Harrison Mixbus is a digital audio workstation (DAW) available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux operating systems and version 1 was released in 2009. Mixbus provides a modern DAW model incorporating a 'traditional' analog mixing workflow. Harrison Mixbus. A full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) by Harrison with mixing that mimics the properties of an analogue mixer. Commercial; Mac OS X; Windows; Linux. Mixbus is a full-featured digital audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering your music. With dozens of DAWs to choose from, there's only one that is designed to work like a Harrison, with an analog paradigm that embodies form, function, and sound.

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Undoubtedly, “Harrison Consoles” is synonymous with high-quality sound. The company spent its last 40 years as a staple in commercial music by designing and building mixers used on dozens and dozens of hit albums. Their most notable console, the 32C, was the sonic backbone for Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Paul Simon’s Graceland, as well as albums by Genesis, ABBA, ELO, Janet Jackson, Queen, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Blondie and more.

In the fall of 2009, Harrison stealthily entered the DAW game with the introduction of Mixbus, a notably console-like workstation built upon the Ardour platform universally compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux OS CPUs. Since then, the workstation has endured strong and steady user base growth.

Earlier this year, Harrison released the third iteration of the DAW, Mixbus 3—available direct for an amazing $79!—which incorporates unlimited stereo and mono input channels, unlimited MIDI tracks and virtual instruments, an updated graphical user interface, support for external control surfaces (including PreSonus Faderport, Mackie MCU and Behringer XTouch controllers) and the addition of Favorite Plug-in Lists to organize go-to plug-ins and plug-in presets.

Shortly after the release of Mixbus 3, Harrison next unveiled Mixbus32C ($299 direct), a Mixbus DAW variation incorporating the Mixbus 3 feature set and workflow that is explicitly based on the Harrison 32C analog console. Both versions incorporate input trim, switchable polarity and compression on every channel, but where Mixbus 3 has, for example, a three-band sweepable EQ with high-pass filter and 8 mix bus sends, Mixbus32C has a parametric four-band sweepable EQ with independently switchable second order high-pass and low-pass filters and 12 mix bus sends—just like the console. Harrison modeled every resistor, capacitor and transistor in the original 32C console, resulting in a software channel strip that performs identical to the original.

The Mixbus32C channel strip is powered by an enhanced fourth-generation DSP engine that is internally dithered, ramped and gain-staged so that sound quality is as “analog” as possible. It utilizes multi-core processing and is available in both 32- and 64-bit builds. Mixbus32C supports VST plug-ins on Windows machines, AudioUnit (AU) plug-ins on OSX machines, and LV2 and LADSPA (Linux Audio Developer’s Simple Plug-in Architecture) plug-ins on all platforms.

The 32C master bus and its dozen stereo mix buses include Tone controls, Compression, Side-chaining and Analog Tape Saturation emulation. Also included on the stereo bus is a K-meter and Stereo Correlation Meter. The Analog Tape Saturation emulation does a fantastic job of creating the sound of analog tape and the DAW’s operation is reminiscent of analog functionality.

Harrison has released a collection of rather amazing plug-ins, too—in the LV2 format—perfectly complimenting Mixbus. These can be purchased individually or as a complete set. My favorites are the XT-DC Drum Character plug-in and the XTMC Multi-Band Compressor. The XT-DC allows the user to apply a different EQ to the attack than to the tail of the drum hit–amazing! The four-band XT-MC incorporates phase-accurate crossovers, providing a smooth, natural sound even when applying extreme compression.

What’s the problem with Harrison plug-ins? They are exclusive to the LV2 format; if you are going to be using Mixbus exclusively, they are well worth the cost, but if you are going to be using Mixbus in addition to one or two other DAWs, it may be better to purchase AU or VST plug-ins that can be used regardless of DAW. I should mention, too, that its onboard EQ, compression, tape emulation and limiting sound extremely good and are more than adequate for most mixing applications, though undoubtedly most users will want to add reverb and delay options. The entire Mixbus32C Bundle—including Mixbus32C plus all dozen Harrison Mixbus 32C Plugins—is $599 direct.

LTC (SMPTE) generation and sync are built in to Mixbus32C, which also includes Persistent undo (undo is still operational after closing and reopening a session). There is support for video timeline, video window and audio/video exports. Loudness analysis tools include LUFS loudness measurement, LU (Loudness Unit) histogram, LU Range, Waveform display, with peak indicators, Peak Sample value + True Peak value and Spectrogram view. The DAW incorporates extensive export features, including multitrack stem export, simultaneous multi-format exports, multiple export ranges, CD track markers, silence trimming, normalization and command-line arguments to trigger third-party encoders or file-management scripts.

