In this video, I sit down and show you guys—from start to finish—how I’m recording vocals using a straight-up budget channel strip: the ART Pro Channel I snagged off OfferUp for $140. The whole point is to prove (again) you do not need to spend an arm and a leg to get a really high-quality vocal sound. I walk you through the exact vocal chain I’m using in real time so you can hear what’s happening and duplicate the ideas on your own setup, even if you’re not using the same exact gear. My chain here is the LEWITT RAY into the ART Pro Channel, then into the LEWITT Connect 2 interface. I show my actual settings and my philosophy: keep it simple and keep it subtle. I’m not chasing “noticeable” compression or EQ—because the minute you can clearly hear all that processing, in my opinion, that’s the minute you failed. I’m running a clean, transparent vibe (I’m not a gritty vocal guy), a low cut, light compression around a 2:1 ratio, and then a little EQ—mostly subtractive with a touch of high shelf to add brightness and help it cut in the mix. Then I record a vocal take so you can judge the results for yourself.