Soundcraft M users? Groups? Ext. Pre?

[Booda]

I almost ordered a M12 today but am still not sure. I also just saw a used A&E MW 14-4-2 for about the same cost as the M12... tempting?

Anyway... Do the Aux sends also act as Sub Groups? Say I want to have 4 Direct outs to my 8 i/o Soundcard and then a set of 2 to 8 channels going in as a stereo pair to the soundcard. Can I also break that up to 2 groups?

Here's what I'm saying...
4 Direct outs = Snare,Kick,Overheads
1 Aux/group = Toms, cymbals (drum xtras)
1 Aux/Group = Guitars, bass, Vox (for a scratch track)
the Aux/group would be stereo.

Also, I want to run my Sytek Pre through it, so I can use the Lo cut and Insert a RNC. My Sytek is XLR balanced out. Can I run this into the Line In? Or is the Line in Unbalanced? What would I do to run it in the Line In?

This would really help me out
Thanks,
B.

 

[ChristopherDawn]

Check Full Compass for your M12. I got mine there for $590.

I'm not sure about the aux group thing.

Why would you want to run your sytek into the board, for the EQ? If not I'd just take it directly into your soundcard.

 

[Booda]

I don't know why I asked such a stupid question... I basicaly wanted to know what does having Group channels like the A&E MixWiz 14-4-2 do for you than just having Aux sends like the M12 and WZ16-2. I'm thinking group CH. are more for live monitors and such.

CD, How long ago did you get it at that price? It's now 630.00 plus 30.00 for shipping. Over the last month I've called a few times and told them about people I know getting it for around $600 shipped... no deal.

On the Sytek... for the Pad & lo Cut... the Sytek overloads easy. I figure I'd try it both ways to see how much loss there is... if it's way noticable I'd go direct.
For that matter, I should just skip the Mixer get 4 more Pres and a Monitor station... but a mixer will be handy.
B.

 

[Cave Dweller]

i know my A&H 14-4-2 has direct outs on every mic input, and i'm fairly shre the 16-2 has direct outs as well. in my application the direct outs mostly eliminate the need for subgroups, unless i want to, say, throw a compressor on a bunch of back-up vocals, or record a drum kit to 1 or 2 tracks. using direct outs also cuts out the extra circutry of the subgroup/auxilary master section, making the signal being recorded less noisy. also, when using auxilary sends there is always the chance that some signal could bleed onto the wrong track, for example if 1 or more of the aux sends is not all the way off