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rocksOff
New member
how are the preamps on these?
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chessrock
Banned
Same as the Spirit M series, which are supposedly the same as the Ghost.
R
rocksOff
New member
chessrock said:
thanks
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Rev E
New member
I haven't used this mixer, so I can't comment on the sound quality. But the preamps on the E-series are NOT the Ultramic preamps that are on many of soundcraft's other boards. I can't say that they're better, the same, worse of just different. I just wanted to make that correction. If you read the brochure there is not specific mention that the mic pres are the "Ultramic" pres.
Future Music have good things to say abou the E-series in both function and sound, so take that for what it's worth.
Es.
Future Music have good things to say abou the E-series in both function and sound, so take that for what it's worth.
Es.
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christiaan
Active member
That's right. But neither are the preamps on the M-series.Rev E said:
Middleman
Professional Amateur
chessrock said:
If you punch around the Soundcraft site you come up with the following:
Pro level board:
Ghost - ProMic preamps
Multipurpose Boards: High to low rated by preamps and based on specs.
1. M series (same as ghost design, not actually the same as ghost by the way- different specs) Lo distortion, RF rejection.
2. Delta - Not sure but different specs than the others "renowned mic preamps" much older design from the early 90s.
3. Spirit FX and SX boards - Ultramic pres - late 90s design
4. E series - lower specs than the M series (High quality, linear mic preamps with smooth gain control)
5. Notepad - High-quality mic pre-amp inputs
The E series is probably the same mic pres or a newer rev of the Notepads but definitley not the same as the M series and not of the ghost designed nature.
C
chessrock
Banned
I spoke with one of their senior designers on the phone about 2 weeks ago -- long distance call to England, by the way.
He said they are "the exact same as the M series."
Take that for what it's worth. I suppose he could have been mistaken or just plain lying. Wouldn't be the first time a popular maker of mixers used deceptive tactics to overhype the quality of their mic pres.
He said they are "the exact same as the M series."
Take that for what it's worth. I suppose he could have been mistaken or just plain lying. Wouldn't be the first time a popular maker of mixers used deceptive tactics to overhype the quality of their mic pres.
Middleman
Professional Amateur
Got a similar response when I talked to their US division. My take is, nobody there will really say. They are all over the map on their description on these. I would say they are less than up front on what is what. That PR piece about "same design as" is fairly bogus in my book. Just another way of selling lo end products but creating the impression they are as good as their $4000 products.
Needless to say, they do have some of the better transient response in pres under $1000. I used the Notepad a few years back to compare Mackie and Behringer and the Souncraft product was much smoother across the spectrum. So I can cut them some slack.
Could be they don't want to canablize their M series sales.
Needless to say, they do have some of the better transient response in pres under $1000. I used the Notepad a few years back to compare Mackie and Behringer and the Souncraft product was much smoother across the spectrum. So I can cut them some slack.
Could be they don't want to canablize their M series sales.
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chessrock
Banned
I think what's important with a soundcraft mixer is the EQ. That's really why you get a souncraft, in my humble open onion. The mic pres, even on the Ghost board, have never been anything of folklore. Just a good option for a very reasonbly-priced board.
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Rev E
New member
I've used Soundcraft boards for a great deal of work (mostly live) and I am quite fond of their mixers... but if Soundcraft says that the E series and M series pres are the exact same then something is very fishy. If what Chess says is really true then the effective difference between an M series board and the E series equivalent is a digital output.
Sounds kinda weird for a spdif output to result in a $100 - $250 difference in price.
Sounds kinda weird for a spdif output to result in a $100 - $250 difference in price.
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rocksOff
New member
Rev E said:I've used Soundcraft boards for a great deal of work (mostly live) and I am quite fond of their mixers... but if Soundcraft says that the E series and M series pres are the exact same then something is very fishy. If what Chess says is really true then the effective difference between an M series board and the E series equivalent is a digital output.
Sounds kinda weird for a spdif output to result in a $100 - $250 difference in price.
true
DAFFYDRUNK
New member
Rev E said:I've used Soundcraft boards for a great deal of work (mostly live) and I am quite fond of their mixers... but if Soundcraft says that the E series and M series pres are the exact same then something is very fishy. If what Chess says is really true then the effective difference between an M series board and the E series equivalent is a digital output.
Sounds kinda weird for a spdif output to result in a $100 - $250 difference in price.
And the direct outs. I didn't understand the difference until someone on here or another board mentioned the M series direct outs. I think the Future Music article complained about limitations of multitrack recording on the E series...How you'd have to use the inserts as direct outs but wouldn't get be able to use the eq in the signal. There was a couple other recording workarounds, but nothing beyond 2 simltanious tracks while monitoring. I'd like to use outboard compression, and a little mixer eq while recording a signal... That's where the M series becomes the obvious choice. The E series does visually look really cool though...
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lomky
New member
DAFFYDRUNK said:
Exactly, it has Direct outs on every channel. I would pay the extra 150USD for that.
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chessrock
Banned
Well, the designer told me the E series is very much stripped down to the basics. Supposedly there's a lot of features of the M series that are missing in the E series . . . so they basically cut some corners in terms of mixer features and quality, but the mic pres ares supposedly the same.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing if all you're looking for is a box of cheap, good-quality mic pres as opposed to a full-featured mixer.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing if all you're looking for is a box of cheap, good-quality mic pres as opposed to a full-featured mixer.
DAFFYDRUNK
New member
lomky said:
Now I remember, you're the one that mentioned that in another thread on here. Currently trying to knock down a little credit card debt and then the M8 will be mine. Maybe even step up to an M12. Figured it would work well with a 1010lt card. Thanx again for the info....
