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the soundcraft 200b's are noisy, as are all of the auxes on pretty much most models. but there is a modification for the star grounding ( star grounding=crap) scheme that reduces the noise floor about 12 db (fuck yeah, adjust my glasses) on the 200b models.

http://www.tangible-technology.com/articles/200b.html

i am trying to get a resolution for the noisy auxes with a growing team of scientists. i have heard crappy things about the ghost regarding build quality. the 600 series is good, but!!! you will need to clean all of the switches, pots, faders, input/outputs with deoxit (the 100% is the bees knees). the burr brown ic mod i did to my 600 was an incredible improvement, i am replacing all of the electrolytic caps this weekend, uuuggghhh.

the 800 series soundcraft are a pleasure to use, same thinking though with cleaning the hell out of them. use deoxit! other stuff does not compare. if you think that is some shit put the 100% on a light bulb and compare before and after, fucking virgins blood.

do not buy a mackie!!!!


look into yamaha pm 1000, harrison consoles, soundtracks, they are all better than mackie or behringer.

if you buy an old board drench it with cleaner and resolder the input/output pcb boards! good luck.

hiredgeek wrote:
you will need to clean all of the switches, pots, faders, input/outputs with deoxit (the 100% is the bees knees).

Regular DeOxit is OK for switches and contacts but do not use it on faders or pots! It is NOT designed to be used on lubricated parts. What you should use is Caig's Fader Lube, it's made by the same company that makes DeOxit. The 100% is great for faders and the 5% is good for pots to clean gunk out, followed by a dab of the 100% for some excellent lubrication. You pots and faders will thank you.

hiredgeek wrote: star grounding=crap

Not to get all pedantic and shit, but I'm not sure I agree with you a hunnert percent on your policework, there, Lou.

Star Grounding = Not Crap with only a small waffle factor for difficulty.
In that Eddie Ciletti article it is the addition of the star grounding scheme that lowers the hum.
The cleaning and re-soldeing though, she is good things.

These virgins blood, does it come in a spray-can?

WOW!

Huge thanks everyone!!! That REALLY helps me out.

I was seriously considering the Mackie Onyx 1640 as they state it has "boutique" pre's...hmmm.

I'll definitely be checking out the Soundcraft 800B, Yamaha PM 1000, Harrison, Ghost, Topaz, etc.

Really appreciate it.

Cheers

the deoxit 5% comes in spray can with a nozzle, the 100% comes in a needle like applicator, super useful...you can also get pen-like applicators... many ways they sell virgins blood.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm ... bPage_ID=3

"Star Grounding = Not Crap with only a small waffle factor for difficulty.
In that Eddie Ciletti article it is the addition of the star grounding scheme that lowers the hum."

tis true!!! why does the kick drum sound like the snare? is this thing on?

They are extremely rare, but if you find one they are usually quite inexpensive because nobody knows about them:
The Biamp Legend
I just got one of these consoles and they have discrete, four transistor preamps and sound good. Because it was made by Biamp, everyone thinks it's crap. It is an inline console with 20 inputs and 16 assignable group outputs. It's very flexible and sounds big. They also made a larger version with more inputs.
Of course, there will be some maintenance involved with any older console, but if it is modular, it will be easier.
Good Luck.