I have been asked to to the sound for a friends new band, they own all their own gear.

I went to a rehearsal and they showed me round their PA - They have a Soundtracs Solo desk - which is a beast, it took two of them to bring it in out the van.

I tend to use the small and light Behringer desks with onboard effects for pub gigs - so it was a bit of an experience. After a while I managed to figure it all out.

Is it possible to get hold of manuals etc for these desks?

Has anybody any expereince of using this type of desk for pub gigs?

Any tips welcomed!

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Dazed and confused

Google is your friend...

It came up with a few GS threads, of which the following is probably what you want, with a copy of the manual.
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/88505-soundtrac s-solo-live-thoughts.html
And the same GS thread pointed me at these guys, who you can probably throw questions at.
http://www.studiosystems.co.uk/soundtracs/solo.php

Many thanks

I found the second link previously, look at the size of that fellow!!

Its not ideal pub gig fodder as it takes up a whole table and needs two people to move it.

I used to have a 2442fx and that was frankly too big for a lot of pub venues.

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Dazed and confused

I have used a Cadac F type in a 150 person room on one occasion. That was a BIG desk in a small room.

Regards, Dan.

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Audiophiles use phono leads because they are unbalanced people!

Quote dmills:

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I have used a Cadac F type in a 150 person room on one occasion. That was a BIG desk in a small room.

Regards, Dan.

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You know how hard it was for me not to post...

"Wait, that is supposed to be a large desk???!!"

Seablade

Was really trying to hold off on the jokes for this thread.

Out come all the Crocodile Dundee "nah, that's not a desk, THIS is a desk" riffs...

FWIW, it took two of my bandmates to carry my flightcased ZED-428 the other day. I called them wusses, bcos I'll happily hoick it around on my own. But then I'll also lift my subs up steps on my own too, so never mind.

Quote grab:

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Out come all the Crocodile Dundee "nah, that's not a desk, THIS is a desk" riffs...

FWIW, it took two of my bandmates to carry my flightcased ZED-428 the other day. I called them wusses, bcos I'll happily hoick it around on my own. But then I'll also lift my subs up steps on my own too, so never mind.

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Using multiple people to move equipment is usually not a bad thing. Just because I CAN do it doesn't mean I SHOULD do it. I spend a fair amount of time loading in and out VERY large shows, and trust me, I have learned that when you can get help it is often wise to do so. Particularly I have learned that things on casters are great, and things not on casters stack on top of the things on casters before you push them to the truck.

I want my back to last more than a few years(It already has thankfully) so the easier I can make it on myself the better.

Seablade

Try carrying a flightcased, 48:8:2 Midas XL3 up the stairs to the Spanish Ballroom at Blackpool Opera House. Then let's talk about big desks.

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Gear List: reverse only.

Quote grab:

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Out come all the Crocodile Dundee "nah, that's not a desk, THIS is a desk" riffs...

FWIW, it took two of my bandmates to carry my flightcased ZED-428 the other day. I called them wusses, bcos I'll happily hoick it around on my own. But then I'll also lift my subs up steps on my own too, so never mind.

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You'd say different after 2 inguinal hernia operations... (Speaks from Experience)

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New album 'Fantasy Bridge' available now!
Making of Fantasy Bridge Diary

Quote:

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Try carrying a flightcased, 48:8:2 Midas XL3 up the stairs to the Spanish Ballroom at Blackpool Opera House

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Might ask for help on that one.

To be fair, if it's serious stairs or serious distance or I'm injured, I'll happily get help. But for ten yards to the car - man up, guys!

Quote grab:

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Quote:

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Try carrying a flightcased, 48:8:2 Midas XL3 up the stairs to the Spanish Ballroom at Blackpool Opera House

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Might ask for help on that one.

To be fair, if it's serious stairs or serious distance or I'm injured, I'll happily get help. But for ten yards to the car - man up, guys!

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Not an issue of manning up or not, trust me;) I am not a small person, I can more than carry my own when it comes to moving things, but I also know to take care of myself.

By the way, with either the Midas or Cadac mentioned in this thread, there is no option, you HAVE to get help carrying those. You will not be able to carry them by yourself, and in many cases it is at least a 4 person carry, but I would bet in both those cases a 6-8 person carry.

Seablade

Yea toss up which is heavier, but the Cadac analogue power supplies rack definitely out masses the Midas one, either desk is a 6 person proposition to wrestle up the auditorium.

I was just thankful it was not a J type.....

I once gave a DJ (Who was a well known tosser, and hated) a Soundcraft series 5 with a pair of gram amps (Hey it met the wording of his rider!), the look on his face was priceless and the distance between his decks was well over 8 feet when placed either side of the desk as per the rider (I had a real DJ setup waiting in the wings, but wanted to hear him say please for once...).

Regards, Dan.

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Audiophiles use phono leads because they are unbalanced people!

Quote dmills:

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I once gave a DJ (Who was a well known tosser, and hated) a Soundcraft series 5 with a pair of gram amps (Hey it met the wording of his rider!), the look on his face was priceless and the distance between his decks was well over 8 feet when placed either side of the desk as per the rider (I had a real DJ setup waiting in the wings, but wanted to hear him say please for once...).

Regards, Dan.

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Let me just say... Classic!

Seablade

I suppose that I should have added that it took eight of us to get the Midas upstairs . . .

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Gear List: reverse only.