Soundcraft Ghost

[lukejs]

Hello . I'm considering purchasing a soundcraft ghost. Soundcraft says that it gives the same quality sound as high end big consoles..... Anyone heard anything about this recording console ? If you had 7,000 dollars to spend on a console.... what would be your choice and why ? Is midas the best for this price ? do they make recording consoles too ? Allen and Heath ? What is the best for this price range ? thanks, Luke

[Skeetch]

I've never owned a "high end big console," so I can't comment on how the Ghost stacks up against one. I do own a Ghost and like it very much. It's definitely geared for recording but would probably do fine for live use as well. I primarily use outboard pre's, but the Ghost's on board preamps aren't bad - certainly better than the Mackie VLZ I had previously. The EQ is very functional with all bands being sweepable and also having variable Q on each channel. Lots of great routing and inserts on just about anything that can have an insert.

Sonically, I'd be surpised if a stock Ghost competes with larger, more expensive boards. I have heard of various mods that can be done to improve the board significantly, but I've not done it to mine yet. A larger board with the same features would cost significantly more (assuming you bought it new) and take up a great deal more room of course. I don't think $7K would get you a new one though. There's also the used route for larger boards, but then there's likely going to be maintenance issues associated with them. For what I'm doing, the Ghost has proven to be a very flexible, capable board and I plan on keeping it for awhile.

I have used a friend's Venice 320 on occasion for live shows and they are spectactular sounding boards for sure. Their onboard preamps are, IMO, better than the Ghost's. However, the Venice's are designed and laid out for live use - no dedicated tape returns, fewer aux's, less routing, less channels for the money. They could probably be used for recording if used as a front end for a DAW where you do your mixing ITB though.

Both very capable boards, but it depends on what your workflow is as to which one will work better for you.

[lukejs]

I saw that I can get a new Soundcraft ghost for 6,200 dollars. I have outboard pre's too, but what I planned on doing was tracking into the Ghost, using it's eq's, and analogue sound, and then doing my editing to each track in the computer, and sending each track out for mixdown anologue through the ghost, and then out and back into the computer through my Apogee AD16-x converter. I just heard that it would sound better to mix in analogue, than in the computer. I'm starting a studio, and dont even have a mixer !! So I figured I'd better have one, at least for analogue mixdown. Are you familiar with the Mackie 24 8 bus ? HOw do you think this would compare with the Ghost as far as quality of mic pre's and eq ? Thanks, Luke

[Skeetch]

Having owned a VLZ Pro board (not the 24/8 though), I feel the pre's on the Ghost are an improvement to those on the Mackie. The Ghost's EQ section is also MUCH better IMO. If I understand what you're planning to do correctly, there's something else to consider. If you're making multiple rounds through the board, the quality of the converters you use are going to be real important.

Mixing in the analog domain can sound better, but that doesn't mean mixing in the box can't sound good too. My preference is to mix on an analog board, but I've heard great mixes done on a DAW as well. The quality of the board and the converters are certainly important, but a properly tuned room and good monitoring are also very important. Things like good mics and pre's are also a factor.

[lukejs]

Thanks Skeetch ! My Converters are the Apogee AD16-x and DA16-x, which from what I have heard here on the gearslutz forum, are some of the best.( hopefully) I actually haven't connected things up yet, so I haven't heard them personally. But you are exactly right. Converters, monitoring system, mic pres... acoustics... are all very important. They problem I see here is twofold... Here in mexico, everybody is gonna want to see a mixer....even though I may do everything in the box ! I was even thinking about buying a cheap 32 channel Behringer, just so people would see a console when they came to the studio.... ( but not even use it !!! hahahah) The other thing is mixing in the box.... I'm going to be recording at 24 bit, 96 khz, and heard that if I mix at high sample rates, then it may make it even less important to go out of the box to mix via analogue. But everybody tells me that analogue is better when mixing, so I figure I should buy a good mixer and try it. I especially like the idea of tweaking the consoles eq while tracking. I'll probably use my external mic pre's.... speaking of that ... in your opinion, would the mic pre's in the ghost be somewhere around the caliber of a Focusrite Ocopre ? Or what could you compare them too ? thanks, luke

[MASSIVE Master]

Get a used Ghost, rip out the master section and send it to Sarge at www.creationaudiolabs.com - Un F'ing believable what the difference is... Same with the preamps. You can send in a few at a time and have them hot-rodded into something pretty special.

My buddy owns the Ghost from a studio I used to work at. He did several preamps and just recently, the master section. Not that it sounded bad or anything before, but the thing smokes now...

