harrison mixbus - quick test

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kensuguro
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harrison mixbus - quick test

Post by kensuguro »

I switched over to xubuntu at work since I switched to analytics, and decided to set up jack to give Harrison Console's Mixbus a spin. Mixbus is a DAW (modded Ardour) with a small following.. it's whole premise is that the mixer behaves like an analogue mixer. Sort of like what the console emulators are doing, except it's built into the DAW's mixer. I like the concept.

I haven't mixed a proper multi track yet, but put a finished mix through it just to understand what the console's characteristics are. What you really get is 3 band eq, comp, and trim (drive) on the channel, and on the master and bus channels you get 3 band eq, tape sat, limiter, and comp.

On the channel:
1. 3 eq + 1hpf: The eq is very basic, with gain and freq. Including a highpass at this point is nice, since I add one most of the time anyway. The eqs respond somewhat organically. I don't get the impression that it's as surgical as scope's eqs. In summary though, I like the eq. It's natural sounding. Less sound sculpting, but more wider q.

2. comp (dynamics): The dynamics control has "speed", "threshold" and "makeup". I assume the ratio changes dynamically with the settings. Threshold is great because it's placed right next to the vertical meter. The dynamics operates in "level", "comp", and "limiter" modes. I'll need to look it up, but Leveler seems to be a comp with super slow release times, sounds to me, like a limiter. The comp is very snappy and responsive, I immediately liked the sound. Limiter is very subtle, definitely not a "loudness maximizer" sort of thing, but more of a prep tool to keep sounds manageable. It's a very pragmatic limiter.

3. trim: Here's the one that made my eyes pop. I sort of realized this while messing with the limiter, but the since the console is analogue emu, it doesn't care about going over the peak. With trim, you can go well above 0db, and hear the sound fatten up, but not distort at all. I can give it a 20db boost and it'll sound fine. It's not just that there's head room, the sound changes as you drive it more, in a very, very pleasurable way. This stuff is hot.

On master and bus:
1. 3 eq: These eqs are as smooth as butter. Gentle sounding, and the frequency bands are spot on. Again, these aren't for sound sculpting but for general control.

2. tape sat: Aha, this is the meat. The tape sat can drive to the point of distortion, but there's a lot of range before the sound starts ripping. Which is nice for subtle effect. I really like how subtle all the effects can be used. If most VST plugs were applied in unit of 10, these effects can be fine tuned in unit of 1 or even less.

3. Limiter: There is a limiter separate from the dynamic processor. It is on/off, and also has look ahead on/off. There are no other controls that I can see. Very simple, clear, effective. I forgot I had the limiter on, and couldn't understand why turning the trim up to 20db made no difference in volume.. it's that clear.

4. dynamics: Same as the channel strip. The compressor sounds great on master too.

Overall, I really like working in Mixbus.. I'm not sure what it is, but there's something about the way the DAW works that makes mixing very natural and efficient. The sound is excellent for the simple test I did. I'll have more once I get a proper multitrack in there. It's going to be hard to assess since I'll be mixing with just mixbus and LADSPA effects and not my usual set of vst.

What struck me is how precisely you can control the amount of processing applied. The range is limited as to what you can do (don't expect to mash up your drums) but the path of least resistance with mixbus is to apply just enough. It's reminiscent of nicer vst plugins like voxengo or nomad factory.

I just wished mixbus was available for Windows. Boohoo.
Last edited by kensuguro on Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fluxpod
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Re: harrison mixbus - quick test

Post by Fluxpod »

Its really good! Surprised me.But knowing Harrison...they are serious about sound!
dawman
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Re: harrison mixbus - quick test

Post by dawman »

I actually heard this and also heard Nebula and was pretty impressed. Harrison was full of detailed sound and precise controls.
Nebula didn;t impress me until I was shown the Cummilative effect which is what Tape actually is known for.
It doesn't really become noticable until several tracks, and groups are bussed together.
I like my STM2448 and DAS, SpaceF and Adern saturators and Fat Valve stuff.
Once you get use to something it;s hard changing unless it's a major difference in sound, but if I didn;t have Scope I would definately be using the Harrison along with Nebula.
Both work really well together.
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