USER Rev. 1.
CONTENTS Introduction - Getting Started Hardware Controls Software GUI controls Liquid Mix Manager Applying Compression and EQ within the sequencer Selecting Compressors and EQs Adjusting Compressor settings Free Switch Modifying EQ settings Building a Hybrid (Mixed) EQ Compressor and EQ Emulations Guide Snapshots - saving Liquid Mix settings Restoring settings Troubleshooting IMPORTANT INFORMATION: FOCUSRITE, the FF logo, LIQUID TECHNOLOGY, LIQUID MIX CONTROL, LIQUID MIX and the LIQUID MIX logo are tradem
I N T R O D U CT I O N - G E T T I N G S TA R T E D Thank you for purchasing Liquid Mix. This User Guide provides detailed instructions on how to operate both the hardware control surface and software GUI (Graphical User Interface) of Liquid Mix. Before reading this User Guide it is assumed that you have run the Installer found on the accompanying Resources disc. This will install the Liquid Mix Manager application, the Liquid Mix plug-in software and EQ/Compressor emulations onto your computer.
H A R DWA R E C O N T R O L S 9 7 2 1 8 10 3 11 4 18 21 20 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.
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A P P LY I N G C O M P R E S S I O N A N D E Q W I T H I N T H E S E Q U E N C E R To apply compression or EQ to a track within the sequencer, an instance of the Liquid Mix software must be activated. The software will appear in your list of VST or AU plug-ins. Open up a mono or stereo Liquid Mix to begin applying vintage textures to your track. The software window will open on screen and (for the first instance) will automatically become active on the Liquid Mix hardware.
L I Q U I D M I X M A N AG E R The Liquid Mix Manager is an application for changing the core hardware settings. There are three Tabs at the top of the window: • Set up – allows the main settings to be viewed/edited • List – shows a list of all available compressor and EQ emulations • About – provides information about the software, e.g. version number SET UP On the Set Up page, the sample rate that the Liquid Mix processes at can be selected.
S E L E CT I N G C O M P R E S S O R S A N D E Q S Selecting Compressors and EQs can be done from the software or hardware. SELECTING FROM THE SOFTWARE To select a Compressor emulation from the software window, click on the Comp box in the top left of the window and then choose an emulation from the drop down list. Similarly, to choose an EQ, click on the EQ box on the header bar and select an emulation from the list. If selecting an EQ when all seven bands are empty (e.g.
A DJ U S T I N G C O M P R E S S O R S E T T I N G S Compressor settings can be modified from the hardware or software in identical ways, as the same controls are available on either. To edit using the hardware, make sure the correct track is selected. The name of the currently active track on the hardware (whatever is written in the Track box on that instance of the software, or Plugin Number X if nothing has been entered) is displayed at the top of the LCD screen.
RELEASE The Release control determines how quickly compression is removed once the level of the source signal has fallen below the threshold. When in the anti-clockwise position, the compression releases very quickly, which may be appropriate on rapidly varying signals to avoid compressing the beats that follow, but can result in excessive distortion on more sustained material.
F R E E S W I TC H A lot of the vintage units sampled to create the compressor emulations have fewer controls or control options than all of the available dials on Liquid Mix. As such, in default mode, some of the controls may not be active. On the hardware, this will be indicated by the control active LEDs above those dials not being lit and no corresponding values being displayed on the screen. On the software, the inactive controls will be greyed out with no values directly above.
MODIFYING EQ SETTINGS EQ settings can be adjusted from the Liquid Mix hardware or software; three dials per band are available within the software window whereas the hardware provides three dials and a Band Select encoder. To edit using the hardware, make sure the correct track is selected. The name of the currently active track on the hardware (whatever is written in the Track box on that instance of the software, or ‘Plugin Number X’ if nothing has been entered) is displayed at the top of the LCD screen.
