Soundcraft Ghost or AMEK big for Mods

[piano]

The Ghost is about $750 less. That $750 can go into parts and mods.

OK, what is the best thing to do here? Mod the Ghost to top specs or Mod the Amek Big to top specks.

I assume both of these will turn out similar in high end quality with the mods.

Thanks!

[Matt Syson]

Hi
They are different animals.
It takes a lot more to produce 'top specs' than messing with a couple of op amps.
Matt S

[piano]

Perhaps you have not seen the Creation Labs Ghost mod.

Creation Audio Labs - Boutique Gear and Pro Audio Upgrades - Best Guitar Effects and Pro Audio Service

BUMP

[Matt Syson]

Hi
I have been 'modding' desks for around 30 years, many of them 'in factory' so I see what they are doing.
Some of their graphs are in a sense 'meaningless' as they don't specify the exact conditions and routing they used.
The 'reduction in noise' results suggest strongly that the original power supply before 'repair' was fairly 'sick', not unexpected. To gain validity a graph showing noise with the power supply repaired on it's own before working on the desk would be more meaningful.
I have not seen a 'ghost' but it looks a decent piece of 'almost modular' gear but it is as I say different to an AMEK Big with it's ability for full recall of all controls and possibly with the Virtual Dynamics (if it was fitted on that particular desk).
At the end of the day, which desk fits your studio needs best?
Matt S

[Jim Williams]

The Big was quite a bit more money new. It's also fully modular, the Ghost requires removing the bottom panel and all knobs/nuts for removal and servicing.

The Big come with SuperTrue automation, that includes virtual compression/expansion/gating capabilities for each channel under recall. That is powered by a dbx 2150 VCA, replacing it with the that 2180 VCA helps enormously.

The mic preamp is probably better in the Ghost, a discrete transistor pair in front of an 072 opamp. The Big went with SSM2017 mic pre chips. Those can be swapped to SSM2019, BB INA217 and that 1510.

I have been able to get very high test opamps to work very well in the Big, I had poor results in the original Ghost LE Soundcraft gave me for evaluation when they were released.

My two cents.

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

....I had poor results in the original Ghost LE Soundcraft gave me for evaluation when they were released.

My two cents.

I've been confused by the continuing big love for the Ghost. When it was released, it was neither fish nor fowl and didn't knock us out as a contender for our road boards in quality but wasn't cheap enough for that emerging Mackie market. One of the guys in the shop bought one for himself and used it for club bands and made some very nice board tapes with it, but I never thought of it as a recording option.

Without knowing anything about them other than how they sounded to me, I'd have to pick the Big. Even though it was, well... big. And heavy.

[piano]

Well, I purchased the Ghost.

The AMEK cost about 4K more new but can't both be be modded up to a serious recording desk?

Yes, I do understand the value of being able to pullout channels from the top. Thanks guys.

[Matt Syson]

Hi
Both desks are 'serious' if you can be bothered to learn how to use them, you ignore the 'cra&' you see on forums and they are in reasonably maintained state.
They can also both be 'modded' if that is want to do.
Either of these in a good condition is infinitely better than a Neve or SSL (whatever) that has not been maintained properly. It is certainly a LOT cheaper to keep either of these maintained than a 'big name' desk.
Matt S