ScotFraser wrote:
My biggest beef with them is that they use ribbon
connectors internally, and they have, um, issues with reliability, BRBR

Ribbon connectors aren't inherently a problem. It's bad implementation of
ribbon connectors. Soundcraft used them for years & it became common practice
before soundcheck & showtime on 200 through 2400 series desks to vigorously
press down the middle of each module several times to work the connection.
Seems a lot of bad designs mated aluminum contacts in the ribbon to copper
traces on the card, resulting in dielectric corrosion.

Mackie basically sourced the cable end from one manufacturer and the
card end from another, and they turned out to have compatibility problems
in the long run. This caused a _lot_ of failures on some series of Mackie
consoles.

BUT, when it became clear there was a problem, they did their best to fix it.
They send out free replacement cables to just about anybody who calls and
asks for them. If you have a Mackie console with that sort of flakiness, and
you're okay with a screwdriver, it won't cost you anything other than the
phone call to fix it.

The ribbon cables aren't the problem, the problem was someone in procurement
at Mackie getting a good deal that turned out not to be so good. But the
fact that they are still, years later, working hard to make good on their
error is impressive.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."