Tube Lab

Name: Tube Lab
Price: 29 USD
Author: Fuse Audio Labs

by Fuse Audio Labs · Channel Strip · Tube preamp, EQ and opto channel

Not rated yet

Tube Lab is a vintage-style channel strip with a multi-tube preamp, a 3-band Baxandall EQ and an optical leveler.

You can choose between five tube types and reorder the EQ and compressor, for $29.

Best for: Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Drums, Keys & Synths. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: tube, opto, modern, bass, drums, gritty, vocals, warm, electric guitar, hardware emulation, classic, clean, dirty, drag-and-drop routing, heavy, built-in mix knob, mixing, musical, parallel processing, retro, smooth, vintage.

What it does

Tube Lab is a retro tube channel strip that Fuse Audio Labs says is "built to be overdriven for character". It combines a tube preamp, a Baxandall EQ and an opto compressor in one strip, aimed at warmth and grit rather than clean processing.

Preamp: five selectable tube types, 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AX7, 6DJ8 and 12DW7, ranging from cleaner, more restrained tones to dirty, heavily saturated ones.
Gain and filter: amplifier gain from 0 to 68 dB, plus an 18 dB/octave high-pass filter at 80 Hz.
EQ: a broad three-band Baxandall equalizer with up to 15 dB of boost or cut per band, built for quick, musical tone strokes.
Opto compressor: Classic (slower) and Modern (faster) modes, with up to 40 dB of gain and an optional automatic gain control for smoother levelling.
Mix controls: wet/dry blending on both the EQ and the compressor, so either can be used in parallel.
Routing: the modules can be switched in or out and reordered, for example to put compression before or after the EQ.

The current version is 1.0.

Source: Fuse Audio Labs product page

When to use it

Tube Lab is the cheap, character-first choice when you want a strip that sounds driven, not neutral. Compared with Waves Scheps Omni Channel or iZotope Neutron 5, it has far fewer modules and no gate, de-esser or analysis, but its tube preamp with five valve types gives more obvious saturation. Compared with the Solid State Logic Native Channel Strip 2, it trades precise parametric EQ and console dynamics for broad Baxandall shelves and opto levelling. It also costs much less than most of the rated channel strips.

Best for: adding tube warmth and grit to drum buses, bass, vocals, guitars and stems, especially in modern pop and electronic mixes.
Genres: pop, rock, hip-hop, electronic and other modern styles.
Look elsewhere if: you need transparent processing for jazz, classical or acoustic material, or a full strip with gates and parametric EQ; Fuse Audio Labs' VCS-1 or SSL Native Channel Strip 2 suit that better.

What producers say

Early opinion is that it shines on modern, saturated mixes but is less convincing on delicate acoustic material.

MIDI Audio Expert praised the reorderable modules, the range of tube colours and how well the Baxandall EQ and opto compressor work together, calling it ideal for "a modern mix".
Criticisms: the same review found it "somewhat artificial" on jazz vocals and piano, felt it over-smoothed dynamics, and found the low end hard to control.

MIDI Audio Expert review

Where to buy

Fuse Audio Labs: $29
Plugin Boutique: $69

Tutorials and reviews

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