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Hi,
I've never tried one but it appears that a lot of people don't like the Mackie 8 bus yet I see them in numerous mid level professional studio's. Not intending to be used in tracking only monitoring and mixing would this be that bad of a way to go?
I currently use an Allen Heath GL2200 which I like better than the Mackie 4 bus series but I think the 8 bus is a whole nother ball game, and I wrong? I hate using digital boards.

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mixfactory Fri, 03/08/2002 - 10:27

Yes and No!!! If that isn't the most wishiwashiest answer you've ever heard!! I think its ok if you don't mind not having any automation, terrible EQ's, terrible buses, should I go on. But I can't totally knock it, I have heard some Rap mixes that blew me away that were mixed on the Mackie 8 bus. I helped outfit a friend's studio lately with 24 channels of DBX160X and a SSLFX384 compressor(and some other things). He already had 48 channels of Mackie. He does rap/hip hop and I went by the other day, and I swear I thought it sounded just like a SSL board(one of the older crunchier ones). I think it works well for Rap because the coloration(or degredation) helps the sounds of the tracks. For other stuff..uh uh.

studjo Fri, 03/08/2002 - 14:37

Sorry for everybody but I like my Mackie. I just listened to a acoustic jazz record I did a long time ago. It was totally Mackie with some outboards EQ/Preamps (a total of 4).
Today I have a bigger desk and I don't like to go back but I was surprised how good the Mackie sounded.
15 years ago I wished I had a Mackie. Just think about it.

my 0,2 Euro ;)

jo

sorry for bad english

realdynamix Fri, 03/08/2002 - 15:44

Originally posted by jo:
15 years ago I wished I had a Mackie. Just think about it.
jo

27 years ago I used Allen & Heath Mini Mixers.
I have one I am restoring and putting back into service. In a heavy metal case, was 6 inputs, each channel has combined line/mic level trims/ high & Low cut boost/ mid range lift, cue send, effects send, pan, fader. The outs were +4db unbalanced with vu meters, seperate left & right returns w/ high/low eq boost & cut. All that!in the size of an 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of paper x 1" deep. The tranformers of your choice, were connected by pigtail at the rear. Seperate DC power supply, and can run for a few hours off (2) 9v batteries hooked in series. It can be seen at the Allen & Heath website, vintage equipment. A mixer way ahead of its time. Many studios used them like modules, up to more than 24 channels. It is a very quiet board with an SN around -115db.
--Rick

coldsnow Fri, 03/15/2002 - 18:13

I was talking about the analog 8 bus. Life is too short to mess around with digital mixers. Anyways, I bought one off of ebay and have been pleasantly surprised. I use to own a VLZ pro model and didn't like it at all. The 8 bus isn't near as brittle sounding and the eq's are not simialar at all. The inputs and pre's are actually kinda nice and seem very accurate. Again I won't be using the pre's at all. The eq I've found so far to be decent not bad sounding at all. I typically use external eq's for tone shaping and use board eq's for slight cuts here and there. The eq's are no Ghosts but very usable and I think the actual input signal is just as clean and as the Ghosts. I'd love to own a SSL (never will) and don't want the hassles of vintage equipment so for now this appears to be a good fit for me.