Euphonix System 5 MC

[FullFrequency]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a used one of these from the states. Can anyone provide me with the names of any reputable dealers at all, or if anyone's looking to sell theirs?

Thanks

[PMedia]

Here's one over at Vintage King

Euphonix System 5-MC Console (used) | VintageKing.com

[jahtao]

Is it just me or are these things really expensive? 3k per fader, used!

We are looking at buying some System 5's atm and I was horrified at how much they are!!

They work out even more in the UK. Makes me wanna buy 4 Artist Series fader packs.

[Steven1145]

47k$ isn't that bad if the system is as new. We paid 54k € for a similar setup. Yes it is costly, but there is a world of difference between these and the artist series units.
And the real System 5 is yet another step up in price, and functionality. But it is worth every penny. When we bought our S5 back in 2007, the price was already half of what a similar setup cost 4 years prior. People have short memories or have never faced the cost of pro gear from ten years ago. Our Fairlight MFX3+ machines costs 60k a piece in 1997... for 24 tracks of magnificent machinery.

Sent from my XT910 using Gearslutz.com

[ErikG]

Our previous digital console, a Neve Capricorn, had 16 chs of audio and dsp per card, each card was pretty expensive. Our console cost around 200000 USD 1996. Cost increase and inflatin approx 43% since 1996-2012 equals around 285000 USD today.
That amount gave us 118 channels with dsp. And various I/O over madi.
Today I can mix 192 (PT) to 400-ish channels (Nuendo) on a regular modern computer for less than 10000 USD...

Perspective

[Steven1145]

Agreed Eric, but what costs in the S5 MC is the life-size user interface (ie. The control surface). That turns the 10 grand computer into the equivalent of consoles of yesterday with more channels and bells and whistles. A Nuendo or PT system can be fine to mix a feature film, but not if the only user input is a mouse and keyboard. And where the S5 MC differs from smaller cheaper units is by the sheer amount of feedback and control you get, be it to change automation status, or to grab an EQ with one hand while twiddling faders or dynamics parameters with the other.

Sent from my XT910 using Gearslutz.com

[FullFrequency]

Thanks for the replies and thoughts guys. It works out at about 25k (£) plus import. I've passed it on to management, but i personally think it's a bargain especially now that Avid and Euphonix work seamlessly. if I was just after faders that move I'd get the 003 or Artist series, but i want "on the surface" EQ/channel etc as pressing 5 buttons to get to the EQ parameter that I want isn't acceptable for drama/doc clients. it's more about making a serious statement to clients whilst being able to edit quickly too. For me this is the perfect answer!

[PMedia]

Originally Posted by FullFrequency

Thanks for the replies and thoughts guys. It works out at about 25k (£) plus import. I've passed it on to management, but i personally think it's a bargain especially now that Avid and Euphonix work seamlessly. if I was just after faders that move I'd get the 003 or Artist series, but i want "on the surface" EQ/channel etc as pressing 5 buttons to get to the EQ parameter that I want isn't acceptable for drama/doc clients. it's more about making a serious statement to clients whilst being able to edit quickly too. For me this is the perfect answer!

Glad to help hope you get it. I've got a 10 ch Artist setup which is perfect for me but what your looking at is truely an amazing desk. Cheers

[matt82aust]

Out of curiosity. What does they system 5 offer in that regards that the icon doesn't? I have never used one, but I have not found a better integration of dynamics and eq then that on a icon?

[rcutz]

Originally Posted by matt82aust

Out of curiosity. What does they system 5 offer in that regards that the icon doesn't? I have never used one, but I have not found a better integration of dynamics and eq then that on a icon?

I think the icon "consoles" will have a end very soon(guessing). For the System 5 MC and the icons are the same think, but the s5 is a superior product. It has the FTT(?) panels, is fully configurable, and probabily within the next generations of protools they must provide better integration.

I' a regular user of artist series, Icon consoles and a System 5 (the 'real' one). Between icon and S5 the ergonomics of the second one is far better, kind of 10 million thousand better.

I believe that the S5 MC will add the "wow" factor to the studio and I really believe, the mixers will enjoy it.

Well, after that rant, i must confess that I'm S5 fanboy... :-)

Cheers

[ggegan]

It's all about what you're used to. Everyone has their favorites, but you adjust to whatever you have to work on.

I've mixed on just about every film console made between 1980 and the present and right now I personally prefer the ICONs because it's fast, versatile, easy to transition between mixing to editing and there are a wide variety of plugins, so you can make it sound just about any way you want, plus you only have one app and file system to deal with. I even kind of prefer the D-Command over the D-Control in some ways, but either is great.

