Focusrite Liquid Channel...

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006

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Jan 10, 2005
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Well basically this thing has been catching my eye every damn time it's anywhere in sight. I've heard some clips of it being used other than Focusrite's demos, and it sounds great, although I know that could be because of massive tweaking, which doesn't bother me. DeconJoe's clips on his site for Deconstruct sound amazing. So I'm just wondering what you guys thought of this peice of equipment. :D

~006
 
Never neard it, but the cheaper Focusrite sounds pretty crappy to me.
 
I have never heard of it myself, BUT, i just went looking and did a little research, it does sound like it does alot, BUT, whats the price and why would you want this, maybe if you were using an old analog desk or an old tape mmachine, BUT if you are using any kind of computor recording, this item seems over priced and absolete. let me know what you think. k
later
 
The Liquid Channel comes in pretty pricey at around $3,300 online @ SweetWater. Although, for that money I could get ONE of any of the pres that it "models" either new or used, and once that amount of money is reached, it makes more sense to save up just a tad more for the actual thing instead of something that models it. However, the fact that it has been getting tons of great reviews from highly regarded publications in the recording industry, as well as statements from well-known engineers that have worked with huge artists about using the Liquid Channel on their sessions and loving it, I just get drawn in more and more.

There aren't very many preamps out there that save the settings for one session and can be brought back by pressing a button. So that eliminates the need for a template or a very tedious job of marking where every single knob was at.

"...runs at sample rates of up to 192kHz. The front panel controls are digital, with tactile rotary encoders; all parameters can be stored in one of 99 program memories. At the press of button, you can reload all mic-pre, compressor and EQ settings for an individual session. If using the Liquid Channel in conjunction with a recording platform (e.g. Pro Tools), both the session files and The Liquid Channel's program memory can be sent via standard data transfer methods, providing a completely mobile recording session."

I'm more worried about spending the money and it sounding like crap. I have a lot of stuff that cost as much/more than this, so it's not really about the money, but all the stuff that has cost as much or more I KNOW sounds good, hehe. I've never heard the Liquid Channel all by itself with somebody using it before, and I wish I could. I usually have an ear for that stuff, as in if I heard somebody singing or something on it I could probably tell if I liked it or not immediately.

Anyway, if anybody else has any comments please put them in here. Mostly looking for people that own it, but if you've had actual experience with it, that helps too. Thanks.

~006
 
We had one at the studio two weeks ago, and got to test it out. Sounded pretty good, but it suffered from the same problem I've found in the other modelling programs/hardware that I've had or tried: it does a lot of decent and good sounds, but none of them are great. Personally, I'd much rather spend the same amount on a one or two of "one-sound" pre's that do that "one sound" really well than have a single preamp doing a bunch of good sounds. That said, the parameter-saving function is really incredible, I wish they had it on more gear(I'm sure they will in the years to come). I don't know what you'd be using it for(vocals, guitars, drums, etc.), but I'd recommend looking into:

API 7600 Channel Strip = 2500 (A channel strip right out of an API board, in a rack unit)
API 3124+ 4 Channel Mic Preamp = 2300(this one has four great pre's in it, leaving you another grand or so to get a pretty good compressor, too, if you have 3300 bucks to spend)
Vintech Dual 72 2 Channel Mic Pre = 1350 (great Neve 1272 sound)
Vintech X73 = 1800 (my favorite pre/eq for tracking guitars, and great for vox too)
Focusrite Red8 2 Channel Pre = 1700

Any of this pre's or strips can be paired with great compressors as well, still fitting under 3300, like the 1176 or Distressor. Hope this helps a little bit.
 
Yeah see I had a feeling it would be that way. Like I said, with $3,300 I could get ONE pre that I know will sound great. It was just the problem of having ONE pre, yanno? I would be using it for vocals and acoustic guitars. Everything else will be run through a simple channel strip. Most likely Focusrite's OctoPre or something along those lines. I will need at least two channels on whatever pre I get that way when I use my stereo pair of Josephsons on an acoustic I can get the same sound out of each mic, keeping everything in constant form, you know how it is.. :P. Basically the way I record electric guitars I don't need any compression or anything, and if I do I use plugs. But on voice and acoustic guitar I want it before it even hits the hard drive. So I guess I will continue my seach, heh. That API 3124 sounds good, and then I would have that $1k for a comp.

What do you think is good enough for the $1k. Like the most for the money 2 channel compressor. ???

~006
 
Actually the 3124 just made my list, lol. Thanks for the suggestion, hehe. Now I just need a nice 2-4 channel comp to comp...liment it (har har...no pun intended I swear). I'm interested to see what you recommend Exsanguis, since you thought of the API's when they never crossed my mind. Mhmm.

~006
 
Dammit! If only Focusrite's Red series wasn't so high. How about a Drawmer DL241XLR? Or even the PreSonus ACP-88, 8ch. compressor/gate?


