Decent 32 channel mixer for recording?

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sidecarjoeg

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So I'm in the market for a new mixer. Right now I am using 2 Layla 3G sound cards on my PC which give me 16 analog ins and outs. They sound great and have no desire to upgrade here right now. I'm currently using a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro mixer to get tom tracks pre'd up and run the direct outs to my Layla boards. I then run outboard mike pres for most of the rest of the drum mikes direct to the Laylas We run a rough track bass/guitar direct into the Mackie and also to my Layla which gets re-recorded later however we want it. We use the aux send busses to feed different mixes for headphones for each of the musicians (including myself as the main band member). We currently have an additional mike on the kicks so we can get those into our headphone mixes. With all of this being said, I'd really like to go to a 32 channel mixer that ideally has the B mix structure for mix down time. That way we can eliminate those extra mikes and I'll have everything there to send to the headphone mixes. So here are some boards I'm looking at right now. Keep in mind that I would like to keep around $1500 or less. And midi is not really important to me.

Tascam M3500/M3700
Mackie 32*8
Mackie Onyx 3280
Allen and Heath GL2400
Allen and Heath Zed 436 (if I can find one used)
Soundcraft Ghost
Soundcraft GB4 (if I can find one used)
Soundtracs Topaz 32 channel mixer

So basically my question is this: What sounds good compared to what, where would I be best spending my money? The Topaz is interesting because it seems to be available for relatively cheap. I'm not scared to use a soldering iron (I have fixed many Commodore 64s in my day and have done many other electronics projects in the past), so an old board that needs upgraded doesn't scare me. I want something clean and transparent with relatively low noise. What are your thoughts and experiences?
 
I currently have a M-3500 and am very happy with it. It's real flexible in terms of routing and it's quiet. The Ghost is a dandy too. The Mackies are flexible enough but kind of vanilla for recording in my humble opinion. No experience with the others you mention.
 
In terms of sonic quality, I'd put the Allen and Heath and the Soundcraft ones at the top of the pile. The Ghost is probably my favourite but it's also a pretty old model so you have to be very careful to get one in good shape--and things could still start to go wrong any time.

The GL2400 and the GB4 are darn close seconds and rather more modern so should have more life in in them and the Zed 436 is a darn nice unit too though you'll be lucky to find a used one at a good price.

I have to say I don't know the Tascams or Soundtracs well--Tascam seems not to sell as much in Europe as the US (though their digital mixers are becoming popular. I've used some smaller Tascams in TV edit suites in the US and wasn't overly impressed by the sound--but that doesn't necessarily mean much for their bigger ones.

Mackie have never impressed me much--I find their pre amps a bit "brittle" and have never got on well with their rather unmusical EQ.

But you'll probably find as many opinions as there are posts!
 
Speaking of musical EQ's ..... I would strongly suggest look for a used Midas Venice (32 channel), for you would find one within that price range of what you have listed.
Their preamps are WOW compaired with most any other consoles.
 
Hmmm. Unusually I'm going to disagree with Moresound.

Yes, the pre amps and EQ on the Venice are nice--but not in the same league as the "real" Midas boards. (The Venice was basically a DDA mixer because Midas took them over.) I don't think the Venice sound much...if any...better than an A&H GL series or the Soundcraft Ghost.

On the downside, the Venice layout is physically cramped in operation and the 60mm faders on the original models were pretty much a deal breaker for me. I didn't think it was worth the premium money they were charging for the Midas label.
 
sidecarjoeg said:
So I'm in the market for a new mixer. Right now I am using 2 Layla 3G sound cards on my PC which give me 16 analog ins and outs. They sound great and have no desire to upgrade here right now. I'm currently using a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro mixer to get tom tracks pre'd up and run the direct outs to my Layla boards. I then run outboard mike pres for most of the rest of the drum mikes direct to the Laylas We run a rough track bass/guitar direct into the Mackie and also to my Layla which gets re-recorded later however we want it. We use the aux send busses to feed different mixes for headphones for each of the musicians (including myself as the main band member). We currently have an additional mike on the kicks so we can get those into our headphone mixes. With all of this being said, I'd really like to go to a 32 channel mixer that ideally has the B mix structure for mix down time. That way we can eliminate those extra mikes and I'll have everything there to send to the headphone mixes. So here are some boards I'm looking at right now. Keep in mind that I would like to keep around $1500 or less. And midi is not really important to me.

Tascam M3500/M3700
Mackie 32*8
Mackie Onyx 3280
Allen and Heath GL2400
Allen and Heath Zed 436 (if I can find one used)
Soundcraft Ghost
Soundcraft GB4 (if I can find one used)
Soundtracs Topaz 32 channel mixer

So basically my question is this: What sounds good compared to what, where would I be best spending my money? The Topaz is interesting because it seems to be available for relatively cheap. I'm not scared to use a soldering iron (I have fixed many Commodore 64s in my day and have done many other electronics projects in the past), so an old board that needs upgraded doesn't scare me. I want something clean and transparent with relatively low noise. What are your thoughts and experiences?
Click to expand...

The Tascam M-3500 ( I have one) is very tranparent and panasonic sealed faders and the smoothest you ever felt!! Its a 24X8X2 but an "in-line" board which means you have an extra 24 channels (on smaller faders ;) which in turn gives you 48 channels at mixdown....I could never part with mine and I have seen them on e-bay for as little as $1200 (Im sick) paid $7000.00 for mine !! GET IT if you can find you one :listeningmusic:
 
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I ended up picking up a used Soundtracs Topaz 32 for $500. I'm pretty excited about it. We'll see how it goes. I have no issues using a soldering iron and even recapping alot of it if I have to down the road. The guy I'm getting it from said that it was just gone over about a year or so ago. Thanks for your input, everyone. I'll let you all know how I like it.
 
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