A channel stip has a preamp, EQ and Compressor,but would it be better to spend more money on just a preamp. I'm only really looking for one channel which is what i'll use to record vocals. R & B type of stuff. It would seem paying for a channel strip you paying for all three - pre, eq and compressor so you getting less quality if you wur to spend the same amount of money on just a preamp alone. I can always eq and compress afterwards or do you capture something that you can't do in post when eqing and compressing prior to recording it.