what is the best recording console for around 3k?

[maskedman72]

well i have a mackie 24.8 and i have been considering an upgrade. what is good in that price range that has the same features as the mackie? chess had recomended a soundcraft m series.
i wouldnt want to take a step sideways here.

 

[Michael Jones]

I don't use an analogue console, but the Soundcraft Ghost seems to harbor favour with lots of users on this board.

The going rate is about $2500 used.

 

[TexRoadkill]

I've got a Ghost and it's pretty sweet. The Sountracks Topaz is another popular board in that price range. The Soundcraft M boards are nice but they are more of compact mixer not a full inline recording console.

 

[DJL]

I also want to upgrade from a Mackie 32x8 bus. So, what are the pro's and con's of the Ghost verses the Topaz?

 

[sponge bob]

I can't comment deeply on the Ghost pro's and cons, but I know it is a very clean sounding board. I have had limited use.

Personally I picked the Topaz instead, because of the very nice clean pre's, fabulous eq's, and the main control room features are very deep. In a word, flexible. If you hate patching & re-patching, check out the Topaz. The routing features of this board are better than some found on boards in the 20k range. They are getting harder to find, (e-bay?) and I think they may be out of production, but not sure. Get the meter bridge if you go this rout. I saw one going for under $1500 U.S. a while back.

One fact I can give regarding both boards is this... they both are a nice step above and beyond the mackie world & both can yield very pro results.

Ask Harvey what he thinks of his.

Sponge Bob

 

[Sky Pilot]

I can vouch for the Topaz too. I have the 32 ch and I agree with Bob. Definitely a worthy board for consideration. Probably one of the best buys right now & also in another world beyond mackie. I've done alot of sessions with mine, getting very good consistent results, no repairs, no probs, very stable.
I also have heard people rave about the ghost. An acquintance of mine has the ghost and he loves it. Both should be a solid choice. Just check out the history of the board if its used.
You will probably get more response in the "other equipment forum"

Good Luck,
Sky Pilot

 

[DJL]

Thank you all for your replies so far. I would love to hear what Harvey has to say about the two boards, if he would be so kind to do so. I kind-of just jumped in on this thread but I had a feeling it was posted on the wrong board. I'd like to re-ask this question on the correct board but, I'm not sure which board that would be. Any suggestioning to which board I should re-ask this question on? Thanks again.

 

[TexRoadkill]

I can't comment deeply on the Ghost pro's and cons, but I know it is a very clean sounding board. I have had limited use.

Personally I picked the Topaz instead, because of the very nice clean pre's, fabulous eq's, and the main control room features are very deep. In a word, flexible. If you hate patching & re-patching, check out the Topaz. The routing features of this board are better than some found on boards in the 20k range.

Lol, I'd say the exact same thing about the Ghost. I haven't used a Topaz so I can't comment on the sound but the routing flexibility of the Ghost is pretty cool.

Is there anything you can do that the Ghost can't? Just curious.

 

[A1A2]

how about Allen&Heath? Are they too much of a live mixer for this discussion?

AL

 

[maskedman72]

can someone tell me more about the ghost? there are a few on ebay. 32 channels at $4,000.
does this desk have some sort of automation? what are the things that make it better than a mackie?

 

[skippy]

http://www.soundcraft.com/products/ghost.html : go there, and take a look at the documentation. It can have automation, it has very sophisticated signal routing, it's a proper inline board, it has very good mic pres and eqs, and it is extremely quiet. Seriously, just pop open the owner's manual and have a look.

 

[TexRoadkill]

The Ghost does not have automated gain or flying faders. The MMC version (not the LE) has SMPTE/MTC sync with mute automation and machine control. The LE is the basic version with no automation.

The preamps and EQ are generally considered to be superior to the Mackies as well as the overall sound of the board. It is a popular board for artist project studios and Tom Petty, Sarah Maglachlan and a few others use them. The manuals are available at www.soundcraft.com if you want to see the specs. The Soundcraft M series is marketed on the fact that it uses the same pres.

You should be able to get a used 24 MMC with MeterBridge for $2500-3000 and a 32 with the same config for $2800-3500. I've seen a few go for those prices with an included Argosy console.

 

[maskedman72]

those argosy's are nice.
so would you guys trade your mackie for a ghost?
is it a step up or sideways? do they make a stand for it like mackie does for their 8 bus series?

 

[TexRoadkill]

I sure wouldn't trade my Ghost for a Mackie

I don't know about stands for it. I'm trying to decide what I'm going to do with mine right now. I think I'm just going to build a console w/patch bay and effects racks. I can't stomach paying $1K for a freakin desk.

 

[skippy]

Soundcraft does sell a Z-type tubular metal stand for the Ghost- but it's a little high (something like 32 inches, as I recall). I like a lower chair, not a barstool, since I have a lot of gear in racks right down to the floor. So I gave it a miss. I just built a support for mine right onto my racks also- works great, and lets me drop the sucker down to 27", almost flush against my knees, like I like it. I could also rake it a bit more to make the display for the automation easier to read.

I think the Ghost is a pretty good step up from the Mackie, myself, but your mileage may vary. I know that I wouldn't swap mine for anything else under $10k... (;-)

 

[Jack Hammer]

in the modern world of recording, particularly for home project studios, is it not true that mixing consoles have begun to play more of a monitoring role rather than a recording role. And, is this not especially true when one factors in the incresaingly ubiquitos plug-ins?

For that reason, I have not upgraded from my Mackie 24 8. I like it, don't get me wrong but, I am fully well aware of its limitations. I just wonder if, for a project studio owner that uses his studio for composing and basic tracks, anything more is necessary.

 

[littledog]

I just wonder if, for a project studio owner that uses his studio for composing and basic tracks, anything more is necessary.

If you're using outboard pres and plug-ins or outboard for eq, you're probably ok.

 

[Sennheiser]

The Ghost does not have automated gain or flying faders.

Can it be upgraded?

This is probably going to be my future console if and when I go to 1" 16 track. I did some reading up on this console. It sounds like a real winner, just a little overkill for my present set-up.

 

[tubedude]

Hmmm, no mention of a Midas or a used Trident or(ummm ,zanax lapse here)... the guy that makes the Sytek also used to make the ????? That one, whatever I cant remember the name cause I'm wasted.
Midas sounds like the best bet to me, or the Trident.

 

[Sky Pilot]

Is there anything you can do that the Ghost can't? Just curious.

Not that I'm aware of. They both acheive great results with very similar features.

For what it's worth, the Ghost has definitely received more press in the US. From what I understand the Topaz fame is more centered in the UK. Either one should be great.

Sky Pilot