High-Quality Mixer for Drum Recording?

[Elvisish]

I've been looking at the soundcraft site to see what they have in the 6 channel range of mixers for drum recording, bu it seems everything is either LF or two channel mixers for live situations. I realize that getting three DMP3s would be the best option at the lower-end of pres, but realistically I don't have $800 to spend on pres, and would rather something to tide me thru for now. I currently am using a Mackie DFX12, which gives fairly good results at least to my ears) but would prefer something with channel inputs for greater flexibility. Any suggestions?

[deepwater]

Soundcraft M Series is great. They have direct outs and some of the best pres you'll find on a mixer for under 1k. I rank them above the Onyx.

[Elvisish]

The M series do look very nice, it's a shame there aren't mixers at Soundcraft that don't have any without EQ on them, as I don't need EQ built in. Would I really need to be looking into multi-channel preamps?

[AlexW]

You don't have to route through the channel EQ on the M-series mixers. Just use the channel inserts to the first click.

[Elvisish]

Yeah, it's just I don't need the EQ, and I'd rather have better quality pres. But the Soundcraft M12 seems to be a great price for what it is. Would the pres be a big improvement over the DFX12?

[AlexW]

I haven't heard the DFX12, but I have and like the Soundcraft M12.

[deepwater]

Originally Posted by Elvisish

The M series do look very nice, it's a shame there aren't mixers at Soundcraft that don't have any without EQ on them, as I don't need EQ built in. Would I really need to be looking into multi-channel preamps?

The direct outs are pre/post EQ selectable with the push of a button. The EQs on the Soundcraft M series is on of the great feature of the board and would be worth having around. They are very musical.