Analog Obsession has released ATONE, a channel strip with an A-Type EQ, filters, and a 436-style compressor.
Channel strips are a guilty pleasure of mine. I purchase them with the express intent of having a singular processor to handle all my mixing needs, but I inevitably end up slinging single-purpose processors back on things.
Still, they’re a great way to capture a classic workflow or sound. The latest from Analog Obsession, ATONE, is aimed entirely at the vintage sounds of yesteryear.
ATONE is based in part on some vintage Altec hardware. So, you’re getting modeled tubes across the preamp and compressor. I wouldn’t use this for every element in a mix, but I did find some great places for it.
The compressor has a bit of sponginess, which I ended up loving on the drum bus and acoustic guitars. The added grit from the preamp certainly benefits my shoddy bass guitar playing.
Color is the name of the game with ATONE, so if you’re after something a bit cleaner, look elsewhere.
There aren’t really many quality channel strips available at this price bracket, so it is always a welcome sight. Sound-wise, it heavily reminds me of the Century Tube Channel Strip from UAD, without the need for a constant iLok connection or costly pricing when sales aren’t on.
The EQ is relatively simple, with three bands targeting lows, mids, and highs. There’s not much to talk about in terms of the equalizer module except that it’s useful for basic tone shaping.
The compressor has a bit more going on, with an attack and release knob present. You won’t find yourself selecting the ratio, but the compression amount in the dead center of the interface can let you get as heavy-handed as you’d like.
I also enjoy that ATONE is fully resizable. Having used a 4K monitor for a little while now, you really do appreciate the effort devs put into making things work for your scaling options.
As with all Analog Obsession releases, you’ve got the option of using ATONE on Windows or Mac computers.
Supported plugin formats are VST3, AU, and AAX. If you’ve got a few bucks to kick AO’s way, it helps to pay for the development of ATONE and other releases. If money’s a bit tight, you can download it for free.
Download: ATONE (FREE / Name-your-price)
More:
- UAD Verve Analog Machines Essentials Plugin Is FREE Until April 30th!
- Analog Obsession Releases FREE MoMa Saturation Plugin
Last Updated on April 18, 2024 by Tomislav Zlatic.