That being said, I can do just as good a job on a number of other consoles, and I wouldn't feel handicapped, but they all cost a lot more, so if it were up to me, I wouldn't bother spending the extra money on a more expensive console, I'd keep overhead down, profits up and put the money into paying the talent, because that's where it will make the most difference.

[rcutz]

Originally Posted by ggegan

It's all about what you're used to. Everyone has their favorites, but you adjust to whatever you have to work on.

I've mixed on just about every film console made between 1980 and the present and right now I personally prefer the ICONs because it's fast, versatile, easy to transition between mixing to editing and there are a wide variety of plugins, so you can make it sound just about any way you want, plus you only have one app and file system to deal with. I even kind of prefer the D-Command over the D-Control in some ways, but either is great.

That being said, I can do just as good a job on a number of other consoles, and I wouldn't feel handicapped, but they all cost a lot more, so if it were up to me, I wouldn't bother spending the extra money on a more expensive console, I'd keep overhead down, profits up and put the money into paying the talent, because that's where it will make the most difference.

[Airon]

I love mixing on the Icons (D-Command in my case). Only browsed the System5 and System5 MC consoles. Very sweet.

I'd love to use those for my home setups, where I mostly edit and do premixes.

The aspect of the Euphonix system I like a lot is that I can jump between applications. Mixing on Nuendo won't feel very different from mixing in Protools, from what I could tell at demos.

To be honest though, I'd probably buy an Icon if budget is a concern. I can pick up a D-Command for about 15000 Euros here. You have to wonder if the Icons will every get EuCon support though, and thus be reusable for DAWs like Nuendo, Pyramix and Logic.

The Icons do after all have all the bells and whistles for custom fader maps, VCA spills and so on. Icons revision 3 ? Who knows what they're cooking up.

[Steven1145]

Originally Posted by Airon

You have to wonder if the Icons will every get EuCon support though, and thus be reusable for DAWs like Nuendo, Pyramix and Logic.

The Icons do after all have all the bells and whistles for custom fader maps, VCA spills and so on. Icons revision 3 ? Who knows what they're cooking up.

I'm pretty sure that System-5 and S5MC will get the cool Icon feature like VCA spills and plugin mapping to faders. I'm not so sure about Icon being opened up to other DAW though (not that it really matters to most people who will use PT anyway).
But Gary is spot on about putting money where it matters. It doesn't make sense to spend cash on gear that might be better eye candy but does the same job as cheaper stuff. But after a while you start pining for gear that has features better suited to your workflow and needs. Years ago we started out business with a trusty Yamaha 02R. Had we tried starting with anything costlier we would probably have gone out of business pretty fast. Our console evolution has been this: Yammy 02R -> 02R96 (wow look!! touch sensitive faders!!!) -> Digico DS00 -> System-5 ->System-5 + S5-MC. Each change came with new clients and projects. Even if we had gone down the PT route, we might still have chosen that same console evolution as we have often preferred to have the console separate from the DAW. But who knows.

[Airon]

There is going to be another EuCon phase for Protools, last I heard. My guess is that the System 5/5MC range is going to get access to all the more clever stuff the Icons did that way.

Let's face it, the central MC5 unit is much more clever in some ways, with all the flexible little LED screened buttons.

Tough choice really for someone like me. For my current job that I do from my home setup, I'm inclined to go with a nice little Artist Command unit. It adds those access layers, whereas you get the nice colour-backlit function indication on the System 5/MC knobs, but the Artist Command also makes very good use of my immediate "in-reach' area with its touchscreen that is highly customizable. On a low budget , if I can live without and do not require much of the efficiency of the larger control consoles.

Can anyone here share what the life span of the faders, knobs and buttons are on the System 5 components and Icons ? Did you need to replace any faders after a year, two years or five years ?

That is probably the weakest spot on the Artist series hardware, and where the extra cost of System5 and Icons actually results in better support. I remember SSL having world-wide five-hour downtime support, but I also suppose those days are over for sub-$100000 consoles.

I can get a replacement for the Artist stuff in an hour from half a dozen locations. What's the situation for the System 5 and Icon in your area ?

[danijel]

Originally Posted by matt82aust

Out of curiosity. What does they system 5 offer in that regards that the icon doesn't? I have never used one, but I have not found a better integration of dynamics and eq then that on a icon?

DSP. Icon is just PT control.