The Focusrite Liquid Mix The Liquid Mix is an amazing piece of equipment for the studio environment. With a choice of 20 EQs and 40 Compressors, all quality historic models, the Liquid Mix is an excellent choice. The footprint of the Liquid Mix is smaller than a desk telephone and yet it is crammed with all of these old outboard models. It connects to your computer via Firewire and can be controlled either via the Liquid Mix unit itself or by a software control panel. The fact that you can run 32 channels worth of quality Eq and Compression concurrently make the Liquid Mix a very cost effective piece of kit. Here's what Focusrite have to say about the Liquid Mix Each of Liquid Mix's 32 channels provides 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. One of a kind, any Compressor and EQ in history 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. FAQs Q: What is Liquid Mix?A: 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 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. Q: So Liquid Mix is a plug-in? A: It 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. Q: But if the processing goes on externally, isn't there a larger latency? A: No. The hardware is connected using Firewire, which is extremely fast and has very high bandwidth. As such, the latency is around the same as it is for some standard plug-ins or other DSP processors, e.g. around 2ms. Q: So this is the same product as The Liquid Channel but multi-channel and at a much lower price? A: No. The Liquid Channel is primarily a recording strip and as such, emulates microphone pre-amps rather than EQs. It uses both analogue and digital processes to do this; whereas dynamic convolution is enough to capture the sonic quality of a pre-amp, the interaction with the microphone caused by the analogue front-end also plays a massive part in the character of the original hardware. Consequently, The Liquid Channel needs to have a vast and flexible analogue pre-amp itself, that can be as transparent or coloured, with flexible circuitry and expensive components that can be switched in and out as required. This analogue element comes at a price but is essential for the emulation of pre-amps. Liquid Mix has no need for analogue processing, digital/analogue conversion or analogue connections, since it's solely concerned with processing in the mix, and thus constantly remains in the digital domain. Q: So, how many Compressors and EQs can I use simultaneously? A: The Liquid Mix allows 32 channels of audio to be processed at the same time and each one has a compressor AND an EQ. So, you get 32 compressors and 32 EQs (mono) in one session with Liquid Mix. Q: How many Compressor and EQ emulations are included with Liquid Mix? A: Liquid Mix provides 40 different compressors and 20 EQs. However, the Focusrite website hosts an expanding library so the number of emulations continues to grow. Q: Are the controls of each Compressor and EQ identical to those of the originals? A: Yes and no. For compressors, you have the choice of complete authenticity or free reign, depending on your preference. For example, in the default mode, the controls will be identical to the original, e.g. if there are no attack or release controls then these will be inactive, or if the ratio only has 4 options then these will be the only choices with Liquid Mix. If, however, the FREE button is active then the compressor emulation will have all available controls with full ranges; a dream come true for those who love the sound of the original but want unrestricted control! For EQs, the controls are identical but, and here comes the really exciting part, you can build your own EQs using all of the available 7 slots on the Liquid Mix, as each instance has the option of being a unique, hybrid 7-band EQ. Q: What do you mean hybrid 7-band EQ? A: So, there are 7 available bands of EQ in the Liquid Mix for each channel. You can fill all 7 bands in any way you please. For example, the high-pass filter from a 430 MKII for band 1, the low-mid parametric from a Neve emulation for band 2, a mid-band from an API emulation for band 3, and so on until band 7. Plus, you can do this for EVERY one of the 32 channels! Q: Is it only VST? A: No. The Liquid Mix is VST and AU, as well as RTAS compatible (as a VST wrap). So, it will work with all audio recording platforms, even Pro Tools. Q: Is Liquid Mix Firewire 400 or 800? A: Firewire 400. Q: What if I only have 4-pin firewire? A: The only difference between the two FW ports is that the 6-pin can supply power and the 4-pin cant. If you only have 4-pin then simply connect up the Mains adapter that?s provided to power the Liquid Mix. Q: How do I control each mono instance of the Liquid Mix, from the plug-in window? A: You can control every instance from the software GUI or from the desktop hardware, depending on your preference; each has its benefits. The software shows all control settings simultaneously whereas the hardware allows tactile, hands-on control. The hardware is arguably the quickest as you can easily switch from one track in your session to another, but the GUI has clearer graphical display and metering. Q: What's the expansion card all about? A: This is for people wanting more instances at higher sample rates. Without the expansion card, the number or instances of the Liquid Mix software (maximum number of channels that can be processed simultaneously) reduces as the sample rate doubles, e.g. 8 @ 88.2/96kHz and 2 @ 176.4/192kHz. With the expansion card, this number doubles to 16 @ 88.2/96kHz and 4 @ 176.4/192kHz. Q: Can I run more than one Liquid Mix from the same computer? A: It's only possible to run one Liquid Mix from one computer. You cannot daisy chain Liquid Mixes or attach two to separate Firewire ports. Q: What about using Liquid Mix and a Firewire audio interface like Saffire at the same time if you only have one Firewire port? A: That's absolutely fine. Providing the interface has two Firewire ports, like Saffire, you can chain the two devices together on the one port and they?ll work perfectly. 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.
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