System 6000 MK2

[Alécio Costa]

I want one for Xmas!!!



System 6000 MKII:

New network and wi-fi savvy platform
New Matrix 88 mixer for ultimate precision summing
Includes all algorithms from original System 6000
Reads presets from original System 6000
The road to even more powerful algorithms
Stronger chassis with a new stylish look

Icon MKII:

Faster response of touch screen and faders
More connections: Dual Ethernet and dual USB
Controls System 6000 and System 6000 MKII
Controls Reverb 4000
Controls DB2, DB4 and DB8
New stylish look

The original System 6000 launched to critical acclaim in 2000, and in less than a decade has established itself as the industry standard for stereo and multi-channel reverb and signal processing. The software and processing capabilities have developed greatly since then, allowing System 6000 users a wealth of creative possibilities and additional license feature options along the way.
With System 6000 MKII, a classic is retooled to meet modern challenges and remain the de facto industry standard for the next decade, all while maintaining the legendary sound quality of the original. System 6000 MKII with ICON control is in a league of its own.

The System 6000 MKII will be available through regular TC Electronic channels, maintaining backwards compatibility with existing System 6000 units.

An exciting upgrade program will be available to all registered owners of existing System 6000, www.tcelectronic.com/MKIIUpgrade for more details.

Learn more about System 6000 MKII

[PBM]

Originally Posted by Alécio Costa

An exciting upgrade program will be available to all registered owners of existing System 6000, www.tcelectronic.com/MKIIUpgrade for more details.

I'm still not sure what is so `exciting' about handing over unspecified amounts of dosh for vaguely specified improvements to a piece of equipment that already works exceedingly well for me - but I'm looking into it ...

Cheers,

Eric

[Thor]

It's got to be the brushed aluminum faceplate, that alone has got to be worth a fortune...

But seriously, the 6000 is one of those things that's really hard to improve upon, they got it really right the first time. I suppose they could pop in beefier DSP chips, more memory and maybe develop more algorithms, but what's there is already quite nice.

Cheers,
Thor

[John Moran]

if the etherner and/or usb connections let it appear as an plug-in available to the user's edit/master application, that would be quite cool and a big jump over the original in today's world of non-realtime processing.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by Thor

It's got to be the brushed aluminum faceplate, that alone has got to be worth a fortune...

But seriously, the 6000 is one of those things that's really hard to improve upon, they got it really right the first time. I suppose they could pop in beefier DSP chips, more memory and maybe develop more algorithms, but what's there is already quite nice.

Cheers,
Thor

Lots more DSP is what would sell it for me. I'd like to be able to simultaneously run MD5.1, 5.1 MDW EQ, and the multi-format monitor control/toolbox. That would make it a true, complete 5.1 mastering solution. Add 7.1 operation in there for blu-ray and I'd really be sold.

[rjino]

Originally Posted by John Moran

if the etherner and/or usb connections let it appear as an plug-in available to the user's edit/master application, that would be quite cool and a big jump over the original in today's world of non-realtime processing.

Of course you know that this is already possible via tc's x32 firewire interface, with full latency compensation thumbsup

[kosmokrator]

Originally Posted by jayfrigo

Lots more DSP is what would sell it for me. I'd like to be able to simultaneously run MD5.1, 5.1 MDW EQ, and the multi-format monitor control/toolbox. That would make it a true, complete 5.1 mastering solution. Add 7.1 operation in there for blu-ray and I'd really be sold.

+1 on more DSP.
And put the MDW in the upgrade deal..

[jhg]

Full disclosure, I work with(not directly for) TC in the broadcast realm, not trying to be a shill, but actually played with one of these. I was playing with the new 6000 at NAB, Thomas Lund was explaining the summing algo, which is pretty cool - it does take 1 engine, it has 3 stereo and 2 mono input channels, lots of headroom(y'know), runs at 48 bit resolution, and has the nice limiter across the output(stereo) bus. You could hit it pretty hard. It has aux sends you can route out to an engine input, then send that engine output to the same AES output as the o/p of the summing algo, or route out to an external box and back in. I thought it could be a cool option to add an additional AES card, and have 16 channel stem mixing capabilities in the 6000, though you'd only have 2 engines left.

So in the future software upgrades will be done over the network, a new network card is installed. The floppy drive is gone(yay!). The new remote CPU is way faster, the icon moves faster, and the LM5 meter redraw is a lot faster than the old remote CPU+ icon.

