Harrison Mixbus Update

Harrison has also released 3 new plugins called the X-Tools series

Watch the video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qma1dfLPRrU

Get them at intro pricees here...

http://sites.fastspring.com/harrisonconsoles/product/xtoolsformixbus

Nigel,

MixBuss, for the money (currently $39 for MixBuss with the Don'tCrack Promo, and $49 for the Plugin Essentials Pack, which includes
Gverb+, 3D Delay, and Dyno-Mite, with promo code KVR-PROMO) is a great program.

It only does Audio currently and is 32 bit.

Why would anyone want it?

Listen to some songs done on a Harrison Console.

To my ears, just bringing in some raw tracks and doing nothing,
the mix sounded wider, fuller, and better.

Everyone has stated that, when they use it, it's very easy to get a decent sounding mix 
relatively quickly.

I'm hoping that when V3 hits it will get VSTi Support and MIDI implemented.
If that happens, watch out...IJS

For $49, it's a no brainer...get it at that price and be ready for the upgrade...
They have specials all the time too...just recently you could get MixBuss AND
the Plugin Essentials Pack for $60!!!  I just missed that deal, which totally bummed 
me out, but still, I am by no means disappointed.

I may just be whistling Dixie here...
But I currently own Sonar, Cubase 7, Studio One 2.5, Mixcraft Pro Studio 6, and 
have used Pro Tools, Live, Reaper, FL Studio, and probably every other DAW out there..
to MY ears, there is a definite difference...but that's just me...

I like to check out everything...and see what everyone is bringing to the table...

I approached this purchase with a "wait and see" investor attitude,
and am hoping that when they do get those things, I've bought in
early and will get an upgrade price when it does "mature"


If I could extract all the "ingredients" that I like from each one, throw them
in a bowl, mix them, and bake a DAW that had all of the things I like in ONE DAW, I'd be a happy 
camper...LOL

sorry about that...must have pasted the wrong one...

I've updated my original post with the correct site...

It does support VST, I would like to know what others think about it, 39.00 seems like a really good deal...

Larry
Firstly thanks for clearing up the Vst matter - misread it first time.

Do you know how many authorisations you can have with MixBuss? I have an old 32 bit machine I could load MixBuss onto to start with to see how I got on with it - if I like it I could migrate to my main machine later.
I agree with most things you say here re Sonar - My main gripe with Sonar X2 at the moment are the weird graphical type bugs (some almost seem one off, unrepeatable bugs, which is even worse) and general stability.
X1 does most things that I want and is now a mature and stable product. 

And as X1 does not suffer from these weird graphical bugs, I would have thought it would not be beyond the intelligence of the Sonar programming department to investigate what they did to X2 which makes it such a problem!

I almost wish I had not spent the money on the X2 upgrade.
Perhaps if Cakewalk have no intention of making this stable and useable, they will be good enough to give me my money back..

Nigel

Is this the same 'Harrison' that makes the expensive consoles?

Thank Larry.

So they've certainly got the pedigree then.

Mod Bod


I'm glad someone mentioned the 32 bit limitation.  I think I'll pass on it for now.

Curious though, can you route the sends to a soundcard output?

I'm not very computer savvy and I'm not sure what "32-bit" refers to here... on their Download & Purchase page http://sites.fastspring.com/harrisonconsoles/product/mixbus_23_license, Harrison say "32-bit and 64-bit OS supported" but do they mean Linux only.
Or does the 32-bit limitation refer to the audio driver bit-depth ?

Well I have had it for awhile and its nice looking but it is missing more than it has. I got it last year on sale. 

No CS support because no MIDI at all.  Its 32 bit and I have converted all my plugins to 64 bit. No OMF support either so transferring files is a chore. 

Oh it also will crash but considering, it is fairly stable. Audio device support is weird in the sense it seems to need Jack to work yet I'm not sure it really uses it. 

At present all it has going for it is its an analog emulation of a mixing desk.

Overall it seems a bit cobbled together. 

I'm not sure its worth the sale price.
 

Is there still no sidechaining for 3rd party vst's?

Can someone explain thge logic to me of having to port everything over to an obviously inferior application just to get the effect of the Harrison console. It seems like a very dumb thing to me. Has anyone asked Harrison this?
 
Why cannot it be just a simple VST that inserts on channels and busses (in your chosen DAW) to provide the effect like the plethora of other amazing console emulators out there.
 
I would not even consider it otherwise.

You can buy the UAD Harrison Emulation...

This is the only other Harrison Product, and it originates from the Company itself...
it's not a "licensed" emulation....

The logic is that it offers the Harrison "sound"

NO, it's not the be all and end all of DAW applications...
But for $39, to me, it's a worthy investment...

My logic is this

I paid $49 and the normal price is $219...
 
It has been on sale for less but I didn't have the money at the time...
I bought it as an "investment" in the future of MIXBUS, in the hopes that it
develops into a "full featured" DAW...and I get in on the ground floor and 
get the reduced upgrade pricing...

