Mackie 1604VLZ Pro vs. Soundcraft Spirit FX16

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tyler657recpro

tyler657recpro

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Ok, I've heard many great things about both companies, and I know anything Soundcraft is great. I never realized the soundcraft was in my pricerange. So which is better? The soundcraft, or the Mackie. Or recommend one listing at about 1300.
 
From Lynn Fuston's 3D Audio mic pre comparison CDs, the Mackie 1604vlz on-board pres made a respectable competitor for the pricier pres in the shoot-out... I'd would say the Mackie has the edge, although the SC's EQ is probably more "musical"...
 
Tyler (I'm still confused why, with all your questions, you have included the part "recpro" in your name... :rolleyes: )
the Mackie is in another price range.
CHeck the Allen & Heath Mixwizards (which almost all are in the same price range), and the Allen & Heaths have some edges over the Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro:
-2 x mid sweep on mono channel Eq's
-EQ bypass button
-100 mm faders (more precise)

Oh, and I just came up with this analogy:
Mackie=Fender (very clear and transparent, but harsh to some)
Soundcraft=Gibson (darker and to some more musical)
A&H=PRS (best of both worlds)

This means that A&H combines the musical EQ of the soundcrafts with the more pristine pre's of the Mackie.
What I DON'T like about most (almost ALL) Soundcraft boards, is that their faders are way too light. You could almost *blow* them forward.

Oh, and check the Soundcraft Spirit M series as well. (4 auxes, mid sweep, Ghost-pre amps, 100 mm faders, direct out per channel, digital master-out)
 
Tyler,

I was kinda getting the impression that you were sort of dream shopping here vs. really on a quest for knowledge in anticipation of a real purchase.

So I checked your bio.

Unless you are a trust fund baby or your parents are willing to drop some major coin on this obsession of yours, I would suggest thinking Tascam 424 for the short term. Hone your skills there. When you can make really fine recordings on cassette, then get a job flipping burgers and start looking to get the $1000 Mackie boards and $1000 Mackie speakers and whatever else you have people jumping through hoops walking you through.

Not trying to be harsh...just realistic.

T
 
Actually, I had noticed that soundcraft's faders were really, really, light. I have an old 24 channel, thats like 25 years old, so its really old. I thought they might have changed that by now, but I guess not.

I did look at the A&H last night actually, and I've always been impressed with their stuff. I didn't actually realize they were in my pricerange though. It's kinda un ugly little bitch though, aint it. Oh well.

And then I was also looking at the crest and midas ones. I haven't checked the prices yet, but my guess is the midas are way out of my range, and the crests are probably a little more, but they only have one with 8 mono and 8 stereo, or one with 12 mono, and 4 stereo, which i need 16 mono, so it doesnt really work. And the other thing I dont like about it, is all of the inputs are on the bottom of the console.

I'm seriously looking at the allen & heath now. I think I've basically ruled out the mackie, especially since it only has 8 direct outs. So now I'm debating between soundcraft, a&h, and crest
 
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Well, I've already done the tascam thing, and I have the shirt to prove it. Then I got a 4 track minidic thing from yamaha, it was cool, for a little while. But then I threw it away and got cakewalk guitar tracks 2.0, and a cheap ass behriinger board. Which didn't really matter since I've still got my soundblaster 16 bit card, and an ensoniq thing. I got some nice bose 301IV speakers, and a good amp, and of course my alesis 3630 that i got for free. I've also done the karaoke, boombox, big boy stereo, and all that crap too. So now this is where I am. When I dream, I dream bigger than this. So, uh, yeah.
 
tyler657recpro said:

And then I was also looking at the crest and midas ones. I haven't checked the prices yet, but my guess is the midas are way out of my range, and the crests are probably a little more, but they only have one with 8 mono and 8 stereo, or one with 12 mono, and 4 stereo, which i need 16 mono, so it doesnt really work. And the other thing I dont like about it, is all of the inputs are on the bottom of the console.
Click to expand...

I would discourage you from rejecting the Crest XR-20 simply because four of the channels are stereo. In fact, each of those stereo channels has a PAIR of mic pres, not just line inputs. So you are really getting the equivalent of 4 extra mic pres, compared to a 16 channel mixer. You can always use them as just mono channels if you choose, with no penalty, since the stereo channels are full-featured. The only drawback would be the price - it will probably cost you about $600-$700 more than the Mackie or A&H, but if I was looking for a mixer in that class, I would be seriously tempted to go with the Crest, despite the extra cost. And you won't have any problems with flimsy "feel" - it feels very solid. It also has four subgroup busses, which the Mixwizard does not.
 
