Focusrite Liquid Channel Professional Channel Strip
The Liquid Channel is undoubtedly the most revolutionary product to grace the recording community for many years. The Liquid Channel transports classic front-end processing into the digital age, removing the need for endless patching and adding fluidity and reliability to the studio environment. Quite simply, The Liquid Channel is able to emulate combinations of the finest mic-pres and compressors in history, inside a single 192kHz 2U device.
This is achieved through a unique two-part process. Firstly, the use of Dynamic Convolution™ techniques is applied, utilising lightning fast SHARC chips applying unique level-dependant impulse responses to every sample of audio. However, whilst this is more than sufficient to emulate a compressor’s sonic behaviour, in order to deal with every subtle nuance, the pre-amplifier must also physically emulate the way in which the classic unit interacts with a given microphone. The Liquid Channel’s solution to this problem lies in its vast analogue front-end; a pre-amp with the ability to change its impedance and vary its signal path to either transformer or electronic, mimicking the interaction characteristics of the original, whilst remaining entirely transparent within the signal path.
The Liquid Channel can therefore emulate the sound of the world's finest classic mic-pres and compressors. With entirely digital front panel controls, all parameters can be saved in one of ninety-nine User Memories, meaning that entire session set-ups can all be recalled at the touch of a button. A brand new digital EQ is also available, providing a comprehensive and truly ‘liquid’ channel strip.
A USB connection on the rear panel links to a software application enabling the archiving of both emulations and surplus User Memories, as well as providing remote operation of the unit itself. The Liquid Channel comes complete with forty classic mic-pre emulations and forty classic compressor emulations but is infinitely expandable, since the USB port also facilitates downloads of further emulations from a dedicated website; www.ffliquid.com.
Finally, to account for variances in amounts of second order harmonic distortion (usually perceived as warmth) from one pre-amp to the next, a dial is included to permit control over this value. This essential feature ensures hardcore vintage enthusiasts are satisfied, bringing maximum control over the sonic performance.
Essentially, The Liquid Channel provides an unlimited supply of vintage sonic performance for the price of one unit, with all the added benefits of digital processing and control.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS:
- Mic input: XLR female
- Line input: XLR female
- Analogue output: XLR male
- AES digital input: XLR female
- AES digital output: XLR male
- Wordclock in: BNC, 75Ù input impedance
- Wordclock out: BNC, outputs regenerated buffered wordclock at selected sample frequency
- Digital Link Bus in: RCA connector
- Digital Link Bus out: RCA connector
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Converter performance:
- Sample rate: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz
- Bit depth: 24-bit
ADC:
- SNR: 120 dB measured with 20 Hz/22 kHz bandpass A-weighted filter
- Frequency response: ±0.05 dB between 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Maximum input level: +22 dBu
- THD+N: 0.00035% (-109 dB)
DAC:
- Dynamic range: 116 dB measured with 20 Hz/22 kHz bandpass A-weighted filter
- Frequency response: ±0.05 dB between 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Maximum output level: +22 dBu
- THD+N: 0.0007% (-103 dB)
Jitter:
- Internal clock: <20 pico-seconds
- AES digital output: <200 pico-seconds
- External clock: <1 nano-second
Mic pre:
- Gain range: +6 dB to +80 dB, switched in 1 dB steps
