Advice on choosing a mixer (sub $2500)

[Monhee]

Hi

I'm currently looking for a new sub $2500 mixer for my ”bedroom”
studio. I'll solely be using the mixer for old synths and drum
machines, and for the time being I'm planning on recording ”live”
right off the mixer. However, I would like to have the chance to
switch to multi track recoding at some point (using a PC).

Going through old similar posts in this group I've noticed that old
mixers (e.g. the Soundcraft 400b) are often recommended. However the
availability of used mixer here in Denmark is somewhat limited and
quite often they seem to have taken some beatings during the last
20-25 years. Thus, I'm leaning towards buying a new mixer, in
particular Soundcraft LX7ii-24 and GB2-16.

My question is:
- How do these two compare to each other – wich one is most likely to
fit my needs?
- How do they compare sound-wise to Soundcraft series 200 and 400?

I know my question is sligthly off-topic in a *.pro group, however
when asking the question in ”home recoding” groups the advice is often
to go with Behringer or Mackie”. Having tried a Behringer desk and not
being to keen on the sound (especially the EQ) and the built-quality,
I'm hoping that some of you with more experience and trained ears
could offer me an advice.

Thanks in advance
Monhee


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[Deputy Dumbya Dawg]

Allen and Heath Mix Wizzard!


Peace
dawg

[Roger Norman]

"Monhee" > wrote in message
...
> Going through old similar posts in this group I've noticed that old
> mixers (e.g. the Soundcraft 400b) are often recommended. However the
> availability of used mixer here in Denmark is somewhat limited and
> quite often they seem to have taken some beatings during the last
> 20-25 years. Thus, I'm leaning towards buying a new mixer, in
> particular Soundcraft LX7ii-24 and GB2-16.

I'd say you have a few considerations to think about. For instance, if and
when you decide to go multitrack, is the mixer going to just do monitoring?
If you plan on trying mixing on a console, you'll need tape I/O on either an
inline or split console. If you plan on mixing in the box then a console is
a little overkill for a monitoring situation, but there are a lot of
flexibility issues WITH a console that you won't have without one.

The LX7ii 24 could be used as a split console but it and the GB2 are both
live consoles, not truly designed as "recording" consoles. Neither are most
of the small frame Mackies or Behringers or even my Crest XR20 or the A&H
MixWizards. It is not that you can't record off of these smaller framed
units, but as far as recording and mixing on the same console, you'll be
swapping cables an awful lot.

But my Soundtracs Solo IS a recording console, so all of my inputs go to
tape outs and all my playback comes back via the tape ins. Plus with 8
busses and 6 aux busses, it gives plenty of routing possibilities. And if
you want to have that flexibility you'll need to look at recording consoles
designed to be placed into a studio.

So if you're able to pinpoint which type of situation you want to be in,
then the LX7ii-24 could be a fine unit. It just won't be all the flexible
for recording. But I have no doubts that I could plumb one to be a smaller
tracking/mixing unit in a split configuration, so if you think it through,
so can you. I've been thinking of picking up an LX7 just to have one on
hand for when it's needed for an additional live console, so that's my best
recommendation.

--


Roger W. Norman
SirMusic Studio
"Is our children learning yet?" George W. Bush
http://blogs.salon.com/0004478/