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I'm not sure whether this is good or bad. Harrison is presently offering their Mixbus DAW with a bunch of plugins and with a huge reduction in price. Mixbus is based on Ardour and Harrison made many contributions to the latter. However, Harrison were acquired in 2022 by Solid State Logic, who don't list Mixbus on their website, only the rather more expensive Mixbus32C. So maybe Mixbus is going away? I don't know. Either way: Mixbus V9+9 bundle
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Gordon, I use Mixbus 32c I bought it on the annual sale for a great price. From what I gather on the site there are still plans to continue development of the Mixbus line. With version 9.2 just being released. Mixbus 32c is a very good product to well, mix in it may be a tad behind in some areas like maybe midi, but the console style mixing environment is very good. I find the ability to create a full rich product very easy. The in channel EQ is simply brilliant as it the compression.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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I bought only the standard Mixbus, but back before they'd produced the 32C version. I didn't upgrade because the old PC I was using probably would not have coped. Perhaps I should consider it. For me it also has the benefit of offering Linux native. I imagine there's still and upgrade path and that if they do discontinue the non-32C version, they'll offer a competitive switch. 9.2 of both seem to be out.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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I bought the 32C version 6 and after they released three paid upgrades in a little over a year, I bailed. So, I currently own 9 but haven’t reactivated the licenses on my new machine.
They’re going after a digital version of big old analog consoles and recorders. I realized I gave that up in 1997 when I went to Digital Performer and didn’t miss the workflow at all. It’s not bad but, even though I started in analog in the 1960s, I’m not going backward.
It wasn’t very much money and it’s been written off. Moving on…
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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I've never had the 32C only the base version, though I've never been asked to pay for an upgrade. Curious. I can certainly understand why you bailed, though. Pretty much all of their plug-ins seem to be "for Mixbus or Mixbus32C only", which seems like a significant restriction.
FWIW, I started with Mixbus as it was available on Linux, having been developed upon Ardour, which was originally a Linux DAW. Most software I get is first informed by "can I get/use it on Linux?". If the answer is no, then usually the software is dropped off of the short-list unless there's some compelling reason to keep it there ... BIAB, is an obvious example. A frustration with that is that, to use a Windows application that doesn't run on Linux, means changing from my "home" OS to use it. I spend 95% of my time in Linux, so that's a real nuisance and it adds to my periodic self-debates on "why am I still fighting BIAB's multifarious quirks?". I have only two software packages that I can't (presently, anyway) use on Linux, BIAB and my PCB-CAD. Most other Windows stuff will run in Wine' or if not there, in VirtualBox.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Gordon, i did a head to head test on Mixbus 32c, with Realband, and Reaper. I loaded the same stems created in BiaB. then i mixed them using the same basic principles. I was able to get fairly close on the end result with all three. But it took a lot more work with Reaper and RB. i had to add the EQs and compressors to each track and create a master chain that gave me what i wanted. In MB32c those tools exist on each track/channel and on each mixbus and master buss. not to mention each tool is custom designed to suit that purpose, i.e. being a master or track tool. it took half the mixing time and the sound was rich and punchy.
Mixbus 32c is far from being perfect, and even lags in some areas, but for pure mixing especially with the quality stems BiaB offers it sounds great. the BiaB plugin works nice there as well.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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I've never had the 32C only the base version, though I've never been asked to pay for an upgrade. ... that is an upgrade within the same version. I've done a few major-version upgrades, for which I've paid a little. Harrison's upgrade policy for both Mixbus and Mixbus32C is the same, subject to a price difference between the two for the major upgrade, so I'm rather surprised at Mike's reported experience.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
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6 to 7 was free since it happened within 30 days of my initial purchase. I had to call to get it resolved. By the way, they answer the phone—a major + + + for me (try that with Reaper). The subsequent upgrades were $79 each plus plug-in packs but they came too quickly and while a turn off wasn’t a deal killer.
I spend 40 to 70 hours a week in a DAW. it’s a major part of my income. If the workflow doesn’t let me get the job done faster, I need to go with something else that does. It cost me about $300 or so a little over a year. Experiments are just as valid if they produce negative results.
I’m an old AS400 and UNIX head, mostly SCO but ATT and SUN here and there. Some of my geeky FAQs are still up in various corners of the internet which surprises me 20-30 years later. I have no use for LINUX, however. None of my employers or clients used it and I am not a hobbyist. Computers are tools I use to get things done and too much of LINUX is trying to make things work while bragging about the money saved. I live and work in the heart of the Silicon Valley — everyone I know has dabbled in LINUX around here.
