Soundcraft 24x8 console

[JVstyle Productions]

What do people have to say about the Soundcraft 24x8 console. Would it be a good buy or is their something better in that price range.

used

thanks

[PDC]

Which one?
Spirits
200
200 Delta
Ghost
Ghost LE
400
500
800
5000
8000
many, many more

[JVstyle Productions]

Sorry its the 600.

but I am also looking at a 16 channel 400B

what would you guys go with

I am looking for 20 channels so i just thought id ask the fellow slutz

they both have the brit eq

[djwayne]

I went with the Mackie 24 x 8 over a Soundcraft because it had a meter bridge....no regrets.

[JVstyle Productions]

the 600 has meter and also a patch bay

[pan60]

i would take a Soundcraft over a Mackie, personally, but i would have no interest in the Soundcraft Spirit.
( please not dissing anyone for choosing a Mackie, they are just not my thing ).
the 200b is only a four buss as i recall?

[ssprod19]

Originally Posted by djwayne

I went with the Mackie 24 x 8 over a Soundcraft because it had a meter bridge....no regrets.

both Mackie and Soundcraft offer the meter bridge as an option. I don't think there's any comparison between the 2 boards, though... the Ghost is in a different league. I've only heard great things about the Ghost... and now you can find them (if you're lucky) for ridiculously low secondhand prices. There was one on eBay recently for $2500 for a new, unused one.. I think.

[AnthonyRochester]

I recently got a Soundcraft 600 and I quite like it. But being 22 years old these mixers benefit from some maintenance, maybe most importantly re-capping, which is a big job. I've done most of the channels on mine, and I think it sounds better. They seem to be a well made well designed console. Their are mods you can do to them (like replacing opamp ICs, improving internal grounding, power supply, etc), but a standard Soundcraft 600 in good condition is apparently much better than a mackie 8-buss. Not that I've compared them myself..

[djwayne]

Originally Posted by ssprod19

both Mackie and Soundcraft offer the meter bridge as an option. I don't think there's any comparison between the 2 boards, though... the Ghost is in a different league. I've only heard great things about the Ghost... and now you can find them (if you're lucky) for ridiculously low secondhand prices. There was one on eBay recently for $2500 for a new, unused one.. I think.

At the time I bought my Mackie, the Soundcraft did NOT have a meter bridge option on their 24 channel board. A year or two later, they did come out with one. It was also priced about $500-700 more than the Mackie. A friend of mine swore by his Soundcraft and dissed me for buying the Mackie, but after doing some recording with both boards, I saw no benefit to the Soundcraft whatsoever. He kept yapping about pre-amps being better in the Soundcraft, but I heard nothing in the recordings we made that proved his statements. I got very similar sounding recordings with the Mackie, and certainly didn't hear anything to justify the $5-700 increase in price.

I bought mine new many years ago and have never had any service issues with it at all.

[Dimes]

I see a lot when people ask about Soundcraft stuff a bunch of Mackie Vs. Soundcraft Ghost discussion breaks out. Bear in mind that the original post was about a Soundcraft 600. Completely different animal altogether.

I've never used a Ghost myself but I'm a fan of older Soundcraft stuff for sure (TS-24 owner). Nice stuff for what you can get them for these days. Be aware that on the 600 (from what I've been told by Jim Williams) that the line input feeds the mic preamp on these, not a big deal if you don't mind mixing through the preamps. Also it could turn into a pain if you end up having to recap it and mess around with any and all other things that come with having an older desk. Not trying to dissuade or anything, just things that need to be thought of when considering an old console.

[djwayne]

The original post was asking for comments and competing boards.


"What do people have to say about the Soundcraft 24x8 console. Would it be a good buy or is their something better in that price range."

What's so good about a board you have to re-cap ?????

[pan60]

Originally Posted by djwayne

T

What's so good about a board you have to re-cap ?????

if it were i, in the end a better quality board.

[Dimes]

Originally Posted by pan60

if it were i, in the end a better quality board.

Yes. The point I was trying to make about the Mackie vs. Ghost discussion is that in some circles when you mention the name Soundcraft, some people automatically say Ghost. Soundcraft made a lot of stuff better than the ghost that can be had for pretty cheap if you look.

What's good about a console you have to recap? Well for one, you'd have a fully modular design which I'd take over a non-modular any day. I've got 5 channels pulled from my board right now that are out being modified and I'm still doing mixes. If you got it for around $800- $1000 bucks (which is all I'd like to pay for a 600) that leaves some room for modifying and still stay within the price for most ghosts. (assuming the $2500 budget mentioned earlier) In this case you get a pretty decent TT patchbay as well.

I went through the same thing a couple years ago and I found a used Soundcraft TS-24 that was around the same price as what you'd expect to pay for a ghost or mackie. Then I've had Jim Williams do some work for me on it and this thing is rockin'! Couldn't be happier. I'm not bashing mackie or the ghost, I'm just saying there is a lot of stuff out there that should be looked into.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Dimes

Yes. The point I was trying to make about the Mackie vs. Ghost discussion is that in some circles when you mention the name Soundcraft, some people automatically say Ghost. Soundcraft made a lot of stuff better than the ghost that can be had for pretty cheap if you look.

What's good about a console you have to recap? Well for one, you'd have a fully modular design which I'd take over a non-modular any day. I've got 5 channels pulled from my board right now that are out being modified and I'm still doing mixes. If you got it for around $800- $1000 bucks (which is all I'd like to pay for a 600) that leaves some room for modifying and still stay within the price for most ghosts. (assuming the $2500 budget mentioned earlier) In this case you get a pretty decent TT patchbay as well.

I went through the same thing a couple years ago and I found a used Soundcraft TS-24 that was around the same price as what you'd expect to pay for a ghost or mackie. Then I've had Jim Williams do some work for me on it and this thing is rockin'! Couldn't be happier. I'm not bashing mackie or the ghost, I'm just saying there is a lot of stuff out there that should be looked into.

when i talk Soundcraft, Ghost is not! what i am talking about.
i am not an elitist i just do not care for the disposable mentality in which a lot of modern gear is built.
but thats just me, unfortunately i am a minority: (~

[djwayne]

The point I'm making is I like my Mackie and don't want a Soundcraft. Never did.

[Dimes]

Originally Posted by pan60

when i talk Soundcraft, Ghost is not! what i am talking about.
i am not an elitist i just do not care for the disposable mentality in which a lot of modern gear is built.
but thats just me, unfortunately i am a minority: (~

I was actually agreeing with you Pan60. I don't like the fact that when I say I've got a Soundcraft people go "Oh ya I had a ghost". I wasn't directing that at you. It's funny to me that they're known for that board more (for some at least) than the more pro stuff they did back in the day. And I also agree, we are the minority for sure sadly.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Dimes

I was actually agreeing with you Pan60. I don't like the fact that when I say I've got a Soundcraft people go "Oh ya I had a ghost". I wasn't directing that at you. It's funny to me that they're known for that board more (for some at least) than the more pro stuff they did back in the day. And I also agree, we are the minority for sure sadly.

i did not feel any disagreement i just felt i needed to better state what i meant when i said Soundcraft.