just want to know has anyone used either of these and if so which one should i go for in relation to value for money

it will be used(hopefully) as a front end with pro tools hd, half the time will probably only be used to monitor back(one of us mixes completley in the digital world) and i hope to use the eq's / inserts / sends etc etc and for analogue summing

any advice is appreciated aswell as flaws in my plan being highlighted
http://www.larkingslist.com/default2.asp?active_page_id=613

http://www.larkingslist.com/default2.asp?active_page_id=106
(i like the patch bay in this one too)

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alienware area51m7700 3ghz 2gb(so loud but so powerful) cubase sx3, reason3, soundforge, motu 896hd interface

Edited by DARK (21/08/06 01:03 PM)

The first one is a stage monitor mixer. From what I understand of its Aux configuration, the other one is designed to ast like one too. If they were of a higher class then I would have said yeah why the hell not but you could buy a brand new Toft ATB series desk for the same price, with much better opamps and topography, and designed to be a front end to daws too. Why bother with that junk?

Okay, there's this meterbridge factor in one of them right enough, but still, I can't seem to justify that amount of money for those desks.

Sometimes the money that Don asks doesn't make any sense.

B.

ok leaving the first one out of the equation is the soundtracs not a studio desk???? i dont know much about soundtrac as a brand so i really dont know

on a side note how is larkingslist when it comes to "negotiations" im pretty sure the soundtrac has been their for a while so would there be room to manouvere on the price or are they very strict on that account(never dealt with them before obviously)

any links / names of other suggestions would be great i like the soundcraft ghost but was hoping to get a higher quality second hand console "with a bit of character to it"

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alienware area51m7700 3ghz 2gb(so loud but so powerful) cubase sx3, reason3, soundforge, motu 896hd interface

first the 6000 is a very respectable desk in its arena. Second LArkings are decent peeps - they DO negotiate just dont expect miracles !!

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Battenburg to the power of 20 - said by Richie Royale in a moment of genius. 4pm. Wed 16th Nov 2011. Remember where you were....

You might also want to look here:

http://www.studiosystems.co.uk/used_consoles.php

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TAKEN.BALL.GONE.HOME

Both of these are/were sold/intended as lower mid priced studio desks - not live desks. The Soundcraft is a 24 buss split console and the Soundtracs a 32 buss in-line.

If they're in cood condition and fully working, either is ok. The Soundtracs is a newer design than the Soundcraft, will be made of newer components and sonically is probably the better buy. The Soundcraft is likely to be older and might be more in need of a re-cap and general overhaul; the Soundtracs almost certainly has the better spec and facilities.

Sonically, I usually fnd Soundtracs of that vintage to be cleaner, more detailed and less "characterful" than the equivalent Soundcraft but there's not much in it really. A new modern desk is likely to better both, particularly the Soundcraft, in terms of noise (though the Soundtracs is pretty quiet) and perhaps other specs but, when it comes to facilites and subjective sound quality, either of these desks will give a similarly priced modern desk a very good run for it's money. Neither of these was particularly cheap when new - and their build quality and flexibility reflect this - certainly compared to cheap modern consoles. Of the two, I'd say that the Soundtracs is the more flexible, functional and, to my mind, more useful console; the Soundcraft is the more "characterful". Otherwise, assuming that they both work to spec it just depends which sound and combination of facilites you prefer, and whether you like split or in-line consoles. As for price - haggle politely and look around a bit more - there are loads of decent consoles available at those kind of prices, e.g. a 36 channel Otari Status 18R with automation sold a few weeks ago on eBay for less than £3K - a much better console than either of the two mentioned.

Quote Barish:

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The first one is a stage monitor mixer.

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Nope... they are both proper multi-track studio desks. The Soundcraft 6000 is a traditional split design while the Soundtracs is an an-line design, and probably the better buy of the two in my opinion (assuming they are both fully functional and in good nick).

However, the real question to ask is whether you need that many front end channels and monitor returns.

If you are only ever going to record a couple of sources (say up to eight), and mix in the box, then you can buy a much better quality (and compact) front end and monitor controller for your £2.5k.

If you just like big old fashioned imposing consoles then go for it...

hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Thanks for the correction fellas. The reason why I said so is because the only 6000 I've seen so far was being used on the side of a stage when I've seen it

Obviously they were using it for live recording rather than monitoring at the time but now that I've read your posts I realize I had the wrong impression. I was there as a performer and not a soundguy so I must have paid a little attention.

Also great info, thanks.

B.

the recording will only be 8 MAYBE 12 tracks at a time max as far as i can see ..............i want an analogue mixer to mix on because that is jsut what i prefer (granted only past experience is a d+r orion) but i just prefer the desk in front of me and i tend to skive of when im meant to be mixing at home on the computer screen

there is clearly no point in that many channels on the desk if i dont have enough ins and outs on the hd system (which is something to be confirmed) but im also attracted by the 24track radar system which is on ebay at the mo for just under 2K(used radar before very very impressed) and if iw as to get that then i would be able to make use of, obviously, 24 channels on the desk.......sigh ....decisions decisions

great responses so far tho guys will have a search on ebay for info on otari desks aswell

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alienware area51m7700 3ghz 2gb(so loud but so powerful) cubase sx3, reason3, soundforge, motu 896hd interface