[ron florentine]

I have had 2 ghost board for the past 5-6 years now......first the 24 track LE then the 32 track with mute automation........if you can swing the extra cash get the 32 track board. I do not use the mic preamps on the board unless I have a big session and I run out of external mic pres .....the pre's are adequate and work fine in a pinch but would not use them on main imprtant tracks..........I track to a Alesis HD24 (with Apogee AD 16) and sometimes tranfer to DP in the box but always mix out of the box(or HD24) into the ghost so I can use the outboard EQ.........The Eq is very nice and musical and versital and like the other post said a ton of insert and patch point to use all my yummy outboard compressors.limiters and EQ's.........I have had only one maintenece issue in 6 years so they are very reliable................,,I was also considering a jump to a mid size console such as a Trident 24 or a Neotek 2/3 series from my ghost buy not sure if the extra expense is justified,then there are the maintence issues with those older boards......I would love to hear from someone who has work on a ghost and also a Trident 24 or Neotek console to compare the the overall sound and EQ sections of those boards.Definately stay away from the Mackie board ,I believe you would be better to stay in the box than get a Mackie......Hope this helps!

Ron Florentine
Soundswest Studio

[ron florentine]

Massive master.....since your friend redid his master section on his ghost does the sound of the mix out section compare to more of a mid size console such as a Trident 24 or a Neotek now.......I know those two board are worlds apart sonically ......but i am talking more about the overall quality of whats actually coming out of the board.

thanks Ron Florentine

[MASSIVE Master]

That would be a nice way to put it - It's a "bigger" more "open" and "natural" sound. To use "quotation marks" as efficiently as possible, anyway...

[Clueless]

Check out a Midas Venice. Objectively, it has fewer features than the Ghost. Subjectively, well, you decide. Or, if you really want to go crazy, check out a Midas Verona (which is what I now have)...

[HudHudson]

My studio had a Trident 80-C on loan for six months and when the owner sold it we replaced it with a Ghost, which had been upgraded with Burr Brown op amps throughout and a beefier power supply. Our clients couldn't believe the Ghost sounded so much better than the Trident. And neither could we. Given the Trident sold for $40K and the Ghost cost about $5K including the upgrades, we're all very happy.

[crypticglobe]

I think it's a decent sounding board. However, the fact that many of it's inputs/outputs are not balanced was a deal breaker for me when I was considering a large analog console....

[Finstad]

Personally, I dont like the eq on the Gosth. I overall dont like the eq on Sonudcraft consoles...
Now I am working at a Neotek Èlite II, I love this console. Try to check out the Neotek Elan. Mybe you can get a secoundhand for about 7k.
By myself, I paid $12k for my Èlite in Scandinavia. 32 mono + 8 stereo ch with full patch. Mint condition. Great deal (steal..)

Finstad

[Revelation]

I prefer mixing in the DAW as you have all your automation, eq and effects settings saved for each song. If I want to add flavor, I would rather just use some great hardware gear like the Manley MU, Massive Passive, or other great hardware.

[lukejs]

Thanks for all the replies ! It seems like I've almost gotta have a mixer in there somewhere....People here judge the studio by the console ( so maybe I will buy that big behringer console....just for looks !! haha ) Seriously, maybe buying a used Ghost, and upgrading the chips to the Burr Brown ones is my best alternative.......

[HudHudson]

Another benefit of the Ghost versus some of the other desk choices within your budget is its compact size. What a huge difference it made to our monitoring situation when we put a 32-channel Ghost in place of the Trident, which was ten feet wide. Less splash off the board from the nearfields, and the whole soundstage tightened up.

[Switchcraft]

I have got 2 of them at the studios I work at. they are very reliable. ididnt know that some of the IO was unbalanced. I actually thought only the 2tB was unbalanced. i could be wrong but I did wire the entire thing, I did not put the line ins in the bay so he might be refering to that. Anyhow, they are great board reliable, the pres arent bad (better than mackie IMO) and it is well alid out.
best

[lucey]

Originally posted by lukejs
Thanks for all the replies ! It seems like I've almost gotta have a mixer in there somewhere....People here judge the studio by the console ( so maybe I will buy that big behringer console....just for looks !! haha ) Seriously, maybe buying a used Ghost, and upgrading the chips to the Burr Brown ones is my best alternative.......

good plan

Jim Williams at www.audioupgrades.com as well on the Master and Monitor


I've owned a Ghost, MCI 636 and Neotek Ser II with Burr Brown in recent years.

The Ghost needs mods to be good. Stock it is above the low end but not good enough IMO for record making.

The pres are no good and even with Master/Monitor mods I'd use outboard as soon as you can afford it.