Harrison definitely has a "Pedigree" in the audio industry.
Their consoles in are in MAJOR HIGH END STUDIOS (i.e. Sony Motion Pictures, etc...)
Micheal Jackson's ALL TIME best selling album "Thriller" was recorded on a Harrison Console
(incidentally, the same console that Mixbus emulates I believe)

Their consoles are VERY EXPENSIVE and have a VERY signature sound...
their summing and stereo field are also quite well "defined". 

So, my logic is twofold.  If I want "that sound" then I can export my stems and mix them in Mixbuss
(my preferred method) AND I now have a path to upgrade when the product "matures" (IF) and
I'm sure it will...at least, that is the gamble I'm willing to take...

It's also a nice piece of kit for the money....if you just want to record audio, and not midi, and get a "big console" sound...

So, it's purely a choice...each person decides for themselves...but THOSE are my reasons and THAT is my "LOGIC"
(and I don't feel that it is "inferior" per se...just not yet "matured")

The product is by no means "inferior"...especially in sound quality...
it that aspect it is "superior" in many ways and MANY here will agree...

While MJ was the ARTIST ( and an INCREDIBLE talent ) the sound
created was from a Harrison Console, and would not have sounded the same on
an SSL, Neve, API, etc...console....any Mix Engineer or Producer would tell you that...
 
Signature sounds are the product of MANY factors...Console and outboard gear ( now emulations )

It also has to do with the "Mix Engineer" and the way he "hears" the song and the
KNOWLEDGE he brings in getting the "sound" with the outboard equipment ( or plugins)
at his disposal...in conjunction with the Artist himself...

So, would Thriller have been a hit still?  Most definitely...would it have sounded the
same?  Most definitely not.  Would the General Public notice?  Probably not.
Would a good Mix Engineer or Producer notice?  Most likely...
It's like saying the SSL, Neve, API, REDD, Helios, and Harrison consoles would
all sound the same.....EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH......WRONG ANSWER...

Many years ago I would not have been able to tell the difference in the "sound" of various "consoles"
NOW, I can....I've learned to "listen", which is no easy task.  As with ANY talent, some get it
naturally, and some have to "work" at it...

You are correct in your assertion that Harrison is NOT a DAW company, they are a SOUND
CONSOLE company, and hence, the IDEAL candidate to produce a DAW, as they KNOW what it is
supposed to "sound" like...

Mixbus is built on top of Ardour, an OPEN SOURCE DAW....
and the fact that updates come on a REGULAR basis tells me that it's NOT going away,
but being further developed and will become a "mature" DAW, and their
Plugin offerings are quite Professional also...

Does it have all the "bells & whistles" that others have...no, but it has enough to make it VIABLE.
If you are in the business of recording "AUDIO" and not MIDI, then it also is a STELLAR choice.

Don't get me wrong, I use X2a as my main DAW, but am not limited in "scope" as I also use Cubase 7,
Studio One, Mixcraft Pro Studio (also a highly under rated DAW), and have used Pro Tools, Ableton, FL Studio,
Digital Performer, Reaper, Ohm Studio Beta, MuLab, Orion, etc...etc....so I'm not coming from a position of "not knowing" and being
a BIASED FANBOI....

As I stated, each has a "choice", and I chose to be "objective" not "subjective", and to call something
"inferior" (which you've done twice now) when you've never used it, or, for that matter, never "heard" it, to me is being a bit harsh
and a bit "unrealistic" and "biased"..IJS...

Most who have used it have "heard" the difference, and appreciated it for its strong points...
while it isn't as "full featured" as X2a or others, it by no means is "inferior" especially in the "Sound Quality" department...
in that aspect, in my opinion, it is "superior"...in fact, it is probably one of the best "sounding" DAW's out there...
and for $39, even if you NEVER used it, you may find that, one day down the road, it becomes THE DAW to have,
as we don't know the future...I've spent far more on USELESS plugins then that...so it seems like a worthwhile investment,
to ME...

I agree with Jeff %100.
 
Plus, it's a digital DAW not a million dollar Harrison desk.Come on.  I don't like watching people drinking the kool-aid.

Just a few more things about MixBus..
 
It has compression BUILT IN on every channel...(VERY GOOD COMPRESSION)
It has Tape Saturation on the Master Bus (also VERY GOOD)
 
It just amazes me how people will render a "verdict" about a product based on
NOTHING really.  Oh, it's 32 bit, it's INFERIOR.  Oh , no MIDI, it's INFERIOR.  Oh
it's NOT what I'm using...it's INFERIOR...that's basically what it being said...

Pro Tools, used in EVERY MAJOR STUDIO, has been 32 bit up until the past few months..
did that render it "inferior"?

Audio production is about SOUND...not the DAW per se...the DAW is merely a TOOL to
get to THE SOUND.  You may have the "latest" TOOL, while I may have an OLDER TOOL..
but the results will vary based on the person "behind the brush"!!!
 
Render verdicts based on "objective" use and testing...not on your "thoughts" about it....IJS