Which mixer for small LIVE

[movinghead]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for a new mixer to do the following:

Tape acts
Small LIVE

What i want:

1. Quality
2. Good EQ
3. Good Pre-amps
4. Minimum 6 mono channels
5. Sub groups
6. Support in Europe / The Netherlands

PA:
ElectroVoice based audio set

Budget:
+- 2500 euro



So far these 4 mixers came up on the list but the choise is hard:

Allen & Heath GL2400 416

• 14 mono
• 2 stereo
• 4 groups
• EQ Mono / Stereo channel: 4 Band; 2 x semi parametric mids / 4 band, fix
• 1795,- EUR

Soundcraft GB4-16

• 16 mono
• 2 stereo
• 4 groups
• EQ Mono / Stereo channel: 4 Band; 2 x semi parametric mids / 4 band, fix
• 2149,- EUR

Yamaha Digital 01V96 VCM

• 8 mono
• 2 stereo
• 8 groups
• EQ Mono / Stereo channel: 4 Band parametric / 4 band parametric
• 2499,- EUR

Midas Venice 160

• 8 mono
• 4 stereo
• 4 groups
• EQ Mono / Stereo channel: 4 Band EQ, semi parametric mids / 4 band EQ fix
• 2540,- EUR

The above mixers have all goods and bads so a difficult choise. Maybe someone here can give me some nice advice. Thanks

[dbbubba]

The Midas Venice 160 will probably sound "best" and the Yamaha 01V will be the most versatile.
Allen and Heath are only OK and the only digital Soundcraft I ever used dies in the middle of a live radio broadcast I was doing.

The good thing about a Midas is that they didn't compromise any of the signal path from what is used on their large format console to design/build the Venice series.

The good thing about almost all Yamaha devices is that you have the might of a giant corporation that allows them to spread the R&D/developmental cost of their less expensive equipment out.
Yamaha's resources and technical expertise is HUGE.

[teo]

Midas would be the best sound, A&H best bang for the buck.
01 if you are doing multiple bands each night, because the recall is really necessary then, but the sound is going to suffer big time.
If you don't need digital, I would go with the A&H.

[movinghead]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

The Midas Venice 160 will probably sound "best" and the Yamaha 01V will be the most versatile.
Allen and Heath are only OK and the only digital Soundcraft I ever used dies in the middle of a live radio broadcast I was doing.

The good thing about a Midas is that they didn't compromise any of the signal path from what is used on their large format console to design/build the Venice series.

The good thing about almost all Yamaha devices is that you have the might of a giant corporation that allows them to spread the R&D/developmental cost of their less expensive equipment out.
Yamaha's resources and technical expertise is HUGE.

Thanks, 2 good things to consider

Originally Posted by teo

Midas would be the best sound, A&H best bang for the buck.
01 if you are doing multiple bands each night, because the recall is really necessary then, but the sound is going to suffer big time.
If you don't need digital, I would go with the A&H.

Often is only for using it as a master mixer, so when a DJ needs a PA, they can plug-in there mixer and then i'm using my own mixer to control him

The question then comes up, what are reasons for digital when not recording?

Both of you suggest the following

1. Midas
2. 01V or A&H

What should you buy?

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by teo

Midas would be the best sound, A&H best bang for the buck.
01 if you are doing multiple bands each night, because the recall is really necessary then, but the sound is going to suffer big time.
If you don't need digital, I would go with the A&H.

I disagree. The recall is essentially useless unless you have a chance to set it up for each band in advance, which rarely happens in a club situation. IMHO the Yamaha is a turd - maybe OK for small theater, but not for live music. And Yamaha's build quality across their entire line is quite poor for the amount they charge.

Go for the Midas - I own a 320, it's a great little board.

[Aisle 6]

The Yamaha O1v sucks ass. Not a live board IMO.
The Midas is a nice board, but the 60mm faders give me the Sh!ts.
A&H is solid performer and good bang for the buck.
Although I have never been a big Soundcraft fan, at least not their cheaper stuff, but the GB series is quite nice.

[teo]

Originally Posted by John Eppstein

I disagree. The recall is essentially useless unless you have a chance to set it up for each band in advance, which rarely happens in a club situation. IMHO the Yamaha is a turd - maybe OK for small theater, but not for live music. And Yamaha's build quality across their entire line is quite poor for the amount they charge.

Actually, I usually manage to soundcheck each band before the gig. That might be because when I do multiple bands in one night, it's going to be 2, max 3 bands.
The Yamaha IS a turd, but I would take it any day over trying to recall a soundcheck on an analog desk.

[teo]

Originally Posted by movinghead

Thanks, 2 good things to consider



Often is only for using it as a master mixer, so when a DJ needs a PA, they can plug-in there mixer and then i'm using my own mixer to control him

The question then comes up, what are reasons for digital when not recording?

Both of you suggest the following

1. Midas
2. 01V or A&H

What should you buy?

I would then go A&H, save some money, and buy a proper desk at the same time.
The reason for digital live is the ability to recall, and the fact that you get eq and dynamics on each track, plus effects. Only, at this price point, those eq, dynamics and fx suck ass big time. But if you are doing 5 bands every saturday night, you have to live with it, I'm afraid.

In your situation, I would definitely get the A&H.