soundcraft spirit studio

[rossi68]

Hello fellow pro-toolers!
I'm a happy owner of a oo3 factory, digimax fs, mindprint envoice mic pre, and a mean quad with pt 7.4
I am pretty satisfied with the sound I get, although my room is not the best.
This summer I will build a completely new studio. So, to my question:
I'm offered a Soundcraft spirit studio mixer 24/8, at a rasonable price. Does anybody know this mixer, and will it do me any good? I'm told that the mic pre's are pretty good. I'm also offered a outboard compressor. I know this is not top of the line, but still I am curious.
Will this give me the analogue "glow"?

Rossi

[IntelDoc]

Alright a few things to consider....

1. At 24 channels with the Spirit you are not going to be able to use them all. With the 003 you can run 8 analog ins from the thing. With your digimax FS I am guessing that those pres will be the same if not better than the unit itself. Seems to me that you will have a 24 input board and not be able to use it really.

2. Smarter way if you decided to get this is get a 8 input I/O device (Apogee, Lynx or something) bypass all pres on the 002 and go 16 in from the board. Again, NOT going to gain much really from what I have quickly read on the board.

3. For approx. 1200 bucks, you would be better off you get a Apogee and a TOFT 16channel board. (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ATB16) You would then have 16 decent pre's that sound better, have EQ and a decent summing system if that is in fact what you wanted to do....

4. If it were me (and I have been in the LE realm before for years) I would not waste the money on the board, and spend the money on different flavors of pre's. You have 8 in on the 003 and 8 more via the Presonus. Alot of guys start out on a budget and get the easy 8 lightpipe pres to boot. Not a bad way at all and I too started there. Used a 002 and Digimax LT for about a year or so. I sold the Digimax and went to the Apogee Rosetta 800 and started buying really good pres. Much better investment long term as a API pre will hold value better than a Digimax (no offense to digimax) but it is true.

You can get that ANALOG GLOW as you call it with a good set of pres and the right ability to track it. Start slow and get a good pair. A good friend taught me to "buy in pairs" once and it has stuck sadly. Reason behind it.... Ya never know when you will need a stereo pair and two of the same helps.

So, that is my .02 cents.

Hope this helps.

Doc

[rossi68]

Hi, and thanks for taking the time to answer!
I am, of course, aware of the input number exeeding what I can get into my 003. However I will get 4 more mic pre's than today. But if I dont get any real improvement sound-vise I dont think I will bother. I will really look into what you are suggesting. The only problem is that I live in an insanely expensive country. Here in norway I would have to give 5000$ for a apogee rosetta.
I will also try to work with mic's, mic pre's, room treatment etc.
Agein, thanks

Rossi