Hardware geeks/knowers help! which hardware for what - lost in liquidmix emulations

analographi · 12th March 2007

<hr style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" size="1">  Hi,

Again, (the other threads title was not chosen well)

Actually I'm the "try it out" type, but my Liquidmix has just to much to try out and at this time I'm a little too busy for it.

I'm completely lost in all the emulations. as long as I just had my 4 or 5 VST compressors and EQs I had no problem with choice, since I knew them well to use for what ever...

But now I have more than 50 different characteristics to choose from, and I don't know most of the hardware that is being emulated.

I would really appreciate some tips like:
this hardware is great for fast signals, or voices, or percussion or anything or this hardware was just crap, why use the emulation... or mainly used in "jazz" or what ever you know about that stuff.

You know what I mean?

Ok, heres the list, first the name of the preset, then the hardware that is being emulated.

COMPRESSORS<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
FLAT COMP/ CLEAN SOUND FREE CONTROLS - Focusrite Liquid Mix DSP compressor<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
TRANY C/ US CLASSIC DISCRETE 1C - API 2500*stereo mastering compressor<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
TRANY A/ US CLASSIC DISCRETE 1A - API 2500*stereo mastering compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SILVER 2/ US MODERN TUBE 1 - AVALON VT-737SP*valve channel strip<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
LIVE SOUND/ BRIT LIVE SOUND 1 - BSS DPR402* dual compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<st1:city><st1:place>LONDON</st1:place></st1:city>/ BRIT BOUTIQUE TUBE 1 - CHISWICK REACH* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>) stereo valve compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
WASP 2/ <st1:place><st1:placename>BRIT</st1:placename><st1:placename>CLASSIC</st1:placename><st1:placename>SOLID</st1:placename><st1:placetype>STATE</st1:placetype></st1:place> 1 - DRAWMER DL221X*<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
WASP 1/ BRIT CLASSIC TUBE 1 - DRAWMER 1960*(<st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>) vacuum tube compressor amplifier<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BIG BLUE A/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1A - dbx 160S* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>) compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BIG BLUE B/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1B - dbx 160S* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>) compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
US RADIO/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 1 - dbx 165* compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
COPY CAT/ US MODERN COPY CAT - EMPIRICAL LABS EL8 DISTRESSOR* <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
VINTAGE/ US VINTAGE TUBE 1 - FAIRCHILD MODEL 670*<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
FF ISA 115/ FOCUSRITE CLASSIC ISA 115 - FOCUSRITE ISA 115 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
FF GREEN 5/ FOCUSRITE GREEN CHANNEL STRIP - FOCUSRITE CHANNEL STRIP <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
FF RED 7/ FOCUSRITE CLASSIC RED 7 - FOCUSRITE RED 7 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
DUNK A/ <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> MODERN FET 1 - MANLEY SLAM!*<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
DUNK B/ US MODERN OPTICAL 1 - MANLEY SLAM!* <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
PRIMITIVE/ US CLASSIC TUBE 2 - MANLEY STEREO “VARIABLE MU”* <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BIG GREEN/ BRIT CLASSIC OPTICAL - JOE MEEK SC2* COMPRESSOR* <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
NEW AGE 2E/ <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> MODERN HYBRID 2E - MILLENNIA STT-1*<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
CLASS A 1 / BRIT 70'S CLASS A 1 - NEVE 2254/A* dual/stereo compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
CLASS A 2/ BRIT 70'S CLASS A 2 - NEVE 33609/B* dual/stereo compressor /limiter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK1/ BRIT CLASSIC DESK 1 - NEVE VR CONSOLE* compressor<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
MEAT PIE/ BRIT 60'S CLASS A - PYE 84 4060/01* compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
GRINDER A/ BRIT MODERN DESK COPY A - SMART RESEARCH C2* bus compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
GRINDER B/ BRIT MODERN DESK COPY B - SMART RESEARCH C2* bus compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
MIX BUSS/ BRIT CLASSIC BUSS - SOLID STATE LOGIC FX G384* stereo compressor<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK2/ BRIT CLASSIC DESK 2 - SOLID STATE LOGIC SL 4000 G+* console compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK3/ BRIT MODERN DESK 1 - SOLID STATE LOGIC SL 510* (5000 series dynamics module) <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
ACME 1/ US MODERN TUBE 3 - SUMMIT DCL-200* dual compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
ACME 2/ US MODERN TUBE 4 - <st1:city><st1:place>SUMMIT</st1:place></st1:city> TLA-100A* tube levelling amplifier <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
LEVELLER/ US CLASSIC TUBe 3 - TELETRONIX MODEL LA-2A* <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT TUBE/ BRIT MODERN TUBE 1 - TL AUDIO C-1*dual valve compressor<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
VIKING 1/ DANISH CLASSIC TUBE 1 - TUBE TECH CL-1B* compressor <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
VIKING 2/ DANISH CLASSIC TUBE 2 - TUBE TECH LCA 2B* dual/stereo compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
STELLAR 1/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 1 - UNIVERSAL AUDIO 1176LN* mono limiting amplifier, <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
STELLAR 2/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 2 - UREI MODEL 1176LN* mono limiting amplifier <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
STELLAR 3/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 3 - UREI/TELETRONIX* mono levelling amplifier LA-3A<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
STELLAR 4/ US CLASSIC OPTICAL 1 - UREI LA-4* compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
EQs<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
DIGI-FILTER - Focusrite Digital Low-pass and High-pass filter<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
CLASS A 2: - Neve 1073 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
TRANY 4: - API 550b <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
TRANY 5: - API 559 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
OLD TUBE 1: - Pultec EQP1 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
OLD TUBE 2: - Pultec MEQ5 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
PLATINUM 1: - Focusrite VoiceMaster <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
ISA115: - Focusrite ISA 115<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
CLASS A 4: - Neve 1058 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
TRANY 3: - API 550A <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SILVER 3: - <st1:place><st1:city>Avalon</st1:city><st1:state>Vt</st1:state></st1:place> 747sp <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
OLD TUBE 3: - Pultec EQH2 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
VINTAGE 3: - EAR 822Q<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK 4: - SSL E-series<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK 5: - SSL G-series<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
HUGE TUBE: - Manley Massive Passive <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
BRIT DESK 6: - AMEC Angela <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SILVER 2: - Avalon <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
SILVER 4: - Avalon 2055 <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
PLATINUM 2: - Focusrite Bass Factory<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
ZEBRA 2: - Chandler Limited EMI Passive TG channel <st1:street><st1:address>Abbey Rd</st1:address></st1:street>

