c/24/s6/Eucon

[BLUNTBRAD]

So I'm getting ready in the next few months, to build a top of the line, HDX studio. I thought i would need a C/24 console. From reading the different forums, sounds like it isn't the way to go for the future. I never even heard of a Eucon, till i hit the forum. What is the Pro Tools console of the future?

[Darryl Ramm]

It is hard to predict the future but the new technology is the S6. The C|24 is fairly old.

Not hitting on the C|24, but it is unlikely to be powering many "top of the line HDX studios" today, they'll more likely to be running things like the Icon D-Control ES. The S6 seems capable of spanning the C|24 to Icon space and more. Maybe better at the lower-end if Avid change bundle/entry point options.

[Brandonx1]

What's your budget and what type of projects do you work on?

[BLUNTBRAD]

Wow, i had no idea those other consoles cost 80,000-150,000. I want to be able to produce, mix, and master Hip hop, R & B, and Pop music, at the highest level possible, that is Radio ready. HD system. Budget is between 20,000-40,000 preferable over a few months, where i can get started 10,000 to 15,000 and add on as needed

[Darryl Ramm]

That budget is for the control surface only or for the HDX cards and interfaces as well? Do you have DAW computer(s), studio monitors, preamps, mics, cabling, all the other studio gear as well or are you mixing only not tracking?

[Emcha_audio]

Hi there BluntBrad

Unless you're ready to also invest in quality mastering tools you won't be doing a one stop shop as you think you will, not with that budget anyhow.

Also let's be honest, even if the C|24 was to be discontinued this year or next year there will still be a support time of at least 5 years, which if you plan your business carefully and put a percentage of the gross income aside for future upgrade, you will be fine. As a controller (if you forgo the C|24 as the monitoring system), it is very well implemented for HD use and it has been used in many medium spaced professional studios, even if it's aged it's still very functional even today.

So if you look carefully at the deals you will be able to get a C|24 and a HDX system with interface for roughly 25k taxes included. Then all that you need to do is push on to your monitoring system and space treatment, mics and cabling with the rest of the budget, upgrading these as you go in the future.

On the other hand you could very well just spend it on a 8 faders 5 knob S6 m10 and a hdx card with I/O, which will bring you to around 35k and you can then move to upgrading the s6 from there on.

C|24 bundled with HDX and I/O From sweetwater. Check around there are other examples.

[BLUNTBRAD]

OK, FOR THE S6. How do you know 35,000? Has it been released? How do you know the pricing? Can everything done on the c/24, be done on this new s6?

[Emcha_audio]

NO not everything can be done on the C|24 than on the s6, because the s6 came after and is will have new things added, whereof the C|24 development has been done for a while ago. I do know because the prices were announced publicly, but then for some reason they were taken out. Anyhow the starting unit would be around 21k for the s6, that's 8 faders, 5 knobs, the touchscreen/brain and the automation module.

[Bob Olhsson]

There'll probably soon be some great deals on used Icons or C-24s and the S3 is probably going to morph into a mix controller from its current live sound role. Everything is really in flux right now because 11 is the biggest change under the hood to Pro Tools in nearly 20 years.

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

There'll probably soon be some great deals on used Icons or C-24s and the S3 is probably going to morph into a mix controller from its current live sound role. Everything is really in flux right now because 11 is the biggest change under the hood to Pro Tools in nearly 20 years.

Pound some transport button onto an S3 and I'll take one