Modding the pres would have to be stellar sounding AND dirt cheap to be better then getting outboard pre amps.

[bloodstone]

The inserts are unbalanced, and some of the connections are "ground sense" (not truely balanced).

[lukejs]

Looks like a few of you have experience with this board, and the general consensus is that it's good. I have mic pre's ... I just want to track with good eq's and mix in analogue...looks like for the money...this is it !!!

[ron florentine]

Does anyone know anybody doing the Ghost upgrades on the west coast.......I am in southern California and shipping cost to TN seems to be a tad expensive. I tried Audio Upgrades in Los Angeles but they no longer do the Upgrades........Is there anyone on the Westen parts of the states...perferably CA

thanks Ron Florentine

[dessen]

[Hope this helps!

Ron Florentine


please can u help me i have a ghost 32 i need the circuit diagram for the power supply the model is psm 290

[gainreduction]

Jim, which Soundcraft board do you have and what did you do to it ?

[edvdr76]

Get the Ghost. I've had mine for about 7 years and let me tell you its a great board. I record to 2" tape and it sounds nice and punchy through the Ghost. The eq is very good. The pre's are pretty good although I mostly use outboard pre's. I'm thinking of getting it hot rodded to make it sound bad ass!!

[SMT]

A lot of Soundcraft pre-owners are getting involved with this topic, so I need to ask....

I use a Mackie 32-8.
I´m about to upgrade the studio this fall. With some API pre´s, a C2 etc.
I really like to work with a console, to get the channels out from the Cubase SX3 to a console. And maybe fine EQ ém if necessary...
My question is... If I use the board only for the audio "out from the DAW", is it an "upgrade" audiowise to change from the Mackie to a Ghost??
Or what kind of console would it take for me to feel the "WOW" in the upgrade?

[Andrew Kinsey]

Originally Posted by SMT

A lot of Soundcraft pre-owners are getting involved with this topic, so I need to ask....

I use a Mackie 32-8.
I´m about to upgrade the studio this fall. With some API pre´s, a C2 etc.
I really like to work with a console, to get the channels out from the Cubase SX3 to a console. And maybe fine EQ ém if necessary...
My question is... If I use the board only for the audio "out from the DAW", is it an "upgrade" audiowise to change from the Mackie to a Ghost??
Or what kind of console would it take for me to feel the "WOW" in the upgrade?

Some people would argue that the Macke 8 Bus sounds better than the Ghost, particularly when they're pushed. IMO they are roughly of equal caliber and both have similar pitfalls, mic pre's.

In the mixer market at the momment theres a new product that has much potential, unfortunately no one here has reviewed one yet, the Trident Audio 8T. Its priced similarly to the above mixers but uses S20 Mic Pre's and 80B Eq's.

As as far as a 'WoW Factor' mixer upgrade from your Mackie, maybe you should look at an Audient, TL Audio M4 or VTC or Trident Dream Series.

[SMT]

Thanx a lot!!!

[Tom Sigmond]

Hai,



I have a Ghost too (32 mute) and also have outboard pre-amps.
But I was wandering how you can pass the onboard pre-amps of the Ghost.
If I go balanced(XLR) in the board, the signal is going directly into the pre-amps of the Ghost (which I don't need). If I use line inputs, I have to pushdown the 20db button at the top of that channel, giving a 20db gainboost (so, a sort of pre amp also) which I don't need but without that 20db button pushed, I can't get a line input signal into that channel.

So, either way, XLR or line inputs, the signal passes some sort of gain stage which I don't need but I can't get around it.

Is this thru or is this a wrong conclusion?
Is there a way to work around those gainstages so I can use my good outboard pre amps and use the Ghost for all other things accept the pre-amp and/or the 20db gainstage?



gr. Tom

[auxpot]

using the line or mic inputs on the ghost means going through the preamp...
if you want to avoid the input gainstage you must use the insert as a ine input..

on the ghost the insert is manufactured with tip=return...which means inserting a "normal" mono jack, will give you an input for that channel, which is BEHIND the inputgainstage...
that´s what it´s intended for designwise (have a look in your manual)...but still it´s only an unbalanced input...

[DannyDay]

With tons of experience with the Ghost, I have to agree with the few here, I don't think the stock Ghost is much better than a Mackie 8 Bus. It's decent but not up to pro standards. I'm sure there's a few successful projects have been done on one but the truth is they're not "pro" desks. That said, a good engineer can make them sing.

Although not a big fan of ITB mixing, I'll take ITB (with some outboard of course) over mixing on the ghost. For all my bitching, I keep going back to the studio and doing work on the thing...

My 2 cents.

DD.