Thank you

**Reptil** · 12th March 2007

AFAIK the "labels" with the real compressors' names are meaningless.
And sorry but having a lot of choices (or just one, opinions vary..

) means you have to try to learn them all.

try an API 2500 someday, if you have the opportunity. it's very different from any software. thumbsup

Stephen B. · 12th March 2007

I have a liquid mix too, and can understand your feeling of having too many options. I'll tell you a few of the ones I like to use and what I like to use them for. As a disclaimer, I don't have any of the hardware pieces that are being modeled, with one exception. Most of these are probably pretty obvious because I'm just using them on applications that I've heard the originals excel at.

Comp:
CopyCat - I like to use the Distressor model for snare, toms, and sometimes kick

MixBuss - yeah, I like that one on the mix buss. Attack all the way up (30 ms), auto release, 2.5:1 ratio, about 3-4db reduction. Pretty common settings for the SSL mix buss.

Stellar1 - I like this on vocals and bass. It's almost always on those. (as a sidenote, after some confusion, I figured out that a faster release corresponds to a higher setting on the knob. I guess if I'd ever used a real 1176 I'd have known this...either that or my liquid mix is messed up)

BigGreen - like it on Kick

Viking2 - I've used this on female vocals, pop/country ballad stuff

EQs: I haven't tried out the various EQs much. Here are a couple I use a lot.
Silver3 - I use this for a lot of gentle shaping. This is the one hardware piece that I actually own that is being modeled. The high end on it is beautiful.

Brit Desk 5 - I use this for stuff that needs more flexible eqing

Just to give you some ideas.

analographi · 12th March 2007

thanks a lot stephen!!

that really gives me some starting points.

analographi · 13th March 2007

(I'm from the low cost world - so don't flame me if this questions is too basic)

Whats the LA2a good for actually?

dropblacksky · 13th March 2007

The LA2A? It's good for pretty much anything. It's arguably the best sounding compressor ever made...and it only has like 2 freakin knobs so you know it isn't overcompensating for any shortcomings. Seriously, this thing is classic....50 years and it still is among the very best. My two favorite uses are for bass and vocals...but again...it will make a positive impression on anything...I don't know about the emulation though, I've only used the hardware version.

