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dickiefunk 13 January 2012

Hi,

I'm thinking of replacing my current pres with a Focusrite Liquid Channel because I would like to have a few more tone options + all those compressors.
As some of you already know my current pres are a UA Solo 610, Focusrite ISA One and PreSonus Eureka.
I actually really like these pres but would also like a Neve, API and something very clean (wire with gain). I would also like some decent tracking compressors like a LA-2A, 1176 and Distressor etc.

I don't have any funds available to buy any more pres or compressors so the only way I could do this would be to sell my current pres and buy the Liquid Channel.

95% of my recording duties are vocals so I wouldn't really miss the DI's on my current pres. I already have some nice DI's on my Focusrite Saffire 24 interface and I would look to get something like a Radial JDI at a later date for guitar and bass.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Comments

Davedog Fri, 01/13/2012 - 02:32

The Liquid Channel is a decent mic pre/ emulator. It is NOT a Neve nor is it an API. It CAN make a number of different sounds for whatever you want to put through it and in this regards is a decent piece of gear. It is a quality built piece like most Focusrite gear. I have used one. I do not own one. An associate keeps one around and has lots of other options in his room. His definately sees some work.

I personally have no problem with ANY modeling gear what-so-ever, I just think of these pieces as nicely varietal pieces of kit but never would I expect them to completely cover all the aspects of the original designs.

dickiefunk Fri, 01/13/2012 - 02:46

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply. One thing to consider is all of these pieces of hardware the LC is emulating can all sound very different to each other!? You could have two 1073's next to each other and they can both sound very different?
Hugh from Sound On Sound had the exact units that Focusrite used to emulate and he found the LC to be pretty indistinguishable!?

I would be very happy if I can have the ISA and 610 tones in the LC and have all those other options aswell! Apparently the ISA 110 and UA 610 emulations are said to be pretty indistinguishable?

Davedog Fri, 01/13/2012 - 03:12

I am well aware of the differences in seemingly identical vintage as well as more modern gear. And , as I said, the Liquid Channel is a very capable unit with a lot of variety to it. The process that Focusrite takes is above reproach and it is likely the very best at what it does for what it is. It may be exactly what you have been searching for for your needs.

RemyRAD Sat, 01/14/2012 - 21:28

I think all you have to do is learn how to process your current sound, properly. Your preamps are already excellent. Plenty of software can provide what you want to do and what you want it to sound like. And you probably already have that in your software. So you are merely lacking technique and a new preamp with the gizmos built in is still not going to give you what you want if you don't know how to utilize what you already have properly. So you are still on a learning curve and switching lanes is not going to teach you anything.

You might appreciate the color of the faceplate better?
Mx. Remy Ann David

dickiefunk Tue, 02/28/2012 - 14:31

Ok thought I'd better report back. I recently picked up a Liquid Channel at a price that meant I can keep hold of my UA Solo 610 and ISA One digital. I now have the Liquid Channel for my vocal pre, ISA One for Acoustic guitar and di, UA Solo 610 for bass and electric guitar di. I will be hooking up the Liquid Channel via AES-spdif, ISA One via Adat and UA Solo 610 into line input of ISA One so all pres will be going through high quality converter. The Liquid Channel will be the Master clock.

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