How to Shape Guitar Tones in Minutes with a Channel Strip

Guitar tones have always been a cornerstone of music production. Whether it's the fiery punch of a rock anthem or the gentle strumming in an indie ballad, getting the right guitar tone can elevate a track from good to extraordinary.

Yet, the art of crafting the perfect guitar sound often involves diving into intricate gear setups and countless hours of tweaking.

The S-Quick Strip plugin was born from a genuine desire to simplify the process for musicians and producers. Crafting a refined guitar tone often involves navigating intricate setups or juggling multiple plugins. With the S-Quick Strip, we've distilled the essentials into an intuitive interface, making it easier than ever to capture the essence of a great guitar sound in just a few steps.

What Are Channel Strips?

Traditionally, in the world of analog mixing consoles, each channel where you plugged in an instrument had a dedicated strip. This strip contained essential audio processors like EQs, compressors, and sometimes even effects like reverbs or delays. The purpose? To shape the sound of that particular instrument to fit perfectly in the mix.

Fast forward to the digital age, and plugins like the S-Quick Strip emulate these very classic channel strips 9of course with our modern usability 😉), giving producers the power of a full-fledged recording console right at their fingertips.

But what sets the S-Quick Strip apart is its great analog style sound but with an intuitive design. This guide will go over how to use the S-Quick Strip for mixing guitars quickly!

Quick Guide to Shaping Your Guitar Tone with S-Quick Strip

Setting the Input

Your guitars input to any channel strip is the starting point to how all of your processing will sound, so getting this right is crucial:

Polarity Flip: Essential when dealing with phase issues, especially if you've used multiple mics to record your guitar. This button can help ensure all signals work together cohesively and aren't fighting against eachother.
Gain: Turn this knob to add or reduce the level of your guitar. A touch of gain can add warmth and fullness.
Saturation: Switch between two flavors of saturation. 'Off' gives a gentle coloring, while 'On' offers a denser, brighter saturation, perfect for bringing out character.
Highpass Filter: Engage this when you want to eliminate any low-end rumble. Especially useful for electric guitars where you want to focus on mid and high frequencies.

EQing Your Guitar

EQ is your tool to chisel out frequencies and mold your guitar’s tone:

High Frequency: Use the bell curve at 2kHz for specific boosts or cuts, and the shelf at 8kHz for a general lift or reduction in the higher frequencies. 8K is commonly a great way to add brightness to distorted guitar tones.
Low Frequency: The bell at 200Hz can help address muddiness or body, while the shelf at 120Hz can add or remove overall warmth.

Compressing for Impact

Compression is the glue that can tie your guitar sound together, especially great for clean guitar sounds.

Threshold: Use this knob to determine how much of your signal gets compressed. This ensures your guitar sits well in the mix and has consistent dynamics.
Auto Makeup: Engage this when using heavy compression to automatically compensate for volume drop, keeping your guitar front and center. This also is great for "listening" to the compression only, and not the change in signal volume that normally comes with compression.

Designing the Transient

Shape the attack and punch of your guitar:

One-knob Control: Turn clockwise for a punchier sound, emphasizing the attack of each strum or pluck. Turn counter-clockwise to soften the sound, useful for rhythm guitars or mellower parts.

Fine-Tuning with Extra Controls

Your final touches to make the tone uniquely yours:

Saturation Mix: Dial between the wet (processed) and dry (unprocessed) signal to blend in just the right amount of saturation.
Compressor Sidechain: Preserve the clarity of your guitar's low end by letting it pass through the compressor unaffected.
Input/Output Gain: Ensure your final sound is neither too loud nor too quiet, making it mix-ready.

Practical Examples: Crafting Guitar Tones for Different Genres

Guitar tones can vary widely depending on the genre, and while there's no one-size-fits-all, the S-Quick Strip provides the tools to achieve the sound you need for whatever you’re working on. Here are some genre-specific approaches to consider:

Rock

The electric guitar is often the lifeblood of rock. Here's how to give it that iconic edge:

Input: Increase the gain for warmth and engage the bright saturation to bring out the bite.
EQ: Boost the bell curve at 2kHz to emphasize the mid-range grit. A slight lift on the 8kHz shelf can add sparkle to solos and overall brightness. Engage the low bell or shelf to clear out room for the bass guitar.
Compressor: Set the threshold to ensure consistent dynamics, making your guitar punch through the mix.
Transient: Turn slightly clockwise to enhance the attack, especially for rhythm guitars.

Jazz

Jazz guitars require a smooth, warm tone:

Input: Opt for a moderate gain setting and keep saturation off for a clean sound.
EQ: Use the bell at 200Hz to add some body. A gentle reduction on the 8kHz shelf can tame excessive brightness if needed.
Compressor: Set a subtle threshold. You want dynamics, but with a smooth, controlled feel. This can help accent some quieter notes that may not come through as well.
Transient: Turn counter-clockwise for a softer attack, fitting for those intricate jazz chord progressions that aren’t meant to be rhythmic.

Acoustic/Folk

For genres that use an acoustic guitar:

Input: Keep the gain at a neutral setting. Use the softer saturation mode for just a touch of character.
EQ: A slight boost with the bell at 200Hz can enrich the body. Use the 8kHz shelf for clarity and sparkle, especially for fingerpicking styles.
Compressor: Ensure the guitar's dynamics are even, but not overly compressed. Preserve the instrument's natural resonance.
Transient: Keep close to the center, adjusting slightly based on whether you want more definition or a softer strumming sound. This can help tame or enhance the pick attack!

Conclusion

The versatility of the S-Quick Strip makes it an indispensable asset for producers, musicians, and songwriters alike. Whether you're sculpting the roaring lead of a rock anthem or the delicate strums of an acoustic ballad, this plugin ensures that your vision translates seamlessly into sound.

Remember to keep these 2 things in mind:

Experiment with different settings.
Trust your ears.

This isn’t meant to be a definitive guide of how to mix guitars, just a quick reference for those looking to start learning! Always be open to trying new things because that is often how the most unique sounds come about.

If you’re interested in getting the S-Quick Strip, check it out here!