Mixer for classical recording

[pacomoy]

I work classical recording with Sadie LRX, Millennia HV-3D, Schoeps.... but I want to mix outside the computer-DAW by analogue console or summing (Classe A, Hi quality of course). Not more pluging's! tutt

I need some suggestions and ideas... I'm confused, help me to choose some, Please!

Thanks

[Brad McGowan]

Audio Upgrades modified Soundcraft Delta 200. Contact Jim Williams for more details. I think he uses his for exactly this purpose. I love the sound of mine.

Brad

[AlphaDingo]

Studer 089.

[jnorman]

post this over on the remote possibilities forum - they are all mostly classical folks there.

[Clairaudience]

AMS/Neve 88RS...?

Custom EAR Console, Millennia Mixing Suite, GML Mixing Suite...?

[toulcit]

I would recommend either a yamaha 02r96vcm or DM2000vcm,
they are very clean, and easy to configure, lot's of quality and flexibility here.

[Plush]

If you are working in a studio or listening room--ie. a fixed location--I recommend the AMS-Neve 8816 summing mixer. 16 channels of very good sounding mixer. Should be used with the 8804 fader panel.

I also recommend an Audient console or a Rupert Neve (Texas) console.

[Jim Williams]

Any opamp based design can be modified to operate in class A up to about +6 dbu via a current source placed on the opamp output stage. That allows for a very sweet sounding top end as it's rare for the upper mids and high frequencies to ever cross the +6 dbu threshold.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by jnorman

post this over on the remote possibilities forum - they are all mostly classical folks there.

As you can see this thread has been moved to the correct forum.

[John Willett]

Sonosax ?

[Remoteness]

Crane Song Spider!!!

[summer_room]

Tonelux?
Studer 961, 962, 169, A779?

/ Jon

[pacomoy]

Thanks to everybody!
Thanks Remoteness to move it to the correct forum; Sorry, I don't have experience....

OK, Many ideas.... But very different! Another possibility is Manley 16x2, so good? uncolored? That you think?

Thanks and sorry for my bad english!

[hughesmr]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Crane Song Spider!!!

Oh, yeah ... I'd LUUUUUUV to get one of those!

[pacomoy]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Sonosax ?

I am speaking with SONOSAX Switzerland for SX-VT, This console is in Moscow and Paris Conservatory's but I think... Sonosax is for broadcasting, cinema, but for mixing and mastering?

[mpdonahue]

FWIW,
We have 6 Studer 961 and 962 consoles and wouldn't trade them for anything. I would tend to avoid the 089/169/269 and Revox consoles. We were perfectly happy to see them go once the 961/962 arrived. For a really clean MXDN use the insert returns rather than the line inputs. Bypasses 3/4 of the circuits in the signal path. Plus, no transformer.
The Cranesong sounds great, but ergonomics get a D- in my book, YMMV.
The Manley? I thought we were talking clean and uncolored. Sounds great but the lack of faders was a non starter for us here.
The Sonosax is great but limited in features.
We liked the Tonelux, but it didn't do much that the Studers we already have didn't do.
All the best,
-mark

[pacomoy]

Originally Posted by mpdonahue

FWIW,
We have 6 Studer 961 and 962 consoles and wouldn't trade them for anything. I would tend to avoid the 089/169/269 and Revox consoles. We were perfectly happy to see them go once the 961/962 arrived. For a really clean MXDN use the insert returns rather than the line inputs. Bypasses 3/4 of the circuits in the signal path. Plus, no transformer.
The Cranesong sounds great, but ergonomics get a D- in my book, YMMV.
The Manley? I thought we were talking clean and uncolored. Sounds great but the lack of faders was a non starter for us here.
The Sonosax is great but limited in features.
We liked the Tonelux, but it didn't do much that the Studers we already have didn't do.
All the best,
-mark

Thaks mpdonahue!
I'm about buying Studer 962 and.... I'm convinced.
Is possible the best console for classical recording. OK?

[Teddy Ray]

John Eargle used a SoundCraft 200B to make many of the DELOS recordings, some of the finest audio recordings out there....

[Ifrit]

Sphere? All discrete, class A, 100kHz bandwidth...

[mpdonahue]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

John Eargle used a SoundCraft 200B to make many of the DELOS recordings, some of the finest audio recordings out there....

and in 1980 the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser was a bitchin' ride.... still don't think I'd choose it today over modern offerings..... There is vintage and then there is just plain old....
(Sorry for the snarky tone, couldn't help myself)

all the best,
-mark

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by mpdonahue

and in 1980 the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser was a bitchin' ride.... still don't think I'd choose it today over modern offerings..... There is vintage and then there is just plain old....
(Sorry for the snarky tone, couldn't help myself)

all the best,
-mark

by that reasoning, vaccum tubes are inappropriate, old neve gear is inappropriate, tape machines... oh yeah... those m50s, u47s, RCA 44s.. I think as far as analogue products go. if something sounds good then, itll sound good now.


the snarky tone doesn't matter....

