Converting a garage into a recording studio is an upcoming project..... I have the opportunity to acquire either a Soundcraft GB4 40 channel or a Soundcraft LX7 ii 32 channel. I know the GB 4 is predominantly a live/FOH mixer but looking to pick experienced opinions on which choice to make of the two.
I have a LX7, and have used the GB4 in live shows. Without doubt, the GB4 is a more comprehensive desk, and the mic preamps are better. Oddly, having used them both live, the things are actually more similar than are obvious. The preamp differences seem to work for live stuff - sounding good over a range of input gains, whereas the LX7 preamps need tweaking to maintain the optimum signal to noise. The GB4 is more sort of tolerant, if that makes sense. This is true for many of the bigger format desks in that price range. The big problem, from eh studio perspective is simply size, and how you work. I have a large format 32 channel Yamaha - another live mixer, and although my studio was designed to fit around this size footprint, it took up too much space, so I swapped it for the LX7-24ch in my store. Sounded as good to me. The real problem is that it's hardly used now. My racks of outboard kit gather dust. At the moment - I feed all audio into my system with a Tascam rack interface, and the LX7 has left and right out, and one send in use. Inputs wise, a left and right from the Tascam, two from a Korg synth and one from a weighted stage piano I use as a master keyboard. The faders all sit in a row. That is it. All the real mixing functions and eq are done in the computer. A big mixer is impressive, but for my current usage, totally pointless. My large mixer is back in the store in it's flightcase.
Many thanks Rob
I appreciate you sharing your experience with me. Especially confirming the better quality mic preamps on the GB4. Space is obviously a consideration but getting rid of two 1000 cc motorcycles will make more than enough room for the GB4!! I think you miay have sold me along that route.....you know what they say.....no substitute for cubic capacity...lol. Thanks again
