This is one very interesting program. So far the learning curve is mondo steep and many things just seem to be convoluted. I actually had to ctrl-alt-del just to get out of the mixer view in full screen mode. IT's going to be a major pita to get comfortable with this one.
 
However, I imported a wav file and couldn't believe how much I liked the sound. The EQ carves frequencies, nothing subtle about it and the vocal track I was listening to just popped. Not bad pops, the good kind. It literally jumped forward and had unbelievable presence. It's going to be a steep learning curve but I think Mixbuss will replace my Tascam tape deck and my final processing stage.

I have been thinking about this, a couple of things put me off, one was that I believe it is based on Ardour, I messed around with Ardour years ago when it kicked off and I was having a look into Linux, didn't like it much, which was a familiar feeling for most things Linux, they just seemed to go the long way about doing things, things were just seemingly more difficult to do for no good reason, I realize Ardour would have progressed greatly from those days. Another thing that put  me off was Mixbus's apparent buginess. 
 
So your first paragraph made me think "phew, I'm not going there, that's settled" But then your 2nd paragraph basically negated the feeling I got from the first, so I am back to where I was :( The sound, that is the thing that is interesting, although I haven't heard it, everyone speaks about it, is it really that noticeable, that good ? I know the 'How good' part is somewhat subjective but . . .
 
I would like to give it a whirl, but I fear putting stuff I am not sure of or may have reservations about on any of my Music PC's, I like keeping them as clean as possible, no demos or stuff that isn't music related etc, but this has had my interest for a while, but I still see reports that it i still as bit unstable and buggy, so I hesitate.

Yeah, Mixbus 3 is nice.  It does now allow midi vsti's, but that is not its strength.  Many around here use it for final mastering to get that Harrison sound.  While most (not all) 3rd party vst effects will work with it, I find just using the eq's, compressors and tape saturation already built into Mixbus's channel strips is all that is needed to get an analog and warm tone.  Many around here just export stems as wave files from Sonar, and import those stems into Mixbus for mastering.  BTW, both T-Racks and Ozone now show up; so you can add them onto the Mixbus stereo (output) 2-bus to fine tune.  Again, just running the native Harrison plugins gives a great analog character to the mix.  I don't think I will use Mixbus for tracking, but for adding that Harrison analog "sound" to a project, it is great and well worth the money.

It takes some getting used to...for sure...

But, as RC said, it's the SOUND.

It is the most "Analogue" sounding piece of software I've used.
There is some "mojo" going on with Mixbus...and it's good Mojo...

I still haven't made the leap to 3 yet...as much as I've been chomping
at the bit to do so...because I eagerly awaited it's arrival....

Soon...

hmmm, you guys aren't making it easy, I just have this uneasy feeling, probably because of it's Linux heritage, that I am going to install it and it's going to bring my systems crashing down,  probably illogical I know, but that feeling is there. I guess I could just back up with Acronis and just take the plunge, but I'm a wuss lol.
 
And yes, that's how I would be wanting to use it, for the sound, not tracking or anything.

Many use it as just their "Mastering" stage...

Others import their stems and Mix ....

All personal preference...but here is definitely a difference....

Richard Cranium
I have been thinking about this, a couple of things put me off, one was that I believe it is based on Ardour, I messed around with Ardour years ago when it kicked off and I was having a look into Linux, didn't like it much, which was a familiar feeling for most things Linux, they just seemed to go the long way about doing things, things were just seemingly more difficult to do for no good reason, I realize Ardour would have progressed greatly from those days. Another thing that put  me off was Mixbus's apparent buginess. 
 
So your first paragraph made me think "phew, I'm not going there, that's settled" But then your 2nd paragraph basically negated the feeling I got from the first, so I am back to where I was :( The sound, that is the thing that is interesting, although I haven't heard it, everyone speaks about it, is it really that noticeable, that good ? I know the 'How good' part is somewhat subjective but . . .
 
I would like to give it a whirl, but I fear putting stuff I am not sure of or may have reservations about on any of my Music PC's, I like keeping them as clean as possible, no demos or stuff that isn't music related etc, but this has had my interest for a while, but I still see reports that it i still as bit unstable and buggy, so I hesitate.

 Couldn't have said it better.  Developer websites are bad as well.
 

I'm a big fan of Mixbus 2.5 and 3.0. I think they sound slightly different, but they are both good.
After several updates...it's getting pretty stable, and I could easily track in it if I didn't have Sonar. For $79 you just can't go wrong here.
One thing you should all know about Mixbus 3... When it scans the plugins it creates an extension for it...so in the folder where your .dll files are, it's going to add this extension to every plugin you have. You may want to create a folder just for the plugins you want Mixbus to scan...or do like I'm doing and just get over it.
I'm planning on doing the final mix and master on my next project in Mixbus 3.
 
 

clintmartin
I'm a big fan of Mixbus 2.5 and 3.0. I think they sound slightly different, but they are both good.
After several updates...it's getting pretty stable, and I could easily track in it if I didn't have Sonar. For $79 you just can't go wrong here.
One thing you should all know about Mixbus 3... When it scans the plugins it creates an extension for it...so in the folder where your .dll files are, it's going to add this extension to every plugin you have. You may want to create a folder just for the plugins you want Mixbus to scan...or do like I'm doing and just get over it.
I'm planning on doing the final mix and master on my next project in Mixbus 3.
 
 

So I am guessing that the 'extension' that gets added doesn't cause any issue with other programs ? I am already a little hesitant about making the jump, but I am very curious. I don't do to good with the 'just get over it' thing and if you remove mixbus, does it restore things to the previous condition ?

After I had finished any music project, the final stage was to perform a stereo mixdown to my tape machine. The tape became the final source material for the DAW to generate a final digital copy. The sound of a .wav file playing in mixbus sounds very much like it was bounced to tape. I don't know how else to explain it.