Joemeek OneQ Studio Channel Strip

Designed with an unconventional compression system, this channel strip is intended to produce a more realistic and livelier sound than the average strip.

Overall User Ratings (based on 20 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(20) (see rating details)
Submitted December 5, 2005 by a customer from djbakedpotato.com

JoeMeek OneQ Pre Customer Review

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
600 is very steep, a good alternative is the ART Pro channel which I also own, it retails for far less and has a channelpath that includes a compresser, limiter, and de-esser. Each dynamic effect can be used seperatly as an insert too. What you pay for here is a very unique way to color your sound. I have used the oneq most recently for an R&B project with many vocal layers, its great to process everything before it gets to the computer so I have nice fat takes, that require no dyanamic processing. Also, this thing just kicks ass for recording bass directly, I use a countryman DI, with XLR input to the Oneq allong with the Iron switch and enhancer to get a nice ammount of distortion that, may I say, sounds a little TUBE>
Sound
Whats great about this Preamp is that it can both sound very clean and direct but it can also be colored very nicely for recording bass and gritty vocals. If calbrated correctly and with confidence you most likely will not have to apply equalization or compression after the recording. The digital output allows the Joemeek to be be the wordclock master for my studio, which audbily increased the quality of sound.
Features
I like the meequalizer the best, it is so touchy and boosting freequencies usually enhaces the sound vs. other "passive equalizers" The compressor is non-traditional as well in that the compression ratio seems to be variable dependant on how hard the threshold is being hit. I like the adjustable attack and release functions there. The de-esser is good, but cannot be used excessively becuse more-often it tends to hamper the sound with very harsh sibalance reduction even at the lowest setting. I'm not sure about what exactly the enhancer does, at first I thought it was a sort-of harmonizer, but it seems to be more of an additive eq that is triggered dynamically. Its great for adding fuzz to bass. One thing that is not clarified to well in the manual is the additional input for the digital A/D convererters. On the back there is a quarter inch that feeds the other half of the stereo digital signal. I found this to be a great surprise in that I can now utilize both of my s/pidif input channels. In this as well as other ways the oneq is setup to be linked with a second for stereo processing.
Quality
I was first suprised by how light this unit is, how many tubes are in there anyway. The Vu meter is delcate and rattles in the housing.
Manufacturer Support
The manual is written poorly and flamboyently, not once is the function of the "Iron" button discuseed. In my experience the with "iron enganged" the amp has more gain, and larger range of distortion, that can be applied sutbtly and with extreme.

Musical Background:

Live engineer, aspiring producer, electronic artist with 7 years exp.

Musical Style:

Trip-Hop, R&B, Funk, Downtepo
9 of 10 people (90%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted May 29, 2009 by a customer from gmail.com

"The vocal processor/preamp for $700 that worths at least $1,500!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
a little bit complicated at first, but has a wide variety of options with bypass in each section; many useful additional buttons for better setup; i think i will keep this unit!
Sound
The range of sound quality after being processed through this unit varies and can get surprising. Anything in range from dull to extremely bright. I have not yet tried to plug it with S/PDIF, but i will surely try to do so tomorrow! Sounds much better then my old DBX 376 Channel Strip (this compressor is 0 on threshold mark lol). I did not like how de-esser knobs react when i turn them (i.e: de-esser kills all sibilants even on little amount applied, i guess it was designed to kill some of those after they are greatly enchanced/EQed early on);
Features
I love it for having many knobs, especially in the EQ section, since I have to tweak my mic's response (nice flexibility);
Ease of Use
everything is quite clear, except for the few buttons. once you have someone talking for you through the mic it becomes clear what they are while you switch them. finding the right setup and starting to feel the knobs levels takes time;
Quality
I have only used it for about 30 mins. i honestly cant put 10 because i did not get the sound i was looking for, but the physical ability of this unit showed me it is not a problem;
Value
I guess this unit worths the money asked for it. the other racks i feel appetite for cost about $2.500+
Manufacturer Support
i have no idea, i will give it an 8! :D
The Wow Factor
i love it, its sexy! i would add a brighter light to the VU-meter though..

Musical Background:

Active Artist, Recording Engeneer, Sound Producer

Musical Style:

"Dancehall", "Rap", "Ragga/Reggae"
2 of 2 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted May 30, 2009

"good unit"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
this is one of the best products i have owned it just works
Sound
this is maybe the most underated channelstrip on the market, WHY, i dont know but its a beast of a machine it kills budget gear like the eureka and art pro channel, it sounds just as good if not better than the avalon gear..
Features
full featured you get everything you need to make good music
Ease of Use
the compressor is very touchy, set the attack no more than 50ms for vocals as it gets crunchy after that point start at 100 and slowly work your way down till you get what you want.
Quality
built well solid it doesnt feel cheap the color is beautiful
Value
the best bang for buck around
Manufacturer Support
no need for it as of now
The Wow Factor
looks better than the avalon 737sp the color is awsome i love the reptilian green
3 of 3 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted June 18, 2008 by a customer from gmail.com

"A great product that will make your recordings shine."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Great product lots of options, and sounds wonderful pared with the right microphone - I am completely satisfied with my purchase.
Sound
I like it. Very airy but a bit of brittle high end comes into play with my Rode NT1A microphone. It is a great compressor and has a wonderful punch sound... I haven't tried out to many other products but I run this preamp with all of my tracks recorded. You can listen to my music and this preamp in work at: www.myspace.com/foundyesterday
Features
It is a full channel strip with a lot of different options / effects... I personally run almost all the options on each recording and tweak depending on the source.
Quality
I haven't opened it up to look inside - but it has held up well - and even if I did look inside I wouldn't know what to look for... It sounds great.
Value
I haven't tried other preamps in this area - so I assume the value is good - the lower quality preamps don't do anything that software plugins can't accomplish - this adds an analog quality to the recording.
The Wow Factor
This is the coolest looking gear on my rack down pat... the green and yellow shine and make my home studio look awesome.

Musical Background:

Home Studio Owner / Engineer, Active Musician

Musical Style:

Rock, Pop, Acoustic - my music: www.myspace.com/foundyesterday
8 of 8 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted January 28, 2008

"Best PreAmp Ive Ever used!!!.."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
If u want "sterile, lifeless" vocals, this unit is NOT for you, but those of you who want a true "warm thick airy" sound, do yourself a favor and BUY THIS UNIT NOW!!!!!!!
Sound
Warm, Thick, Presence, Airy, Buttery, Milky, Silky, Smooth, ..LOL..buy it and see for yourself...I upgraded from a Presonus Eureka to this unit, and the difference is night and day..By the way, ive only used this product for vocals, so i cant comment on anything else
Features
The "Iron" button makes your mic sound "airy and creamy"..
Ease of Use
Im not going to lie, it takes a bit getting use to the compressor..very very tricky...but when u figure it out, youre in heaven..
Quality
Make sure you purchase a digital audio coaxial cable to take full advantage of this unit..Huge difference in quality over using TRS analog plugs
Value
Lets put it like this, my friend owns a Avalon 737 and this unit KILLS it without a doubt..i think the avalon and the OneQ should switch price tags..lol..i would still buy it
Manufacturer Support
Never had any issues that i needed to contact support about...
The Wow Factor
Very nice green paint on the front panel..love it..dont let the internet pics fool you, it really looks nice..

Musical Background:

Recording Engineer

Musical Style:

Hip Hop, R&B, POP
13 of 15 people (87%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Please wait.