Even post opinions on a console you dont think I should even consider. If any of you have any experience with the above consoles (Neve 80 series/Soundcraft 200/400) I mentioned or any other console that you think could be suitable for the style of music I write please post your opinions. For some of the old foggies like me that have used traditional recording setups its a different matter. Many of the new guys on the scene dont know any better because they havent used a console. Agreed, a lot of dance music is all recorded and mixed on a DAW. We have the same problems that guitar/rock bands have. We find the sound of digital rather cold and lifeless and the only way around this seems to be an analog console (or tons of rack tube gear). This is not what I have found, and neither have some of my buddies. On some other forums I have noticed that Dance Producers seem to get pawned off with a line like this "For the style of music you make, you should be fine with an all digital route". I do record guitar and vocals from time to time as well. The type of music I make is dance based that covers the spectrum from trip hop to techno. I cant help it, I want to EQ something with knobs Its not an anti digital approach that I have I'm thinking I would like the best of both worlds and it seems buying a used but decent console will give me my analogish sound without having to spend a massive amount on distressors, tube gear, dangerous 2 buss and so on. I have also grouped stereo outs to my mixer in the past but I'm just not really getting what I think I should be able to. (A big problem I have is that I can never try out any of this gear, so have to buy on spec) I have used TLA Audio stuff and have to admit I'm not very impressed with the gear. However, very expensive, and as I would only be able to buy about 2 of these units it means I would be treating stuff without really knowing what it going to sound like come the mixing stage. I have thought about this a lot and looked at some of the high end stuff. I'm thinking why have one option when I can have both. Some tracks I record will suit being mixed digitally.
No Digital Front End.The way I see it if I want to mix digitally I have the Pro Tools digital mixer. Getting a bit tired of buying consoles and within a week realising I dont like it :rolleyes: I realise this is a pretty boring question but if any of you folks have any suggestions or have used the above consoles I would very much appreciate you posting your thoughts. I'm on a bit of a budgtet because I will have to buy another 192 I/O + 2 D/A expansion cards for the convertors. Good musical sounding EQ, and a nice warm, but not dull sound (Aka Quartz was rather dull). I'm looking for a console with at least 24 inputs, but preferably 32.
Neve 80/90 series (not sure if thats the exact name) I found the EQ to be very simple, but musical. My favourite of the bunch was the Mackie SR32. I liked this console for some stuff, but for a track with many elements it seemed to struggle. while it was an OK console I found the EQ seemed to add volume rather than actual EQ. The worst of the bunch above was the Ghost, Sapphyre, Amek, D8B, DC20 and the Mackie 8 buss I found them to be rather clinical and cold. I have used a Soundcraft Ghost, Sapphyre, DC20, 02r, D8B, Soundtracs Quartz, Mackie 8 buss, Amek langley and Mackie SR32 over the past few years.
So I'm looking for advice on analog mixers. A feeling of detachment I think, + the sound I get isnt particularly pleasing to my ears. At present I'm mixing in the box and simply do not feel comfortable mixing this way. I'm looking to add an analog mixer to my PT HD studio setup.