Mixbus 4

Harrison is very proud to announce the upcoming version 4 release of our “True Analog Mixing” workstation, Mixbus!



Mixbus v4 includes Harrison’s latest-generation “True Analog Mixing” engine, which has been updated with new features including a stereo width knob on the console mix-buses. Continuous development of the sound of Mixbus is what sets Harrison apart in the DAW landscape. Our users report that Mixbus is the fastest way to get a great professional-quality mix. And version 4 is going to make it even easier!

Mixbus’s new & updated GUI answers user’s requests for a single-window interface, and it allows the transport controls to appear above the mixer. The new “mini-timeline” allows fast & easy locating directly from any view. The transport controls have been streamlined, and now provide user-configuration to hide & show the elements that are needed during the different stages of production: recording, arranging, editing, mixing and mastering.

Global controls for track's input-monitoring, as well as improved support for pre-roll recording and several UI improvements, greatly improve the usefulness of Mixbus for tracking a live band. Combined with the new “tempo ramps” feature (described below), Mixbus is the new standard for live multi-track band recordings!

Mixbus v4 includes a wide range of user-requested improvements and fixes. A comprehensive redesign of keyboard shortcuts, preferences, and window-management makes Mixbus more friendly to users of other DAWs. Mixbus can now load VST plugins on Mac (in addition to AU and LV2), allowing for better Mac-to-Windows-to-Linux sharing of sessions. Multi-output virtual instruments are now easier to setup.

Tempo Ramps: following a comprehensive redesign of tempo and meter conventions, Mixbus allows the user to elegantly add tempo markers on a live show; and the tempo will smoothly ramp to follow natural tempo changes. This feature can dramatically speed-up your editing and mixing process without robbing a performance of its natural timing.

VCA Faders: Channels may be assigned to an “unlimited” number of VCAs, allowing the user to control a snare drum from 3 VCA faders: the snare, drum, and all-instruments VCA groups (for example). This unparalleled flexibility is derived from Harrison’s large-format console VCA implementation.

Lua Scripting: A comprehensive new scripting engine has been added which allows users to write simple scripts to modify their sessions. Scripts may be triggered from events ( such as “on transport stop” ). Similar to macros from Harrison’s large-format consoles, a Lua script can trigger a sequence of actions. For example: a provided example script sets all channel faders to unity, while inserting a “trim” plugin before each fader with the fader’s previous value. User’s Lua scripts may be triggered from keyboard shortcuts or buttons. You can even write your own DSP or MIDI processing plugins as lua scripts!

Continuing our collaboration with the Ardour open-source community, Mixbus v4 is session-file compatible with other Ardour-based workstations: Ardour5, Waves Tracks Live, and the newly-announced iZ Session. This unprecedented level of inter-application support is largely due to Harrison's continued funding and support of open-source development. Harrison’s proprietary plugins, including the new Spectral Compressor and Drum Character plugins, are now available separately for LV2 hosts like Ardour5 and iZ Session.

Mixbus v4 is scheduled to release on March1, 2017. Best of all: if you buy Mixbus v3 at regular price (US$79) between January1 and March1 2017, you will receive a FREE update to Mixbus v4 when it is released. Click here to get Mixbus v3 or try a demo today!

Similarly, if you buy Mixbus32C at regular price (US$299) between January 1st and May 1st 2017, you will receive a FREE update to v4 !


We would like to thank all of our users for your continued support and enthusiasm. We hope that every one of our users will recognize the results of their suggestions and comments in this latest version. We can't do it without you!
 

this part caught my eye
 
"Mixbus can now load VST plugins on Mac (in addition to AU and LV2"
 
they can't even do it properly on windows, you'd think they would sort that out first . . . but there you have it
 
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/winter-namm-show-2017-jan-19-22-anaheim-ca-usa/1134211-harrison-mixbus-version-4-sneak-preview.html#post12389762
 
another interesting thing to me, and i have seen this before, on one of the videos it's captioned "imagine the perfect daw for mixing"
perhaps they realize apart from it being good for mixing, it just doesn't stack up against the rest as a fully fledged daw, i mean there is a reason people mostly use it for mixing/mastering, and do all their tracking and editing in another daw, it's just not as robust or efficient not to mention plugins, performance . . . . (wait a minute)
 
just an observation

I wonder how much it will cost for existing Mixbus 3 owners to upgrade.  Seems to be no mention of that so far.  I dont agree it is unstable at all. It is super stable for me.  The only reason why I and probably many others have not used it for a project start to finish is simply most of us are simply not game yet to do it.  There are certain advantages of using your DAW to start a project off and finishing it in Mixbus.  I think it is matter of what one is used to and familiarity etc..  There is no reason why one could not do a whole project on it.  But it might be a matter of certain functions that are available on your main DAW during the tracking process that may not be available yet in Mixbus.  Seems like it is getting better all the time.

