Analog live sound mixer

[seamus james]

I work for a university doing live sound and we need a new mixer for our main live sound rig. We have a budget of $25,000 and we're leaning toward a Midas H1000. Other contenders are Soundcraft MH4 and Midas XL3. Requirements:

-Analog. Most of the people using this board will be brand new to mixing, and the learning curve on digital is just too high.

-Minimum of 8 Auxes, preferably more. We do a battle of the bands every year where we have 8 monitors on stage. If we have extra for effects and don't have to use inserts, even better.

-More than 24 channels. The Allen and Heath (GL4 I think) we have right now only has 24 channels and we'd like more if we can.

-Sturdy. It'll be in a case, but it's going to get moved around a bit.

Opinions? Suggestions?

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by seamus james

I work for a university doing live sound and we need a new mixer for our main live sound rig. We have a budget of $25,000 and we're leaning toward a Midas H1000. Other contenders are Soundcraft MH4 and Midas XL3. Requirements:

-Analog. Most of the people using this board will be brand new to mixing, and the learning curve on digital is just too high.

-Minimum of 8 Auxes, preferably more. We do a battle of the bands every year where we have 8 monitors on stage. If we have extra for effects and don't have to use inserts, even better.

-More than 24 channels. The Allen and Heath (GL4 I think) we have right now only has 24 channels and we'd like more if we can.

-Sturdy. It'll be in a case, but it's going to get moved around a bit.

Opinions? Suggestions?

The H1000 is a great console, the XL3 is excellent but ergonomically different in a very English way. It may be more difficult to learn and remember. They are both very sonically superior to the Soundcraft, and I am a Soundcraft fan. I have mixed on all of these consoles, this is not speculation!

[lozion]

I concur. Midas all the way. Look at how much a Legend goes for...
Great for doing mon from foh.
Cheers,

[roostert]

Here is an ebay auction for a Midas XL 250. They are great desks. It was the monitor version of the XL 200, however it has a little more versatile eq on each channel, plus I believe it does 8 -10 stereo mixes, along with a main LCR FOH Buss. For your price range, it would be a great buy. I have nothing to do with the item, so I can not vouch for the seller in any way. Was just key word surfing ebay, and then happen to see your post when I logged on here.

Midas XL 250 48 + 4 Stereo - eBay (item 310060240334 end time Dec-15-08 09:12:53 PST)

I've used many XL3's, and they are simply amazing consoles. The only desk I preferred besides an XL4, or a Gamble. Just my 2 cents.

[roostert]

I just noticed they also have a Paragon II on auction as well. Very nice desk as well.

ATI Paragon II mixing console - eBay (item 310069600136 end time Dec-20-08 10:59:00 PST)

Happy hunting!

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by roostert

I just noticed they also have a Paragon II on auction as well. Very nice desk as well.

ATI Paragon II mixing console - eBay (item 310069600136 end time Dec-20-08 10:59:00 PST)

Happy hunting!

Amazing desk, would love to have one for the studio! I would definitely want to know how old it is. The elements take their toll on pots, faders and switches. The faders for that console are over $100 each.

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by seamus james

I work for a university doing live sound and we need a new mixer for our main live sound rig. We have a budget of $25,000 and we're leaning toward a Midas H1000. Other contenders are Soundcraft MH4 and Midas XL3. Requirements:

-Analog. Most of the people using this board will be brand new to mixing, and the learning curve on digital is just too high.

-Minimum of 8 Auxes, preferably more. We do a battle of the bands every year where we have 8 monitors on stage. If we have extra for effects and don't have to use inserts, even better.

-More than 24 channels. The Allen and Heath (GL4 I think) we have right now only has 24 channels and we'd like more if we can.

-Sturdy. It'll be in a case, but it's going to get moved around a bit.

Opinions? Suggestions?

Is it going to be worthwhile to go for such a desk for a university? If everyone is new to mixing, simpler can be better. Something closer to what they are likely to be working on when they first get out is also of advantage.

With that thinking i would be looking at something along the lines of a GL3800 and some good outboard processors.

but that's thinking about teaching/learning, in reality if i had 25K to spend on a console i would get the best i could

Originally Posted by roostert

I just noticed they also have a Paragon II on auction as well. Very nice desk as well.

ATI Paragon II mixing console - eBay (item 310069600136 end time Dec-20-08 10:59:00 PST)

Happy hunting!

Very nice console and a good price by the look of it as long as it really is in good condition.

[MichaelPatrick]

Here's a Verona for sale for $14,000, by a fellow Gearslut...

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gears...ona-400-a.html

[seamus james]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

Is it going to be worthwhile to go for such a desk for a university? If everyone is new to mixing, simpler can be better. Something closer to what they are likely to be working on when they first get out is also of advantage.

With that thinking i would be looking at something along the lines of a GL3800 and some good outboard processors.

but that's thinking about teaching/learning, in reality if i had 25K to spend on a console i would get the best i could.

Thing is, it's not so much for teaching on. The university has studios to teach in. We're a student run organization that puts on shows and this is for our club. It's all students, so most of the people that are going to be working on the desk will have little to no experience. Then again, they'll probably only get little to no instruction as well. It's tough for everyone, sure, but it's what we got. Either way, the more clearly a desk is set up, as well as simple to operate (for example, a ton of pre/post switches are certainly going to screw people up), the better.

Thanks for your rec's everyone. We'll be shopping shortly after the new year.