Mic preamps and DIs all sound the same, right? Nope!