Soundcraft Ghost discontinued

[zbert]

Anyone know why? I got one this past January (from someone here on the boards) and it's everything it's cracked up to be. Great mixer. Wonder what happened.

[TexRoadkill]

Not too surprising. The whole mid level market is now flooded with cheap preamps and multichannel interfaces that are meant to replace a traditional console.

A used Ghost at less then $2k is an amazing value and easy to find. I've never even heard of anyone buying a new Ghost. At $6-8k you really have a lot of options and that's where it has a tough time competing.

They may have something new in the works but it wouldn't surprise me if the mid level recording console was a thing of the past. Anyone in the MI industry hear anything?

[boingoman]

It's only the Ghost, which had expensive and outdated computer-controlled mute and machine-control functions, that is gone. The Ghost LE is still available. Same rig with no extra stuff.

ps- the Ghost isn't a mid-level console. It's dirt-cheap, even brand new.

[TexRoadkill]

Originally Posted by boingoman

ps- the Ghost isn't a mid-level console. It's dirt-cheap, even brand new.

Nothing over a few grand is dirt cheap. It is a great value but not cheap. (and yes I know what high end stuff costs).

Behringer, Mackie etc. Those are dirt cheap low end.

[therage!]

Originally Posted by TexRoadkill

Nothing over a few grand is dirt cheap. It is a great value but not cheap. (and yes I know what high end stuff costs).

Behringer, Mackie etc. Those are dirt cheap low end.

Yes, but doesn't the Mackie have "boutique" preamps?

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by TexRoadkill

Nothing over a few grand is dirt cheap. It is a great value but not cheap. (and yes I know what high end stuff costs).

Behringer, Mackie etc. Those are dirt cheap low end.

LOL. Okay, maybe not dirt-cheap, but not mid-level, either.

[TexRoadkill]

For future reference how do we satisfy your requirements for mid-level status?

[psychedelicsoun]

I always read about people ripping on mackies all the time but seriously give the Onyx pres a chance. I've heard sound clips comparing them to neve clones and it wasn't "night and day" more like "thick and thin" but hey, I'm not recording classical so what do I need all those super high frequencies for anyways. I was at a studio with a neve board over the weekend and it sounded fantastic but really caring about mic placement will always make a bigger difference than okay sounding and classic pres. People rip on the onyx for the absurd boutique claim but it sounds way better than the old mackies and is super cheap. Just hope it doesn't break on you since it's made in china and it has one or two pop riveted circuit boards including a headphone jack mounted to it too. I have heard about people saying they like the soundcraft but I haven't heard anything about their pres... can anyone tell me what quality they are comparable to and how the board sounds overall?

[zed32]

so you're saying there's no such thing as ghosts?

[psychedelicsoun]

I've only tried Presonus Firepod, Behringer Eurorack and Tascam Mk424 preamps but the onyx sounds fantastic compared to these. Some people were metioning these cheaper more mainstream products in comparison to the soundcraft... has anyone done a mixer shootout comparing the ghost, onyx 1640, behringer A&H and others or anything under 2 grand used or new and having at least 16 channels?

[zbert]

OK, so looking at the Microphone fourms I see that Harman is being sold. They are the parent company of Soundcraft. They may be slimming down or the new company taking over may do a new line. Remember what happened to Alesis after they were sold. A lot of popular stuff was discontinued. On the other hand you guys may be right in saying the market is flooded with cheaper mixers (maybe not as good but not bad either)
As for my home recording experence I started with an Alesis Studio 24. Moved up to the Alesis Studio 32. Went to a Studiomaster P7 which is what I was using up until the new year. Friends of mine have everything from the Eurodesk to Mackies and the Ghost easily is much better to my ears. For the home recorder I don't know what else you can buy before you get into the real pro stuff, espcially at the price point of a used Ghost at around 2K which is what I paid. Well, I'm happy with my purchase just curious why it got discontinued.

BTW ZED32 - I ain't fraid of no ghosts.

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by zbert

I ain't fraid of no ghosts.

and bustin makes me feel good.

i definitely think the ghost is a solid step (if not 2) up from the mackie. still, my 24*4 passes good solid signal and as long as i'm tapping the inserts for direct outs and not running through the eqs or summing busses, it sounds perfectly usable. but i wouldn't dream of mixing back through it.....which is exactly what i would be doing if i had a ghost at my disposal. i'd need a 1/2in mixdown deck and tape budgets would ensue and that'd be a hassle i just don't need.

and when you consider a 24 channel ghost at $2K, that's $80 per preamp. can't beat that with a stick.


cheers,
wade

[pianosaur]

Originally Posted by psychedelicsoun

I have heard about people saying they like the soundcraft but I haven't heard anything about their pres... can anyone tell me what quality they are comparable to and how the board sounds overall?

the pres are incredibly solid. if they put 4 of them in a rackable unit i'm sure it would be a huge seller, but since they're in a board they get overlooked.

[ausrock]

Before (and/or below) the Ghost was S/craft's Spirit Studio available in 16, 24 and 32 channels. Similar in size and features to Mackie's 8 buss consoles, it had pre's and EQ that was noticably more "usable" than the Mackie, additionally, internal design layout was closer to the pro level consoles as opposed to Mackie's "production line" design.

The Ghost had pre's and EQ of an improved design, it has a meter bridge (not an option on the Spirit Studio) and overall was a step up.

It's quite possible that the release of the Toft ATB consoles may cause S/craft to reconsider the future of Ghosts, especially if the initial positive opinions of the ATB's are anything to go by..............I guess time will tell.

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by zbert

For the home recorder I don't know what else you can buy before you get into the real pro stuff, espcially at the price point of a used Ghost at around 2K which is what I paid. Well, I'm happy with my purchase just curious why it got discontinued.

You got a good desk at a great price. I'd be happy if I got one for $2k.

[xstatic]

The Ghost has been scheduled to be discontinued for several years now so I would not be speculating about any Harman changes being responsible. It falls in a ahrd market for this day and age. It's expensive enough to deter a lot of buyers, but also cheaper and lower in quality than what a lot of people with money to buy nice equipment are interested in. It was also Soundcrafts last "studio" intended console. I highly doubt that Soundcraft has even considered the Toft consoles in their decision. Soundcraft and Toft audio are both distributing on different levels and in some ways to different markets. A really good sales year for Toft would likely be interpreted as dismal by Soundcraft.

As far as the Spirit goes, it will probably be around for a while longer since its place is in a still lucrative market range.

Then there is the Onyx. I have used the Onyx preamps and EQ's. The Onyx consoles are certainly far and above the older Mackie designs. They really have addressed a lot of issues. In fact, sound quality wise I would put them right there in the same quality range as the Ghost, just with a different type of sound. As far as comparing the pre's and stuff against a Neve, I would say that using the terms "night and day" would probably be understating it. I hate all these little preamp comparisons. The real differences don't really appear until you get a couple of tracks going and start digging into your mix, processing, EQ'ing etc... Thats when you start to really see the magic of the nicer consoles.