[Jim vanBergen]

The Neve 8816 is a great sounding summing mixer; another wonderful design is the Tanner-designed Aurora Audio GTM822; the Crane Song is slightly more neutral to me, but a killer product.

If you want a full console, the Toneluxe and Neve 5088 offer huge results in your custom design and both are built wonderfully.

Big price difference between summing mixers and full consoles, though. Is there a price point you're looking at, or are you considering options right now?

Hope this helps,

JvB

[abtech]

The Neotek Series 11 was used extensively by Telarc and quite a few others back in the day for classical recording. They aren't the sturdiest console for trucking around, but when well cared for, sound very nice.

[mpdonahue]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

by that reasoning, vaccum tubes are inappropriate, old neve gear is inappropriate, tape machines... oh yeah... those m50s, u47s, RCA 44s.. I think as far as analogue products go. if something sounds good then, itll sound good now.
the snarky tone doesn't matter....

I'll quote Bob Katz signature "There are two kinds of fools. One says-this is old and therefore good. The other says-this is new and therefore better."
All I'm saying is that these mixers were good in their day. But today there are MUCH better options than a Soundcraft 200b. I've got one in a road case in my basement. Yea we used them, but not since the 80's. We were making records back then and we had a much different perspective as to what was acceptable for noise and distortion.
I've also got one of the Telarc Neotek Series I consoles as well as the little 16 input Ramsa. Ask me how much I can get for em. I use the roadcase from the Neotek to hold up a shelf.
As always-YMMV.
All the best,
-mark

[Legacy]

I agree with Mark - the 200Bs really don't rise to the 'magic vintage' level in my book either.
I've always been interested in the 8816. One point of reservation for my workflow is that the xformer that contributes to it's sound is on the mix bus meaning if you are recording it's direct outs while monitoring it's mix out you aren't printing what you're hearing. This of course is a nonissue if you are using it for it's intended purpose or recording live-to-2. Correct me if I'm wrong.
-Silas

[pacomoy]

Very interesting all the opinions! But.. I insist! I'm going to buy Studer 962. I hope that it's not an error.

Cheers, Paco

[Plush]

There is certainly nothing wrong with Studer. There are still many good 900 series floating around out there. Since you are in Europoe, you can find a good one, I bet. Buy one that has been well taken care of. Funky Junk had some nice ones a while back.

I am able to attain my intended sound by mixing the program material through an analog processing chain and an analog console. I do use this specific language above because I have a sound in my mind and then I work to attain that sound. I've tried every other way for many decades and have now the results I require with an analog chain.

That does not mean that one has to record only through an analog console although
I think that is what many skilled practitioners prefer.

Admittedly my method requires using some high quality d/a 's to get the multi-track into the analog chain. There it is dominated by transformers and tubes before being re encoded by an ultimate quality a/d.

We are a house of real Neve consoles, most of them bought new in the 1980s. We have a few of them. They have never broken, so with minimal maintenance still provide top sound.

I also recommend the AMS-Neve 8816 because it is basically made from some circuitry building blocks of the 88R, the AMS-Neve mega console. In my opinion, it is not made to be used as a router for direct outs and using the 8804 fader panel to get to the direct outs is cumbersome.

The modern affordable large consoles I like are the Lawo Spaceship (mindblowed), Audient (great for budget, fantastic for sound) and Rupert Neve Designs 5088, a stunning sound.

Of course you have to have a real business making real money to install these tools.
The next installation in the room I spend a lot of time in will come from Neve Texas.

[saovi]

Originally Posted by pacomoy

I work classical recording with Sadie LRX, Millennia HV-3D, Schoeps.... but I want to mix outside the computer-DAW by analogue console or summing (Classe A, Hi quality of course). Not more pluging's! tutt

I need some suggestions and ideas... I'm confused, help me to choose some, Please!

Thanks

I think you should consider either Dangerous Music 2BUS or SPL MixDream. Sounds like you have a nice signal chain happening and both boxes are super clean but offer high end analog summing. (Both boxes also offer LT versions thus more economical - but stilll sound great - connections are different). Further if you need more than 16 inputs summed to 2, both Dangerous & SPL have a linking option to double or triple them.

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by Plush

Of course you have to have a real business making real money to install these tools.

Or, just some disposable income. No different than buying the sports car or a Harley or that old guitar.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by pacomoy

Very interesting all the opinions! But.. I insist! I'm going to buy Studer 962. I hope that it's not an error.

Cheers, Paco

We voted for "hope" here last november. So far it hasn't worked out like it was sold.
Rent, listen, decide, buy. Or repeat.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades