ok, before you reply to my comment, have you ever even used that console, I will admit that the preamps aren't very good and the studio that I go to that uses one uses the board as a connection point for some good pres. And the studio has had it for about 5 years so it does last long but thats because they get it fixed up about once a year or two. And I do like the eq on the board and if you don't, the board is so good with routing, you can just patch in a good eq.
and the 8 busses and meter bridges are a great add on that usually don't face problems. The only real problem with this board is that the ribbon cables can shake loose with some really low-frequency stuff.
Actually, yes. I have both seen and used Mackie 8 buss consoles MANY more times then I would like to have, and I stand by my statements. In fact, we have even owned some. Thankfully those are almost all gone now. What good are having 8 busses if they slur the sound and are also victim to crosstalk? The direct outs are a little more resistent to the crosstalk, but whats the point in having a console at all if any time you want to do something you have to patch in a preamp and an EQ? I also would not talk about a consoles longevity if it has to be "fixed up" every year or two. At least not such a small limited console. I have had plenty of Allen Heaths that bounced in and out of trucks several times a week, in and out of smoky bars and clubs several times a week, and just plain been abused that lasted for 5 years or more without needing repair work at all. Personally, the EQ on a Mackie VLZ series console is about as shitty as it gets. 8 busses is not all that rare either, nor necessary at all in a home recording setup where things are typically tracked form direct outs anyhow and mixes are done in a DAW application. Even in live use 8 busses is certainly not a necessity when only mixing 8 or 16 channels. So the Mackie meters might be ok, but what are all these routing features that the Mackie offers that makes it so different form a dozen other consoles on the market in a similar price range? I think the one thing the Mackie consoles did have going for them was the price point that they entered the market at WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT. Now a console like that is a dime a dozen and often times even cheaper. At the time they came out however, options were certainly more limited so they did serve a good purpose. Since then however Mackie has been very slow to release any sort of new product or change with any sort of real impact with the exception maybe of their studio monitor line, but other companies were hot on the heels of that one two.
I completely understand people having bought Mackies in certian scenarios and budgets, but options are now (and have been for a while) available so the "budget" excuse is no longer as valid. Plus, this thread was about "16 channel mixers with high end preamps". In my opinion, Mackie should have never come up in this discussion. Granted the Onyx stuff sounds MUCH better in many ways (preamp, EQ, noise, usability, longevity so far etc...) but I would still not consider it to be high end preamps.
If I were to have to answer this question today, the Toft would be the closest starting point, but still not very highly regarded as having high end preamps, although its EQ may more than make up for that. A Midas venice would also be a good starting point. After that you would probably have to make the jump to Neotek, API, Neve, DaKing, Chandler, certain vintage Trident consoles etc.... all of which do have preamps and a overall sonic quality which is pretty widely considered to be "high end" even when compared to other great sounding outboard preamps. This all comes at a price though, but it also maintians its value which nowadays may be more important then ever to consider.
