FocusRite Liquid Mix

The FocusRite Liquid Mix is a revolutionary Liquid multi-channel firewire mix processor, with onboard DSP hosting 32 classic EQs and 32 vintage compressors simultaneously in the mix.

Each of Liquid Mix's 32 channels provides EQ and Compressor emulations selected from a huge pool of high-quality vintage and modern day classics. 20 EQs and 40 Compressors are available straight out of the box, with an expanding library online. Furthermore, a totally unique hybrid 7-band ‘super EQ' can be built out of separate classic EQ sections in every one of the 32 channels. Each channel appears as a separate VST/AU/RTAS effect within the sequencer and will work within all major applications, including Pro Tools.

Liquid Mix uses the same patented Dynamic Convolution process as Focusrite's Liquid Channel. Unlike standard convolution techniques, Dynamic Convolution utilizes vast processing power to sample the effect of a classic processor on a series of audio pulses, at many different gain settings and all frequencies. In Liquid Mix, all this processing is done using onboard DSP, so the processing has almost no effect on your computer's own CPU.

Features:
-Every Liquid Mix channel uses dynamic convolution to provide 20 EQs and 40 compressors, with a free
  expanding library online.
-32 Channels of Liquid Mix Compression and 32 EQs run off Liquid Mix's own DSP - many more than are
  possible with CPU alone.
-EQ and Compression can be applied via a hands-on control surface, or within your DAW application via
  a simple GUI.
-Unique 7-band super EQs can be created, constructed from separate classic EQ sections of your choosing
-Large format LED bar-graphs mean ergonomic display of levels and processor impact.
-An optional DSP expansion card is available to increase the maximum channel count at higher sample rates.

Windows System Requirements:
-VST, RTAS
-Windows® XP Service Pack 2 (Home or Professional)
-Min version of ProTools required - 7.0 if planning to use the included FXpansion (earlier versions will require
  the full Fxpansion VST wrapper.)
-Windows® XP compatible PC (Pentium© 4 2GHz or higher recommended)
-400MB/s IEEE1394/FireWire port (OHCI compliant recommended)
-DVD drive required for Installation
-1.4 GHz Intel or compatible
-2.0 GHz Pentium© 4 or Xeon recommended
-256MB or more
-512MB or higher recommended 

Mac System Requirements:
-AU, VST, RTAS
-Mac OS X Panther (10.3.9 or later) - Mac OS update may be required
-Min version of Logic required - Logic 7.1, but 7.2 highly recommended
-Min version of ProTools required - 7.0 if planning to use the included FXpansion (earlier versions will require
  the full Fxpansion VST wrapper.)
-Apple Mac Power PC G4, G5 or Intel Mac (any)
-G4/800 MHz (minimum)
-G4/1.5GHZ or higher recommended
-256MB or more
-512MB or higher recommended

Additional Info:
Firewire chipsets from TI (Texas Instruments), VIA, and NEC are recommended
It is highly recommended that Liquid Mix be run on its own Firewire bus/card
In order to use Liquid Mix with a 4-pin IEEE1394 port you will need a 4-pin to 6-pin cable (not included) and must use the PSU (included)
AMD users please read some special compatibility information here.

Latency:
Due to the round trip transmission which is required on the firewire bus, a delay of 2056 samples is incurred. This sample delay results in different amounts of time delay depending upon sampling frequency.
47 ms @ 44.1kHz
43 ms @ 48kHz
23 ms @ 88.2kHz
21 ms @ 96kHz
11 ms @ 192kHz

Sequencer compatibility:
Liquid Mix operates as VST, AU, or as a RTAS-wrapped VST within compatible hosts. Unfortunately, Liquid Mix is not yet compatible with some non-realtime audio editing software packages which use fixed internal buffer sizes higher than 1024 samples. This affects Steinberg WaveLab, Sony Sound Forge, and Adobe Audition.  An update is scheduled for sometime in the first quarter of 2007.  Additionaly, Liquid Mix is not yet compatible with Cubase 4 on Intel Macs. This is because Steinberg has chosen to stop supported VST2.3 plugins in Cubase 4.  An update is being worked on.

Optional Expansion Card details:
The card is suitable for those people interested in operating at sample rates of 88.2 or higher. The channel count increases as follows:

Channel Counts:
44.1kHz/48kHz: 32 channels mono, (16 stereo) unexpanded. No change with expansion card
88.2/96kHz: 8 channels mono, (4 stereo) unexpanded. Expansion card provides 16 mono / 8 stereo
176.4/192kHz: 2 channels mono, (1 stereo) unexpanded. Expansion card provides 8 mono / 4 stereo