Eddie TX
I have those other plugins, and while they're fine, MixBus goes far beyond what I've ever been able to achieve with them. The way the whole mix seems to gel together and present itself as one piece of music, rather than a collection of tracks, is quite remarkable. It's definitely not a subtle, transparent effect, which may not suit all tastes or genres -- I don't think I'd reach for MB for a modern dance-pop or metal record -- but if the soft-focus, organic sound appeals to you, it's a great addition to the toolbox.
Cheers,
Eddie
I have been using it a for a while now both to mix stems and master tracks with. I don't fully agree with what
Eddie is saying here. He is implying what he says it is doing is permanent whereas I say you can control it to varying degrees to do what he is saying. The very subtle side of it needs to be explored and heard.
Yes it can be very obvious and add a large dose of mixing console mojo for sure but it does not always have to either. By being subtle with the use of the channel EQ's and dynamics you can control this to a certain extent. Using the tape sims or not on buses and the main stereo buss is also important.
If you don't apply EQ or dynamics anywhere, use no tape sims and remove the limiters on the output use no tape sim and EQ on the output the mix/stems will pass through almost untouched except for very small amount of console emulation going on perhaps. You will have clear focus, it will be less organic, more pristine. I have done a few sessions with no limiters or tape sims being used and very small amounts of EQ. I like it in this mode.
As you start using these built in features, and you should in small doses at first, the sound of it becomes more apparent. I have also had success with really working the dynamics, EQ and tape sims all at once and it puts out a different sound in that mode too.
As I mentioned in a previous post though it is not for some genres. It handles pop fine but it did not like an aggressive hip hop track I created with an artist last year for some reason. Even in its least effecting mode it still sounded better being mixed and mastered from Studio One directly. I think S1 had the clearer/harder more robust sound that just suited this particular track a bit more. Harrison can do quite a broad range of genres though and well. I have mastered quite a few so I have heard it in action over quite a few different things. Mostly it sounds great.
(Other Hip Hop I have mastered in Harrison sounded excellent BTW. It depends on the hip hop itself) You X3 guys have got some great built in artillery to perhaps create very similar sounding things especially after really understanding and learning to use those tools to their full extent. Studio One prefers to leave these things out and instead allow the user to design these things in themselves, I find Harrison is a great extra program to have around as a partner to a DAW that does not feature console emulation and analog sounding processing. Klanghelm's SDDR is also very cool and when used the right way on buses etc can also do a fine job. That takes a bit of experimenting.