PRODUCT
TESTS
Heritage Audio BritStrip Recording Channel
By Andrew Leyenhorst
In their mission statement , Spain-based designer and manufacturer Heritage Audio claims that its aim is to “ bring back the golden age of recording and adapt it to 21 st century studios .” Living up to its name , Heritage has become quite reputable among engineers for its high-quality studio gear that successfully celebrates the iconic sounds and aesthetics of vintage recording classics , while delivering modern functionality and versatility .
The most recent offering from Heritage is the BritStrip , an aptly-dubbed British-style channel strip based on the timeless 1073 preamp and EQ , augmented by a diode bridge compressor inspired by Heritage ’ s own Successor stereo compressor . Let ’ s walk through the signal path .
At the front end , the BritStrip ’ s 73-style three-stage Class-A preamp offers up to 80dB of gain with a 20dB pad , + 48V phantom power , phase reversal , and switchable impedance for 1,200- or 300-ohm input . The circuit also boasts custom Carnhill input and output transformers that contribute to its vintage tone , while the preamp additionally features a discrete JFET DI with a passive throughput for added convenience .
Next up is the three-band inductor-based EQ suite , comprising a +/ -16dB high shelf detented to 10 , 12 , or 16kHz ; a semi-parametric mid-band offering 18dB of boost or cut at 0.36 , 0.7 , 1.6 , 3.2 , 4.8 , or 7.2kHz , with a Hi-Q switch to slightly widen the selected band ; and a +/ -16dB low shelf selectable to 60 , 110 , or 220Hz . The high and low bands can be further tailored by their respective Peak buttons , which offer a more bell-shaped response than the default shelves . The EQ section is also home to a high-pass filter that can be set to 50 , 80 , 160 , or 300Hz .
At the end of the chain ( or the middle , should you engage the Pre-EQ option ) lies the BritStrip ’ s diode bridge compressor , perhaps the feature of this unit in which Heritage have most tightly embraced modernity . Ratios of 1.5:1 , 2:1 , 4:1 , 6:1 , and 10:1 are available to users , with two button-switchable attack speeds on tap as well as a release parameter that can be dialed up anywhere from 50 to 400 milliseconds , or set to track automatically . Threshold and makeup gain are also user-controlled , plus the compressor features an external sidechain input and an accompanying filter . A stereo Link button also allows two BritStrips to be chained together for stereo dynamics processing . Finally , the Blend knob allows for easy parallel processing right on the strip .
The back face of the unit features the power jack , the line output , the sidechain ’ s send and return , and one each of separate mic and line level XLR inputs .
On paper ( and even to the eyes ), the BritStrip delivers functionality in abundance , offering a complete tracking solution in one sleek unit . Let ’ s move onto how it performs .
The moment I first brought up a mic , the BritStrip greeted me with instant familiarity ; from the satisfying chunky click of the big red detented gain pot as I turned it up , to the unmistakably British tonal character of the preamp , this feels and sounds like a classic piece . That being said , be prepared to take a few moments to have a good look at this thing before you start playing with it , as there are a lot of controls packed into a small amount of space .
Build-wise , this 1U rackmount unit is exceptionally solid and bears a fairly modest footprint based on what you ’ d expect , so it ’ s quite easy to bring with you on its own for travelling sessions , and doesn ’ t take up all your desk space if unracked . The potentiometers on the strip all handle very nicely , and feel similar in your hands to a vintage 1073 ; again , instant familiarity .
Sonically , the BritStrip takes it s wealth of features and uses them to create an abundance of joy in the engineer ’ s chair . Even before delving into the EQs and dynamics , the preamp in and of itself is a treat . Vocals , for starters , are everything you ’ d hope for in a 73-style pre , with a rich and controlled low-midrange , present and focused highmidrange for intelligibility , and gorgeous high-end presence that cuts through the air like a pleasant fall breeze , regardless of the performer ’ s dynamics .
The preamp also shines on loud guitar cabinets , and the EQ really benefits guitar recordings as well , especially when tracking high-gain tones . The 1.6kHz band in the midrange notably helped to bring forward crucial frequency information in my guitar recordings in a very transparent manner , especially when paired with a slight bump of the high shelf for air . I found the EQ to be phenomenal overall , as it ’ s quite dramatic without being distracting or sounding unnatural . It ’ s also worth noting how much character there is to the BritStrip ’ s saturation when pushed .
The compressor is also a lot of fun , and can be as transparent or as aggressive as you want ; the Blend knob is a great tool in this regard . On that note , of my favourite uses for the strip has been DI bass , which sounds pristine and utterly gigantic through this chain , especially once the compressor is dialled in . That being said , I also really liked the gluey feel it added to vocals and the subtle weight it added to guitars when dialed up appropriately .
Regardless of what I was tracking with the BritStrip , I enjoyed myself mightily for both the sonic and tactile experience afforded by the unit . The preamp , EQs , and compressor all sound great in their own right , and are even more powerful when used in conjunction . The BritStrip oozes vintage character in its look , feel , and most importantly , its killer sound .
Andrew Leyenhorst is a Niagara-based producer , engineer , mixer , and Assistant Editor at Professional Sound .
24 PROFESSIONAL SOUND