My biggest gripe about Fender Studio Pro...

[Slacknote]

My biggest gripe about Fender Studio Pro is that it's so darn good! I'll end up finding smaller and smaller issues to be bothered with, which then makes me feel like an utter prat. But you've brought this onto yourselves Fender (Presonus)!
I currently have two things I can't get my head around.

1. Why is it that you have buried such amazing EQs and compressors inside such a clumsy UI as Fat Channel? I just can't see the use case. Why would I not want those EQs and compressors to show up as separate EQ and Dynamics plugins? I hope it's just me. It took me years to discover them because they're so well hidden, and then I forgot about them again and still I haven't found a workflow that makes it easy to use them.
2. When I freeze a bus, why do I have do that twice? The first time it clips and then I have to adjust the fader, so the second time it doesn't.

But again: I feel like a prat even brining this up. Fender Studio Pro is one of the best things that ever happened to my!

 

[SwitchBack]

I can probably answer 1.: Fat Channel is the exact same channel strip you get in the StudioLive Series III mixers, with the exact same compressors etc. Keeping the Fat Channel as a unit in S1/SP allows tight integration between DAW and mixer where the DAW can control the mixer's Fat Channel settings and vice versa. It really makes the two work as one.

 

[Slacknote]

I can probably answer 1.: Fat Channel is the exact same channel strip you get in the StudioLive Series III mixers, with the exact same compressors etc. Keeping the Fat Channel as a unit in S1/SP allows tight integration between DAW and mixer where the DAW can control the mixer's Fat Channel settings and vice versa. It really makes the two work as one.

Ah yeah, so it's basically a free extra we get in the DAW but I wasn't intended for the DAW. Makes perfect sense.

 

[lokeyfly]

Hi Slacknote, I felt the same way as you on the Fat Ch. on a whole. However, after a buddy of mine purchased the Studio Live 16, SE MkIII, I now appreciate the integration Switchback is talking about with the Fatchannel, for recording, zero latency and returning to use that same channel strip afterwards. Thats a very powerful offering that the competition have a time matching (or even can).

Of course everything has its strengths, and there are some amazing 3rd party channel strips that are both efficient, visual as a channel strip, and such. Any channel strip typically lacks removing their processing or EQ sections, so try where you can to implement dedicated plugins on their own as you mentioned. They're typically more flexible on their own as well. Sometimes, at a cost of CPU, so use as needed.

Hey, would I like those vintage effects on the Fat channel to be accessible on their own? Yes, definately. You nailed it. Maybe in the future somethIng could happen that way. Cheers!

 

[Dave71]

I never felt like that about Fat Channel. It was clear at the top what I needed to click for what and it was well documented.

When it comes to channel strips by the way, I can highly recommend getting the free Analog Obesession Channev. It really has everything you need.

When you always need to adjust a fader after a failed render then maybe you are mixing too loud? I mean, it does happen to me too, but only occasionally and usually I will notice I am pushing things too hard. That's not a flaw in the software, it warns you and the same would happen in other DAWs if it clips.

 

[lokeyfly]

Yeah, I didnt understand #2 as well. You [as in anyone] should have a 1:1 equal relationship between what they monitor, and what they play back. That is, if one hasn't created some other monitor mix. Even if one does, they should always check the actual direct monitoring of that channel anyhow. That will be (and should be) 1:1. i.e. level, pan, and E.Q if using the same DSP and listening to the resultant recorded playback.

I have favorite 3rd party channel strips, but I have to say, sort of being force-fed the Fat channel, using it with my friend for shared songs, the Fat channel controls, and its compressors, are quite impressive. It would be nicer with a LPF, but the overall results are very nice. In other words, if one can't get it done with the Fat Channel, we'll then one probably cant get it done. I/we still have those favorites, but I've developed a respect for the "fat".

 

[Craig Anderton]

Why is it that you have buried such amazing EQs and compressors inside such a clumsy UI as Fat Channel? I just can't see the use case. Why would I not want those EQs and compressors to show up as separate EQ and Dynamics plugins?

You can - open a compressor like Brit Comp in the Fat Channel, with the other processors bypassed and Stacked Mode off. Now you see only the compressor's UI. Store the Preset and when it asks for a Subfolder, create one called Vintage Compressors or whatever. Do this for all the compressors and EQs you want to use.

To use these, in the Browser unfold Fat Channel, unfold Vintage Compressors, and your individual processors are ready to drag in.

 

[Davey]

The best thing about Fat Channel is its name.