Mix with 32 simultaneous channels of historic compressors and EQs.
Each of Liquid Mix's 32 channels provides Focusrite-quality EQ and compressor emulations selected from a huge pool of high-quality vintage and modern day classics. 20 EQs and 40 Compressors 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.
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 all 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.
Every Liquid Mix channel uses dynamic convolution to provide 20 EQs and 40 compressors, with a free expanding library online.
Onboard DSP
32 Channels of Liquid Mix Compression and 32 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.
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.
LIQUID MIX VERSION 2 AVAILABLE NOW!
Brand-new version 2.0 software for your Liquid Mix is available as a free download from the Focusrite website. The software provides some extremely useful improvements and several solutions to popular requests from Liquid Mix users, including enhanced interaction between software and hardware, as well as expanded latency options.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (Home, Professional, or Media Centre Edition) or Windows Vista (32bit only)—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)
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 Requirements
AU, VST, RTAS compatible host
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
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 processors
AMD processors have unique compatibility requirements. Focusrite has determined it is definitely possible to run Liquid Mix on AMD processor-based PC computers. However some problems have been documented with AMD Dual Core 64-bit machines involving conflicts between a number of connected devices. For example, if you try to run a FireWire sound card and Liquid Mix on the same bus, you may experience CPU spiking, crashes, or poor performance of the FireWire devices themselves. Tests have revealed these problems can be avoided by running Liquid Mix on a separate PCI FireWire card. That is, it should have its own PCI or PCIe card which isn't shared by any other FireWire devices.
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
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
This thing is getting pretty old now, but I find that it still holds up well, even against newer plugins that offer the same types of emulations. The sound is still awesome, and having some extra tactile control while mixing is never bad. The LCD is a big plus too.
I've had some problems with Firewire bandwidth when using the Liquid Mix with a multi-channel Firewire audio interface though. On a desktop this is easily solved with an extra Firewire card, on a laptop its more of a problem.
However, these problems, and the fact that modern computer hardware is not in need of assistive processing anymore, have not stopped me from using this box on a daily basis. Especially at the price that these are going for now, you will not find ay combination of vintage EQ and compressor plugins with a dedicated hardware controller anywhere on the market.
Overall
Quality
Features
Value
Compare before you buy UAD-1
Posted by LosBoricuas from Staten Island, NY on Oct 1, 2007
I have a UAD-1 Ultra-Pak and Liquid Mix. If you only need vintage eq's and compressors, get Liquid Mix. Although UAD's user interface is much more intuitive (each emulation uses the gui of hardware, so a Pultec eq looks like Pultec and a Fairchild compressor looks like Fairchild), the instance count for UAD is much lower. You cannot get 32 compressors and eq's (effectively 64 effects) with one UAD card; you need at least two. Plus, if you need to take Liquid Mix with you, all you need is a Firewire card in another computer, instead of yanking out a PCI or PCIe card.
Don't get me wrong; I love my UAD1, and it has effects Liquid mix does not (multi-band compressor, reverbs, guitar amp simulators), but if you don't need it, get Liquid Mix.
Don't expect the plugins to sound exactly alike for both products, particularly because they aren't modeled after the same unit (e.g. UAD's Fairchild 670 models the unit with serial number 505, while Liquid models sn 530), and because Liquid Mix doesn't up-sample to 192k (UAD's "SE" versions of 1073 and 1176 don't either), so you will get better sound on some of the UAD plugs.
Liquid Mix is indispensable; high instance count, low price. Plus, as more emulations are created, you don't have to pay for them - you just download them. The stock configuration alone is worth more than twice the price.
Overall
Quality
Features
Value
Awesome!
Posted by Andrew @ Permanent Records from Vancouver, BC on Aug 29, 2007
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: post production engineer
Reviewer's Play Style: rock, blues, and a little thing I call love
It is a bit pricey, and there's no way to test it before you buy - a big turn off for those with shallow pockets. I picked one up because my computer can't handle the loads I throw at it [which is a ton, my computer is pretty good]. I use it with a windows pc, and it was a bugger to get working right [though now it comes with pc software and is an easy install - I had to download like 30 things]. Once it was up and running however, so was I! very easy to use and the ability to twirl the knobs and use the little screen is awesome. Buttons, level meters - and amazing sound. No more sub-mixdowns for me!
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