CHANNEV
Key Features
- Complete Neve-style signal chain with mic preamp, de-esser, four-band EQ, compressor, limiter, and tape saturation in one window
- Mic preamp with 60 dB virtual gain, PAD, phase invert, and pre-EQ shelves with HPF/LPF for shaping before the chain
- Four-band 81-style EQ with fully variable frequencies, bell options on low/high bands, and Hi-Q on both mid bands
- Independent 2264-based compressor and limiter modules, each with its own external sidechain input
- De-esser with bell and soft modes effective on vocals as well as drum busses for taming harsh snares and cymbals
- Tape saturation module for adding analog warmth and glue to the overall signal
- Resizable interface from 50% to 200% with touchscreen support and fixed 2x light oversampling for efficient CPU usage
Description
CHANNEV by Analog Obsession is a Neve-inspired channel strip that packs a mic preamp, de-esser, line amp, four-band EQ, compressor, limiter, and tape saturation into a single plugin window. It models the signal flow of a classic British console, giving you an entire front-to-back mixing chain without juggling seven different insert slots.
The mic preamp section offers up to 60 dB of virtual gain along with PAD, phase invert, and pre-EQ shelves with high-pass and low-pass filters. The four-band 81-style EQ uses fully variable frequencies rather than fixed selectable points, with bell options on the low and high bands and Hi-Q on both mid bands.
The dynamics section separates the compressor and limiter into fully independent modules, each based on the 2264 circuit with its own external sidechain input. Users consistently praise the compressor for delivering that characteristic Neve punch, while the limiter adds a satisfying snap to transients.
The tape saturation module at the end of the chain adds subtle warmth and cohesion to the overall signal. Version 2.0 introduced AAX support, a resizable interface scaling from 50% to 200%, touchscreen compatibility, and fixed 2x light oversampling to keep CPU usage in check.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What console is CHANNEV modeled after?
CHANNEV is inspired by the Neve 81-series console topology. The four-band EQ uses an 81-style design with variable frequencies, and the compressor and limiter sections are based on the Neve 2264 circuit. The overall signal flow mirrors a classic British console channel.
Can the compressor and limiter be used independently?
Yes, the compressor and limiter are fully independent modules in version 2.0. Each has its own external sidechain input, so you can apply frequency-dependent compression or limiting separately. You can also check the routing diagram within the plugin to see exactly where each module sits in the signal chain.
Does CHANNEV work well on drum busses?
Users widely report that CHANNEV excels on drums. The de-esser in particular is praised for smoothing harshness in snares and hi-hats, and the compressor delivers that characteristic Neve punch on drum transients. The tape saturation module also helps glue drum busses together.
Is there any known stability issue with multiple instances?
Some users have reported occasional crashes in Reaper when running many instances simultaneously. If you experience instability, try limiting the number of CHANNEV instances in a session or check that you are running the latest version 2.0, which includes stability and graphical fixes.
