Automated mixers at a feasible price?

[fldrummer]

What are some decent automated consoles at a practical price out their?

 

[fldrummer]

Their has to be something out their. I'm not looking for a fully automated console for 10k or something crazy. Maybe the Amek Rembrandt but I haven't seen any prices on them tho.

 

[Chrisjob]

Software..........

 

[knightsy]

I'm not looking for a fully automated console for 10k or something crazy.

10k for an automated desk is crazy?

 

[fldrummer]

Well...I have seen some around their. I was thinking of Neve and SSL boards at the time I was writing that post so...

 

[Recording Engineer]

Let me put it this way:

You're mentioning analog consoles, so the decent price of a semi-pro digital console for $5-10k is out of the question.

There is VCA automation in used consoles, but human automation or no automation at all sounds better that VCA automation, so that is out of the question also.

Your most basic moving-fader automation at least starts at $25k, so that is most definately out of the question!

Looks like automation is not an option... I share your pain...

Only other option is to use software automation (as already mentioned) and have as many DAC outputs as you do tracks and run them each into your analog console... But it's NOT something I'd ever recommend. For one, that's a bad bit-resolution and gain structure scheme.

Man... If someone ever introduced a moving-fader automation system for MUCH more reasonable dough, they'd be SO rich! Not going to ever happen though... It's too late. Every manufacturer is stuck in digital console world now!

 

[regebro]

What are some decent automated consoles at a practical price out their?

Yes, several digital ones. Including:

http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=DDX3216&lang=ENG&CFID=797897&CFTOKEN=99669013

How it sounds? No clue. Maybe a second hand Yamaha?

And then there is this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2373383445&category=23785

I *assume* it's VCA automation.

If neither of these are good enough, I think you are looking for an SSL or Neve. And then $10k is not enough to even start dreaming about it.

 

[Recording Engineer]

Hmmm... That M3700 description says the faders actually move during automation... All the VCA automation systems I've seen and the two I've used, the faders didn't move. If they actually move, there'd be no point to the VCAs.

I know most M3700 automation systems were VCA though.

I'd buy it if I had the money right now!

 

[MarkoPolo]

The Tascam DM24 is around $2.400 and is used by a lot of pro audio guys. 32 ch board 24 ch's for recording and mixing and the other 8 chs are used for Aux' s and what not. It might be worth checking out for you unless your looking for something much bigger.
It also does have automation and librarys for eq, comp, gates, built in effects.
but like I said im not sure how extreme your going for??

 

[fldrummer]

I didn't want yo go digital. The automation is pretty much the software in those cases. I mean...with digital you really don't need a hands on console but it makes life easier. I wanted a real analoge console with automation.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3700711434&category=23785 Anybody ever try one of these?

 

[fldrummer]

I didn't want yo go digital. The automation is pretty much the software in those cases. I mean...with digital you really don't need a hands on console but it makes life easier. I wanted a real analoge console with automation.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3700711434&category=23785 Anybody ever try one of these?

 

[Recording Engineer]

I've never used or heard a BIG myself, but EVERYONE I've heard mention something about it says while AMEK's Supertrue Automation with its Virtual Dynamics is one badass moving-fader automation and dynamics system, the BIG is one of the worst sounding consoles ever built.

I thought Supertrue was only a moving-fader automation system. But that BIG description mentions VCAs. I wonder if that's really the case... Doesn't matter though... I might consider THAT BIG if it were say $3k... I mean it couldn't be any worse-sounding than my Mackie! Not something I'd pay even $5k for!