Forum - Main Forums : Recording Techniques

SOS Forum

Today's Active Topics · FORUM INDEX · Search Forum · Who's Online? · FAQs/Help · Calendar

Main Forums >> Recording Techniques

Print Thread

Pages: 1

dickiefunk

Joined: 17/06/05
Posts: 1983
Loc: Cornwall, UK

Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference?
#1027245 - 06/01/13 05:18 PM

Hi

I own a Focusrite Liquid Channel which I really like as a preamp but I'm finding it hard to hear the differences between the emulations.
I decided to download clips from this site to see if there is a bigger difference between the emulations here :-

http://www.zenproaudio.com/clipalator.aspx

I still find it as hard to hear the differences between these emulations. I'm monitoring on Neumann KH120 monitors and Beyer DT880 pro headphones.
The site has loads of other preamp example clips and I can clearly hear differences between these preamps (Audient Mico, Focusrite ISA One, GAP PRE73 DLX and WARM Audio WA12).

When I bought the Liquid Channel I was hoping to find a really decent clean preamp (which it has) and something more old school and fat sounding but I can't seem to find that within the Liquid Channel. Maybe I need to experiment with the Harmonics knob using something like the Telefunken V72 emulation??

--------------------
www.richardpenrose.com

Post Extras:

The Elf
active member

Joined: 14/08/01
Posts: 8143
Loc: Sheffield, UK

Re: Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference? new

[Re: dickiefunk]
#1027251 - 06/01/13 05:39 PM

You will definitely need to crank the harmonics control to get anything more than extremely subtle differences between the LC's emulations. I like the 1073 emulation, but I only begin to hear the characteristics of a 1073 once the harmonics control approaches 12 o'clock.

Focusrite made available a number of 'hot' emulations/ These may have more character for you. I've never used them myself - if you want them, but can't find them, I can drop you a copy.

--------------------
An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Post Extras:

didier.brest

Joined: 07/03/10
Posts: 10

Re: Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference? new

[Re: dickiefunk]
#1027839 - 09/01/13 11:00 PM

Quote dickiefunk:

I own a Focusrite Liquid Channel which I really like as a preamp but I'm finding it hard to hear the differences between the emulations.

You would find still harder hearing the difference between the copies and the originals, as available from here. One demonstration more than the differences between preamps are vanishingly small.

Post Extras:

dickiefunk

Joined: 17/06/05
Posts: 1983
Loc: Cornwall, UK

Re: Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference? new

[Re: dickiefunk]
#1028801 - 15/01/13 08:51 PM

Thanks to Elf for the tip off about the hot versions of the Liquid Channel emulations.

I've also found a link to these on the Focusrite website :-

http://uk.focusrite.com/downloads/assets/mic_pres

Will get these installed and try them out soon!!

Has anyone on here tried these?

--------------------
www.richardpenrose.com

Post Extras:

danatkorg

Joined: 10/02/05
Posts: 2

Re: Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference? new

[Re: dickiefunk]
#1046888 - 07/05/13 02:05 AM

Quote dickiefunk:

I decided to download clips from this site to see if there is a bigger difference between the emulations here :-

http://www.zenproaudio.com/clipalator.aspx

The "Clipalator" is a very, very cool resource. However, it has its limitations.
For microphone preamps, the Clipalator does the following:
"Raw tracks, captured using an extremely neutral and fast pre, are “re-preamplified” via the Avedis Line-Z pad which converts line level to a low 150ohm microphone level, requiring +40dB of makeup gain from each pre."

The very good part of that is that variations in performance and mics - which can easily dwarf the differences between preamps - are completely removed from the equation.

In the case of the Liquid Channel, however, there's an unfortunate side effect: the analog side of the LC is an important component of each emulation or "asset," in particular because of its interaction with the microphone. As one example, the frequency response of a mic may change depending on the preamp's input impedance. This effect is lost with the technique used in the Clipalator.

I do wish to reiterate that I think the Clipalator is a *great* resource, even if it can't always show the whole picture.

Post Extras:

dickiefunk

Joined: 17/06/05
Posts: 1983
Loc: Cornwall, UK

Re: Focusrite Liquid Channel emulations. Hardly any difference? new

[Re: dickiefunk]
#1047422 - 10/05/13 08:08 AM

Ah this is interesting to hear.
I do have to admit that I find the differences between the emulations extremely subtle. I still haven't got round to installing the newer hotter driven emulations so will do this at some point. I do notice that using the harmonics knob adds a little more character but even then you have to crank this quite a lot!

--------------------
www.richardpenrose.com

Post Extras:

Pages: 1

Extra Information
1 registered and 27 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator: David Etheridge, James Perrett, zenguitar, Martin Walker, Forum Admin, Hugh Robjohns, Zukan, Frank Eleveld, Will Betts,	Forum Permissions You cannot start new topics You cannot reply to topics HTML is disabled UBBCode is enabled	Rating: Thread views: 1731