The Experts team wondered what we thought people would want to find behind the windows of a dream studio advent calendar. Some of the things we own, some we wish we did. Owned or not, we think any of the things we name in the next 8 days would be a gift to a professional studio owner.

Day 17 Softube Console 1

Luke Goddard talks about his trusty channel strip, Softube Console 1.

Channel strip plugins are everywhere, and for one to stand out it has to either do the same thing better than the rest, or offer something unique. The engineer also has a choice of compact control surfaces bringing hands-on console-style ‘reach-and-do’ operation to the DAW. My choice of Softube Console 1 brings the two together into one place that is still, after nearly ten years of use, my go-to channel and mix processor.

For those unfamiliar with it, the Console 1 ecosystem consists of a range of channel strip plugins that are designed to be controlled by one or two dedicated hardware USB controllers. The two hardware options available for the system are comprised of the Console 1 and Console 1 Fader, with the former being the focus here. This solid chunk of steel has twenty six knobs covering input and output levels, panning, dynamics, EQ, and saturation with all the control needed to make the changes that matter and none of those that, for me, don’t. The thing that makes this system so very quick and intuitive in use is the fact that all controls have, for the most part, one single function at all times. This means printed panel legends that never change and it means knowing where to lay your hands without always having to look first. Yes, this approach does sacrifice expanded functionality for simplicity, and that is exactly why I like it.

Having everything in one place is the channel strip’s shtick, and having what is essentially a custom remote for a range of software flavours is something that many mix engineers can benefit from. Such has been the success of this form factor that other similar solutions have followed from the likes of SSL and a simpler take from Rock Solid Audio, but for me I have no reason to move until something that outdoes Console 1’s nail-on-head usability presents itself.

For anyone wondering about the ergonomics of using the system in concert with another controller, for me, it works. I find using my UF8 fader controller accordingly, and using the Console 1 like outboard processing is actually quite intuitive; selecting channels separately is actually fine in use, so I essentially have a system that drives like a hardware studio.

The channel plugins themselves also offer something for everyone, beginning with the SSL 4k channel that the system ships with, and spanning everything from valve and germanium complexity, taking in various later American and British battleship consoles, right up to digital precision in the shape of the Weiss Gambit channel, on which I have previously written about here. It should be mentioned that coming as a pleasant surprise after nine years of daily service on a perpetual licence, Softube recently rewarded new and long-term users alike with a major update adding many new features.

With audio plugin and mixing solutions growing both in complexity and in number by the month, the engineer will never be short on tools to crack their particular audio nut. While that’s great, Console 1 continues to keep my audio mixing life neat and simple. So well-judged are its ergonomics, that the list of what it doesn’t do is a strength. This shouldn’t bother a great deal of engineers who prize immediacy paired with a wide gamut of possibilities.