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by John Moran

if the etherner and/or usb connections let it appear as an plug-in available to the user's edit/master application, that would be quite cool and a big jump over the original in today's world of non-realtime processing.

To me, in 2010, it would have made more sense to create something like a PowerCore 6000 with the ICON for control.

Alistair

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by jhg

Full disclosure, I work with(not directly for) TC in the broadcast realm, not trying to be a shill, but actually played with one of these. I was playing with the new 6000 at NAB, Thomas Lund was explaining the summing algo, which is pretty cool - it does take 1 engine, it has 3 stereo and 2 mono input channels, lots of headroom(y'know), runs at 48 bit resolution, and has the nice limiter across the output(stereo) bus. You could hit it pretty hard. It has aux sends you can route out to an engine input, then send that engine output to the same AES output as the o/p of the summing algo, or route out to an external box and back in. I thought it could be a cool option to add an additional AES card, and have 16 channel stem mixing capabilities in the 6000, though you'd only have 2 engines left.

In these days of full 64 bit DAWs with effectively unlimited headroom and unlimited routing options, this doesn't sound particularly interesting. Let alone if it uses up a third of what I am sure will be a very expensive box. There is no way this can be considered a cost effective solution to any routing or summing problem.

Ah well... maybe it integrates well with someone's workflow.

Alistair

[John Moran]

16 channel stem digital mixing in the day of the DAW is not a selling point to me.

additional dsp + their algorithms with non-realtime capabilities is of far more use and applicable in more places.

there is no reason for dsp to be restricted to real time only processing any more, that is so last century.

[studio57]

ive been waiting the M7000 for mastering reasons and this new mark II "update" to me is just a faceplate. M6000 has done the job for many years and even now better than many mastering units.

[mixerguy]

if there was more DSP i'd drop the $2,000 in an instant.....

however.... i'm waiting. The 'promise' of improved algos is well...... a promis

[mixerguy]

so has anyone done the $2,000 upgrade?

any thoughts?

[pmx]

not yet, but i guess i will...

[Trailerman]

Bumpety bump.

Did anyone bite the bullet? Does the MkII upgrade include the 'new algorithms' are will we be stung for those further down the line? Do the IO and converters also get an upgrade in the process, or do they stay the same (hard to imagine DA/AD technology hasn't progressed in 10 years).

Any thoughts gratefully received. Hate to see my S6000 become officially obsolete, but it's doing the job so well ATM I'm struggling to justify the 1,500 euros.

Jules

[shauli]

bumpy bump

Any one got the upgrade? comments?

[bkuijt]

Originally Posted by jayfrigo

Lots more DSP is what would sell it for me. I'd like to be able to simultaneously run MD5.1, 5.1 MDW EQ, and the multi-format monitor control/toolbox. That would make it a true, complete 5.1 mastering solution. Add 7.1 operation in there for blu-ray and I'd really be sold.

another +1
Recently hired in a second unit for 5.1 MDW plus MD 5.1 dynamics....

BTW: I miss separate thresholds for the individual Sidechains in MD5.1 and adequate
bass management in the monitor toolbox (re-direct to sub instead of a HPF on the main channels).
(Those are the only two quirks I can think of whining about this great machine!)
Anyone know if this has changed in MKII??

[Glenn Bucci]

I am wondering if any 6000 users upgraded to the Mk II version or if anyone purchased the Mk II version. Interested on any reports on the updates.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by shauli

bumpy bump

Any one got the upgrade? comments?

+1

[Tube World]

The updates look pretty nice to me. If I had the 6000 I would upgrade to the Mk II

[Andy Krehm]

Originally Posted by Glenn Bucci

I am wondering if any 6000 users upgraded to the Mk II version or if anyone purchased the Mk II version. Interested on any reports on the updates.

You keep posting and still nobody has one!

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Tube World

The updates look pretty nice to me. If I had the 6000 I would upgrade to the Mk II

why bother? the changes are cosmetic, plus a better network system.... most people don't care. The new units have the same DSP and horsepower.... and no new algo's yet.

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by mixerguy

why bother? the changes are cosmetic, plus a better network system.... most people don't care. The new units have the same DSP and horsepower.... and no new algo's yet.

