I've been playing with the new
6050 channel strip, and it's pretty awesome. I find it better thought-out than Slate's VMR, and certainly the number of modules you get makes it well worth investigating -- 28 separate EQ, dynamics, and saturation models are included, any three of which can be mixed and matched within a 500-style rack.
All the modules are fun to try -- the cool thing is that after you dial in a usable setting with one model, you can click through the choices, keeping the same general settings, to find the one that works the best on the track. Most of the modules are inspired by actual hardware -- there are Neve-ish and SSL-ish EQs, 1176 and LA2A-style comps, etc. -- but there are no official emulations of any particular unit. Just a bunch of different flavors, all of which are nicely implemented.
The best part is the CPU hit: next to nothing. I'm amazed that with EQ, compression, and saturation plugins all going at once, the plugin uses so little resources. Easily usable on all tracks in a mix. Looks like another winner from McDSP.
The best price I've seen is $172.79 from
everyplugin.com.
PluginDiscounts.com has it for $173.99. A mere $6.17 per module!
Cheers,
Eddie