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Hi all,
Anyone have any experience with Soundcraft's M Series Mixers? I was curious if the Pres and EQ section was an obvious improvmement in quality over their Spirit Series. I was thinking of picking up an M12 for home use, but if the difference is minimal I might get one of the larger spirit series consoles in its place.

any and all input/feedback is apprecoated.

I just ordered an M12 here at work for PA stuff. It looks like a nice little package, I will let you know how it works out for us once I get it in.
mtar

Hi Mike,

Thanks. it would be great to hear your first hand experiences. Keep me posted. I'm considering using it as a front end for a home DAW just get my hands on some "out of the box" EQ so to speak. I am also seriously consider buying something like a hard disk recorder, as seem to be encountering noise floor issues when working with the G4, as I have to track and mix within the same room. I'm hoping to resolve this second problem soon, as i have already constructed a sort of vented iso box for the G4, which did lower the noisefloor considerably,but the issue needs further addressing.

My first mixer was the Spirit Folio 12 channel mixer. I only had it for a year, but it was rather nice for the price. I would definately opt for a soundcraft/spirit over the mackie or alesis stuff.
ill keep you posted

I've always been a Soundcraft fan, and like most people will say, for the quality and price they can't be beat. Far better than Mackie. After I had worked on a Soundcraft 200b and then a Soundcraft K1, my band decided to get a simple Spirit E12 to put in our practice space for home recording.

I haven't worked with the M series to compare, but for the price and Soundcraft quality, the E 12 gets a gold star from me.

Hi Patrick,
Out of the three that you mentioned, which did you like the best? I could also pick up a 200 instead of the M series as long as it had post eq tape sends on each channel. Also, I am from Milton, just outside of Boston, does your band play locally?

I agree with Patrick -- Soundcraft > Mackie at the same price/feature level. I still have a portable Soundcraft mixer (RacPac). Incredibly clean little board with surprisingly useable EQ.

soundcraft 200b is a nice console for the money

they are modular, flexible consoles that are durable and easy to work on

if you can get the sweepable parametrics, that's a plus. i don't have them myself. even the fixed-band eq is pretty good, definitely usable.

pretty good electronics design, with a couple quirks

there's a simple way to improve the grounding on them--search for 'ciletti soundcraft grounding' and you'll find the guy's instructions

w/o the mod, i guess they are a little noisier than some consoles, but mine has not bothered me in this regard

i was intrigued by the m series, but i just don't have any big issues w/my 200

tm