Would you replace your analog mixer for a Cranesong Spider

Gaston69 · 30th December 2007

Hi Gearslutz,

Since I moved to my new house which has wooden floors and cardboard walls I discoverd that is would be to expensive to create a new studio in it. Therefore I would like to focus more on remote recordings by using a Cranesong Spider and sell my 32ch Soundcraft DC 2000 which is very nice mixer to work with compared to mixing in the box however it eats up a lot of space too.

Now my my question is would you sell your analog desk for a cranesong Spider?

And for the Cranesong Spider owners how is your studio setup like, do you have integrated with an analog/digital mixer or do you use it as a standalone unit connected to a computer.

Any suggestions?

Gaston

The Byre · 30th December 2007

No.

Jack Ruston · 30th December 2007

Yes

I did. And it was a very very good idea. The change seems to give me all the sonic advantages of analogue, more of the convenience of digital and the results are better than I could have hoped for. I really love my Spider. BUT YMMV.

Jack

drBill · 30th December 2007

No, not my console. But in your situation, with your console, yes, I might consider it.

Plush · 30th December 2007

No, never.
Because 8 channels is not enough and Crane Song is not the desired sound.

tcause · 31st December 2007

I have been thinking about this question a bit...

The answer is yes and no... a spider is part of the answer toward going in the no console direction... it really is only 8 channels of front end... with really nice AtoD

To make a recording set up work you've got to have good DtoA and monitoring...

At the core of my setup I have as a starting point... Spider > Lynx AES16 > DAW > Grace 906 for DtoA and monitor/headphone control.

Obviously there are lot of satisfactory DACs out there that will do the last bit... e.g. Mytek, Lynx, Grace 2 channels...

But where does this leave you... it works really well if you are fully committed to working in the box after you have tracked...

If you want to have any analogue mastering chain or summing you need to insert a loop in the middle to allow yourself to go out and back in....

So in addition to the above I have Mytek 8xadda and outboard toys...

mark714 · 31st December 2007

If you need mic pre's and A/D the Spider is a good buy. Even at full MSRP it's easily one of the best values in high end pro audio. For instance, if you were to compile 8 random 500 series mic pre's, PSU, and A/D's on par with Crane Song you're going to come in above the Spider in cost, and below it in functionality.

If you need a console, get (or keep) a console. The Spider is best suited as a DAW front end, submixer or for use in a small live remote rig. If you asked me to trade my Spider for your console, I'd say no.

MIKEHARRIS · 31st December 2007

We have several clients using the Spider for remote work...they like the discrete outs for multitrack recording while making a two mix for the conductor/band leader

Gaston69 · 31st December 2007

Thanks to share your ideas, it looks that the best deal sofar is keeping my analogue console and buy on top the cranesong because I prefer to mix OTB, it's so much more intuitive.

Happy New Year to All

30th December 2007	#1
Gaston69 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 664 Thread Starter	Would you replace your analog mixer for a Cranesong Spider Hi Gearslutz, Since I moved to my new house which has wooden floors and cardboard walls I discoverd that is would be to expensive to create a new studio in it. Therefore I would like to focus more on remote recordings by using a Cranesong Spider and sell my 32ch Soundcraft DC 2000 which is very nice mixer to work with compared to mixing in the box however it eats up a lot of space too. Now my my question is would you sell your analog desk for a cranesong Spider? And for the Cranesong Spider owners how is your studio setup like, do you have integrated with an analog/digital mixer or do you use it as a standalone unit connected to a computer. Any suggestions? Gaston

31st December 2007	#8
MIKEHARRIS Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: MIAMI FLA Posts: 1,685	We have several clients using the Spider for remote work...they like the discrete outs for multitrack recording while making a two mix for the conductor/band leader __________________ harrisaudiosystems.com Last edited by MIKEHARRIS; 31st December 2007 at 03:35 PM.. Reason: spel

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30th December 2007	#2
The Byre Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Highlands of Scotland Posts: 2,019 1 Review written	No.

30th December 2007	#3
Jack Ruston Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Brighton UK Posts: 1,095	Yes I did. And it was a very very good idea. The change seems to give me all the sonic advantages of analogue, more of the convenience of digital and the results are better than I could have hoped for. I really love my Spider. BUT YMMV. Jack

30th December 2007	#4
drBill Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 11,509	No, not my console. But in your situation, with your console, yes, I might consider it.

30th December 2007	#5
Plush Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: EARS/Chicago Posts: 4,274 2 Reviews written	No, never. Because 8 channels is not enough and Crane Song is not the desired sound.

31st December 2007	#6
tcause Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 228	I have been thinking about this question a bit... The answer is yes and no... a spider is part of the answer toward going in the no console direction... it really is only 8 channels of front end... with really nice AtoD To make a recording set up work you've got to have good DtoA and monitoring... At the core of my setup I have as a starting point... Spider > Lynx AES16 > DAW > Grace 906 for DtoA and monitor/headphone control. Obviously there are lot of satisfactory DACs out there that will do the last bit... e.g. Mytek, Lynx, Grace 2 channels... But where does this leave you... it works really well if you are fully committed to working in the box after you have tracked... If you want to have any analogue mastering chain or summing you need to insert a loop in the middle to allow yourself to go out and back in.... So in addition to the above I have Mytek 8xadda and outboard toys...

31st December 2007	#7
mark714 Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 570	If you need mic pre's and A/D the Spider is a good buy. Even at full MSRP it's easily one of the best values in high end pro audio. For instance, if you were to compile 8 random 500 series mic pre's, PSU, and A/D's on par with Crane Song you're going to come in above the Spider in cost, and below it in functionality. If you need a console, get (or keep) a console. The Spider is best suited as a DAW front end, submixer or for use in a small live remote rig. If you asked me to trade my Spider for your console, I'd say no.