Like Jeff, I've had Mixbus from early on. It sounds like I use it much the same as well, ie to add the analog sound to tracks, stems or an entire mix via 2 track.
 
As others have mentioned, it's not for every song, but I do love the worth it adds!
 
I'm interested in SouthPaw's idea of running signal through Mixbus on it's way into Sonar. Gonna give that a try.
 

southpaw3473
I did a quick experiment to see if I could use Mixbus as an actual mixer before I inputted to Sonar. It works like a charm! JACK apparently does work in Windows with the 2.5 update so it made this real easy. Here's what I did:
 
1-Open both Sonar and Mixbus making sure they are both using the same ASIO drivers. I have a MOTU Track 16 with a Focusrite Octo Pre Dynamic connected via ADAT so I have plenty of I/Os. 
2-In Mixbus make one or more tracks and set the inputs. Make sure you are using "Mixbus Does Monitoring".
3-Use one of the sends for each track input, i.e., if there are 2 stereo mics on an acoustic guitar arm send one for mic one and send two for mic two. Turn off the MASTER button for each track so you are monitoring the track through the busses.
4-On the corresponding busses assign via Track Direct Outputs to OUTS other than the MAIN OUT. This lets you listen PRE-Sonar from the MAIN OUT of Mixbus
5-In Sonar insert a track and set the input to one (or two if it's a stereo input) of the bus outs from Mixbus.
6-Arm for recording and you'll see the signal from Mixbus in Sonar. Now just hit RECORD and away you go. The signal that gets recorded in Sonar is the signal processed first in Mixbus. You can take advantage of its EQ and compressors on the Mixbus strips and record the signal dry while monitoring with verb from the Master OUT.
7-If you wish to monitor from within Sonar just hit Input Echo on in Sonar and mute the Master Bus in MIxbus
 
I don't have time to really get into this for a few days but the quickie tracks I recorded this way with the Harrison console vibe before it hits Sonar is cool. We'll see how many uses this has. I have not run into any clocking issues or latency problems.
 
Let me know what you think about this you guys.
 

Hi Tommy
 
Thanks for outlining this method, this is one of the ways I want to use Mixbus with X3.
 
However, I must be doing something wrong. I set up Mixbus as you suggest, but once I change focus to SONAR (to select a track) I get this message:
 

There are no options to reassign my TonePort (my soundcard) to SONAR after I close this message.
 
My TonePort has 2 Ins, but even if I set a track up to in advance of opening Mixbus to input from 3-4, I still get the same message.
 
I checked my Preferences in SONAR and I have "Share Drivers with other Programs" checked.
 
No doubt I'm missing something incredibly daft, but I can't figure it out!
 
 
 

wst3
I still want a DAW that sounds a cool as Mixbus, is as flexible as Sonar, has the timeline features from DP, audio editing from Sound Forge and Wavelab, and expression maps from Cuebendo... but it does not exist.
 
So I use different tools for different tasks.

I really like Mixbus, but I don't use it as much as I used to because the x86 vs x64 thing has become more of a hassle than I care to deal with. Maybe I'm just lazy???

 
I feel the exact same way, Bill.
There are significant strengths/weaknesses in each DAW application.
I'd love to add Mixbus to the toolbox, but the current lack of 64Bit and VSTi feels too limiting.

Jim Roseberry

wst3
I still want a DAW that sounds a cool as Mixbus, is as flexible as Sonar, has the timeline features from DP, audio editing from Sound Forge and Wavelab, and expression maps from Cuebendo... but it does not exist.
 
So I use different tools for different tasks.

I really like Mixbus, but I don't use it as much as I used to because the x86 vs x64 thing has become more of a hassle than I care to deal with. Maybe I'm just lazy???

 
I feel the exact same way, Bill.
There are significant strengths/weaknesses in each DAW application.
I'd love to add Mixbus to the toolbox, but the current lack of 64Bit and VSTi feels too limiting.

Jim, 

several reasons to be on board now...

I know they are working on 64 bit and MIDI support.
Getting in now at $20 gets you "in the door" for dirt cheap for the upgrade.
It works perfectly fine in Win 8.1...
For now, it can serve as a "Bridge" for several uses...

I've thrown $20 out the window more then one time...
this is NOT throwing money out the window IMO...

cclarry
 
Jim, 

several reasons to be on board now...

I know they are working on 64 bit and MIDI support.
Getting in now at $20 gets you "in the door" for dirt cheap for the upgrade.
It works perfectly fine in Win 8.1...
For now, it can serve as a "Bridge" for several uses...

I've thrown $20 out then window more then one time...
this is NOT throwing money out the window IMO...

Good points...
Going to snag the Vegas Pro 13 Suite upgrade (today).
I'll probably add Mixbus.  At $20, it's not much of a risk. 
 
 

I went for the Mixbus deal last week.  Glad I did, as this thing imparts a nice "vintage" sound on tracks and is pretty easy to use.  I did as some here suggested and imported audio stems from a mix.  Comparing its output with that from the "normal" DAW, the sound is smooth, coherent, and very easy on the ears.  Got a mix that is sounding a bit too harsh?  Looking for a warm, retro vibe?  Give Mixbus a try.  It delivered for me. 
 
Great deal, which according to the site lasts until 5/15.  No-brainer for sure.  Thanks to all those who have posted about Mixbus!
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Went for it based on the good recs here, all 19.95 of it.  Cheaper than a six pack of Sterno.
Have no idea what I went for, but went for it. Poster child of GAS mentality. Got to go see a shrink if this continues...
Hoping it will breathe some life into my cheap AudioTechnica AT2010 mics.
John

 



Hi Tommy
 
Thanks for outlining this method, this is one of the ways I want to use Mixbus with X3.
 
However, I must be doing something wrong. I set up Mixbus as you suggest, but once I change focus to SONAR (to select a track) I get this message:
 

There are no options to reassign my TonePort (my soundcard) to SONAR after I close this message.
 
My TonePort has 2 Ins, but even if I set a track up to in advance of opening Mixbus to input from 3-4, I still get the same message.
 
I checked my Preferences in SONAR and I have "Share Drivers with other Programs" checked.
 
No doubt I'm missing something incredibly daft, but I can't figure it out!
 
 
 



Hi Steve,
Try and start Mixbus first and Sonar second. I haven't had any issues at all with drivers. They just open up in both. Does Toneport have more than one IN pair and one OUT pair? For this to work you have to have a route out and in as well as main outs. I'm using patchbays to physically patch the I/Os. 
 
I also set it up so I can go directly from Sonar to Mixbus using basically the same setup. 
 
I inserted stereo tracks in Mixbus and set their inputs. Set my drum bus OUTS in Sonar to an OUT and patched that to the in selected in Mixbus. It worked perfectly. This is very handy. I can even patch out of Sonar into Mixbus and back into Sonar. This is crazy and changes my whole setup.
 
There are limitations for sure but I like the early returns. 

side door question...   Since it seems that this is such a great product to add a little oomph to the sound, is $219 a *no-brainer* price if you're really looking to get as best possible sound, but still not selling the farm to purchase it?  $20 is "happy meal" price territory, but the ProChannel pack is $179 and wonder what people would rather have, IF this wasn't at the give away price.  IOW, would people be jumping on this if it was $119?
 
Personally, I'm real good at throwing $20 bills away, but the threads around here make this sound like you'd be crazy not to jump on this.  Because of the price??   {only?}

I honestly would not have bought Mixbus had it not been $20. I love the PC stuff and use them all the time. I just had to take advantage of the deal with so many recommendations. I'm really glad I did. A week ago it wasn't even on my radar and now it's becoming an interesting part of my setup.