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Console 1

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Overview

Unique, and yet so familiar, this is the next generation of audio mixer.

Softube Console 1 is the next generation audio mixer. Used together with any major DAW, Console 1 will not only give you the analog sound that Softube's plug-ins are world famous for, but also the analog workflow of using physical knobs and buttons when you mix. Console 1 is all about great sound and intuitive, hands-on control.

The workflow
Inserting the Console 1 plug-in on any or all mixer channels of your DAW routes the sound from the DAW into the Console 1 mixer and back. Press a track selector button on the Console 1 hardware, and start tweaking the knobs. That's it! The full-featured channel strip is at your disposal and each function has a corresponding knob or button on the hardware. Very few functions are accessed through menus.

The sound
Included in the Console 1 package is Softube's model of Solid State Logic SL 4000 E-one of the most classic and widely used analog consoles in the world. Softube's model has been scrutinized by Solid State Logic's own experts, who have officially endorsed it. The channel strip includes the coveted black knob E 242 equalizer, the classic channel compressor, the musical expander/gate and the sweet high and low cut filters from that channel. We have also included a model of the harmonics, distortion and non-linearities obtained from overdriving the SL 4000 E console, which can be used to add analog distortion across the entire mix for that coherent "glue" sound. Adding to that is Softube's own Transient Shaper, which is not a part of the SL 4000 E console or any other analog unit for that matter. There will be more channel strips for Console 1 in the future, to be purchased separately.

The visuals
The On-Screen Display gives you perfect and detailed visual feedback of the selected channel's settings. At the bottom of the window, the meter bridge displays the levels of the currently selected channel bank (unlimited number of banks, each holds 20 channels). But you also get plenty of visual feedback from the hardware. LED rings show the knobs' positions, and meters display input and output levels, as well as gate and compressor gain reduction. So for an even more analog mix experience, just turn off the On-Screen Display and use your ears! You won't get lost.

The extras
An added bonus is that each channel can be separately customized by adding in any Softube equalizer or compressor. So if you have, say, the Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor and prefer it to the Solid State Logic SL 4000 E compressor for a certain track, just exchange it.

Apart from basic features such as Solo, Mute and Phase Invert, the system offers several additional functions to make your mix work easier, all controlled from the Console 1 hardware. This includes the ability of grouping any or all channels to tweak the settings simultaneously across the group, and changing the order of the effect sections. You can copy settings from one channel strip to the other, or just the sections you want to. You can also use parallel compression and and route an external sidechain signal into the gate or compressor. You can save and call up presets for the entire channel strip or the separate channel sections. The on-screen display is toggled on and off with a dedicated button on the hardware.

The History function is simply an undo feature that allows you to go back in time and undo all parameter adjustments you have performed. Very few DAWs offer an undo functioin for plug-in settings, but you get that with Console 1.

Features

  • Next generation mixer
  • Tightly integrated hardware/software system
  • Solid State Logic SL 4000 E model included
  • Hands-on control and intuitive workflow
  • Use with any major DAW
  • Parametric equalizer, compressor, gate, transient shaper, high/low cut filters and harmonics/distortion
  • Customize the channel by adding any Softube equalizer or dynamics plug-in
  • The system will run and the settings can be adjusted without having the hardware connected

Take control of your DAW with ease and improved sound.

Specs

Console 1 Specifications:

System Requirements for Console 1
  • Console 1 is available for both Windows and Mac OS X. Here are the system requirements:
Common for Windows and Mac OS X
  • Screen resolution 1280x800 or larger
  • 1 GB RAM or more, and at least 900 MB hard disk space
  • Any VST, VST3, AU, or AAX (Pro Tools 10.3.7, 11.2.1 or higher) compatible host application
  • 1 powered USB 2.0 compatible port
  • iLok License Manager (iLok USB key is NOT required)
  • Broadband internet access for downloading software
Mac OS X specific
  • Mac OS X 10.8 or newer
Windows specific
  • Windows 7, Windows 8.1 (latest Service Pack, 32/64 Bit) or newer
  • Intel Core Duo, AMD Athlon 64 X2 or newer
Important note to Sonar X3 users
  • If you are interested in using a Console 1 with Sonar, we strongly recommend that you hold back your Console 1 purchase until the release of an upcoming version of Sonar. The reason is that Sonar X3 handles VST plug-ins in a way that is very clever in many senses, but unfortunately does not go very well along with Console 1. The issues will be fixed in future Sonar versions.
These DAWs support automatic transfer of the DAW's track name and number to Console 1:
  • Presonus Studio One 2.6
  • Cubase 7.5
  • Nuendo 6.5
  • Ableton Live 8.4.1 (AU only, requires that all track names begin with a "#")
These DAWs support automatic transfer of the DAW's track name (but not number) to Console 1:
  • Pro Tools 11.2.1
  • Logic Pro X 10.0.7

  • Console 1 is not available for AAX DSP.
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