New network and wi-fi savvy platform
New Matrix 88 mixer for ultimate precision summing
The road to even more powerful algorithms

Icon MKII:

Faster response of touch screen and faders
More connections: Dual Ethernet and dual USB
Controls DB2, DB4 and DB8

These would be good enough reason for me.

So many praise this for mastering but it seems that everyone really just talks about the compressor for mastering?

[PBM]

Originally Posted by Tube World

New network and wi-fi savvy platform
New Matrix 88 mixer for ultimate precision summing
The road to even more powerful algorithms

Icon MKII:

Faster response of touch screen and faders
More connections: Dual Ethernet and dual USB
Controls DB2, DB4 and DB8

These would be good enough reason for me.

So many praise this for mastering but it seems that everyone really just talks about the compressor for mastering?

The MD4 is great, the Brickwall 2 is great, the MDW EQ is great, the Stereo Reverb (not used a lot in mastering) is great, the M/S de-esser is great. None of the changes announced so far make those any better, so I suppose I'm staying put with the borin' old black. (In years to come, when the tc.6K Mk VII looks like an i-Pad, young newbies will ask in awe: did you really have a Blackface t.c.6000?)

Cheers,

Eric

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Tube World

New network and wi-fi savvy platform
New Matrix 88 mixer for ultimate precision summing
The road to even more powerful algorithms

Icon MKII:

Faster response of touch screen and faders
More connections: Dual Ethernet and dual USB
Controls DB2, DB4 and DB8

These would be good enough reason for me.

...

for $2,000?

$2,000 buys a very nice analog EQ.... or much of one....

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by Tube World

New network and wi-fi savvy platform

That doesn't even come close to competing with having the processing inside the DAW.

New Matrix 88 mixer for ultimate precision summing

It can't be ultimate precision summing when all these 64 bit DAWs beat it precision wise and have unlimited tracks/buses.

The road to even more powerful algorithms

It won't beat native processing power or a Fairlight CC-1 system so it is already outdated. I still really think they should have gone for some kind of PCI-e DSP card system that makes the algorithms available as VST/RTAS/AU plugins with just the external ICON remote.

This is too little too late.

Alistair

[Tube World]

Sorry, but I just fail to see the value of a 11K piece of gear when there are so many great clean EQ like the Red EQ, and there are some nice linear compressors plug ins or Weiss if you want to go that direction. Spending money on an Pend OCL-2, and perhaps a Cranesong ST-8 or GML compressor seems to be where money is better spent. That does not discount your love for the 6000 and what it does, but there are more than one way to get a job done and with a big savings.

[PBM]

Originally Posted by Tube World

Sorry, but I just fail to see the value of a 11K piece of gear when there are so many great clean EQ like the Red EQ, and there are some nice linear compressors plug ins or Weiss if you want to go that direction. Spending money on an Pend OCL-2, and perhaps a Cranesong ST-8 or GML compressor seems to be where money is better spent. That does not discount your love for the 6000 and what it does, but there are more than one way to get a job done and with a big savings.

Well, I agree with quite a bit of this and with Alistair's previous post too. There are things that are nonpareil in the tc (the MD4) which is very different from the compressors you mention and complement them (I use mine with an OCL-2) and things it doesn't actually do (it has no LP EQ like the red, though the MDW is nice) and - Alastair's point - things it does that can now be done better elsewhere.

I still love it though, and use it pretty much every day on every project - but then again, like many current mastering users, I bought mine quite a few years ago when it had little serious rivalry. So although I don't see that it's open to criticism for what it does, and does so well, I'm not sure that if I had the price at my disposal today I'd buy a new one now.

Cheers,

Eric

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by Tube World

Sorry, but I just fail to see the value of a 11K piece of gear when there are so many great clean EQ like the Red EQ, and there are some nice linear compressors plug ins or Weiss if you want to go that direction. Spending money on an Pend OCL-2, and perhaps a Cranesong ST-8 or GML compressor seems to be where money is better spent. That does not discount your love for the 6000 and what it does, but there are more than one way to get a job done and with a big savings.

Makes more sense when you start thinking about 5.1 and 7.1 surround (blu-ray anyone?). Having to get 4 pendulums or STC-8s sure makes the comparison a different one.

In addition, most guys who have a 6000 also have the other stuff, and it simply does some things that nothing else out there does, plus the amazing versatility, so even if you aren't doing surround, there's plenty of value in the box. Now, upgrading for $2K for no real core improvements I agree isn't very attractive.