Steamdriver

Name: Steamdriver
Price: 19.99 USD
Author: Mixland

by Mixland · Channel Strip · Compressor, saturation and EQ strip

Not rated yet

Steamdriver is a steampunk-themed channel strip from Mixland with VCA compression, saturation and EQ, built for an aggressive sound.

The compressor is based on a piece of analog gear Mixland says has not been modeled before; it is $19.99 on sale (list $49.99).

Best for: Drums, Drum Bus, Bass, Guitars, Mix Bus. Genres: Rock & Indie, Hip-Hop & Trap, Electronic & EDM, Metal.

Keywords: bass, drums, VCA, aggressive, electric guitar, mixing, bus processing, piano, beginner-friendly, clean, drum bus, full mix, gritty, minimal controls, mix bus, built-in mix knob, oversampling, punchy, single knob.

What it does

Steamdriver is a three-module channel strip with a steampunk interface, built for aggressive character rather than clean processing. Mixland calls it "one terrifying channel strip"; it was designed by mix engineer Jesse Ray Ernster.

VCA compression: based on "a never-before modeled piece of analog gear"; reviewers describe a Threshold dial, a wet/dry mix wheel and fast/slow attack and release switches, with a piston that shows the gain reduction.
Saturation and distortion: switchable even- or odd-order harmonics, with transfer-function and sinusoidal distortion modes, driven from a single control that goes from fuzz to distortion.
EQ: discrete-modeled low and high shelves (boosts), low- and high-pass filters, and a midrange Shape control for presence.
Oversampling: optional, for cleaner saturation.
Interface: animated steampunk graphics (steam effects can be turned off) and an optional simplified Flat skin.

The current version is 1.0.8. A free 7-day trial is available, and the developer's store had it on sale.

Source: Mixland product page

When to use it

Steamdriver is the pick when a track needs to be squeezed and dirtied in one place, not polished. Compared with an SSL-style strip such as SSL 4K G or bx_console SSL 4000 E, it has far fewer controls and much more colour, and its EQ is a broad tone shaper rather than a precise mixing EQ. It is closer in spirit to Decapitator, but adds VCA compression and filters in the same window. Next to Scheps Omni Channel or Neutron 5 it is a single-character effect rather than a complete mixing tool, which also keeps it cheap.

Best for: adding grit, presence and punch to drums, bass, guitars, piano and buses.
Genres: rock, hip-hop, electronic and metal.
Look elsewhere if: you need a transparent or faithful console channel strip (SSL 4K G, bx_console SSL 4000 E) or detailed EQ.
Tip: Tape Op found it worked well on sampled drums, acoustic and EBow guitars, piano and electric bass; turn off the animations if the interface feels sluggish.

What producers say

Reviewers like the sound and the attitude but are split on the interface.

MusicTech gave it 6/10, praising the "unique, fun and original user interface", the compression and the valve-like saturation, but found the EQ limited, the animations not smooth and the parameters too few for detailed tweaking.
Tape Op (Larry Crane) found it brought dull tracks to life and handled dynamic vocals well, but noted it is "on the overt side" and better for tracks or buses than full mixes.
Criticisms: controls that need tooltips to learn, and animations that can distract from listening.

Where to buy

Mixland: $19.99

Tutorials and reviews

Similar plugins

AIR Channel Strip by AIR Music Technology · Gate, compressor and EQ strip · $99
PSP InfiniStrip by PSP Audioware · Modular channel strip · $175
Filkchannel Strip MK2 by Kiive Audio · Modular vintage channel strip · $79
ChannelStrip MK3 by HoRNet · EQ and dual-dynamics channel strip · $66.99
NFuse by Kiive Audio · Dual-path hybrid bus processor · $99
EA-60 by Echelon Audio · VCA compressor · $39
dbx 160 Compressor / Limiter by Waves · VCA compressor · $29.99
dBComp by Analog Obsession · Drum compressor/limiter · Free
bx_console AMEK 200 by Brainworx · Console channel strip · $200
Edelweiss`72 by Black Rooster Audio · Mixing and mastering channel strip · $79

All channel strips & consoles