Top Notch small analog board???

[Timmy S]

I am very interested in not doing any summing inside the computer anymore. Instead I would like to mix out of rosetta into 4 stereo pairs into an excellent analog console, with inserts (1176's, LA4's, LA2A, etc). Does anyone have a good suggestion for a small mixing console like this? I want it to be really high Quality. And hopefully not break the piggy bank. Thanks for any suggestions.

Tim

[ulysses]

Originally posted by Timmy S
I am very interested in not doing any summing inside the computer anymore. Instead I would like to mix out of rosetta into 4 stereo pairs into an excellent analog console, with inserts (1176's, LA4's, LA2A, etc). Does anyone have a good suggestion for a small mixing console like this? I want it to be really high Quality. And hopefully not break the piggy bank. Thanks for any suggestions.

Why would you need inserts? Your signals are already line-level when they come out of the Rosetta, so you can patch your compressor in between the converters and the mixer. Inserts are necessary when you need to use a console's mike preamp before sending the signal to an outboard effect, but on a line-level signal I don't see the point. Are you trying to put the console's EQ in front of the compressor? Unfortunately, most any small mixer you find that has inserts will also have mike preamps, and a lot of them simply route their line inputs through a pad and then through the preamp. Kind of counter-productive, I think. What you want is a line mixer.

Occasionally on Ebay you'll see small 12-channel versions of the Amek BCII (we've got a much larger one at my studio). If you find one that has some stereo line-input modules loaded, I think it would be just the ticket for you. I recently sold my spare board for $500, which is silly cheap when you look at what those things cost new 15 years ago. Large-format engineering in a small package. Modular, easy to work on, lots of headroom, decent EQ, 4 aux sends, beefy outboard power supply. It was originally intended as a broadcast desk, but it's very well suited for mixdown.

[Hans Hitmachine]

I would go for the Studer 169. I've never worked with one, but it Seems to be a marvelous sounding console. Other options are small MCI's or sony's ( maybe with Hardey preamps).

[echorec]

Try the Studer 961 as well, sounds great 8 or 10 inputs. The BC II is nice as well. I agree with ulysses - you don´t need inserts.

I have a similar setup and I patch the outboard in between the DAW out and console in.

Good luck!

[Timmy S]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't know why I thought I needed inserts... DUH!!! So much would it cost me for a 12 channel BCII ??

[Timmy S]

Also any suggestions on where to look to buy any of these consoles that you mentioned ? I checked ebay but didn't see anything, probably not the best place.

Thanks,
Tim

[duaneadam]

Since you only need eight channels, try building your own. It takes a couple of hours, cost about $40 and sounds as clean as it gets. Check out this thread.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...hlight=summing

Duaneadam

[echorec]

DIY might be good but if you can find a BC II for something like $1000 you´ll get the (quite good) EQ and some nice preamps too.

[echorec]

Funky Junk (London) seems to have BC II´s in stock quite often.

[pieter]

Have you ever thought of the cranesong spider. Great sounding unit with mic pres + the ability to mix through it + built in limiters + tape simulation.

I think is the coolest complement of a DAW !

[Tim Farrant]

Having switchable inserts is handy if you wish to easily compare compressed to normal sounds - especially when using boxes like the 1176 which has no real bypass.

Tim.