Audio Developments / Cooper Sound

[nobtwiddler]

Hey guys, I'm looking to put together a small set up for live remote recording of small rock bands.
And I was just wondering if anyone out there has ever used either of this two location mixers for this kinda thing. I know they are primarily used for location sound recording for film work, but they have some nice features in a portable frame.
So let me know if you have any insight as to there use for strickly music production.
Thanks
Paul

[fifthcircle]

Used Cooper stuff before, but as good as it is for film work (dialog), I'm not sure it would be my first choice for music work.

Just seems a bit "crunchy" for my taste when it comes to music. For set dialog, the sound works really well, but for other stuff, not so much.

--Ben

[boomed]

I use a Cooper Sound 208D quite a bit for music. I also use API, True, and hot rodded Presonus M80s. Of course, at $15,000.00 for 8 channels the Cooper is an expensive preamp.

[nobtwiddler]

Hey Boomed;
I also own about 25 assorted mic pre amps from, Daking, Neve, API,
DW Fearn, Manley, Langevin, Tubetech, etc, etc...
I probably will never use the pre amps in the Cooper, but wanted it for it's portability, summing, headphone mixes, and it's reported bulletproof build quality.
Do you have anything else you can tell me about it, especially used for music!
Headroom, sonics, noise floor, functions, etc.

Anything would be helpful before I make a decision on what to purchase.
Thanks
Paul

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by boomed

I use a Cooper Sound 208D quite a bit for music. I also use API, True, and hot rodded Presonus M80s. Of course, at $15,000.00 for 8 channels the Cooper is an expensive preamp.

Don't worry about that price tag...

Paulie can handle it!

[nobtwiddler]

Steve baby;
Yeah, money no problem....I'll just sell a Ferrari...
Haha.

[Remoteness]

Well, you have enough to go around!

[nobtwiddler]

Steve;
Biz ain't what it used t be!

[boomed]

I have owned a Cooper 106 and now have a 208D as well as a CS104. They are definitly rock solid and power efficient; the 208 pulls 650mA at 12 volts without phantom. For film and video work it is the only mixer I would ever own. I have also owned Sonosax and Zaxcom Cameo.

I have used them with and without preamps for rock, jazz, country and classical music. Mine has the D-sub prefader channel outs to feed a multi-track. They also have a very comprehensive PL section for talking to boom ops directors and script supervisors; probably not of much use to you.

The 208 has lots of headroom and is dead quiet. I think the S/N spec. is -130.5db. It has a good headphone preamp that will drive most headphones. I use Remote Audio high noise headsets for the loud shows which have Sony 7506 drivers and Sennhieser HD-25 when isolation is not a problem. The Cooper will drive these to the level of pain.

I just pulled mine apart this weekend for cleaning and the build quality of Andy Cooper's mixers is amazing. I you have any other questions let me know. You should also call Andy. He's a great guy and really stands behind his product. It is also the only real analog location mixer made in the U.S. Even if you aren't U.S. proud it makes any service much quicker. The other U.S. mixer would be Zaxcom but I wouldn't even think about that. I had one until the damn thing kept resetting on me. I was loosing 10 seconds of audio everytime it rebooted. It sounded like a digital mixer too.