We all want to use the equipment the pro's use when mastering our tracks. However, most of us don't have the tens of thousands of dollars needed to acquire all of that vintage equipment. Enter the Focusrite Liquid Mix. If you want your masters to sound like you've just recorded at a multi-million dollar studio - the Liquid Mix is for you.
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Liquid Mix is a revolutionary Liquid multi-channel Firewire Mix processor, which allows a massive amount of quality vintage processing to be inserted into your DAW. It uses patented dynamic convolution (the digital part of The Liquid Channel) to emulate classic Compressors and EQs. The Liquid Mix appears as multiple plug-ins within your sequencer and can be used to process up to 32 channels simultaneously. Each |
Liquid Mix uses the same patented Dynamic Convolution process as Focusrite's Liquid Channel. Unlike standard convolution techniques, Dynamic Convolution utilizes vast processing power to sample the effect of a classic processor on a series of audio pulses, at many different gain settings and frequencies. In Liquid Mix, all this processing is done using onboard DSP, so the processing has almost no effect on your computer's own CPU. |
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"I love the Liquid Mix for mastering. I can add the plug-in, then sit back, listen, focus and adjust settings with the controller in my lap...I also love the control surface. It's really well built, has solid construction and a nice small footprint on my desk."
Recording Magazine,
May 2007
Justin Peacock |
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Key Features
- One of a kind - any Compressor and EQ in history
Dynamic convolution delivers 20 classic EQs and 40 compressors, with more online.
- The finest classic and vintage emulations
Liquid technology is considered by many to deliver the finest vintage and classic emulations.
- Onboard DSP
32 Channels of Liquid Mix Compression and EQs run off Liquid Mix`s own DSP - many more than are possible with CPU alone.
- Software and Hardware control
EQ and Compression can be applied via a hands-on control surface, or within your DAW application via a simple GUI.
- Hybrid Super EQ creation
Unique 7-band super EQs can be created, constructed from separate classic EQ sections of your choosing.
- Desktop Metering
Large format LED bar-graphs mean ergonomic display of levels and processor impact.
- Optional Expansion Card
An optional DSP expansion card is available to increase the maximum channel count at higher sample rates.
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Liquid Mix's DSP is housed within an elegant desktop control solution and connects to the computer via Firewire, which also provides bus-powering. The physical metering, screen, rotary controls and buttons on the hardware help to provide a tactile ergonomic solution, placing the sounds of an array of high quality vintage processors at your fingertips. You can choose to control each channel either from the desktop control unit, or from within the sequencer, using a simple GUI that functions exactly like a plug-in.
An optional expansion card is available for Liquid Mix, allowing users to increase the number of available channels at higher sample rates (sold separately). The card is quick and easy to install and fits neatly into the underside of the unit. |
"I can tell you that if you want awesome sounding compressors and EQs that really add to your tracks, Liquid Mix satisfies. Each EQ and compression emulation has a distinct quality and vibe with tons of high class (read expensive) character. When it comes to sound quality, Liquid Mix serves up one tall, cool drink of vintage champagne."
Future Music Magazine,
December 2006
Kent Carmical
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one of these 32 (mono) plug-ins can be a different compressor and hybrid EQ, chosen from a list of 40 compressors and 20 EQs with more online, each powered and controlled by the Liquid Mix hardware. Additionally, each of these VST/AU/RTAS effects work within all major audio applications, including Pro Tools.
The Liquid Mix appears as and acts exactly like a plug-in, or multiple plug-ins, but all of the processing goes on in the hardware, using the onboard DSP. This is how you can have 32 instances of Liquid Mix (processing 32 channels) simultaneously in one session, whilst barely touching the host CPU. In fact, as dynamic convolution is such a complex process, your computer would struggle to run even one instance without the help of external DSP support.
Each of Liquid Mix's 32 channels provides Compressor and EQ emulations selected from a huge pool of high-quality vintage and modern day classics. 40 Compressors and 20 EQs are available straight out of the box, with an expanding library online. Furthermore, a totally unique hybrid 7-band super EQ can be built out of separate classic EQ sections in every one of the 32 channels. Each channel appears as a separate VST/AU/RTAS effect within the sequencer and will work within all major applications, including Pro Tools.
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The original Liquid Channel won a plethora of awards, and has been a worldwide hit in the audio production world, from project studios to post production and broadcast facilities, not to mention the Live arena. Liquid Mix complements the original, delivering dynamic convolution for use in the mix. Since The Liquid Channel's vast, elaborate and expensive analogue mic pre section is not required at mix down, Focusrite has been able to bring Liquid Technology to the masses at a much more accessible price.