Well, I'm pushing my $7000 budget already, so I think im gonna stick with the A&H or the mackie. There are only two problems I have with the A&H, and that's that it looks like something from the 80's (not really a problem), and it has no subgroups. The soundcraft has two at least. I like everything about the crest, except that all the jacks are on the bottom, and the price.
 
Can I ask why you need 16 channels?
Do you plan on recording an orchestra, or will you be using it also for live purposes?

Mark
 
Tyler, look closer next time.
Here's your Allen & Heath mixwizard WITH 4 subgroups. and 14 channels (10 mono, 2 stereo):
http://www.allen-heath.com/WZ1442.asp

Or, if you just want 16 channels with no hassle, but with a digital FX on board, this one:
http://www.allen-heath.com/WZ162DX.asp

Or, for a bit lower down the lane, but very cheap too:

Spirit Folio SX.
-12 mono channels
-8 direct outs
-4 stereo channels
-2 subgroups
-3 band mid sweep EQ
-3 auxes; 1=pre, 2=pre/post switchable, 3=post
-100 mm faders
Shoud run you by $400. Hell, buy 2. ;)
 
Well, I checked out the crest, costing twice as much, I want it, but not that bad. Maybe I'll convince my church to buy it, and I'll "borrow" it.

As far as the mixwizard 14 goes, its very tempting, but i need it to have 16 channels. I guess I'm gonna hafta give up subgroups. Or I could spend $1750 bucks on the Crest! Or i guess i could still go with the Soundcraft fx16. I've basically forgotten about the mackie.
 
Tyler, there are some things to consider:
1) It's YOUR money
2) It's what YOU want. If you think you can get by on a FX16, go for it. And if you turn out to make great mixes on them you've learned far more, than buying all the expensive gear and not knowing what you're doing. (after all, does anyone here HEAR a Urei 1176 compressor? ;) )
3) The FX16 IS in another (lower) league than the Allen & Heath
4), If you're considering the FX16, also consider the Spirit M8 (x), or the Spirit Folio SX (x2). The latter has the same pre's as the FX16.
5)Buying a studio-desk with an onboard FX-unit is practically useless. Most of the time the S/N-ratio will degrade, OR you can choose only 1 reverb, meaning you'll have to send the snare through the same room-verb that sounded so great on the vocals.

The other Mixwizards do have the onboard fx, but the14:4:2 doesn't.
BTW, you said you NEEDED 16 channels. Although this may sound quite 'blasphenous', you could try to send the remaining 2 channels through an AUX-return.
Remember the A&H has 6 (!) auxes, way more than any lower league desks (besides some Behringers and Phonics maybe). The 1604 VLZ Pro does have 6 auxes, but 2 of them are switchable, (3/4 becoming 5/6) rendering at least 2 useless if you ask me.

So either save money, and go for the Spirit SX, or go 'all the way' and go for the A&H. Or really be the spoiled brat you act like from time to time ;) and go for a Midas Venice 16 channel. :cool:
 
The quick little devil speak words of wisdom. :p
The only mixer with onboard effects that I would put in a studio is a digital mixer.
I'd also still like to know why you want 16 channels. the most I have ever used at once is 8.

Mark
 
Tyler,

If it is still being made, look into the Studiomaster Trilogy line. I think it may be exactly what you are looking for at the right price:

•16 channels (15 and 16 have mic preamps, but can also be used as stereo line channels for a total of 18 possible channels of channel inputs)

•6 aux sends all simultaneously available on all channels

•preamps and EQ in the class of the A&H

•four subgroup busses

•nice routing options

•jackfield on top of mixer (which I think is what you wanted?)

•four stereo aux returns, with EQ on two of them.

•solid feeling faders and pots

•switchable stage/studio mode optimizing the features for either live or recording


I bought one three or four years ago (new) , but I haven't heard anyone discuss them, so I'm not sure they are still in production. Since you do a lot of live sound, you might also find the stage mode option particularly interesting.
 
ok, ill take a look at it, but am i gonna be able to do it for around 1300 list?
 
ya know what? I just realized I see these all the time. I had just always seen the small ones, and thought they were kinda cheap.
It looks just like a pretty basic board, but thats just glancing at it. Anyway, I'll look at it later. I still think im gonna buy an A&H
 
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