Doug Turkel
Liz Atherton
Joel Snyder
Tom Antonellis
Marc Preston
The Heritage Audio BritStrip combines a 73-style preamp, British-style EQ, and diode-bridge compressor into a vibe-infused, single-rackspace unit. This channel strip boasts a transparent passive design to minimize insertion loss, with top-level components to ensure the best sound possible. The BritStrip’s preamp delivers a classic “British Iron” sound with up to +80dB of input gain, and its 3-band EQ nails the sonics and behavior of revered British-style units. And when you fire up its compressor, your tracks will gain a studio-quality polish, with incredible weight and color. The BritStrip’s 24-step detented output provides rock-solid stereo imaging when using the built-in stereo link to pair it with another unit. If you’re in need of an amazing-sounding analog front end for your DAW, Sweetwater highly recommends the BritStrip from Heritage Audio.
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73-style preamp section delivers classic “British Iron”
The BritStrip’s preamp section is based around a 3-stage Class A 73-style circuit. High-quality components such as Styroflex and tantalum capacitors ensure top-level sound, while Carnhill transformers inject everything you run through it with a healthy dose of “British Iron.” Up to +80dB of input gain is enough to satisfy your output-hungry dynamic and ribbon mics, while selectable input impedance tailors the BritStrip’s input stage to your low-output microphones. And extra-loud sources will benefit from a -20dB pad. You also get +48V phantom power for your condenser mics, a problem-solving polarity reverse function, and a line-level mode that makes re-amping pre-recorded tracks a breeze. At Sweetwater, we’ve used this function to add vibe and character to clinical-sounding recordings. The BritStrip’s preamp section also includes a high-impedance JFET DI input that’s guaranteed to add muscle to your bass and guitar tracks.
EQ section includes three bands of tone shaping
British-style inductor equalizers are easily the industry’s most revered, and the BritStrip’s EQ nails the sonics and behavior of these legendary units. This characterful 3-band EQ injects your tracks with clarity, sheen, warmth, punch, and air using the classic curves that you’ve heard on countless studio recordings. The high band includes +/-16dB of shelving, selectable at 10kHz, 12kHz, or 16kHz. The low band includes +/-16dB of shelving, selectable at 60Hz, 110Hz, or 220Hz. Both the high band and low band have selectable shelving/peak filter types. The semi-parametric mid band includes +/-18dB of peaking with switchable Q, selectable at 0.36kHz, 0.7 kHz, 1.6 kHz, 3.2 kHz, 4.8 kHz, or 7.2kHz. You also get a highpass filter, selectable at 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, or 300Hz. No matter what you run through it, the BritStrip’s EQ is guaranteed to make it sound its best.
Diode-bridge compressor section yields colorful dynamics
Like it was plucked from the heart of a British-style console, the BritStrip’s compression section reins in out-of-control dynamics, while infusing your tracks with muscular weight and ear-pleasing color. This comp boasts a tried-and-true diode-bridge topology, along with an impressive array of engineer-friendly features. Dialing in the BritStrip’s compressor is a cinch, thanks to intuitive controls for threshold and makeup gain. A button lets you toggle your attack speed between ultra-fast (great for slamming drums) and slow (ideal for gluing a mix together) with a single touch of your finger. Release values range from 50ms to 400ms, plus you get a super-useful automatic mode. A sidechain filter makes it easy to keep excessive frequencies from unbalancing your mix, and a blend control supplies dead-simple parallel compression. You also get an external sidechain input and a top-quality gain reduction meter. To top it off, the BritStrip’s compressor can be inserted before or after its EQ.
Heritage Audio BritStrip Features:
- 1-channel British-flavored channel strip with preamplifier, equalizer, and compressor
- Transparent passive design minimizes insertion loss
- 24-step detented output provides rock-solid stereo imaging when using the built-in stereo link
- 73-style preamp delivers a classic “British Iron” sound with up to +80dB of input gain
- Selectable input impedance adapts to your low-output microphones
- -20dB pad accommodates extra-loud sources
- +48V phantom power for your condenser microphones
- Polarity reverse function solves phase-alignment issues
- Line-level mode makes re-amping prerecorded tracks a breeze
- High-impedance JFET DI input for electric guitars and basses
- 3-band inductor EQ nails the sonics and behavior of revered British-style units
- High band includes +/-16dB of shelving, selectable at 10kHz, 12kHz, or 16kHz
- Low band includes +/-16dB of shelving, selectable at 60Hz, 110Hz, or 220Hz
- High and low bands have selectable shelving/peak filter types
- Semi-parametric mid band includes +/-18dB of peaking with switchable Q, selectable at 0.36kHz, 0.7 kHz, 1.6 kHz, 3.2 kHz, 4.8 kHz, or 7.2kHz
- Highpass filter, selectable at 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz, or 300Hz, makes short work of muddy sources
- Diode-bridge compressor reins in out-of-control dynamics while adding weight and color
- Intuitive controls for threshold and makeup gain make dialing in your settings easy
- Attack speed toggles between ultra-fast (great for slamming drums) and slow (ideal for gluing a mix together)
- Release values range from 50ms to 400ms, plus you get a super-useful automatic mode
- Sidechain filter makes it easy to keep excessive frequencies from unbalancing your mix
- Blend control supplies dead-simple parallel compression