When it comes to music production, we’ve become so exclusively reliant on software that it becomes difficult to know where to start in the analogue domain. Let’s take a look at some of the best budget 500 series modules that can become essential tools in your setup.
The 500 series format does not have the high voltage capacity of 19-inch rack gear, which puts a ceiling on the headroom and dynamic range you can achieve with these units. However, 500 series modules still provide a compact and comparably affordable solution for recording and mixing.
Choosing the Best Budget 500 Series Modules
If you’re just starting out with 500 series gear, it’s important to plan your setup according to your workflow and give yourself enough room to upgrade, as you may want to swap out or acquire additional modules in the future.
Selecting the right 500-series chassis is essential, as you might require D-SUB or digital outputs, and there is a wide range of casings available.
The Best Budget 500 Series Modules: dbx 560A
In the 1990s, you couldn’t go into a professional studio without finding at least two of the dbx 160A compressors in the outboard racks. The 560A brings this versatile processor to the 500-series format.
All the important features remain, including selectable OverEasy and Hard Knee settings and inverse-compression ratio modes. Overall, the 560A offers great value for home recording and it’s useful for live sound applications too.
The Best Budget 500 Series Modules: Fredenstein Artistic Compressor Plus
If you need to level vocals, bass, or guitars on the way in, the Artistic Compressor Plus is a great value solution. It’s an 1176-style FET compressor with gain-reduction metering and an adjustable sidechain filter that also has an external mode.
The mix knob lets you control the degree of processed signal you want, and these modules are also stereo linkable which makes them even more versatile. Easily one of the best-value compressor modules in this price range.
The Best Budget 500 Series Modules: SSL SiX Channel
Our pick of the bunch is the SSL SiX Channel, a complete 500-series channel strip modeled on the SiX range of desktop mixers. You get a mic pre, EQ, compressor, and DI, all in one very well-priced module.
Both the preamp and compressor have LED metering, and the two EQ bands are switchable, providing shelf or bell functionality. Although it might be limited compared to high-end channel strips, the SiX Channel still gives you an excellent front end for the price.
The Best Budget 500 Series Modules: SPL TDx
With the endless transient processor plug-ins available, maybe it’s time to get some analogue hardware for shaping your drums, percussion, and acoustic guitars. The TDx front panel gives you attack, sustain, output attenuation, and mix controls.
This means you can add an aggressive bite to the sound without processing the entire signal. Overall, an excellent mixing tool to add to your 500-series rack for music production.
The Best Budget 500 Series Modules: Cranborne Audio Camden 500
The Camden 500 is a versatile preamp module with over 68 dB of gain on tap and two distinctive saturation circuits for sweetening vocals, guitars, and drums.
In addition, the Cranborne 500 has a DI input conveniently placed on the front panel, and an 80 Hz high-pass filter. Getting a vintage sound on a budget is often a myth sold by many manufacturers, so it’s rare to find gear of this nature.
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