 Liquid Mix Emulations.pdf
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Specifications
WINDOWS
Operating System
• VST, RTAS
• Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (Home, Professional, or Media Centre Edition) or Windows Vista (32 and 64bit) - OS Version subject change
• Min version of ProTools required - 7.0 if planning to use the included FXpansion (earlier versions will require the full Fxpansion VST wrapper.)
Computer
• Windows® XP compatible PC (Pentium© 4 2GHz or higher recommended)
• 400Mb/s IEEE1394/FireWire port (OHCI compliant recommended)
• DVD drive required for Installation
CPU/Clock
• 1.4 GHz Intel or compatible
• 2.0 GHz Pentium© 4 or Xeon recommended
Memory (RAM)
• 256MB or more
• 512MB or higher recommended
APPLE MAC
Operating System
• AU, VST, RTAS
• Mac OS X Panther (10.3.9 or later) - OS Version subject change
• Min version of Logic required - Logic 7.1, but 7.2 highly recommended
• Min version of ProTools required - 7.0 if planning to use the included FXpansion (earlier versions will require the full Fxpansion VST wrapper.)
Computer
• Apple Mac Power PC G4, G5 or Intel Mac (any)
CPU/Clock
• G4/800 MHz (minimum)
• G4/1.5GHZ or higher recommended
Memory (RAM)
• 256MB or more
• 512MB or higher recommended
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Firewire chipsets from TI (Texas Instruments), VIA, and NEC are recommended
• It is highly recommended that Liquid Mix be run on its own Firewire bus/card
• In order to use Liquid Mix with a 4-pin IEEE1394 port you will need a 4-pin to 6-pin cable (not included) and must use the PSU (included)
• AMD users please read some special compatibility information here.
Latency
Due to the round trip transmission which is required on the firewire bus, a delay equal to 2 x the audio buffer size + 8 samples is incurred. This sample delay results in different amounts of time delay depending upon sampling frequency. With a DAW buffer size of 1024 samples (ie, Liquid Mix latency of 2056 samples), the Liquid Mix latency is as follows:
• 47 ms @ 44.1kHz
• 43 ms @ 48kHz
• 23 ms @ 88.2kHz
• 21 ms @ 96kHz
• 11 ms @ 192kHz
With a DAW buffer size of 256 samples (ie, Liquid Mix latency of 520 samples), the Liquid Mix latency is as follows:
• 12 ms @ 44.1kHz
• 11 ms @ 48kHz
• 6 ms @ 88.2kHz
• 5 ms @ 96kHz
• 3 ms @ 192kHz
Sequencer compatibility
Liquid Mix operates as VST, AU, or as a RTAS-wrapped VST within compatible hosts.
Cubase 4 on Intel Macs does not support VST 2.3 plugins. If you want to use Liquid Mix with Cubase 4 on an Intel Mac, you must install the Liquid Mix 2.4 VST plugins available separately on the Liquid Mix downloads page.
Optional Expansion Card details
The card is suitable for those people interested in operating at sample rates of 88.2 or higher. The channel count increases as follows:
Channel Counts:
• 44.1kHz/48kHz: 32 channels mono, (16 stereo) unexpanded. No change with expansion card
• 88.2/96kHz: 8 channels mono, (4 stereo) unexpanded. Expansion card provides 16 mono / 8 stereo
• 176.4/192kHz: 2 channels mono, (1 stereo) unexpanded. Expansion card provides 8 mono / 4 stereo
Weight
• 0.8kg
• 1.76lbs
Dimensions
• 220mm (W) x 28 - 45mm (H - front to rear) x 152mm (D)
• 8.66" (W) x 1.1" - 1.77" (H - front to rear) x 5.98" (D)
* IMPORTANT INFORMATION: FOCUSRITE, the FF logo, LIQUID TECHNOLOGY, LIQUID MIX CONTROL and the LIQUID MIX logo are trademarks of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd. DYNAMIC CONVOLUTION is a trademark of Sintefex Ltd. All other product names, trademarks, or trade names are the names of their respective owners, which are in no way associated, connected nor affiliated with Focusrite or its LIQUID MIX product and which have not endorsed Focusrite's LIQUID MIX product. These other product names, trademarks, and trade names are used solely to identify and describe the third party products the sonic behaviour of which was studied for the LIQUID MIX product, and to accurately describe the functionality of the Liquid Mix product. The Liquid Mix product is an independently engineered technology which utilises the patented process of Dynamic Convolution to actually measure examples of the sonic impact of original analogue products upon an audio stream, so as to electronically emulate the performance of the original product studied. The result of this process is subjective and may not be perceived by a user as producing the same effects as the original products studied. |
Focusrite Liquid Mix
