I'd like an emulation

[Nubus]

I'd like my DAW mixer to emulate analog consoles. I wonder if anyone is working on that. It would be really, really nice to have the transparent mixer in there turn into something colorful like Neve or API. The GUI would be great on it's own. Imagine being able to swap mixes over a whole slew of different desks and choose your pick.

[dolivas]

thats a great idea sorta like a Reason for mixers or consoles.

[mikegee]

Originally Posted by Nubus

I'd like my DAW mixer to emulate analog consoles. I wonder if anyone is working on that. It would be really, really nice to have the transparent mixer in there turn into something colorful like Neve or API. The GUI would be great on it's own. Imagine being able to swap mixes over a whole slew of different desks and choose your pick.

hmmm wow! you should probably patent that idea and get to designing some, and you could make a ton of $$$

[Nubus]

I'd imagine you could turn the emulator on when tracking too so the sound you capture to disc would be colorful, or turn that off to just affect playback.

[Whoopysnorp]

Hmm, you'd think that with all the modeling technology that's all the rage these days (for guitars at least) this could actually be a workable idea. I don't know whether it'd be tougher to model a mic preamp compared to a guitar amp or what.

[DreamwaveMusic]

The liquid channel is good example of modeling PRES, so combine with model dynamics and eqs..and then you got the package.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by DreamwaveMusic

The liquid channel is good example of modeling PRES, so combine with model dynamics and eqs..and then you got the package.

Yeah. Here is a clip from their site:
"Mic-pre emulation can’t be achieved with software alone. Hardware is required in addition to account for the physical interaction with the microphone"

So that makes some sense to me but I still think there is a way to emulate it with software alone.

[dagosto]

I think this would be a big seller but I don't think software would be able to do this just yet. Besides, when someone listens to a record they are not gonna be like, "listen to how great that console sounds." That's almost like saying, "Man those cables sound amazing." Yeah I know the console has a lot to do with the sound but it is more subtle than other links in the chain.

I think a big thing a console adds to the sound is the summing stage. I think that is the reason most people who mix regularly prefer mixing out of the box. If it is possible to model summing stages you would half to be at a really high bit depth (who's ready to upgrade to 64?) if that is even possible. You could of course take a step back and look at the many great summing mixers coming out instead. Of course then you have to choose your sound, but at least you're getting the real thing.

[Nubus]

Originally Posted by dagosto

If it is possible to model summing stages you would half to be at a really high bit depth (who's ready to upgrade to 64?)

Do you happen to know the bit depth at which the mixers run? I was poking around digi's site and I couldn't find it but I thought it was already higher than the audio you work on. Someone just told me Logic and DP are 32 bit floating. If the mixer emulations happen maybe they will increase the depth to 64.