~006
 
Oooooooooooh. Ok. Then nevermind about the Liquid Channel altogether, lol. But I still need a comp to go along with the 3124. :) How is the dbx for acoustic guitars, or have you used it for that? Because at $400 each, I could get two...or even three.

~006
 
006 said:
Dammit! If only Focusrite's Red series wasn't so high. How about a Drawmer DL241XLR?

~006
Click to expand...

Glad to be of some help. Heheh I know what you mean about the Reds. They sound great. As far as the Drawmer is concerned, I'm not that familiar with it, but have never been very fond of Drawmer's stuff. They always sound kind of sterile and boring to me, not something that I'd want for vocals or acoustic guitar. To be honest, the RNC wouldn't be a bad choice. It's a little invisible on its lower settings, but does the job really well. If you only need two channels right now, I have a couple alternatives to the 3124 that include compressors. First, you can get two API 512c Preamp Modules for 725 each, then two API 525 Compressor/Limiter Modules for 1050 each. Because these are just the modules(identical to those in API consoles), you'd need something to contain them as well as give them power. The API 6 Space Lunchbox is perfect for that. Normally, it comes to about 450, but Mercenary Audio(fantastic company) right now is offering a great deal, where if you buy 4 500 series API modules, you get the lunchbox for free. That brings the total to 3550(I know it's a little more than what you were planning on spending, but if you can afford this, it's phenomenal). Also, with this lunchbox, you have two empty slots which you can fill up later on with 2 more pre's, two more comps, eq's, or any other combination of them. The second alternative(damn this is a long post) is found in the API 200 series(which sounds different from the 500's, but equally awesome). You can get an API four module powered rack case(single rackspace) for 800. Then, you can get 2 API 212L Pre's for 625 each and 2 API 225L Compressor/Limiters for 625 each. This comes to 3300 flat. All prices that I quoted here are found at www.mercenary.com
 
Yeah, I forgot about the 160. Sounds great on most stuff. The Distressor is amazing, but I find the Brit Mod makes it 10x better(but adds a little more to the cost). The Great River MP-2NV two channel preamp is fantastic, too. It's kind of based on the Neve 1073, which is my favorite preamp ever. It costs 2150 at Mercenary, so it's something to think about.
 
Oh yeah I love Merc. Thats where I'm getting my mics from, Josephson stereo matched pair for acoustic guitar, and a Soundelux U195. As well as the API pre(s). I'll check out that stuff you guys have mentioned. Thanks again for the ideas.

~006
 
Oh a while back I had a Pendulum Audio MDP-1 for my pre...well it was on my list anyway. Would the API 3124 or the lunchbox package be better for vox and acoustic guitar or do you know? Yep.

~006
 
For your purposes as well as overall quality and flexibility, I'd go for the lunchbox. The pre's in the 3124 and the 500 series are very similar, but most people that I know who own both favor the 500 series(the lunchbox). Also, with the lunchbox, you have two empty slots if you decide to get the two compressors and the two pre's, so you can always add another pre or comp or two, or one or two of the SWEET 550 EQ's. Go for the lunchbox.
 
I own a Liquid channel and i can not belive what some of you guys are saying about it. I dare you to a/b test one of the presets to one of the original units with a blindfold, alot of pros have done this and chosen the liquid channel instead of the originals. it really sounds awsome and if anyone disagree on this they should have their hearing checked. And it´s more easy to just select a preset than it is to make new settings for each instrument(of course you have to change your presets alittle depending on the task, you know what i mean) But this piece of equipment really rules and it´s a better investment at the price than any other channelstrips on the market. :hotjump:
 
Actually, I recently did several days worth of A/Bing between it and MANY other preamps(my boss, the studio owner, is the biggest gear slut I've ever met, and is always trying to borrow/rent gear to compare equipment). While the Focusrite Liquid Channel can sound VERY good, we found again and again that it was consistently beaten by the other hi end preamps, such as the various API pre's, several Neve's, a Manley, and a few other Focusrites. I don't deny that the Liquid Channel is great if you have $3,300, and NEED a bunch of preamp "flavors." Saying that it's a "better investment than any other channel strips on the market" is definitely going overboard. In terms of a being a "better" value or investment than any other channel strips on the market today is ridiculous. $3300 for a single channel strip with average (at best) compression, a couple great sounds, a few good sounds, and a bunch of simply decent sounds cannot be justified. Personally, I'd much rather spend the same amount on 2 or more pre's and compressors that do "single sounds" amazingly well. As far as saving and recalling presets instantly, although it's convenient, I actually don't think I'd want it for a preamp or compressor, or a combination of the two. This takes the musicianship or artistry out of engineering(which seems to be a trend these days), and your songs would tend not to change sound, creating aural and musical stagnation and a lack of creativity. But, as always, each of us are entitled to our opinions, and if you are happy with your Liquid Channel and the recordings made with it, then that's perfect for you, have fun with it.
 
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