Avid Pro Audio Community

Avid Pro Audio Community

How to Join & Post  •  Community Terms of Use  •  Help Us Help You

Knowledge Base Search  •  Community Search  •  Learn & Support


Avid Home Page

Go Back   Avid Pro Audio Community > Pro Tools Software > Tips & Tricks

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-02-1999, 07:48 AM
smrp smrp is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 99
Default Mackie vs Allen & Heath

Right now we own a Mackie 24x8. We don't like it so we're looking into a new console. SSL, Neve, Euphonics are all way out of the budget so we are looking at the A&H GS 3000.

Has anyone used the A&H and the Mackie. We're trying to determine if it will be a big enough move up to be worth the extra expense. We a especially concerned about the mic pre's. If they aren't considerably better than the mackie we would use that money and buy external pre's. But obviously we can't buy 32 good external pre's for the cost of the A&H with 32 channels. The Valve pre's in the A&H look interesting also.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-02-1999, 08:00 AM
coaster coaster is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: fargo nd usa
Posts: 1,042
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

i use a small mackie at my studio, and my friend uses a small allen &heath at his studio. I enjoy my mackie immensly, and find the pres to be much better than soundcraft or the allen &heath pres (quiter, less coloration) the allen &heath board is a 16 channel mix wizard. it shines in the eq department. it has a very colorful(if not accurate) british eq. it has a ton (6) aux sends. routing sound back from a soundcard is better with the a&h than the mackie. i don't like the coloration the pres have (low headroom, slight graininess) and i hate the way the board routes sound out of it. i do like the eq better than mackie eq. both are high quality sounding boards for such a dirt cheap price. i use a mackie 24*4 for a live band, and i really dig the board. what don't you like about yours?
-coaster
__________________
www.mp3.com/xtac
for the faint of goth
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-02-1999, 09:31 AM
ProTool1 ProTool1 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 97
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

I haven't used either board for a few years now, but I do remember that the ONLY thing I liked about the allen & Heath was the eq.

I think the mackies are alot cleaner, they have way more headroom, and I thought the preamps were quite nice. Obviously they wont hold a candle to a fearn or a focusrite, but as far as preamps in a board I don't think it gets much better.

I think the allen & heaths had not enough headroom, they produced a considerable amount of noise, and to me they felt like toys. Sliders and knobs felt cheap and I think they must have been designed by someone with very small hands.

If I were you I would invest in maybe 8 channels of really great preamp (if your on a small budget I have heard good things about presonus) and stick with the mackie.

I dont mean to start WWIII in here, these are simply my impressions of both boards.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-02-1999, 11:00 AM
smrp smrp is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 99
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

Thanks PT1,

I'm wondering if the EQ on the A&H is worth the move if the pre's are going to be decent.

Also has anyone used the Oram Octasonic? Or the Presonus? How do they compare?

Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-02-1999, 11:43 AM
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

I've got Pro Control and a bunch of mic pre's. I need a 24ch desk to do 2" sessions on. here's the deal, mackie have developed new mic pres, they are only available on 16 ch desks (and smaller, NOT bigger!?????)
Same opinions around....Mackies NEW pre's are best, and Allen & Heaths EQ's are better. So...
The realy hip way to go is outboard with Mic Pre's.
I hate mackie EQ for Rock n Roll, I will go A&H or Soundcraft????
All the (cheap) desks I want have anoying cluttered fader paths full of routing buttons! AHGHGHGH!!!!!frustrating!!!!!!

Jules
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-03-1999, 02:00 PM
ProTool1 ProTool1 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: USA
Posts: 97
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

smrp:

I talked to the guy I knew had an 8 channel presonus mic pre. He sold it, only because
he already has a rack of focusrites that obviously sound better, so he opted for a nice compressor instead.

He said that he was really really impressed
and for the price nothing could compare.

But I would still try to get an opinion on the Oram stuff, because Ihave also heard great things about them.

I'll see If I can't find someone in my area using Oram pre's and get back to you.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-03-1999, 02:32 PM
smrp smrp is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 99
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

PT1,

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-03-1999, 02:33 PM
smrp smrp is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 99
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

I guess the AIM way to do that doesn't work here.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-03-1999, 03:53 PM
[Benjamin] [Benjamin] is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 519
Default Re: Mackie vs Allen & Heath

Sure, I've used both Mackie 8bus and A&H GS3000. Personally I think they both suck, in the case of A&H I find that the ergonomics/layout of the desk is great, but the sonics are just too poor. I've said it before and I say it again: If you want an analogue desk, get a vintage console. Make sure you buy it from a dealer with good support. You can get nice MCI's, Tridents, even Neves, at a comparable price. But the vintage desks that I personally most strongly recomend is D&R desks. They have great sonics & layout, they look beutiful (especially the 1600 series). The only drawback is lack of automation on the older models. However, if you can get someone to install mos-fet automation, you got a jewel.

If you, however, want to go with a new desk, I feel pretty certain you get most bang for the bucks with John Oram's desks. (I think the url is http://www.oram.co.uk )

------------------
[HYPERSONIC]
__________________
www.bipeds.tk
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
anyone tried FW mixers? presonus, mackie, allen/heath bradp Pro Tools 10 0 05-23-2012 06:02 AM
Allen and Heath ZED 24 mrjames Pro Tools 10 3 05-03-2012 02:23 PM
allen and heath gs 3 mersisblue Tips & Tricks 6 09-01-2003 08:50 PM
Allen & Heath GS2 with 001 Keith Lowdon 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Win) 2 01-19-2002 09:51 AM
Mackie or Allen & Heath Jamble 003, Mbox 2, Digi 002, original Mbox, Digi 001 (Mac) 9 12-18-2001 08:01 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:14 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. Forum Hosted By: URLJet.com