M3700 vs M600 comparison?

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hi everybody, say, anybody have any expericence with a M3700 or M600 mixer or tell me about th M600. I'm pretty familiar with the 3700, which is what I want, but there is an M600 on ebay. I'm curious about it, as I have two MSR's and this M600 might be a better choice my application. But computer control on the M3700 seems, well more fun!! Ha, this is maddening waiting to buy a mixer. Anyone have a 3700 they are interested in selling?
fitz

[jake-owa]

I have the M600 and I love it so far. It has an incredibly flexible routing system with 16 busses and 8 auxes. Inserts on EVERYTHING....
The pres sound really good to me but what do I know, better than anything I've owned. The channels are in bays of four all on individual cards. I have to add that the EQ is the nicest I've heard but my experience is limited to very budget type equipment.

I don't know...whatcha wanna know?

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hello jake-owa, I thought you had mentioned one time you owned a M600. Well, I'm finally ready to buy a mixer. I have wanted a 3700 for a long time, but they have been out of my budget untill now. All of a sudden, an M600 came up on ebeay, and the price is outstanding for this scale of mixer. But I remember the problem you had with yours. This has one TT 64 patch bay with it.
Not knowing anything about these hardly, I am trying to find out if there are unbalanced -10 outputs from the 16 buss's. I'm sure they have balanced(+4) but I can't really use these as my recorders(2 MSR's) only have -10 inputs/outputs. Same question about the tape returns, direct outs. aux outs etc. I do know the 3700 was designed for the MSR, but with 2 of them, I'm not sure of the cababilitys. I would like the JL Cooper version of the 3700, but man, they are far and few between, at least on ebay.
Besides, money is burnin a hole in my pocket Do you find that 16 buss's are handy? It would seem so, but most people with any type of real experience have said they use the direct outs anyway, so I don't know if the 16 buss's would be of that much value. You tell me.
The 3700 is only an 8 buss, and I always thought the 8 buss mixers had a stigma to them Anyway, I guess thats all I wanted to know. I PROBABLY will just wait for a 3700 as I've just moved, and my studio is torn down right now. Have you had any problem with the schematic or did you finally resolve your probem?
Thanks alot
fitz

[jake-owa]

I only use the direct outs which are unbalanced -10 (the only ones on the board on input channels) for patching effects and such. The way the mixer is set up it is best to use the 16 busses as tape sends. I have the 16 PGM faders as tape returns and the 16 inline small faders as tape sends so it works beautifully with a 16 track recorder. There are two types of M600, an inline and a split console. The inline version has the ability to mix 32 channels but I am not sure how it works. It has inputs for 32 tape sends and returns. I suppose the sub button turns the small faders into more mixing channels but I am not too sure there.

It really seems like a very pro console to me, not the plasticy, cheesy stuff I could afford.

The problem I had actually turned out to be a cable issue and had nothing to do with the mixer itself....damnit! It took ages to trace it to the weird cables. I finally got them all rewired.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hello jake-owa, thanks a mill for the info. Two versions of M600 huh. Could you clarify the inline/split scenarios for me jake? I think I understand, but I am still unclear on the difference. The M600 on ebay has 16 channels(buss's?) on the right end. and what looks like 32 channels on the left. It's the only one I've seen so I have nothing to compare with.
I think the 3700 has inline(monitoring?small channel fader?) if its the same thing your talking about. I've only owned one mixer, a 20 channel Studiomaster, which has standard monitor, channel, and buss sections. I've never had the opportunity to look at high end mixers in close proximity to understand the 2 types.
There is a 3700 that just came on ebay, but it is in Copenhagen, which shipping wise is totally out of the question, as I'm on the West Coast of USA. I want to pick up what ever mixer I buy. Maximum 3 day trip. I made a round trip from Sacramento to LA in 24 hrs. last year to pick up an MSR, and it just about did me in. Now I'm in Oregon. Ok, enough bla bla. Thanks
fitz

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Oh, I forgot. When you said you use the unbalanced direct outs to the tape machine, do you have to use a balancing device to your ATR-60? I thought I read that is the machine you record on and I thought they had balanced inputs.
fitz

[jake-owa]

No no, you misunderstood me. I only use the direct outs for patching effects, vocoders and such. I use the 16 busses for send/return to the tape machine. On the two Dsubs for PGM channels 1-16 there is a send and return that can be jumped with a dsub jumper or you can send the send side to a tape machine and return from it on the same channel. There are two faders inline on an inline console and you would use a split console to send from one sode of the board and return (monitor) on the opposite side. The M-600 comes in the two types ono is a 32 channel in/dual with (32) monitor version and the other is a 24 in/single (16) monitor version.
Everything on the board uses 25 pin Dsub cables and everything is balanced besides the direct outs. Which if you find the 32 monitor might be perfect for you. The 24 in has space for additional modules including stereo input modules.

I have the manual but my scanner has finally died so I can't send info easily. Let me know if you need anything specific.

[The Ghost of FM]

Rick,

From everything I've read here and over at the other bbs, I would say to hold out for an M3700. Your MSR-16's aren't balanced and the M600 will only cause you nightmares in the way of hooking up your recorders. Plus, the M600 has no automation built in.

By a fire extinguisher for now to put out the fire thats burning from the money in your pocket.

Cheers!

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Thank you guysl Love this BBS Ok, the 3700 it is. Information is usually the key to my decisions.
fitz

[jake-owa]

Hmmm...that 3700 is a cool looking mixer.

I say go for it! I'd order some caiglube with it.