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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => Budget? Budget? We Don't Got No Steekin' Budjet => Topic started by: dilbert on November 28, 2008, 12:30:03 PM

Title: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: dilbert on November 28, 2008, 12:30:03 PM
I posted a while back on an opportunity I had to get a
Soundcraft LX7II as a sonic upgrade from my Mackie 24x8.
General concensus seemed to be that it would be a wash.

So I'm back again asking the same question regarding
the Soundcraft 200B(16ch).

Would this board be a sonic improvement over the Mackie?
Opinions from anyone who has experience with both boards
would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Bob Swanson
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Barry Hufker on November 28, 2008, 11:32:11 PM
One of my first mixers was a 200B.  It was quite a nice board but over time I came to notice the "honk" in the mic preamps.  I believe the Mackie to be more neutral...

Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Bill_Urick on November 29, 2008, 07:32:49 AM
Bob, try to find a Soundcraft Delta series if you can.
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: dilbert on November 29, 2008, 12:53:04 PM
Thanks for the input gentlemen.

Bill -
any specific reason for the preference of the Delta series?
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Barry Hufker on November 29, 2008, 10:22:04 PM
As I recall, the Delta Series is an improved design, but I can't say in what areas...

Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Bill_Urick on November 29, 2008, 10:23:43 PM
Sound pretty good, including the mic pres.
Modular and therefore easy to maintain or modify.
Configurable-you can rearrange individual channel/group/master modules and a variety of modules are available.
Can usually be found for a reasonable price.

Delta200 user manual:

http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=36

Delta Deluxe user manual:

http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=21

200B user manual:

http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=68
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: dilbert on November 30, 2008, 02:41:49 PM
Thanks for the Links Bill.
I passed on the 200b.
I'll keep lookin.
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: MagnetoSound on December 01, 2008, 07:28:37 PM
Could I add the Spirit Studio to this Soundcraft shoot-out?

I have had one fall into my lap recently, a 24/8/2 - a friend just gave it to me as part of a clear out ... my first thought was to sell it but they don't seem to fetch very much, so I'm thinking about keeping it for home use as it's in nice condition.

Apart from being non-modular it seems very well-featured. I'm guessing the circuitry might be very similar to the Delta.

Any opinions on the sound of these compared to the other models?


Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Barkley McKay on December 02, 2008, 02:58:24 AM
Hey Dan,

We have had 4 at The Leeds College of Music since 1994. They are still going strong and live in the demo/hit-and=run studios. Easy to service as you just flip them over.

I think they sound pretty good, if a bit ugly cosmetically. The eq reminds me a bit of the Soundcraft 6000 we used to have except for the low end span of the low mid.
We still have two Sapphyres in storage. Also a Delta for the live rig.
I always though that it was a limitation that FB1 couldn't be switched in to the monitor path as aux 1 and 2 could be.

Wasn't one used by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead for submixing on OK Computer?

barks

Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: MagnetoSound on December 02, 2008, 04:00:01 AM
Hey Barks,


Barkley McKay wrote on Tue, 02 December 2008 07:58

Wasn't one used by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead for submixing on OK Computer?




Wow, that's a pretty cracking endorsement if it's true.

The only obvious drawback for me might be the lack of EQ switches on the channels, and HPF and
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: marcel on December 04, 2008, 10:56:57 AM
Barkley McKay wrote on Mon, 01 December 2008 23:58

Wasn't one used by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead for submixing on OK Computer?

I believe it was their monitoring console.

I would echo Bill's comments about the 200 Delta DLX.  I have a 24 ch. modded by Jim Williams, and, for the price, it can't be beat IMO.
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: MagnetoSound on December 04, 2008, 05:07:40 PM
It's clear that the DLX and the standard Delta are very different.

The extra features on the DLX modules (4-band EQ,
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Bill_Urick on December 04, 2008, 05:43:01 PM
MagnetoSound wrote on Thu, 04 December 2008 17:07

It's clear that the DLX and the standard Delta are very different.

The extra features on the DLX modules (4-band EQ,
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: MagnetoSound on December 04, 2008, 05:58:37 PM
Ah, so I'm confusing 'DLX' with Deluxe ...

And the DLX modules might - or might not - be physically longer than the Deluxe 200 modules, with those extra AUX pots?

Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Bill_Urick on December 04, 2008, 10:31:07 PM
http://www.gbaudio.co.uk/images/deltaf.jpg

http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sheet.asp?product_id=21

Check out the pics. The master and group modules are same in both. Looks like the controls are just spaced a little differently on the two input modules.
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: marcel on December 05, 2008, 01:24:48 AM
I think the modules' layout must have varied over time (and perhaps their designations as well?).  My mono input modules (which were loaded in the console when I bought it) look exactly like Bill's first link.  The two NOS stereo modules I bought from a PA hire company in Quebec look more like the Soundcraft site photo, with the 6 auxes all having separate pots, although with only 3 bands of EQ.

They all fit interchangeably in all 200 series frames AFAIK, and my manual (downloaded off the SC site) describes many other channel variants that I have never seen in pictures or in an operational console (including phono preamp and Sowter input transformer options and sound reinforcement 'matrix' type strips).

This is somewhat speculative, Jim Williams could probably provide a much more definitive answer.
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Geoff Doane on December 16, 2008, 02:37:23 PM
marcel wrote on Fri, 05 December 2008 02:24


They all fit interchangeably in all 200 series frames AFAIK, and my manual (downloaded off the SC site) describes many other channel variants that I have never seen in pictures or in an operational console (including phono preamp and Sowter input transformer options and sound reinforcement 'matrix' type strips).

This is somewhat speculative, Jim Williams could probably provide a much more definitive answer.


Careful with that "all 200 series frames" part.  They may fit in all the 200 Delta frames, but they aren't compatible with the older 200 or 200B frames.  These had only four auxes, rather than the six in the Delta, and I suspect there were more group buses as well in the Delta.  The Deltas had an input connector panel integrated into the module, while the inputs were in groups of 8 on the frame.

In fact, the B modules won't even fit in a regular 200 frame without extensive mechanical modifications. The B used a small ribbon cable from the module to the input connectors, while the originals plugged right into a header on the back connector panel.  

GTD
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: Jim Williams on December 18, 2008, 12:43:22 PM
MagnetoSound wrote on Thu, 04 December 2008 14:07

It's clear that the DLX and the standard Delta are very different.
The extra features on the DLX modules (4-band EQ,
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: breathe on December 19, 2008, 10:45:28 PM
I've never used the services of Jim Williams but I understand he is a genius.

It was on his recommendation that I bought a 16ch Delta DLX several years ago and only used it for a couple records before I bought a (much superior) Yamaha PM2000.  The DLX is very fast and crisp.  I did a prog rock record on it that turned out really well.  I think for 'normal' rock and roll you'd want more mojo though, especially in the low end.  The DLX is thin in the low end.  That all being said, I'd much rather mix on a DLX than any Mackie or competing mixer.

Go discrete!

Nicholas
Title: Re: SOUNDCRAFT 200B
Post by: dilbert on December 19, 2009, 12:52:48 PM
OK - my search for a sonic upgrade fro my Mackie 24-8 continues.
Any thoughts on the Soundcraft 600 series?
One just popped up on on C/L here for a good price.
Would this be sonic upgrade???