Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip: Analog-Style Channel Strip Plugin by Universal Audio

The plugin models three sections of the original hardware: the tube amplifier, the optical compressor and the four-band EQ. Universal Audio says the tube stage reproduces the hardware's line and mic preamp impedance, gain staging and circuit behavior.

The compressor is described as transparent, suited to gentle control rather than heavy squash or crunch. Because it can be stacked again at mixdown, it is useful for holding a vocal in a dense mix.

The four-band EQ can be placed before or after the compressor, and the mid bands can be engaged as sidechain filters. A 32k high-frequency "air" band adds top-end shimmer to strings, background vocals and acoustic guitar.

Unison technology lets you track in real time through the plugin when using an Apollo interface, so vocals and bass can be recorded through the emulated preamp. Without Apollo hardware, the plugin runs as UAD Native on your computer.

The product includes mix presets from engineers Eric J Dubowsky, Hector Delgado and Michael Brauer, whose credits include Flume, Odesza, A$AP Rocky, Lana Del Rey and Coldplay. The presets give a starting point that you can adjust for your own material.