mackie vlz vs 8 bus

[gizeh12]

Has anyone a to b'd the 24-4 vlz with the mackie 24 8 bus???

Does the 24-4 sound the same as the 24-8?
ANd does the 24-4 sound the same as 12-04 and 1404 vlz???

[TheBernd]

The vlz (and most of the other "small" consoles of mackie) route the direct- out signal pre-EQ! A huge disadvantage IMHO.

24/8 (32/8) direct-outs are post EQ/post fader (switchable).

/Bernd

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by TheBernd

The vlz (and most of the other "small" consoles of mackie) route the direct- out signal pre-EQ! A huge disadvantage IMHO.

actually, there are no direct outs on the Mackie 24*4. to get "direct outs" you need to tap the channel inserts. but you're right--they are pre-EQ.

IMO, though, keeping the mackie eq out of the signal path is a huge advantage when using the 24*4. when using the mackie 24*4 for recording, i want to use the preamps without anything else. tapping the inserts (and using them as direct outs) bypasses the rest of the channel strip, which IMO, is a good thing.

we'll probably agree to disagree on what's "good"....but i really don't like the sound of the mackie VLZ eq and getting it out of the way (along with the summing amps and everything else) is a good thing in my book.


cheers,
wade

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by TheBernd

The vlz (and most of the other "small" consoles of mackie) route the direct- out signal pre-EQ! A huge disadvantage IMHO.

24/8 (32/8) direct-outs are post EQ/post fader (switchable).

/Bernd

Switchable is good.

But if I don't get the switch the LAST thing I want is to hard-route my D.O. signal through board EQ automatically...

I mean... the term direct out says it all. If I'm going direct I do NOT want ANYTHING on my signal from the board. By definition.


PS... I have a SR24-4. And I agree with mrface... when I'm tracking I want the board EQ nowhere near my signal. It's not even that I have a big quarrel with their implementation -- unlike so many out there, I'm not a fan of "Brit-style" heavy-traction EQ shaping. BUT... since there is NO EQ defeat on the little boards there is NO way of knowing when you're truly flat. Sure you can try to center the tiny knobs... but, come on... that's a fool's errand. I knew I was buying a compromise when I bought the 24-4, for sure. And, for the money, I've been quite happy with it. (I well remember the days when a really crappy TASCAM board with about 1/3 the inputs and features cost twice as much.)

[mrface2112]

Originally Posted by theblue1

I knew I was buying a compromise when I bought the 24-4, for sure. And, for the money, I've been quite happy with it.

i feel the same way about my 24*4 VLZ. i got it for $450, which makes it about $18 per preamp. not too shabby and at least as good as most of the prosumer units out there in the $300/channel range.

and i'll say it again, the VLZ preamps are not that bad. they're a little thin and they get harsh when really pushed, but they really do a fine job as long as you're tapping the inserts for pseudo direct outs.

IMO, the weaknesses in the Mackie boards doesn't lie in the preamps, or really even the EQ.....it's the summing busses (and master bus) that are weak. i think you can make a pretty good sounding (mixed ITB) album using just the preamps from a 24*4 VLZ.


cheers,
wade