12th March 2007	#1
analographi Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: switzerland Posts: 177 Thread Starter	Hardware geeks/knowers help! which hardware for what - lost in liquidmix emulations <hr style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --> Hi, Again, (the other threads title was not chosen well) Actually I'm the "try it out" type, but my Liquidmix has just to much to try out and at this time I'm a little too busy for it. I'm completely lost in all the emulations. as long as I just had my 4 or 5 VST compressors and EQs I had no problem with choice, since I knew them well to use for what ever... But now I have more than 50 different characteristics to choose from, and I don't know most of the hardware that is being emulated. I would really appreciate some tips like: this hardware is great for fast signals, or voices, or percussion or anything or this hardware was just crap, why use the emulation... or mainly used in "jazz" or what ever you know about that stuff. You know what I mean? Ok, heres the list, first the name of the preset, then the hardware that is being emulated. COMPRESSORS<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FLAT COMP/ CLEAN SOUND FREE CONTROLS - Focusrite Liquid Mix DSP compressor<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TRANY C/ US CLASSIC DISCRETE 1C - API 2500stereo mastering compressor<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TRANY A/ US CLASSIC DISCRETE 1A - API 2500stereo mastering compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SILVER 2/ US MODERN TUBE 1 - AVALON VT-737SPvalve channel strip<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LIVE SOUND/ BRIT LIVE SOUND 1 - BSS DPR402 dual compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:city><st1:place>LONDON</st1:place></st1:city>/ BRIT BOUTIQUE TUBE 1 - CHISWICK REACH* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>) stereo valve compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WASP 2/ <st1:place><st1:placename>BRIT</st1:placename><st1:placename>CLASSIC</st1:placename><st1:placename>SOLID</st1:placename><st1:placetype>STATE</st1:placetype></st1:place> 1 - DRAWMER DL221X<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> WASP 1/ BRIT CLASSIC TUBE 1 - DRAWMER 1960(<st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>) vacuum tube compressor amplifier<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BIG BLUE A/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1A - dbx 160S* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>) compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BIG BLUE B/ US MODERN SOLID STATE 1B - dbx 160S* (<st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>) compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> US RADIO/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 1 - dbx 165* compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COPY CAT/ US MODERN COPY CAT - EMPIRICAL LABS EL8 DISTRESSOR* <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> VINTAGE/ US VINTAGE TUBE 1 - FAIRCHILD MODEL 670<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FF ISA 115/ FOCUSRITE CLASSIC ISA 115 - FOCUSRITE ISA 115 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FF GREEN 5/ FOCUSRITE GREEN CHANNEL STRIP - FOCUSRITE CHANNEL STRIP <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FF RED 7/ FOCUSRITE CLASSIC RED 7 - FOCUSRITE RED 7 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> DUNK A/ <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> MODERN FET 1 - MANLEY SLAM!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> DUNK B/ US MODERN OPTICAL 1 - MANLEY SLAM!* <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PRIMITIVE/ US CLASSIC TUBE 2 - MANLEY STEREO “VARIABLE MU”* <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BIG GREEN/ BRIT CLASSIC OPTICAL - JOE MEEK SC2* COMPRESSOR* <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> NEW AGE 2E/ <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> MODERN HYBRID 2E - MILLENNIA STT-1<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CLASS A 1 / BRIT 70'S CLASS A 1 - NEVE 2254/A dual/stereo compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CLASS A 2/ BRIT 70'S CLASS A 2 - NEVE 33609/B* dual/stereo compressor /limiter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK1/ BRIT CLASSIC DESK 1 - NEVE VR CONSOLE* compressor<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> MEAT PIE/ BRIT 60'S CLASS A - PYE 84 4060/01* compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GRINDER A/ BRIT MODERN DESK COPY A - SMART RESEARCH C2* bus compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> GRINDER B/ BRIT MODERN DESK COPY B - SMART RESEARCH C2* bus compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> MIX BUSS/ BRIT CLASSIC BUSS - SOLID STATE LOGIC FX G384* stereo compressor<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK2/ BRIT CLASSIC DESK 2 - SOLID STATE LOGIC SL 4000 G+* console compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK3/ BRIT MODERN DESK 1 - SOLID STATE LOGIC SL 510* (5000 series dynamics module) <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ACME 1/ US MODERN TUBE 3 - SUMMIT DCL-200* dual compressor/limiter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ACME 2/ US MODERN TUBE 4 - <st1:city><st1:place>SUMMIT</st1:place></st1:city> TLA-100A* tube levelling amplifier <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LEVELLER/ US CLASSIC TUBe 3 - TELETRONIX MODEL LA-2A* <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT TUBE/ BRIT MODERN TUBE 1 - TL AUDIO C-1dual valve compressor<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> VIKING 1/ DANISH CLASSIC TUBE 1 - TUBE TECH CL-1B compressor <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> VIKING 2/ DANISH CLASSIC TUBE 2 - TUBE TECH LCA 2B* dual/stereo compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> STELLAR 1/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 1 - UNIVERSAL AUDIO 1176LN* mono limiting amplifier, <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> STELLAR 2/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 2 - UREI MODEL 1176LN* mono limiting amplifier <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> STELLAR 3/ US CLASSIC SOLID STATE 3 - UREI/TELETRONIX* mono levelling amplifier LA-3A<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> STELLAR 4/ US CLASSIC OPTICAL 1 - UREI LA-4* compressor/limiter <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> EQs<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> DIGI-FILTER - Focusrite Digital Low-pass and High-pass filter<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CLASS A 2: - Neve 1073 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TRANY 4: - API 550b <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TRANY 5: - API 559 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OLD TUBE 1: - Pultec EQP1 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OLD TUBE 2: - Pultec MEQ5 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PLATINUM 1: - Focusrite VoiceMaster <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ISA115: - Focusrite ISA 115<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CLASS A 4: - Neve 1058 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> TRANY 3: - API 550A <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SILVER 3: - <st1:place><st1:city>Avalon</st1:city><st1:state>Vt</st1:state></st1:place> 747sp <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OLD TUBE 3: - Pultec EQH2 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> VINTAGE 3: - EAR 822Q<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK 4: - SSL E-series<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK 5: - SSL G-series<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> HUGE TUBE: - Manley Massive Passive <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> BRIT DESK 6: - AMEC Angela <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SILVER 2: - Avalon <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SILVER 4: - Avalon 2055 <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PLATINUM 2: - Focusrite Bass Factory<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ZEBRA 2: - Chandler Limited EMI Passive TG channel <st1:street><st1:address>Abbey Rd</st1:address></st1:street> Thank you

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
lost in liquidmix, which emulation for what?	analographi	So much gear, so little time!	4	4th May 2007 04:29 PM
what hardware is now redundant due to software emulations...	ine-kpro...	High end	27	4th September 2006 02:19 AM
hardware	feyshay	Low End Theory	4	14th August 2005 05:52 PM
Plug vs hardware ffx (if you had to do a recall without the hardware what would u use	no ssl yet	High end	1	9th May 2005 10:41 PM
G5 and Mix hardware	Renie	Music computers	6	6th August 2003 12:07 PM

12th March 2007	#3
Stephen B. Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 111	I have a liquid mix too, and can understand your feeling of having too many options. I'll tell you a few of the ones I like to use and what I like to use them for. As a disclaimer, I don't have any of the hardware pieces that are being modeled, with one exception. Most of these are probably pretty obvious because I'm just using them on applications that I've heard the originals excel at. Comp: CopyCat - I like to use the Distressor model for snare, toms, and sometimes kick MixBuss - yeah, I like that one on the mix buss. Attack all the way up (30 ms), auto release, 2.5:1 ratio, about 3-4db reduction. Pretty common settings for the SSL mix buss. Stellar1 - I like this on vocals and bass. It's almost always on those. (as a sidenote, after some confusion, I figured out that a faster release corresponds to a higher setting on the knob. I guess if I'd ever used a real 1176 I'd have known this...either that or my liquid mix is messed up) BigGreen - like it on Kick Viking2 - I've used this on female vocals, pop/country ballad stuff EQs: I haven't tried out the various EQs much. Here are a couple I use a lot. Silver3 - I use this for a lot of gentle shaping. This is the one hardware piece that I actually own that is being modeled. The high end on it is beautiful. Brit Desk 5 - I use this for stuff that needs more flexible eqing Just to give you some ideas.

13th March 2007	#5
analographi Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: switzerland Posts: 177 Thread Starter	(I'm from the low cost world - so don't flame me if this questions is too basic) Whats the LA2a good for actually?

13th March 2007	#6
dropblacksky Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 495	The LA2A? It's good for pretty much anything. It's arguably the best sounding compressor ever made...and it only has like 2 freakin knobs so you know it isn't overcompensating for any shortcomings. Seriously, this thing is classic....50 years and it still is among the very best. My two favorite uses are for bass and vocals...but again...it will make a positive impression on anything...I don't know about the emulation though, I've only used the hardware version.