I see that Audacity has added functionality that I’ve been using for decades in DP that does not exist in Mixbus. Perhaps it no longer sucks. I will never take the time to find out.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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much of LINUX is trying to make things work while bragging about the money saved. The money was never an issue. I've been using Unix and/or Linux continuously since about 1981/1982, several years before Windows (or even Lisa or Gem), mostly as a development platform, host, target, embedded. I used regularly to have the question "how do I even do this in Windows?". Mostly(!) I just find Linux much more productive for me. Very occasionally it's a struggle. But then I'm an electronics/software designer, not part of the music industry.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
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I've been using Mixbus 32C since it started. For editing both MIDI and audio, it's not even approaching Realband, but for sheer mixing power it's fabulous. With four-band sweep EQ, twelve sends, compressor and gate right there on every channel it's simply a pleasure to work on. It's fast, it's flexible and it sounds great. Like Rob, I can get a finished mix so much quicker and with less fuss. I'm always gonna use Realband for tracking-up and, of course, for the virtual room full of session musicians, but then the stems get ported straight over to 32C. I'd be the first to say that not everyone has the same way of working, but if you were brought up on large format consoles you'll probably feel at home.
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Solid State Logic flexed their ownership muscles today. This morning's email came with an "offering" to move my Harrison plugins over to iLok for "free" as long as I buy something — what??? As far as I can tell, the SSL versions can be used in other DAWs which is ok, I suppose. Only one plug interested me (G3 Limiter) but I still have a current license for it from the original developer who had a sale before he sold out to SSL so it's Thanks but no thanks for now.
Anyway, my old account info is no longer valid so it's new logins, new web sites and a convoluted system to see my Harrison purchases (they now email the info after I jumped through enough hoops) that can't be linked to the new SSL account. I spent an hour trying to sort it out—creating three new accounts (Harrison, Harrison Store and SSL) in the process—before deciding that I was right to be done with it all.
This is worse than the iZotope/Native instruments/Plugin Alliance merger mess but I have a whole lot more money invested in that.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Solid State Logic flexed their ownership muscles today. This morning's email came with an "offering" to move my Harrison plugins over to iLok for "free" as long as I buy something — what??? As far as I can tell, the SSL versions can be used in other DAWs which is ok, I suppose. Only one plug interested me (G3 Limiter) but I still have a current license for it from the original developer who had a sale before he sold out to SSL so it's Thanks but no thanks for now.
Anyway, my old account info is no longer valid so it's new logins, new web sites and a convoluted system to see my Harrison purchases (they now email the info after I jumped through enough hoops) that can't be linked to the new SSL account. I spent an hour trying to sort it out—creating three new accounts (Harrison, Harrison Store and SSL) in the process—before deciding that I was right to be done with it all.
This is worse than the iZotope/Native instruments/Plugin Alliance merger mess but I have a whole lot more money invested in that. Yes, similar here. I couldn't log on and couldn't (again) reset my password, so sent them a message saying so. There are almost always headaches when these kinds of thing happen. I think they're not asking me to buy anything, but I'm offered only the "Mastering EQ iLok upgrade". I'm not even sure what that means/implies.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
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Solid State Logic flexed their ownership muscles today. This morning's email came with an "offering" to move my Harrison plugins over to iLok for "free" as long as I buy something — what??? As far as I can tell, the SSL versions can be used in other DAWs which is ok, I suppose. Only one plug interested me (G3 Limiter) but I still have a current license for it from the original developer who had a sale before he sold out to SSL so it's Thanks but no thanks for now.
Anyway, my old account info is no longer valid so it's new logins, new web sites and a convoluted system to see my Harrison purchases (they now email the info after I jumped through enough hoops) that can't be linked to the new SSL account. I spent an hour trying to sort it out—creating three new accounts (Harrison, Harrison Store and SSL) in the process—before deciding that I was right to be done with it all.
This is worse than the iZotope/Native instruments/Plugin Alliance merger mess but I have a whole lot more money invested in that. Yes, similar here. I couldn't log on and couldn't (again) reset my password, so sent them a message saying so. There are almost always headaches when these kinds of thing happen. I think they're not asking me to buy anything, but I'm offered only the "Mastering EQ iLok upgrade". I'm not even sure what that means/implies. I got this email just now: OOPS! Our new store was not configured correctly for the Multiband Compressor update.
If you had trouble getting your Multiband Compressor for $0, please follow the same purchase steps to make a new purchase, and the discount should be applied to your account this time! Sorry for the trouble. The site still doesn't work.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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