PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Channel Strip

Studio Channel is a full front end in one box: tube preamp, compressor, and EQ, with enough I/O to sit between a microphone and any interface, amplifier, or PA. The preamp is Class A built around a high-output 12AX7, with Gain and Tube Drive as separate controls so the amount of tube colour is independent of the level, plus a -20 dB pad, an 80 Hz high-pass filter, and polarity reverse.

The compressor is VCA based with a fast attack, which is what lets it catch transients on a hot signal instead of letting them through. Alongside ratio, threshold, attack, release, and makeup gain there is an Auto Attack/Release mode with preset curves, and the backlit VU meter switches between gain reduction and output. The three-band EQ can sit before or after the compressor and each stage bypasses independently. The mid band is fully parametric with variable Q; the high and low bands are semi-parametric with frequency and gain and can be set to shelving or peak.