My Kingdom for a desk

[chasheehan]

Calling all slutz...

I've been offered a TAC Magnum 26 ins for £3,000, and a Trident 65 series 16ins for £3,500... the TAC owner insists the EQ on the Magnum whoops the Trident but I'm finding it difficult, despite all assurances to really go for the TAC... any thoughts? Maybe I'm just affected by snobbery round here? Am I? mmmmm.

There maybe even an option to get a Studer 928 (16 ins)... but at £8,500 plus VAT am I really going to get that much more from it? My producer thinks so... anyone had any experience of any combination of these? That would really wipe me out, bread and water for another 5 years!

I'm recording mainly acoustic stuff using Neve 1073 pre's and occasionally a couple of Tube Tech MEC1A's, and usually the Neve's going in through an 1178 or LA3A's so its all sounding gorgeous and warm at the moment... Given that I will only use the desk's pre's occasionally, anyone got any helpful thoughts? EQs and so on?


Mixing in the computer right now, (chorus of boos and sniggers ) so this is a big step!



Be gentle - first post!


Cheers

Chris

[pounce]

well the trident 65 is not as cool of a board as the more popular trident 80b. i hadn't worked on a magnum, only a scorpion. i'll be curious to hear other opinions on this. i only mean to chime in that while the 65 is a decent enough console, it's the other tridents that have the real reputation.

also you could try posting at recordingconsoles.net

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by chasheehan

Calling all slutz...

You rang???

Originally Posted by chasheehan

Be gentle - first post!

OK.

If the choice is between a Tac Magnum or a Trident 65 series personally i would advise you to keep the kingdom.

You got some nice pres.

These boards aren't.

I would say pass and look at one of those fancy summing/boards that are out there right now.

The N16 or the GTM-822.

If you need a few more mic pre's there are some really nice cheap alternatives that can fill out the channels.

Originally Posted by chasheehan

Cheers

Chris

Same to you.

[Jules]

Looks like neither desk is causing a celebration round here....

Perhaps hang out for v cool second hand bargain to come up?

[edham]

I agree with Jules. Hold out for a bit.

Mixing in the box is better than you think.
Out of those options the 65 seems the better option but if I am clearly recolecting my years on that board (and clarity of memory is not my strong suit) that board is nothing special.
Great pre's and mix in the box should get you better mixes assuming some good plugs.

Grounding schemes and floor noise are not currently issues you have to deal with.
Buy any of those boards and you will have a whole set of new (old) problems.

[rcm]

I looked into getting a Magnum and was going to buy one if one came on the market at a good price, but I found a good deal on another console before I found good Magnum.

100 times out of a 100 I would chose working on either of those boards over mixing in the box. Out of the two I would choose the Magnum. More inputs, and the higher end TAC/Amek stuff from that era was though to have pretty musical EQ sections.

[chasheehan]

Thanks for the opinions guys.

Given that there's not much excitement at this point, would people recommend going for the Studer 928 if I can get a few shillings off the price? (Currently £8,500 +VAT)


It's at FJ France at the mo...


Thanks again all...

[chasheehan]

Originally Posted by rcm

I looked into getting a Magnum and was going to buy one if one came on the market at a good price, but I found a good deal on another console before I found good Magnum.

100 times out of a 100 I would chose working on either of those boards over mixing in the box. Out of the two I would choose the Magnum. More inputs, and the higher end TAC/Amek stuff from that era was though to have pretty musical EQ sections.

Thanks for that too - the guy who is selling the TAC also said this, and to be fair he really knows his stuff. He'd also be on hand in the same building to help with any problems and maintenance. I guess that's pretty important for your first journey into desk-ing?!

[andre tchmil]

maybe this one

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...hlight=siemens

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

If the choice is between a Tac Magnum or a Trident 65 series personally i would advise you to keep the kingdom.

My sentiments exactly... in fact, there is no way to have worded this better.

[Jim Williams]

If you're doing acoustic work stereo crosstalk is very important. The Trident 65 is -60 db at 10k hz as is the Magnum, best suited towards a rock mix with mostly mono pans. These consoles use a standard opamp summing design that runs out of loop gain above around 24 inputs. The mix becomes cloudy when more channels are summed. SSL, D+R and newer Soundcrafts offer up to -90 db crosstalk at 10k hz and retain better clarity with large mixes. They all use shitty TL07X or 553X opamps, so sonic differences are somewhat minor.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[chasheehan]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

If you're doing acoustic work stereo crosstalk is very important. The Trident 65 is -60 db at 10k hz as is the Magnum, best suited towards a rock mix with mostly mono pans. These consoles use a standard opamp summing design that runs out of loop gain above around 24 inputs. The mix becomes cloudy when more channels are summed. SSL, D+R and newer Soundcrafts offer up to -90 db crosstalk at 10k hz and retain better clarity with large mixes. They all use shitty TL07X or 553X opamps, so sonic differences are somewhat minor.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

So what about a studer 928? Any opinion on that? Just been offered a Simens c4 on here too?

Cheers

Chris