Plug-in specialists Softube have announced Console 1 Mk II — an upgraded version of its award-winning hardware/software mixing system, representing an enormous leap forward from its predecessor with support for selected UAD Powered Plug-ins from Universal Audio and a substantial, permanent price drop — at The 2017 NAMM Show, January 19-22 in Anaheim, California...
Originally released in 2014, Softube Console 1 quickly earned a large and dedicated following, receiving prestigious awards and rave reviews in the pro audio press. Read our review of the original here. With its tightly integrated hardware and software, and the included emulation of a Solid State Logic SL 4000 E console, Console 1offered a compelling mix of digital and analogue worlds in a compact system.
Softube have now announced Console 1 Mk II, an upgrade that addresses the most frequent user requests. Firstly, the new software — also available to owners of the first-generation Console 1 — makes it possible to use Console 1 with selected UAD Powered Plug-Ins from Universal Audio. There are now over 60 more plug-ins that can be used from within the Console 1 system, including plug-ins based on units from Chandler Limited, Fairchild, Teletronix, Tube-Tech, Abbey Road Studios, and many more. The plug-ins are pre-mapped and easily selectable from the Console 1 software, so no MIDI mapping is necessary.
Secondly, the success of Console 1 has made it possible to make efficiencies in production, resulting in an MSRP drop from $849 to $499. The hardware has the same build quality as the original units, with some minor layout changes such as more visible LED markers.
All of these changes come in addition to the recently released software update, which added DAW control functions for Presonus Studio One and Cakewalk SONAR.
The new Console 1 Mk II units, and the software update with the UAD Powered Plug-Ins compatibility, will be available in Spring 2017. Upon release, existing Console 1 owners can download the updated software fromwww.softube.com and start using it with their Console 1-ready DAWs or plug-ins.
