buying a new mixer. suggestions?

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The Garage

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i've been using a mackie for about 8 years now. it's served me quite well, but it's time to put this baby to rest. i'm looking for a new analog mixer to serve as the front-end of my motu hd192 system. i'm looking for the best 16 channel analog mixer within, say, a $3000 budget.

any suggestions?

anyone heard the mixers from crest audio, midas, allen & heath? how do they compare?

i'm also curious about the toft audio mixer as well as the mackie onyx that should be coming out in the near future.

-teddy
 
Allen & Heath

We currently have a RAMSA WT-820 studio mixer that we cannot use for location use: too large. It's a 20 channel board with good preamps and EQ, but far too much for live sound.

We want to replace it with something smaller. My partner wants a Mackie, but I want an Allen & Heath, as I think they are superior to the Mackie.
 
there isn't much of a chance of me buying used. i'm just too paranoid about old boards. the midas venice seems like a wet dream, but i havent found enough information about it. has anyone used one in a studio application? or can you point me in the right direction of someone who has?
-teddy
 
Why would you want to use a Venice in the studio? If you want the whole "4-buss / limited EQ / no meters / mini-faders" thing, you could just go Mackie.

I wasn't all that impressed with it in a FOH situation... I'm not saying it was "bad" - It just wasn't "wonderful" and it's certainly "freaking tiny" to work with. :rolleyes: It's not the Midas of yesteryear... Even though, I don't know if I'd want to track and/or mix with one of them, either.

Built pretty well, though...

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com
 
Massive Master said:
Why would you want to use a Venice in the studio?
Click to expand...

...because i've heard recordings that just used the venice's onboard pres and eqs that sounded brilliant, which is why i'm interested in checking one out.

to be honest, you're the first person who's said a bad thing about the venice. fair enough. but i definitely wouldn't go mackie though. the midas has higher headroom for starters, which is one of my issues with the mackie. the small footprint doesn't bother me nor does the eq section's lack of a q. what i'm concerned with is the sound of the board. and i haven't been able to get my hands on it nor any other boards to do a comparison.

do you prefer any of the other small format mixers? what would you suggest that sounds good to your ears on a budget of 3000? thanks,
teddy
 
I am waiting for my Ramsa Wr-S4424 to get here. It has a pretty small footprint and Dave Derr (designer ofDistressor, Fatso, etc) is actually the one who I heard first recommend it. It is supposed to be in the same category as a Ghost, but maybe even better.

Best of all they go for about $600.

Beez
 
Beezoboy said:
I am waiting for my Ramsa Wr-S4424 to get here. It has a pretty small footprint and Dave Derr (designer ofDistressor, Fatso, etc) is actually the one who I heard first recommend it. It is supposed to be in the same category as a Ghost, but maybe even better.

Best of all they go for about $600.

Beez
Click to expand...


A drummer with a 4 bus desk? How do you do that?

I hate the EQ on the Ramsa right now!


DoH!

SoMm
 
Does the Ramsa WR series have direct outs on every channel? Just wondering.

Later,
musik
 
RecTechMin said:
i've been using a mackie for about 8 years now. it's served me quite well, but it's time to put this baby to rest. i'm looking for a new analog mixer to serve as the front-end of my motu hd192 system. i'm looking for the best 16 channel analog mixer within, say, a $3000 budget.

any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Keep your eyes open for a used Soundcraft Ghost.
 
If you can find a used Peavey / AMR mixer in good condition on ebay sometime, then grab it if you can.

Don't worry about the name brand. :D They're good mixers. The AMR division made some great stuff that's an outstanding value.
 
RecTechMin said:

anyone heard the mixers from crest audio, midas, allen & heath? how do they compare?
Click to expand...

From what I've seen those are really good live consoles. Midas makes some good as hell live ones but those go up into the $100,000+ range. Isn't their a A&H GL3000 recording console? That should be in your price range.

Even tho I never tried them the Tascam M-3500 / 3700 look pretty nice. That topaz on ebay looks like a good price too! Then their is always the ghost http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3705155654&category=23785 :)
 
I spoken with a few FOH guys who own Crest, and they do not like them because they are problematic.
 
musikman316 said:
Does the Ramsa WR series have direct outs on every channel? Just wondering.

Later,
musik
Click to expand...

Mine does and it also has 16 outs where the 8 buss is.


SoMm
 
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