HELP!!! Choosing a mixer upgrade is giving me a headache!!!

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mplnckstrat

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OK, everyone....Here's the deal. I started to get serious about recording last year and got myself started with a Yamaha MG16/6FX and Tascam DA-38. I now own a DA-88 and DA-38, so I can obviously record to 16 tracks (yes, I have the sync board). My next goal is therefore an upgrade of my mixer. I planned on saving up for a 24ch Soundcraft Ghost, figuring I'd be very happy when the day came I could get it (about 24 months from now, 14 months if I get one used). But things have gotten complicated, and I now have multiple choices/oppurtunities. I can get my hands on a Mackie 24-8 without a power supply right now for $250. It needs repair, but I think it'd cost less than $500 for sure. Total cost $ 1250 or so. But then I started looking at the Soundcraft M Series based on a number of threads I have read here, and I like the looks of these small boards. The direct digital out to my tascams is very appealling. But, can I mixdown 16 tracks of recorded material (not that it'd happen very often) on a Soundcraft M12? Like I said, I've only been at this for a yr or so, and my gut tells me this is simply not possible. Or maybe it is and I'm missing something obvious. And, if its not possible is there anything out there I should be checking out? My experience only extends to Yamaha, Tascam, Mackie, Soundcraft, and A&H....

I should point out that I want an analog mixer. Its just what I'm comfortable on.
 
in my opinion this is a darn difficult call.
i'll throw some ideas out for you to think about.
ive upgraded from small cheap mixers in the past to a higher end console and sometimes you notice a difference, but sometimes not.
once i upgraded and frankly noisy guitar amps when recording bands seemed to negate some of the difference.
if it werent for your low budget i would have suggested a used higher
end board. but these run in the thousands. not 250 bucks.
if you had a bidget around 4k i would go on line and check some of the
used equipment dealers.
you know instead of a used mackie - i never liked the preamps much. just my preference. mackie has the new onyx console out with some say great new preamps. you might want to check that out.
or how about a rack of standalone preamps ?
people seem to get off on syteks for example.
one standalone preamp that a lot of pro's like is the rane ms1b.
how about a couple of decent pre's for those pristine up front lead tracks as an idea ? maybe consider the fmraudio really nice preamp that a lot of folks like ?. out of interest - and this is way up there in price.
check out the reviews of a dacs preamp sometime. i cant afford it, and some say there are better alternatives. maybe a great river ? but still pricey. but folks seem to love them.
in parting - if you ever see a trident mixing console dirt cheap i would take a serious look. some prett great songs were done on them.
peace.
 
thanks for the reply m1!! My budget is actually a few thousand $$$, which I can accumulate over a few months. I'm not in a super rush. But, you didn't actually answer my questions. Can I mix 16 tracks on the M12?? Is the Mackie worth it, or just let it go??? Are there any other analog consoles out there with TDIF out??

But thanks again, and I'll begin researching Trident boards on your advice....
 
i dont know the m12 much. so i read up on it.
from what i see its only 12 channel - hence m12. NOT 16.
by the way the trident want have features like tdif as they are old consoles .
so one works the old way ie: buss out for example.
if it were me the only reason i can see in getting the mackie is you wont loose much when you come to resell it. as its so cheap.
i guess you could look at products like the behringer ddx3216.
it has tdif. youll get mixed reviews from folks. some like B , others say no.
ive never used one. i'm an old analog console guy.
you sometimes see on ebay yamaha digital consoles for decent prices. ive never used one. but i think - not sure if they have tdif.
also tascam have a standalone rack of preamps at a good price if i remember. but dont know about tdif.
 
manning1 said:
i dont know the m12 much. so i read up on it.
from what i see its only 12 channel - hence m12. NOT 16.
by the way the trident want have features like tdif as they are old consoles .
so one works the old way ie: buss out for example.
if it were me the only reason i can see in getting the mackie is you wont loose much when you come to resell it. as its so cheap.
i guess you could look at products like the behringer ddx3216.
it has tdif. youll get mixed reviews from folks. some like B , others say no.
ive never used one. i'm an old analog console guy.
you sometimes see on ebay yamaha digital consoles for decent prices. ive never used one. but i think - not sure if they have tdif.
also tascam have a standalone rack of preamps at a good price if i remember. but dont know about tdif.
Click to expand...

Wrong. The M12 is 12 individual channels (with mic pres) PLUS 4 stereo inputs (no pre, just line in). You can mix 16 channels with the M12.
 
I hope you don't mind a little spam... :)

I have one of these for sale, 24x8, it comes with the meterbridge.

http://www.sweetwater.com/publications/sweetnotes/sn-summer96/SumSN_07.html

It's in mint condition.

I'll throw in a couple of D-sub snakes along with it.

600 bucks plus you pick it up, and it's yours. I'm on the other side of L.I. Sound in the New Haven/Bridgeport area of CT.

I also have a Mackie 24x8 console complete with meterbridge and power supply for sale, 1400 bucks.

If you're interested just PM me.
 
I'm a Soundcraft Guy. However, I had a chance to play with the new Crest HP8 mixer that is one nice board. It has something like 10 true aux sends, sweep Hi and Mid, 8 subs with some very nice pres. You can get a 24 channel for around 3500.00 and have all the mixer you need

http://www.crestaudio.com/products/hp8/
 
solray. but do those extra 4 channels have eq on them ?
i assumed - he wanted eq on all 16 channels. also on the 4 extra channels could he do an insert of some outboard if he wanted ?
 
In my opinion, you should absolutely avoid the broken Mackie. It's not worth it and you can just as easily find on that does work for about the same price. If it's broken, you don't necessarily know everything that's wrong with it, and there might be more than you think.

One aspect of the board you should think about is how many busses you need. Do you need 8 or would 4 do? If 4 busses would do, then the Midas Venice 24 or 32 would be a great choice. Or possibly the new Mackie Onyx 16 channel mixer.

I'd also suggest avoiding digital mixers, or at the very least the Behringer. If you go the budget digital route, then pick up a Yamaha or Tascam model.

Finally, if you ahve 16 mono channels coming off the DA-88/38's, then I think you want a mixer with at least 16 mono channels. Even if some of your tracks are stereo, I think you still want to be sure you can have the flexibility to handle all of them as mono channels.
 
manning1 said:
solray. but do those extra 4 channels have eq on them ?
i assumed - he wanted eq on all 16 channels. also on the 4 extra channels could he do an insert of some outboard if he wanted ?
Click to expand...

soundcraft.com
 
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