Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[david kulenkampff]

hi!

i need a few opinions please, im looking for 8 to 16 chan mixers,
but not the mackie league, rather top end business.
i was looking at the crane song spider (v interesting) and other
summing mixers like mixdream/dangerous etc.
so far, i prefer the spider's various mixing possibilities (gain/fader/tape emu),
as i do want to mix not only run thru.
the dsp in the spider does put me off a little bit, i ve read that the tape emu
IS very good, but still, i might prefer an all-analogue mixer and
add extra stereo A/D like the universal audio or lavry blue.
the tla tube desks look good, some recommend them, but for me
it seems too cheap lookin at price:channels ratio.
has anyone heard the new neve summing mixer?
the mixer needs to have inserts, i want to implement my comps rack.
good gains (i like to crank it up, i make drum and bass ...),
and excellent bass response.  it should be clean and be able
to handle fast transients, but it should also be possible to get some
dirt out of it, you may also call it rawness.
sometimes i like to squash the mix with the bassline (u know then the tops get all dirty fizzy when the bass hits).
i run most of my levels pretty hot.

thanks a zillion in advance, any opinions appreciated, always learning.
im quite desperate at this point to find something that suits me.
dk

[12345]

If the TLA Tube is out of the picture because it's too *inexpensive*, then I think you're buying for the wrong reasons.  Go audition all of these...look at the circuit and build, and if you can't find something you like, build it yourself.  Don't buy for a brand name(!!!!!!!).  Go think about WHY you like the sound of certain products, and figure out what the circuit designer has done to accomplish that...

MW

[compasspnt]

Have you looked at the Manley?  They make some very good stuff, although to me it sometime is slightly subtle...but you can just push it a bit more than you might other makes.  They make a large, but very high quality tube mixer.

Also, SPL are very good quality, and the Dangerous should be as well (haven't used their stuff, but the pedigree is certainly there).

To me, the TLA appears to be of lesser quality, but I have not used it, so it is an uneducated opinion, and I've been wrong about a thing or two like that before, which I found out once I'd used the product.

You didn't say if there was a budget limitation.

I do recommend trying these out in person if at all possible!

Good luck.

[compasspnt]

Oh yeah, it's not tube, but also look at Tonelux and API.

[david kulenkampff]

the spider just hits the budget limit.
im looking at the gml mixer now, which looks great.
i like american stuff, its sounds a bit fatter than europe
i think.
the gains in the mixer im looking for need to go loud, without
distortin to much. the analogue mackie 8bus usually does the trick
with its pres but im looking for a better solution, plus
i dont have enough space for the 8bus. i want it small
AND better sounding haha.
i heard good n bad things about the tla mixers, personally
i havent tried one, but im a bit too scared every mix will
end up sounding the same, cause of their tubes.
i do like my mixer to have a "sound" but i should be able
to move around within it.
as u can see, im  a long way from finding what i ll buy.
oh wait, the spider is on top of my list.
so far my options (from lookin at specs) for mixing 8 chan of analogue to 2 trk digital:

Spider using its own A/D (stereo)
GML mod9100 into UA 2192 (stereo)

thanks for all the help!

[Jim Williams]

Check out used Soundcraft Delta's. Got my 8x4x2 for $400, cost $5k new. Or, the 16x4x2 I got for $550 used.
-90 db stereo crosstalk, true balanced line inputs, 4 band EQ, fully modular.

[arconaut]

How about a Sonosax?

http://www.sonosax.ch/SX-ST8D.jpg

[rankus]

Chandler ?  They have a nice 16 chan board...

[drumsound]

Neotek is now making 8-16&24 channel "table-top" Elan with no patchbay.  I love my Elan.

[Roland Storch]

Jim Williams wrote on Sat, 22 October 2005 15:46

Check out used Soundcraft Delta's. Got my 8x4x2 for $400, cost $5k new. Or, the 16x4x2 I got for $550 used. -90 db stereo crosstalk, true balanced line inputs, 4 band EQ, fully modular.

I used the Deltas for many years and would not say they are top end. Measurments are good but espscially with transients I had always the impression they are rounded.

The Sonosax or the small studer (169, 961, ...) are really better.

[Dave Peck]

david kulenkampff wrote on Fri, 21 October 2005 21:15

hi! i need a few opinions please, im looking for 8 to 16 chan mixers, but not the mackie league, rather top end business. thanks a zillion in advance, any opinions appreciated, always learning. im quite desperate at this point to find something that suits me. dk

I've been on the same hunt for a while now for a simple high-quality analog board for tracking into & mixing from the DAW in my synth studio. So far, the options that I have found that seem closest to what I want would be:

1. Speck LiLo. But it's only 16 channels and I need 24. However, this may be exactly what you're looking for.

2. Trident Dream. Feature set looks perfect for my application, but of course I haven't heard one yet. Anybody have first-hand experience with this board? Puh-lease no diatribes about Mr. Oram. I don't care what you think of the guy, I'd just like to know what the Dream console sounds like.

3. Audient ASP 8024. Feature set is kinda like an 8-bus on steroids and it has received good reviews on audio performance, but it's just a lot more console than I need.

4. Neotek Elan II. The tabletop version looks like a good choice, but again I haven't heard one and it's been very difficult to get any detailed info on the product, even after contacting the company directly. Makes you wonder what it would be like to try to get one serviced.

So that's where my search is to date. I suggest you check out the Speck LiLo. Hope this helps.

[Dave Peck]

Hi again dk,

Someone just pointed out the new Toft Audio AT 16 tabletop console and I suggest you check it out. But it won't be available until next Spring apparently. Personally, I'm very interested in it.

[Samc]

You could also check out this companies products www.adt-audio.com, the build and sonics of their products are excellent.

All of the console systems are modular and any configuration can include all or most features including full 5.1 panning and automation, it just depends on your needs and budget.  

In about a month my modular, 16 channel surround console should be ready.