Most of my time in the studio is spent interfacing with computers, and I have to admit, it sure is refreshing to jump into the analog console-style workflow that Mixbus provides. With the exception of utilizing effect plugins, everything you need to make a great sounding mix is in-line, ready to go without adding any plug-ins. I’ve done several mixes in Mixbus32C over the past couple of months and I find it to be a very musical experience. The things I love about it are the things I remember loving about mixing on an analog desk decades ago. Having input gain control, a polarity inversion button and input monitoring on every channel is just fantastic. Metering is exceptional. There are channel meters, gain reduction meters, tape saturation meters and buss meters.

Mixbus has an intuitive and ergonomic layout that follows the logic of analog signal flow, making it likely the easiest workstation to learn for anyone with a background in analog recording. Editing is another Mixbus strength. The newly added Smart mode provides Pro Tools-esque functionality and impressive speed. Editing functions include region slicing, region fade ins/outs and crossfades. Audio playlists are also supported simplifying comping and band edits. While the built-in EQ and dynamics are quite impressive, I’ve loved using Harrison’s Dyno-Mite envelope designer plug-in and XT-DC Drum Character plug-in on the drums.

There is no doubt that Harrison’s primary focus with Mixbus is the recording and mixing of audio. That said, the Mixbus MIDI implementation is quite good. Heavy MIDI users won’t be making Mixbus their primary DAW (at least not yet), but the MIDI implementation is still solid and often inspiring. There are over 50 “MIDI filter” plug-ins such as transposing, keyboard splits, quantization, velocity scaling, chord creation, etcetera to provide extensive control over the manipulation of MIDI data. The sole virtual synth included with Mixbus is the Set-Bfree Tonewheel organ that provides a convincing B3 sound. Regular virtual instrument users will obviously need to acquire additional instruments.

Mixbus 32C is a full-blown workstation that sounds stunningly good and Mixbus 3, though not quite as feature-packed, also performs amazingly well for a fraction of the cost. Whether you decide to make one of these your primary DAW or just utilize it as a secondary option will vary from user to user, but I have no doubt that every studio will want to make one of them a part of their studio’s software arsenal.

Harrison Consoles

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With dozens of DAWs to choose from, there's only one that is designed to work like a Harrison, with an analog paradigm that embodies form, function, and sound. Where other DAWs use a computer paradigm, MIXBUS grows from Harrison's distinguished 40-year heritage of platinum records and blockbuster films, such as Thriller, Graceland, and Spider-Man. MIXBUS is the first full-featured DAW with true analog style mixing.

Harrison has a unique history. In the mid-80's, we developed fully automated, digitally-controlled analog mixer technology which was adopted by premiere film-mixing facilities around the world. When the digital revolution came, we were asked to convert the analog 'processor' into a digital processor, while leaving the control surface unchanged. Film mixers wanted the control surface to -work and sound- exactly like the analog mixer they were using for previous projects. This required us to develop a digital audio engine that operated and sounded exactly like the analog mixer they were using for previous projects. This transition was not undertaken by any other company, and it has provided us with techniques and proprietary technology that we have incorporated into all of our high-end mixers. Mixbus gives us an opportunity to share this technology with a much wider range of users.

Other DAWs are designed by companies with experience in computer sound, but no pedigree in world-class recording facilities. The Mixbus DSP mixer is designed by Harrison specifically for its great-sounding EQ, filters, dynamics, and bus summing. If you find a music recording from the golden age of albums - the 70s and 80s - that has stood the test of time, it is likely that a Harrison console was used during the production. Mixbus invites you to produce recordings that will stand with the very best.

Mixbus works on the three most popular desktop operating systems (Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux) in both 32 bit and 64 bit versions, and loads industry standard I/O and plug-in formats (VST, AU, & LV2). Do you collaborate with other Mixbus users? A session from a collaborator using Harrison plug-ins will playback in your Mixbus as originally recorded including full performance of all the plug-in information even if you have not purchased those specific Harrison plug-ins yourself. Sessions can be shared among Windows, Mac and Linux users.

Mixbus provides professional-level features to import orrecord an unlimited number of audio or MIDI tracks to your computer;then edit, mix and master your production.

