Soundtracs Topaz?

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charger

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I already posted about trying to decide between an Allen & Heath Mixwizard 16:2, a Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro, and a Soundcraft Spirit M12.

Since that original post, I've been looking around, and I found a new contender, for only about 400$ more (used) - the Soundtracs Topaz Project 8. This board is actually advertised as a recording console, so I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that it might be a bit more of what I need than the A&H or Spirit. It's 24X8X2, and I'm assuming it's been discontiuned by the manufacturer.

Anyone have any experience with one? I'm wondering if those 400$ will buy me a noticeable difference from the A&H, and how this board is regarded.
 
I have a Topaz project 8 32-ch board and love it.
It is generally regarded highly as an obtainable recording mixer,
and the mic pre's & eq are great sounding as well.
I chose it over some of the boards you have listed because
of the sonic quality of each channel stripand the control room features. It is a very flexible board, a real recording console, with extensive routing options. The only potential downside I can think of, might be in getting service/parts(made in UK). BTW I beleive they are still in production and they sell alot of these mixers in Europe compared to the US.
I would not hesitate in recommending this board in the slightest.
I've never had anything but great results from this puppy!

Good Luck,
Sponge Bob
 
Thanks SpongeBob, sounds like you dig the topaz. I think it's right for me.

Anyone else used this board?
 
I have the 24-8 Topaz. I use mine as the front end for a Digi 001 (8 analog and 8 through a separate converter). A lot of features and good sound sold me on this console. I got mine used in good shape and have had it for over a year now. If you can find one for the right price they are hard to beat for the money.

The EQ is very usable and musical. I like the versatile routing, of the auxes and talkback routing.

Don Goguen
Folk Cafe Productions

Folkcafe.com
 
Thumbs up to the Topaz Project 8, very good board but watch out for it overheating now and then - nothing a good service won't fix though.

Cheers,
Rich.
 
I also bought a used Topaz 24/8 last year on the advice of the esteemed Harve Gerst and have been satisfied ever since!
 
I've used one for several years, and never had any regrets. this console made an impression on me. Try to get hold on a meterbridge too.
 
Hey........

While we're here, does anyone happen to know how one of these things compares to a Mackie....comparing 24/8 to 24/8? I know that mackie comparisons are redundant but I'd like to know.

HEY HARVEY!!!!! Where are ya on this one?!?!:)




heylow
 
Basically, the Topaz is thought by most to be a step beyond the mackie in almost every way. The quality of the channel pre's is very impressive, and so is the eq's. If you are caught between the Topaz and a mackie, don't even think twice- the Topaz is the stuff. A friend of mine has a nice trident in his studio that he works with daily, and he even said he thought this console could fool alot of pro audiophiles, regarding the final out come of a project, when/if done right. And one other aspect previously talked about is the routing & studio talk back features. They are very cool and "pro". This is one of the best buys out there for someone who wants alot out of a board, but they don't have the budget for a major big-time console, like me.

Hope it helps,
Sponge Bob
 
Bought one, shipping tomorrow, will update y'all as soon as the beauty arrives.

For anyone who's been watching, there have been quite a few outstanding mixer deals that have gone down on the world's biggest auction site over the past couple weeks on Allen & Heath, Soundtracs, and Soundcraft gear.
 
Drum Roll............................................................................?........
 
.......................................?....................?..........?................hm......
 
It's coming next week! These things take time.

I've been tracking it faithfully on fedex.com.
 
Nice console... pretty console. For $825 with the meterbridge, this is an impressive beast. I just completed an I/O check and all the channels sound great, and meter correctly. There's some sort of glitch with the meter for the first aux group, it only works intermittently, but it sounds fine. All meters on the meterbridge work perfectly. The lights are out on the main VU meters though. I need to read my documentation to determine whether there's a switch I'm missing. It could be a bad fuse or a burned out light bulb.

All in all, I'm thrilled with the board, and I haven't even begun using it yet! Now I need to shop for an appropriate stand for it.
 
Good to hear you got it. For $825 with the meterbridge, it's a steal... think of the poor guys who paid $3G for these boards when the first came out! Not too sure what you mean about the glitch on the aux? As far as the lights being burned out, double check the meterbridge connections, but if all the channel LEDS are working properly, I would tend to think your right about the bulbs being toast. If I remeber correctly, when I first got mine, it was set up to run on european UK power. I had to flip a fuse in the power supply. It did weird stuff- no light working etc. If you need parts, soundtracs will ship direct to your door too. Once you get rolling, it will become easilly evident just how much better your console is than a mackie in sound, routing and performance.

Welp,
good luck and happy mixing my friend...
SPonge Bob
 
So, I have searched used for these things, and I have been to the Soundtracs website, but I would really like some more info. Is there anywhere to purchase these in the US that might have some literature on these? It isn't that I'm not sold, but I need to sell the boss...uh...wife.

Pete
 
Thanks for the info Charger. I will look it over.

Pete
 
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