Looking for a decent low-end analogue console

[HQ. 17]

Hi there,

I am currently looking for a decent second hand console for our studio. The budget is up to £1000 ($2000). I will mainly be summing line level signals (MPC, Synths, Drum Machines etc.) so quality of the pre amps is not too important.

I have been offered a Soundcraft 500 for £300 ($600)

Also know of a Soundcraft 6000 for £800 ($1600)

Does anyone have experience with either of these desks? Is the 500 a good deal?

I am also interested in the A & H GS3000 however these are quite hard to find and probably over budget.

Thanks in advance!

[madtheory]

I think those are both over priced, especially the 6000. If it's just for keys and studio use only, something from the Soundcraft Spirit range is far more modern and therefore more reliable. These are very nice for line level work, long faders and sweet eq for the money. You should be able to get one of the older 24:8:2 (or similar) desks within your budget, used. Avoid the VCA models (the ones with MIDI mute automation) they can be problematic when aged, and fixing them is pricey.

[HQ. 17]

Hi madtheory, thanks for your reply.

The desk is for studio use only. I am looking to achieve high quality mixes, so while I would like a bit of vintage "warmth" I don't want to end up with a dirty old desk that needs a full re-cap etc.

Have been considering modern Soundcraft & Allen & Heath. I need 24 or 32 channels.

Any experience / opinions with Soundtracs consoles? e.g. Topaz project 8 or Solo Logic?

[spookyman]

If you can find a Soundcraft 200B (available in 16, 24 and 32 channels) it's also a very good console. Great sounding EQ, preamp with a lot of headroom, etc...and quite cheap nowadays.

The console is heavy in 32 channel configuration, but the warmth and dynamic provided by this desk will let you forget the size and weight...

[OriginalJambo]

If you can find a Soundcraft 200B (available in 16, 24 and 32 channels) it's also a very good console. Great sounding EQ, preamp with a lot of headroom, etc...and quite cheap nowadays.

The console is heavy in 32 channel configuration, but the warmth and dynamic provided by this desk will let you forget the size and weight...

+1

My 16 channel Soundcraft 200B only set me back £140. You'd be lucky to get a Behringer 16 channel analogue mixer for that.

[madtheory]

The 200B is fine, especially for that kind of money, as long as it doesn't need any work. I found them a tad noisy, and they're brown in colour which IMO is ugly, but it might match your DX-7 But seriously, they're cheap for a reason.

Recapping is an internet myth. Caps tend to last longer than chips in real life. Replacing chips is a PITA, and buying a desk with issues is a false economy.

I haven't ever used a Soundtracs console. The Soundcraft Ghost is great though.Lovely eq, nice layout, quiet and not expensive.

[nathanscribe]

Recapping is an internet myth.

Not so. I just replaced 121 capacitors in something, and it works better now than it ever did. Half the tantalum caps had given up, and I've seen enough leaky electrolytics to disagree with your dismissal of recapping.

[madtheory]

I wasn't trying to dismiss recapping, I simply tried to suggest that the problem is exagarated. To clarify, by comparison, silicon is less reliable, for example CMOS. Many caps from seventies onwards are specified to work fine for 30+ years. It's very easy to diagnose and replace a faulty cap. IMO it's overkill to replace ALL of them. But it's a job that requires far less skill than diagnosing issues with chips, so it gets over stated on the web. It's become a catch all solution to fixing old gear- the reality is rather different IMO.

Yes, caps do fail, but not as much as some would have you believe.

[OriginalJambo]

I found them a tad noisy, and they're brown in colour which IMO is ugly, but it might match your DX-7 But seriously, they're cheap for a reason.

Brown? Are you sure? :-k



I think you might have another console in mind.

[madtheory]

Brown? Are you sure? :-k

Actually, no, I'm not sure... it's been over 10 years... were there 2 200 series consoles, one with swept mids, and another with fixed mids?

[OriginalJambo]

Brown? Are you sure? :-k

Actually, no, I'm not sure... it's been over 10 years... were there 2 200 series consoles, one with swept mids, and another with fixed mids?

I'm not certain myself, but a quick Google search revealed this - the Series 200 Delta:

http://www.gbaudio.co.uk/data/200delta.htm

This does indeed have channel strips with 4-band EQs where 2 can be swept (the mids according to this link) so fits your description, but it still isn't brown. The 200B definitely has 4-band fixed EQs.

Regardless I've been told 200Bs are good sounding consoles and will definitely be of better quality than the more modern budget offerings from Soundcraft, Mackie, Allan & Heath etc. if you don't mind a console that has a large footprint and a little noise.

[madtheory]

IMO, a Ghost is a fabulous mixer. I've used them many times and always been impressed with the sound. The bcasing is not as good as a 200B, but the eq and noise floor, and fader feel, is superior. My memory of the 200B is that it was noisy and grainy sounding. I think actually the sides were brown, they look that way in the picture. Maybe my memory made the whole console brown because it was... well, you know... just my opinion of course.

[OriginalJambo]

IMO, a Ghost is a fabulous mixer. I've used them many times and always been impressed with the sound. The bcasing is not as good as a 200B, but the eq and noise floor, and fader feel, is superior. My memory of the 200B is that it was noisy and grainy sounding. I think actually the sides were brown, they look that way in the picture. Maybe my memory made the whole console brown because it was... well, you know... just my opinion of course.

Yes, but a 200B can be had for around £100-200 without too much trouble. A Ghost retails at almost 3 grand. Obviously there is going to be a difference - at that price I should bloody well hope so anyway.

Or are you referring to an older model that I've missed?

[madtheory]

No, it's just that the Ghost is the first thing that springs to mind when someone says "Nice analogue console". I didn't realise the price it's outside the OP's budget.

[OriginalJambo]

No, it's just that the Ghost is the first thing that springs to mind when someone says "Nice analogue console". I didn't realise the price it's outside the OP's budget.

I didn't mean to pry or anything, just would hardly call the Ghost low-end or budget. To be honest the OP could probably do better than a 200B with a sizeable budget of £1000 anyway.