A Partial list of Mixbus features:

• Straightforward 'knob per function' mixer layout based on Harrison's renowned music consoles.
• Precision algorithms for EQ, Filter, Compression, Analog Tape Saturation, and Summing.
• The Mixbus engine is internally dithered, ramped, and gain staged so that sound quality is preserved as close to analog as possible.
• Unlimited stereo or mono input channels, each with unlimited plug-ins, sends, and hardware inserts. (limited only by CPU and disc speed).
• Unlimited MIDI tracks, each with virtual instrument support, unlimited plug-ins, sends and inserts.
• Polarity, Input trim, High-pass Filter, Sweepable 3-band EQ, Compression, and 8 Mix Bus sends on every track.
• Stereo Master Bus that features Tone controls, Analog Tape Saturation, K-meter, Stereo Correlation Meter, and Limiter.
• Automatic plug-in delay compensation to support effects such as parallel compression without time misalignment.
• Comprehensive 'at-a-glance' metering with peak, peak hold, and compressor gain reduction visible on every track and bus.
• Extensive DAW editing features including 'Smart Tool', Ripple Edit, and configurable keybindings for nearly every operation.
• Industry standard plug-in support: Mixbus loads AudioUnit (AU) plug-ins on OSX; and both VST and LV2 plug-ins on all platforms.
• Mixbus provides professional features such as Loudness Analysis (dBTP+LUFS+LU Range), LTC (SMPTE) generation and sync; video pullup/pulldown.
• Persistent undo (undo remains possible after closing and reopening a session).
• Fourth-generation Harrison 'True Analog Mixing™' processing engine with enhanced compressor/limiter algorithms; built-in sidechain bussing, and increased plug-in flexibility.
• Support for video timeline, video window, and audio+video exports.
• Recording operates like a tape machine: Punch-in on the fly, and use per-track input monitoring just like a multitrack tape machine.
• Extensive export features including multitrack stem export, simultaneous multi-format exports, multiple export ranges, CD track markers, silence trimming, normalization, and command-line arguments to trigger third-party encoders or file-management scripts.
• Audio regions are stacked in 'layers', and every region fadein/out is a crossfade to the region(s) beneath it.
• Plugin 'pin connection management' provides rich editing of signal-flow through each channel's path, including full support for dual mono, mono-to-stereo, sidechaining, and other advanced flows.
• The user interface scales to fit your monitor; larger monitors will get bigger knobs and sharper text.
• Refined workflow and graphics, including scaling and support for HiDPI (Retina) displays.
• Generic MIDI devices can use 'MIDI Learn' to assign MIDI controls directly to on-screen knobs or use MIDI profiles to select many pre-configured device layouts from a pull-down menu.
• Mackie control protocol is provided for motorized fader controllers, and the Mackie protocols have been extended to ergonomically control the Mixbus channelstrip EQ, compressor, and 8 mixbus sends. Dedicated support is provided for popular devices like the Presonus Faderport, Mackie MCU, and Behringer X-Touch controllers.
• OSC (Open Sound Control) protocol supports ethernet-based wireless tablet controllers such as TouchOSC and Lemur for iOS and Android to remote-control Mixbus.
• Lua Scripting: Use the Lua scripting language to automate tasks such as track creation, renaming tracks, adding plugins, or creating 'macro' operations.
• VCA Faders: Use VCA faders to control multiple channel faders at once. A fader can be assigned to multiple remote VCA faders, adding another powerful dimension of control and organization to your mixes.
• Tempo Ramps and Tempo Maps: Use advanced features to map your live recording's tempo and structure (no need to record to a click!) – or import a tempo map from MIDI.

New in version 6:

• New 5th-generation audio engine with smoother operation, better looping, and extensive latency compensation through more DAW-style bussing and sidechain paths.
• Cue-monitoring: MIDI tracks now monitor both the input and playback simultaneously, by default.
• DAW-style 'Aux' buses are now integrated in the Mixbus engine, with latency compensation and pans that can follow the main track panner, or not.
• Foldback buses allow the building of unlimited custom cue mixes for artists.
• A new Cut Tool is dedicated to splitting regions in addition to the existing keyboard shortcuts.
• Source List: Organize your recordings by Take ID, so you can locate and recover that great take from yesterday's session.
• Virtual MIDI Keyboard: enter rhythms and melodies with your QWERTY keybard, with controller and transposition features.
• Native MP3 import+export on all platforms (Mac, Windows and Linux).

User Reviews

Harrison Mixbus Price

George Ramsey - August 31, 2018
'The best QUALITY & VALUE for the best PRICE'

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Bill Palmer - April 7, 2018
'Mixbus is the next best thing to sitting in front of an expensive analogue console.The best thing about the program is that it's super accessible, easy to use and (most importantly) it sounds fantastic.'
Ahmad Washington - June 15, 2017

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'This DAW has the best sound quality of any DAW on the market.'
Petru-Florin Topolovcici - June 12, 2017

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'Harrison Consoles with their Harrison Mixbus is probably the company that brings the best value in the products they give to their customers!The best deal with the MOST VALUE I have EVER made for my studio was to purchase Mixbus!'
Le Linus - December 23, 2017

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'Best sounding DAW ever! I am flattered by just the fact, that it is affordable, but actually priceless!'