I'm hoping Mixbus32C V4 will be $49 or less. I'm a Mixbus member (as well as an Ardour member) so I'm hopeful on that price. Members are typically 30% lower than non-members.
 

Was tempted by the Mixbus 3 $39 deal here http://forum.cakewalk.com/Harrison-Mixbus-for-39-m3546648.aspx but  I wonder how much the update to v4 will be for this version (compared to free if you pay $79 for version 3).

But I've been wrong before.
 

ZincTrumpet
Thanks bapu, I was hoping that might be the case.

Just don't count on that being "fact" as I have no first hand knowledge of how they verify.

I am hoping the update will be around $39 or $49 for existing users that don't happen to buy Mixbus now but have had it for a time.
 
One thing I do know though is I would not go out either and update on Mar 1st.  They are saying on the forums over there they are still beta testing M32C as well.  I would sit it out for the releases that will come shortly after Mar 1st.  There will inevitably be some issues with the very first version of V4 I bet. Just like there was with V3.  Be patient!

clintmartin
Did they ever get Ezkeys to work?

Not yet it 64bit. Oddly, it works in 32bit. So I personally think it's a Toontrack problem.
 

clintmartin
I haven't bought 32C. Was it worth it?

For four more buses and the 32C EQ, ya.... for me.
 
To get the best price on 32c V4 it seems that becoming a new Mixbus member is key.
 
$9/mo for 1 - 2 months might just save some serious dosh.
 
Hard to say for sure but if it were me I'd become a member the day after Mixbus4 is released (because Mixbus32C v4 is supposed to trail that release by a month or two if I'm reading Ben's description in GearSlutz correctly).

Hatstand
 but  is there anyone who has actually released commercial product using this?

You'd think they'd have shouted it from the rooftops........................
 
 
.......or chose to keep it on the down low as it is their "secret weapon".

From the literature it seems like there are 2 different products.

Mixbus 32 v3.7

In march Mixbus 32c v4.0 will be released for $299

The 2 desks were different the 3232 and the 32c

Hmmm, tried the demo of Mixbus 3 (x64) and think I will pass on it as a secondary DAW at least.

I thought I would start with something easy. Import a MIDI file and see if I can get it to play OK through some plugins. Scanned all my plugins ok. Finally worked out how to assign a plugin to a track. After the second crash in 10 minutes (it just exited) I figured it was not worth the effort (although I still might consider it for final mix "special sauce" use). YMMV. 

ZincTrumpet
Hmmm, tried the demo of Mixbus 3 (x64) and think I will pass on it as a secondary DAW at least.

I thought I would start with something easy. Import a MIDI file and see if I can get it to play OK through some plugins. Scanned all my plugins ok. Finally worked out how to assign a plugin to a track. After the second crash in 10 minutes (it just exited) I figured it was not worth the effort (although I still might consider it for final mix "special sauce" use). YMMV. 

So far the only VSTi that crashes Mixbus3/32c 64bit, for me, is the 64bit version of EZKeys. Oddly, the 32bit version of Mixbus3/32C will run the 32bit EZKeys just fine. They know about this but have yet to fix it.
 
Just curious, what VSTi crashed for you? 
 
FWIW, I do not plan on using MIDI in Mixbus. I'm treating it as an AUDIO only mixing environment.

Although I have SampleTank3 I hardly use it.
 
I'll have to check out ST3 in the latest version of MB.

mudgel
From the literature it seems like there are 2 different products.
Mixbus 32 v3.7
In march Mixbus 32c v4.0 will be released for $299
The 2 desks were different the 3232 and the 32c

Mike there are only two products.  Mixbus is one and Mixbus32C is the other.  Like Bapu says 32C is the big brother.  They both offer that fabulous Harrison console sound though so Mixbus will get you right into the action.  (And it is often on special for a very low price as well) 32C has extra buses and a wonderful EQ on every channel like the original Harrison console did.  I am so tempted.  It is quite a lot more expensive but there is a way to get it for $99.  By joining the monthly subscription type thing first.  You can opt out though if you want although it looks like it might be something good to be in anyway.
 
Mixbus is stable for sure.  No issues with me at all.  A good trick is to create a folder and only put a copy of the third party plug-ins in there that you think you may need and then get Mixbus to only scan in that folder.  To be honest with the lovely EQ's on the tracks, buses and the master buss and the built in dynamics there is not a lot of third party stuff you actually need.  The Harrison plug-ins are great too.
 
Also Mike I have been in Ballarat now for a year so I would love to catch up and meet sometime if you are up for it.  I have got to Tony (Webbs Hill) so far and been very glad that I have met him too.