M O D I F Y I N G E Q S E T T I N G S C O N T. SHAPE The Shape switch on the hardware will display any further options for the selected band, if any are available. This accounts for additional frequency and shape settings, such as ‘x 3’ buttons or variable curves. Press the Shape button and then use the data encoder to choose from the displayed options.
BUILDING A HYBRID (MIXED) EQ In every instance of Liquid Mix, there are seven EQ bands available. These can be filled in whatever way you want, using a mixture of individual bands from seven different EQ emulations or one complete 4-band emulation with three additions and so on.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E COMPRESSORS (OUTLINE CONTROLS WITH FREE SWITCH INACTIVE) FLAT COMP/ CLEAN SOUND FREE CONTROLS Focusrite Liquid Mix DSP compressor TRANY C/ US CLASSIC DISCRETE 1C Based on an API 2500*stereo mastering compressor, (US) serial #0016 (Old/Normal/Hard settings.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. BIG BLUE A/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1A Based on a dbx 160S* (US) compressor/limiter serial # 000004 (Standard compression setting.) All controls – Attack scale is dB/m (dB per millisecond) and Release scale is dB/S (dB per second) BIG BLUE B/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1B Based on a dbx 160S* (US) compressor/limiter serial # 000004 (OverEasy compression setting.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. MEAT PIE/ BRIT 60'S CLASS A Based on a PYE 84 4060/01* compressor/limiter (UK) serial # 60 No Attack – stepped Ratio (with LIMIT at max setting) and Release GRINDER A/ BRIT MODERN DESK COPY A Based on a SMART RESEARCH C2* bus compressor (UK) serial # C217.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. EQs DIGI-FILTER Focusrite Digital Low-pass and High-pass filter CLASS A 2: based on a Neve 1073 ser. 1742 HPF - OFF and switched Freq LF shelf - OFF and switched Freq, Variable Gain MF Bell - OFF and switched Freq, Variable Gain, freq-dependent Q HF shelf – Vari Gain TRANY 4: based on an API 550b ser.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. ISA115: based on a Focusrite ISA 115 HPF - Switched Freq LPF - Switched Freq LMF bell - Fully parametric, x 3 Freq option HMF bell - Fully parametric, x 3 Freq option LF shelf - Vari Gain, switched Freq HF shelf - Vari Gain, switched Freq CLASS A 4: based on a Neve 1058 ser. 375 LF shelf – Vari Gain MF Bell - Vari Gain and Freq HF shelf – Vari Gain TRANY 3: based on an API 550A ser.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. BRIT DESK 4: based on an SSL E-series ser. XCH164 HPF - Vari Freq LPF - Vari Freq LF shelf/bell - Variable Gain and Freq LMF bell - Vari Gain, Freq and Q HMF bell - Vari Gain, Freq and Q HF shelf/bell - Vari Gain and Freq BRIT DESK 5: based on an SSL G-series ser.
C O M P R E S S O R A N D E Q E M U L AT I O N S G U I D E C O N T. SILVER 4: based on an Avalon 2055 ser.
S N A P S H OT S - S AV I N G L I Q U I D M I X S E T T I N G S Liquid Mix has the ability to save and load settings. This means that a successful combination of compressor and EQ, constructed for vocals for instance, can be recalled at any point and used on another track. Saving and Loading can be done from the hardware or software, although if saving from the hardware, make sure the snapshot is renamed from the software using the method below.
R E S TO R I N G S E T T I N G S Snapshots can be recalled from the Liquid Mix software or hardware, to recall a particular combination of Compressor and/or EQ, with specific settings. FROM THE SOFTWARE To load a snapshot from the software, click on the disk image and then select Load Snapshot from the drop down list. A window will then appear, allowing you to navigate to the snapshot anywhere on your computer.
T R O U B L E S H O OT I N G Hardware does not power up • Is the unit connected to the computer using the supplied Firewire cable? • Is the computer powered up? • Is a correct Firewire cable in use? Some have shorter connections at either end that may not be making contact with the computer/hardware.
