yamaha MC series consoles

justinhedrick · 30th August 2005

hello,

are these consoles good for recording. no direct outs, i know, but I have been told that they sound pretty good. I am looking for a console....so....are they good?

justin

slochldrnplayin · 30th August 2005

I had a MC2404 and a MC 1204 for about a year. I ended up upgrading the op-amps and rebuilt the entire master sections. Made a world of difference. As far as recording with it, I wouldn't do it again. I would save your money and get something else. There are alot better boards out there for around the same price tag. Of course if you are getting it for free (or next to free) then I would say upgrade the chips at the very least.

Just my opinion.

Pete

justinhedrick · 30th August 2005

yeah, it is next to free ($150), i thought I would upgrade the op amps, some to burr brown some to TI...Any suggestions?

justin

30th August 2005

MC series consoles have RF issues. They are kind of noisy also. For $150, you could do worse.

justinhedrick · 30th August 2005

RF issues? you mean like picking up radio waves and such? could the noise issues be fixed by means of the power supply?

justin

blakbeltjonez · 30th August 2005

if i remember right they also have a lot of crosstalk and you really have to watch your gain structure or like many Yamadog audio products they start to sound not so great.

x.cerveau · 30th August 2005

I had a 1602 for a while, it works well as a live mixer and it did what i needed when it came to recording. If you've got 150 bucks you want to spend on it and not something else go for it, its nice to have a live mixer around just incase you're friends band wants you to pay you to mix them, thats why i kept mine.

i wouldn't recomend using it as your main tracking or mixing console, i do remember there being crosstalk.

good luck!

keith.

check this page for a ton of different choices, i've heard good things about the alesis studio models i think.

justinhedrick · 1st September 2005

i'm going to get it anyway. I will upgrade the op amps, and if i blow it up...it was only $150, right?

justin

justinhedrick · 7th September 2005

alright, I got the mixer up and running, and yeah, it does seem a bit noisier than I expected. However, it does seem to sound pretty good to my ears. I am going to mod it alot anyway with things such as a direct out that is pre/post eq switchable, and replace the op amps. I think it will be a good learning experience.

I cranked the gain up, and while using the aux's as a test point, i didn't hear any cross talk in the channels, I had the mic plugged into ch. 1 input, and the aux send of channel 2 cranked up, and i didn't hear anything. Can someone explain a way to check for crosstalk?

thanks,
justin

Snatchman · 8th September 2005

I had the 1604 ( the one with the 4-busses). I had it upgraded with OP-275s. Got rid of the 4558s that were in there. Made a huge difference! It was in an house fire.

justinhedrick · 8th September 2005

did you use the 1604 for recording, if so, what did you think of it? sorry to hear that it burned up.

Snatchman · 8th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinhedrick

did you use the 1604 for recording, if so, what did you think of it? sorry to hear that it burned up.

Actually, I think it sounded "warmer,bigger", than my M-2600mkII Tascam I'm currently using!..

.But as soon as I find someone to take on the task, I'm going to have it upgraded also!

Seems Tascam has some sort of differential circuits in the designs and the components are SMT.

..I love the features of the Tascam that's why I'm considering trying to have it modded. It don't sound bad, (little flat (?) maybe). It's clean though!

justinhedrick · 9th September 2005

cool, i'm glad to hear that you liked the tone of it. I can't wait to try mine out, thanks for the information.

justin

Dreamsindigital · 30th September 2011

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I just bought a Yamaha MC1603 and I was wondering which op amps you are talking about upgrading. Are these for the pres? I have two banks of outboard pres which I'll run into the line ins per channel for mixing, so does upgrading op amps in the board even matter? Just curious. Thanks

Snatchman · 30th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreamsindigital

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I just bought a Yamaha MC1603 and I was wondering which op amps you are talking about upgrading. Are these for the pres? I have two banks of outboard pres which I'll run into the line ins per channel for mixing, so does upgrading op amps in the board even matter? Just curious. Thanks

Hello..If you are just running in the line inputs you may still benefit from upgrading the opamps as it's possible the pre/line circuit shares the same opamp..( not sure, but most consoles of this price is designed this way)..The channel strip EQ may benefit with better op-amps/caps..As I stated, the one I had modded was upgraded with OP-275s. It's been a long time ago so I'm sure there are better performing chips available now..Especially modding the Master section will help as will your PSU benefit from better caps,etc.Good luck...

30th August 2005	#1
justinhedrick Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 35 Thread Starter	yamaha MC series consoles hello, are these consoles good for recording. no direct outs, i know, but I have been told that they sound pretty good. I am looking for a console....so....are they good? justin

30th August 2005	#7
x.cerveau Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central Pa Posts: 35	Mc 1602 I had a 1602 for a while, it works well as a live mixer and it did what i needed when it came to recording. If you've got 150 bucks you want to spend on it and not something else go for it, its nice to have a live mixer around just incase you're friends band wants you to pay you to mix them, thats why i kept mine. i wouldn't recomend using it as your main tracking or mixing console, i do remember there being crosstalk. good luck! keith. check this page for a ton of different choices, i've heard good things about the alesis studio models i think. __________________ The Flags are all dead, at the top of their poles.

8th September 2005	#10
Snatchman Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,320	I had the 1604 ( the one with the 4-busses). I had it upgraded with OP-275s. Got rid of the 4558s that were in there. Made a huge difference! It was in an house fire. __________________ Thanks for your time and ears!

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30th August 2005	#2
slochldrnplayin Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2	I had a MC2404 and a MC 1204 for about a year. I ended up upgrading the op-amps and rebuilt the entire master sections. Made a world of difference. As far as recording with it, I wouldn't do it again. I would save your money and get something else. There are alot better boards out there for around the same price tag. Of course if you are getting it for free (or next to free) then I would say upgrade the chips at the very least. Just my opinion. Pete

30th August 2005	#4
Lowdbrent Guest Posts: n/a	MC series consoles have RF issues. They are kind of noisy also. For $150, you could do worse.

30th August 2005	#6
blakbeltjonez Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 53	if i remember right they also have a lot of crosstalk and you really have to watch your gain structure or like many Yamadog audio products they start to sound not so great.

1st September 2005	#8
justinhedrick Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 35 Thread Starter	i'm going to get it anyway. I will upgrade the op amps, and if i blow it up...it was only $150, right? justin

7th September 2005	#9
justinhedrick Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 35 Thread Starter	alright, I got the mixer up and running, and yeah, it does seem a bit noisier than I expected. However, it does seem to sound pretty good to my ears. I am going to mod it alot anyway with things such as a direct out that is pre/post eq switchable, and replace the op amps. I think it will be a good learning experience. I cranked the gain up, and while using the aux's as a test point, i didn't hear any cross talk in the channels, I had the mic plugged into ch. 1 input, and the aux send of channel 2 cranked up, and i didn't hear anything. Can someone explain a way to check for crosstalk? thanks, justin

9th September 2005	#13
justinhedrick Gear Head Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 35 Thread Starter	cool, i'm glad to hear that you liked the tone of it. I can't wait to try mine out, thanks for the information. justin

30th September 2011	#14
Dreamsindigital Gear Head Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 47	Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I just bought a Yamaha MC1603 and I was wondering which op amps you are talking about upgrading. Are these for the pres? I have two banks of outboard pres which I'll run into the line ins per channel for mixing, so does upgrading op amps in the board even matter? Just curious. Thanks