Fruedian Slip:
The Mackie you have is the 24-4, primarily but not limited to a live board.
My Behringers are
the MX9000's:
48/24 Channel Dual Input 8-Bus Mixing Consoles equivalent to the Mackie 24-8-2 recording board.
When I was looking for the first one, I was able to bring home both boards and try them both out. Dont get me wrong, the Mackie was the superior board but dollar for dollar the Behringer was a much better value and by buying the Berh, I was also able to get
a Yamaha SPX990 and a PreSonus MP20 mic pre. Two huge reasons why I went with the Behringer.
The pricing I am quoting you is from two years ago in Canadian funds........at that time, they wanted $3499 for the Mackie plus $899 for the meterbridge. Total:$4398
My Behringer was $3299 and the meterbridge is incorporated into the board design.
I am not trying to piss anybody off but I'm just tired of seeing so many posts ie....I have a small budget, suggest a mixer...........average response: wait and save your money and buy a mackie cause Behringer is garbage....................well, DONT WAIT!!!!!!!!! We all have to start somewhere and all that does to potential home recordists who want to get up and running so they can learn is frustrate the hell out of them.
My main concern is most of the people (not all as I learned above) that bitch have never had the opportunity to try them side by side the way I did.
One main point for everyone to bear in mind: Mackie and Behringer are involved in a substantial law suit as Mackie feels that Behringer has stolen a patented design. Well I guess Mackie would drop that suit in a hurry if their lawyers read some of these Behringer slams cause they would realize they didnt have a leg to stand on!!
Now, the Behringer and the mackie are almost identical in every aspect right down to the layout so the suit stands.
As I mentioned above and will always confess to....the Mackie had the better pre's, quieter at high gains without as much noise. As I also mentioned, any critical micing application, anyone would go thru an outboard pre!!!!
Bottom line: at the time and for a lot of other people, the Behringer was the best bang for my buck and I wouldnt change my decision if I could
I like your idea about the poll but I would be afraid of too many people falsly responding to it.
Anyhow, i feel like im ranting again and i apologize.
On a side note, your mackie SR24 is a cool board!! I have equipped two clubs here in Vancouver with those boards and they have been extremely reliable!!
Anyhow all......Cheers!!!!!