Cooper Sound 208 v2 / Audio Developments 144

[nobtwiddler]

Just wondering if any of you guys have ever used either the Cooper Sound 208 or the Audio Developments 144 type of portable location mixers.
I'm interested specifically in their use for music recording/mixing.
I know that their primary function is as a mixer for tracking dialog for the movies, but they both look like they are built like tanks, and from what I have read, they both have lots of good stuff inside.
So if anyone has any insight as to this type of use, please let me know.

[Jim vanBergen]

I have NOT tried the V2, but I have worked on the original Analog version of the Cooper.
It sounded wonderful, had nice gain and was very clean. I used it with both Schoeps CMC4/MK41 and sennheisser MKH416 for boom work as well as some PZM ambient recordings on an indie film.

It had VU metering, but not PPM ballistics- an option that requires a great deal of thought IMO. That's good for video, which we weren't doing.

Hope this helps!

JvB

[nobtwiddler]

Thanks Jim for the info.

[Plush]

Cooper is very good with much better mic amps than the Audio Developments. The Cooper mixer has more headroom as well. Cooper is super designed and engineered and is a first class console. Audio Developments is OK, but lacks detail compared to the Cooper products.

[nobtwiddler]

Plush:
I haven't heard much about the Audio Developments stuff here in the US, but so far everything I've read about the Cooper is great.
I'm basically looking for a world class portable mixer, as I would probably use external mic pres going to tape anyhow.
If you guys have any ideas, please let me know...

In the meantime, thanks for the info...much appreciated!

[Baithak]

Dear Nobtwiddler,

As Plush has said, the AD stuff is not really up there in terms of mic pre-clarity etc. They have a little bit of a staid sound. The Cooper and the Sonosax are imo the best out there. Both (especially the Sonosax) are very rugged, high quality mixing boards with a superb clean sound. The new Sonosax is with a built in 8 track recorder and although in its current form beyond my budget, I am looking forward to their release of a lower cost version in the next few months.

Baithak