New – Focusrite Liquid Mix
1. Liquid Mix for Pro Tools HD
This year’s AES show in San Francisco saw the launch of Focusrite’s latest addition to the award-winning Liquid range. Liquid Mix HD delivers the power of Liquid Mix exclusively to the Pro Tools HD market. Providing the same pool of classic EQ and Compressor emulations, Liquid Mix HD combines the sound of priceless and historically significant compressors and EQs with all the benefits of operating directly inside the Pro Tools HD environment. Over 60 instances can be used simultaneously on an HD 3 system, and thanks to Pro Tools HD’s low latency environment, they can be used for both recording and mixing.
Each instance of the Liquid Mix HD plug-in provides one Compressor and one EQ emulation, selectable from a huge pool of high-quality vintage and modern day classics. Forty Compressors and twenty EQs are available straight out of the box, with some additional emulations available for free online. As with the original Liquid Mix, a hybrid user-defined seven-band ‘super EQ’ is available in every instance, built out of separate classic EQ bands. Liquid Mix HD also offers the same ‘free’ mode for all compressors; original compressors with limited or absent controls suddenly become fully featured – yours to use as you choose.
Liquid Mix HD uses the same, patented ‘Dynamic Convolution’ process as Focusrite’s other Liquid products. Unlike standard convolution techniques, Dynamic Convolution utilises vast processing power to sample the effect of a classic processor on a series of audio pulses, at many different gain settings and frequencies. This results in impressive emulations derived from immense banks of actual samples, recorded using each one of the 60 different analogue processors selectable when Liquid Mix HD is first installed.
The Liquid range of products has won in excess of twenty awards to date, including multiple TEC awards, becoming a worldwide hit in the audio production world, from project studios to post production and broadcast facilities, not to mention the Live arena. Focusrite looks forward to making the awesome power of Liquid technology even more accessible to the Pro Tools HD owner, providing the sound of vintage processing and the reliability of the Pro Tools environment to studios the world over.
Liquid Mix HD will be shipping worldwide from October 2008. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.
2. The new generation of Focusrite multi-channel firewire audio interfaces.
This year’s AES show in San Francisco saw the launch of Focusrite’s new multi-channel firewire audio interface, the Focusrite Saffire PRO 40. It is the best sounding interface in its class, attentively designed with today’s project studio in mind.
Focusrite’s unparalleled pre-amp legacy forms the foundation of this new interface, with eight award-winning Focusrite pre-amps. These are combined with the very latest in firewire interfacing technology to deliver seamless integration, excellent routing flexibility and rock-solid driver stability.
With Saffire PRO 40, sonic integrity reigns supreme. The eight Focusite pre-amps ensure low noise and distortion, whilst quality digital conversion and JetPLL™ jitter elimination technology ensure pristine audio quality as your audio flows between the analogue and digital domains.
Alongside the eight Focusrite pre-amps are a host of i/o options; 10 analogue outputs, ADAT i/o, stereo SPDIF i/o and 2 virtual ‘loopback’ inputs for routing digital audio between software applications – ideal for capturing online audio. Every channel features phantom power, with the first two channels also featuring -9dB pads for additional headroom. Front panel 5-LED metering for each analogue input offers accurate viewing of levels.
Saffire PRO 40 comes with a Suite of Focusrite plug-ins. All-new Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins provide a significant upgrade from standard sequencer effects, bringing a touch of class to your session. Focusrite’s established xcite+ bundle is also included. The bundle includes Ableton Live Lite, Novation’s Bass Station soft synth and over 1 gig of royalty-free samples.
Saffire PRO 40 Control, the zero-latency 18 x 16 DSP Mixer/Router software provided with Saffire PRO 40, sets a new standard at this price point for audio interface control. It features unparalleled output routing and monitoring, as well as intuitive one-click set-up solutions, a clear and concise mixing layout and large on-screen metering for inputs, outputs and submixes.
Two independent headphone buses are provided, each with their own level controls available on the front panel. A dedicated stereo monitor mix output features pads for improved sound quality when connected to active monitor speakers. An ‚anti-thump‘ circuit protects your monitor speakers from spikes when booting up or shutting down. Front panel controls include a main monitor dial with dim and mute switches, all of which fully integrate with customisable software to cover every possible monitoring need, providing a set of controls for any set-up from basic stereo to full 7.1 surround.
Saffire PRO 40 will be shipping worldwide, October 2008. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.
3. Focusrite assume worldwide distribution of Forte Suite plug-in
As of October 1st 2008, Focusrite assumed worldwide distribution of their finest Pro Tools®-exclusive EQ and Compression plug-in, formerly distributed worldwide by Digidesign.
The Focusrite Forte Suite is a channel strip plug-in based on the now-legendary Focusrite Forte recording console of the mid 1980s. Utilizing virtual vintage modules, Forte Suite brings Focusrite’s sonic signature to Pro Tools through sophisticated modeling of the ISA 110 EQ and ISA 130 dynamics processors (including compressor, de-esser, and noise gate), the key modules from the acclaimed Focusrite Forte analog console. It also includes surround modes as well as graphical representations of EQ, compression, and related module curves. And its interface components closely resemble the ISA series modules treasured by audiophiles the world over.
Along with offering a host of powerful processing tools including a six-band EQ and a multi-channel compressor, gate, and expander, Forte Suite also features a sidechain input and frequency filters for the dynamics processors.
The Forte Suite can perform both as a channel strip plug-in and as individual ISA 110, ISA 130 dynamics, and ISA 130 compressor plug-ins. In addition, the ISA 130 compressor supports all Pro Tools surround formats.
The Forte Suite will be available to purchase via Focusrite’s network of exclusive distributors from November 2008. A 14-Day trial that gives you all of the functionality of the full retail version will be available to download from Focusrite.com. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.
Web: www.focusrite.com
For further information in any other territory
Please consult the relevant Distributor. – http://www.focusrite.com/store_locator/
Focusrite® is the premier choice for audio professionals and enthusiasts with an ear for detail. Focusrite was established back in 1985, with the introduction of the forte console, renowned for upholding a level of sonic integrity beyond compare. Since then, Focusrite’s RED(TM), ISA(TM) and Platinum(TM) solutions can be found pride of place in studios across the globe. Today, with Liquid(TM) technology and the Saffire(TM) range of Firewire audio interfaces, Focusrite remain at the cutting edge of digital audio workstation and signal processing solutions, with sonic integrity still forming the foundation of every design. These same qualities are to be found in numerous award-winning and industry-shaping products, designed by Focusrite for other leading brands within the audio industry.
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