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My best mate has a question about analogue mixers.
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| Richard Butler |
Mate of mine has sold his 20 year old Soundtracs large mixing desk which became too unreliable, and he now wants new mixer and would like your opinion of the following two brand new options;
1) SOUNDCRAFT GB4
2) MIDAS U or F 24
His primary factor is best sound quality.
Any thoughts? |
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| tehlord |
For what purpose Rich?
I've heard the Midas and they're pretty sweet for the money.
Both the desks you mentioned are primarily live desks though so might not suit a studio workflow as much.
Something else worth noting as well is that the F24 can push 24 channels of audio over Firewire so is effectively a 24 channel audio interface. That's the one I'd go for and in fact is the one I want to get (perhaps even the F32)when I need that many inputs.
Another alternative is the A&H ZEDR16. That also does multi channel audio over firewire but is only 16 channels. I think it sounds a little nicer than the Midas desk though. |
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| Richard Butler |
| tehlord he wants it for his home studio, he has quite a lot of outboard and hardware. |
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| tehlord |
Just check for the way that aux sends are set up in those desks then as these aren't really set up properly for tradition studio use. It can be done, but it's not ideal.
Given his current setup I'm assuming he already has a load of conversion in place so maybe an used but well maintained studio desk is a better option (and would probably sound better too). There are loads of them coming up on Ebay all the time as people don't use them so much any more. |
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| TranceLover007 |
Also its all depends and numbers of motorized faders he would like to have quick access to - I'm also looking at few of those surface controllers like:
1) Behringer X-TOUCH 9 Fader Universal Control Surface (and you can add extention to it)
2) ICon Qcon Pro 8 touch-sensitive motorized channel faders (and add extention to it)
3) Mackie Control Universal Pro (plus another extender)
4) Behringer X32 Producer
Darek |
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| DJ RANN |
Geoff is completely right on this one; those desks are live sound consoles and not ideally suited to studio use.
You're going to have more emphasis on durability and live sound requirements (like ease of hot plugging, recalling scenes etc) whereas a studio desk is going to have more of an emphasis on sound quality, internal routing options, better eq etc.
Midas make great desks sound quality wise and I'd personally but them over a soundcraft, but soundcraft always had the edge with configurable options like I/O and automation etc.
I would look at second hand desks; the bottom has fallen out of it so finding people trying to unload large format studio desks has never been easier or cheaper.
Also, with new desks, there is such a pinch on the market that unless you're spending $50k+, the new models aren't close to the build or production quality that desks were even 10 years ago. Sure they won't have things like integrated 32 channel soundacards etc, but if your mate is replacing an existing desk then it's likely he already has the connections and just needs to slot a new desk in.
I would look for something like a second hand but mint condition Amek, API, Harrison, Midas or Neve. There's a lot of studios going under or selling off hardware so it's really a buyers market. |
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| TranceLover007 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
I would look for something like a second hand but mint condition Amek, API, Harrison, Midas or Neve. There's a lot of studios going under or selling off hardware so it's really a buyers market. |
Sh**t man, I guess I'm on different level lol - if you are looking for stuff like RANN mention in his post then search sites like this:
soniccircus
Darek |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by TranceLover007
Sh**t man, I guess I'm on different level lol - if you are looking for stuff like RANN mention in his post then search sites like this:
soniccircus
Darek |
To be honest, I'm probably the one that's off base. I just realized the two he's looking at are both under $3k, but having said that if he was looking at proper studio offerings from the same brands he'd probably be looking at a little more but still under $5k.
Personally, if I had $5k and wanted faders then I'd probably just get 3 x avid artist mix's and one control and build a console around them. Ghetto Avid System 5. |
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| TranceLover007 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
To be honest, I'm probably the one that's off base. I just realized the two he's looking at are both under $3k, but having said that if he was looking at proper studio offerings from the same brands he'd probably be looking at a little more but still under $5k.
Personally, if I had $5k and wanted faders then I'd probably just get 3 x avid artist mix's and one control and build a console around them. Ghetto Avid System 5. |
Yeah, this is much more closer to what I would consider for my studio, but I still need to check this ICon Qcon Pro with Qcon EX (and you can have up to 3 of those hookup to your main unit to have 32 motorize fakers) which gives you pretty good control of your DAW, and is cheep.
Check this one
Cheers,
Darek |
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| PaULiN0 |
| IF i ever make it, i'd get me a 32 channel Neve console. |
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| tehlord |
| quote: | Originally posted by TranceLover007
Yeah, this is much more closer to what I would consider for my studio, but I still need to check this ICon Qcon Pro with Qcon EX (and you can have up to 3 of those hookup to your main unit to have 32 motorize fakers) which gives you pretty good control of your DAW, and is cheep.
Check this one
Cheers,
Darek |
D
Make sure you get a hands on with those controllers before you hit the buy button. The behringer ones in particular may be very noisy. Also check how well made they are as you don't want them falling apart. The Mackie controllers are good and proven technology, but the Avid MC series are a cut above. Proper pro equipment and built to last. |
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| TranceLover007 |
| quote: | Originally posted by tehlord
D
Make sure you get a hands on with those controllers before you hit the buy button. The behringer ones in particular may be very noisy. Also check how well made they are as you don't want them falling apart. The Mackie controllers are good and proven technology, but the Avid MC series are a cut above. Proper pro equipment and built to last. |
Advice taken G. - I will make sure that before I buy any of them I will consult this with you buddy - also Mike wouldn't let me waste any serious amount of money on any crappy studio stuff, you know that :D |
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