A little of topic I know, but something I've often wondered. I've heard people say that the reason why analog consoles can improve the stereo image is because of the subtle differences they introduce between right and left channels due to component tolerances. Does that mean its even more important to make sure that mono instruments are tracked in mono, e.g. not using a stereo track for what is essentially a mono synth patch? And what about if you're using a plugin which centers bass frequencies on a stereo track (e.g. TP Basslane). Would the effectiveness of such a plugin be compromised in that the analog tolerances are going to "undo" that centering a little?

FYI--Some Mixbus users over on the Harrison Mixbus forum have remarked that there is a sonic difference between Mixbus 2.5 and Mixbus 3; there is a thread just on this topic.  They note that Mixbus 3 seems more open, clearer and tighter than Mixbus 2.5.  They remark that Mixbus 2.5 has more of that "vintage" and "compressed" analog tone.  I do not know if this is audible to all or not, but for now, I am keeping both v2.5 and v3 installed.  V2.5 of course has no midi implementation, but for mastering stems it is great.  The latest Interim Release of v3 (#2257) is working well on my system and is stable.  I do not envision using it for serious midi instrumentation, as Sonar and other DAWs are better designed for that, but for audio mastering, the Harrison sound is nice (at least to my ears).

sharke
I've heard people say that the reason why analog consoles can improve the stereo image is because of the subtle differences they introduce between right and left channels due to component tolerances.

 
When you think about it no analog console could have a totally perfect matching between left and right output stages and that may be a contributing factor to slightly increased stereo width and depth.  A few years ago I actually totally refurbished an old Harrison console that belonged to an audio school where I worked as Head of Audio.  The same model that mixed Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.  I can say without a doubt the left and right output stages were not identical in every respect.  Harrison may have something like that actually going on their Mixbus software.
 
But this is not confined to analog though and this is weird.  I have a Yamaha digital mixer and have always felt that the image was wider when I summed buses in the mixer instead of in the box in the DAW. I thought I was imagining this until I read a very interesting article in September SOS.  It is with Dave O'Donnell who engineered the James Taylor album, 'Before This World'  So he is working mainly in the digital domain and he said exactly the same thing in the article.  He mixed it on the Yamaha DM2000 and he also stated that even mixing digitally on the DM2000 sounds better with more depth than all ITB.  So what is going on there?

As far as I can tell each interim M B 3 release has gotten better and better …
The DSP reads half of what it read on a MB3 test project from the original V 3 .
The program itself seems much less quirky and I'm not experiencing crashes any more … 
imho , the video feature is also a nice addition . 
 
Kenny

Thanks for alerting me back to this. Thanks Bapu for your experiences too. I have put the latest build back on and yes it seems to be working nice for me for sure. Good to be back with Mixbus again. I like the GUI of this DAW as well, it is rather cool. I will give it a good workout.
 
The multiband mastering compressor is nice. As is the EQ and the reverb.  The trick is to back off the tape saturation when you are after super clean sounds. The built in EQ on the masterbuss is real nice too for final touches.
 
I have used the Harrison 32C or 3232 console for lots of tracking and mixing in the audio school while employed there. This software feels and sounds like it a lot.
 
 
 

I've read it's based on this one...
http://harrisonconsoles.com/site/950mx.html
...but that may be just the gui.

Mixbus 2.5 was based on the Harrison 32C Console...it was right on their page
at the time...

Now, it appears, they've pulled that blurb for V3....so maybe V3 is based on the 950MX...

You can get one for just over $20,000 here!
http://vintageking.com/harrison-950m-analog-console
...or MB3 for $79

Does MB3 support VST3s?

Seems like a bargain to me.