Softube have just announced the launch of their latest hardware unit, the Flow Studio. Housed in a compact desktop enclosure, the new arrival sports a set of five encoders, a selection of function buttons and a full-colour display, and comes with over 100 signal chains that take advantage of Softube’s Flow Mixing Suite plug-in collection.
Designed to provide intuitive hands-on control over processing and effects plug-ins in a DAW session, the Flow Studio pairs its physical controls with a 4.3-inch colour display that offers real-time feedback on everything from EQ curves to reverb tails, as well as providing detailed metering. Softube say that they have optimised the unit and its accompanying software to ensure it delivers the lowest possible latency, and that the figures are low enough to carry out the likes of live vocal tuning.
Three Modes
The Flow Studio features three modes of operation: DAW, Flow and Detail. Here’s what Softube have to say about them:
- DAW Mode: Control levels, pan and sends, right out of the box. No mapping required.
- Flow Mode: Transform your sound instantly with macro controls. Go from a dry track to ear candy at the turn of a knob.
- Detail Mode: Want to go deeper? Use Detail Mode to adjust each parameter of your favourite Softube plug-ins directly from the hardware.
No Subscription Required
While the company’s Flow Mixing Suite is subscription-based, Flow Studio itself isn’t tied to any subscriptions, and comes supplied with a set of 25 Softube processors and effects that users can keep indefinitely. Those who wish to expand the collection can do so by signing up to Flow Mixing Suite or adding additional individual Softube plug-ins, but it’s not a prerequisite for using the Flow Studio.
As you’d imagine, the system has been designed to complement the company’s Console 1 controller. Softube say that Flow Studio can be used to carry out the ‘broad strokes’ work in the earlier stages of a project before working on the finer details with Console 1, with the smaller surface coming in handy as an additional effects controller.
Pricing & Availability
Flow Studio is available now, priced at $399£349 including VAT.
