Weiss Gambit Series for Console 1

The Weiss Gambit Series channel strip gives Console 1 users an entirely new way to play. Combined with other channel strips in the Console 1 ecosystem, Gambit Series gives sonically rich returns on investment. Deploy the SSL 4000 strip on the close mics of a drum kit and the Zener-Bender strip on the overheads and room mics. Drop the Weiss Gambit Series strip on the drum bus, utilizing some of that unique below-threshold compression to expose the details and tones between the hits. Then sit back and savor the sound.

The apex of mastering units since its launch in the 1990s, Weiss DS1-MK3 is an indispensable tool in studios around the world. Unrivaled versatility and incomparable sound quality have made it an essential ingredient in nearly every major record of the past two decades. While Weiss’ updates and improvements to DS1-MK3 have made it practically perfect, Softube + Weiss’s fully digital compressor/limiter/de-esser performs tasks that an analog unit couldn’t even dream of.

The renowned sonic qualities of Weiss Engineering’s EQ1—combined with its flexibility as either a Minimum Phase EQ, a Linear Phase EQ, or a Dynamic EQ—have made it the essential digital mastering equalizer since its release in 1996. The plug-in is a one-for-one, line-by-line code port of the original with state-of-the-art bonus features that give it increased functionality over the original algorithms, 32-bit / 192 kHz operation, and updated ergonomics.

Softube’s exclusive partnership with Weiss Engineering comes with some pretty sweet perks. In creating the Gambit Series, we had the opportunity to work in collaboration with Daniel Weiss himself. Together we created features for the channel strip that make it a powerful mixing tool that can also be used for mastering. Features such as high/low pass filters, gate, expander, below-threshold compression, surgical equalizing, compressor, and limiter.

The most blow-your-mind component of the Gambit Series channel strip has to be below-threshold compression. As with any traditional compressor, above threshold refers to the dynamics processing for audio exceeding the set threshold. The below threshold, therefore, concerns the effect on the audio below the set threshold, as with a common gate or expander. So it follows that normal compression and expansion are called “above-threshold compression” and “below-threshold expansion." Gambit Series for Console 1 isn’t your everyday channel strip, though. It offers below-threshold compression and all the other gate, expander compression, and limiter features. Whoa, right?

Softube & Weiss: Meeting of the Minds

Weiss has been a pioneer in digital audio equipment design since 1979. That’s when Weiss founder, Daniel Weiss, joined Willi Studer AG in Switzerland as an engineer. In 1985, Weiss struck out on his own and founded Weiss Engineering with a focus on pioneering digital audio equipment for mastering studios. The result of that endeavor is now legend.

Softube’s relationship with Weiss started in 2008 when we were first introduced to Daniel Weiss. Despite having so many guiding principles in common, it wasn’t until 2015 that we got serious about working together. Three years—and some blood, sweat, and tears—later, the Softube + Weiss DS1-MK3 plug-in was unveiled to great fanfare. And the tradition continues.

Learn more about our partnership with Weiss.

Input section

Low noise and super smooth, the input section features the 12 dB low-cut and 6 dB high-cut filters from the EQ1. Just like the original EQ1, every parameter is discrete, but with hundreds of steps that make it easy to dial in exact settings.

Shape section

The Shape section of the Weiss Gambit Series works below the threshold. You can do normal expanding/gating, but it's also possible to do below-threshold compression. With below-threshold compression, you can enhance the soft sounds without affecting the loud sounds to, for example, bring out the tail of a reverb or the room sound of a drum bus, or get more legato in an electric bass without affecting the punch of it.

Equalizer section

The EQ consists of the Weiss EQ1 in Low Latency mode without any dynamics. All four bands have a full range of frequency and the same cut/boost range as the original: -39 dB to +18 dB. The low and high bands have a fixed Q-range but selectable Cut, Peaking, and Shelving (Cut, Bell, and Shelf on Console 1). The two mid bands work exactly like the EQ1 bands in Peaking mode with the same extreme Q-Range of 0.2 – 650 as the original unit.

Compressor section

The Compressor is the same as the Weiss DS1 with a limited feature set, just like the Weiss Compressor/Limiter plug-in. The ratio goes from 1:1 to 1000:1 and has an attack time as short as 0.02 ms. Pretty cool, if you ask us.

Drive & Character section

How do you make a Drive for a super-clean unit? Well, it's not a drive so much as the Limiter from the DS1 and Weiss MM-1. Use the Drive knob to increase the gain into the Limiter thereby limiting all signals above 0 dB. The Character lets you select between the three limiter types: original DS1, enhanced Type 1, and enhanced Type 2.