I had a 32 track ghost for about three years. I got rid of it when I got my Neotek Series II. I liked the ghost it's a great board for the money. It was quiet and dependable and I mixed some good sounding records on it. I never used the mic pre's as I have a BCM10 and other outboard pre's. The ghost was just for mixing.

the soundcraft ghost is a good line mixer, i still feel like the physical controls feel a little "delicate." the preamps are good to some and "crap" to others. i think for the money, in good conditioned used, they have a very good place. i think the soundcraft 800 series are better. the preamps are pretty good, the eq is pretty good, the layout is pretty good=solid. but they are older and may require a decent overhaul to get it back to a reliable and useable piece. the ghost will be that way a few more years down the line... the 800 is modular, to me that is a big plus. someone else may tell you different. i'd take a fixer upper 800 over a ghost, the 800 series can be repaired while still being used, on a channel by channel basis, if the ghost has a problem, you have more to take apart to address one problem...

Modularity is key. You are right sir.

interesting, interesting.

I have decided against the ghost for now, with the intention of perhaps adding an analog console at a later date.

Maintenance costs on a large vintage console are not something I want to spend money on just now...

Well if you ever have a little extra money or feel like improving your soldering chops, there are plenty of vintage-ish console out there going for a song. Boards that costed scarey money when they were born are now easy to find at pennies on the dollar. But you have to know what your getting into.

My first Neotek was a series I theatre board bought off ebay- It was not usable due to shipping damage and I parted it out and sold it. Then I searched and paid more and got the SII in way better shape but more expensive. It's been good but a learning experience for sure.

i would stay away from the ghost. i found it noisy and the eq wasn't that useful. i never even tried the mic preamps.

tw wrote:i would stay away from the ghost. i found it noisy and the eq wasn't that useful. i never even tried the mic preamps.

Hmmm. Mine was as quiet as a mouse farting.