White Channel: Modern Channel Strip Plugin by IK Multimedia

The EQ section offers two circuit designs, Black and Brown, which can be switched on the fly. As in the British Channel, the low shelf EQ knob color reflects the selected mode.

The gate-expander and dynamics section is built for flexible routing. It can be placed before or after the EQ, or used in sidechain mode with the EQ or filter section. Placing compression before or after EQ changes how the compressor responds, because it reacts to different frequencies depending on the order. Boosting a lot of low end before compressing is one way to change how the track behaves.

The developer says the design has a more modern approach to bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio than its vintage sibling.

The gate section is aimed at keeping noisy tracks under control. A common use is drum kits recorded with multiple microphones, where bleed between adjacent channels, such as toms, can be reduced to a more manageable level while keeping enough of it for the kit to sound full.

With more extreme settings, the gate can cut tails or low-level noise abruptly. The developer also highlights its use on percussive tracks to bring out a sharp attack and snap.

The developer notes that many Hip Hop and R&B hits were made on the console this processor is based on, and positions the extended bandwidth for drums, guitars, bass and other tracks that need a full set of controls in one module.