Damn cool looking console, but it ain't no Neve. Try looking around it for a manufacturer's serial number plate...that should give you the name of the MFG. as well as the model number.

Yeah... Very cool. Even cooler is that I could work with it and a sony 3324 all on my own, to track my friends band. The engineer just left me with his phonenumber after setting up everything and explaining how the routing and (sony)remote worked.

So how do you know that it's no neve? And what does MFG stand for?
Thanks!

MFG stands for Manufacture.

Looks to me like an MCI/Sony or dirivative thereof.

Here is why I say that.

Layout of the send modules, Floresent meters, phase meter, busing and eq's look very similar to the MXP3056 I used years ago. It could be that a manufacture contracted MCI to build this one from off the shelf modules. The master mute buttons do not look like what I used, and their are some other things that are different. Some Console manufactures are know to have platform manufacture and you can order different things to spec. The MXP I used had 4 different types of eq's you could plug-in (hot) on each channel in moments. Some of these were not Sony but dirivatives. The chassis was MCI.

You can actually get a custom console built around another companies chassis. Looks like some familiar manufactures there. I have actually bought SSL modules and installed them in other brands of consoles but this one has an "MCI" look to it. Some SSL platforms "can" be customized to be dirivatives as well.

I don't know. It says SSL to me. From the layout and color and look of the knobs to the two buttons over the faders. Also, is that winged? It looks like it from the pictures. It might be custom too.

FWIW, I was working at a studio once where the owner came to give someone a tour. He stood over the SSL and said "See this, all these knobs and buttons are connected."

Here's[="http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/roelrules/vwp?.dir=/Friends&.dnm=studio12.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t"]one more pic[/]="http://photos.yahoo…"]one more pic[/]

and[[url=http://="http://photos.yahoo…"]two more pic[/]="http://photos.yahoo…"]two more pic[/] :) But this dude is faking it. He's the bassplayer.

Don't think it's an SSL. The owner would've told me that. He also said that the Sony 3324 was equipped with apogee converters, so he knows the names. Don't think he knows the internet cause then he would know that I would find out if he was lying. :D Didn't find apogees that fit in the 3324, except for the new 8000-thingy, which has an external bay, which wasn't there...

Looks a bit like a "Raindirk"....
(wich seems to look like an SSL)

I don't know anything about this company, but I just did a project on a Raindirk desk, and it looked alot like the one on your pictures...

(but I'm probably wrong...?!)

Originally posted by Roel:
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Or how can I identify it? I will be there again next weekend, can take more pictures etc... Also, any info/links on this console is welcome.
Thanks!

I was considering buying a Saje console a year ago. I could find no useful info on its background, so I gave up.
It was supposedly made in France and was considered a SSL knock-off, that's all I found out. The seller was in Germany and was asking a little over $12.000 for a 32-channel version.

Some specs:

Saje ULN Mk II

32 channels with TT-Patchbay, VU and RTW Peakmeter for stereomix

Input module:

32-Channel Routing with single switches, Trim, Pan, AFL, Mic/Line Input with 2 Gain pots, Phase Rev., 48V, every channel can be subgroup,
Tunable High/Lowcut, quasi-parametric 4 Band EQ, LF Band with Shelf/Peak switch, EQ can be routed to cannel, monitor or sidechain,
Insert can be switched to 3 positions, 8 Aux/Cue-Sends, Aux 1 and 2 can be switched to monitor,
monitor with automated short fader, pan, Fader Rev., 2 Mute Groups
VCA fader module with thumbwheel, channel status-display, mute solo

Master Section:

Main status-switch for Take, Mix, Live, Input of monitor(group,tape,both)
Monitor section with source selection for studio and control room,
8 FX- Returns with noise reduction
8 stereo inputs
Automation: different models can be used

Predrag

I go for

1) Calrec
2) Raindirk
3) Custom

quite interesting in this regard: http://www.recordingconsoles.net/

But I couldn't recognize Roel's mystery console there yet...

Matthias

eh, it looks like a Saje

Predrag really describes the thing... I'm gonna ask him if he happened to buy it Germany somewhere last year... :)

I think it might just be a SAJE. Wonder why he told me, an even wrote down on his folder that it was a Neve V1... So, any info on SAJE, anyone?

(I'll take some pictures this weekend, closeups, kinda everything so you all can have a close look, and next time this kid walks asking to identify a console...)

If I remeber right there were quite a few of those about in Belgium and France in the previous decades, and I think they are still in business somewhere. I worked on one in a studio in Brussels and it was very sweet, definately a notch above SSL (not difficult in my opinion), closer in sound to Neve.
Again, unless my memory failed me, it had very sweet EQ and very good pre's.

If this is a well maintained board, you'll have a good time there :)

Originally posted by Roel:
Predrag really describes the thing... I'm gonna ask him if he happened to buy it Germany somewhere last year... :)

No, I didn't buy it because its brand recognition was virtually nonexistent. And still is, obviously. The studio owner's name-games prove it.

Anyway, these were the seller's email addresses:

peckmaster@hotmail.com
stlinde@freenet.de

If it's not so uncommon in Belgium and France and if it sounds good, it might be worth a try.

Predrag

What's the deal with SAJE? I've never heard of them. Also, can someone tell us more about Raindirk? I've seen the name mentioned a few times but I don't know anything about them. Is either company still in business? Websites? Are the consoles supported?

Homepage for Raindirk is:

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~lntech/contents.html

I would also love some info on the Saje console.

Cheers
:)

What the man told me:
It's a custom SAJE, with Neve compressor/gates and API eq's... I took alot of pictures, close ups and stuff, I'll post them tonight. He actually told me that he bought 4 boards, 2 where in other studio's in Holland, and he was going to built-in another one in this board...

Also, I think the S on the main faders of the console give it away. :)

This really is the first decent console I worked with, first time I mixed in a studio/non live environment, but I must say, I really liked the eq. Didn't work with the gates and compressors alot(owner did that part), so cannot judge them...