what’s your favourite synth you own?

Darn, I was hoping you'd know something about them...

;)

(thanks!)

I feel kinda embarrassed now. I'm such a geek.

If you want a mackie 8bus but with sound quality get a topaz project8 and big line level interface(s). It'll run rings around your onyx but will sound and feel instantly familiar.

Darn, I was hoping you'd know something about them...

;)

(thanks!)

I feel kinda embarrassed now. I'm such a geek.

There is no shame in knowing your $#!? inside and out.

If you want a mackie 8bus but with sound quality get a topaz project8 and big line level interface(s). It'll run rings around your onyx but will sound and feel instantly familiar.

The Mackie has been on the "to sell" list for a while now, it was only ever a utility that met a certain need at a certain time. I just don't have a need to have everything patched in at once these days. I just plug into the RME babyface as needed, icky as that sounds.

If I DO get another analog mixer, though, it'll be more for color than utility... thus my desire to start learning about the things that are both good and also not the price of a good used car.

in non-modular stuff, a soundtracs topaz/solo, soundcraft ghost, Allen & Heath GS3200/GS24 etc are more or less the same thing internally with some different interface stuff going on, different form factors, model specific mic preamp topology and differing power supply quality. Think different variations of a souped up mackie 8bus, just as hard to service channels and busses but better designed and better specced all around. Audient isn't modular but its a distinct cut above for EQ flexibility, sound and serviceability (channel buckets that are top accessible rather than underside accessed). Soundtracs/Soundcraft/A&H recording desks are also old and may need maintenance although my topaz has been running strong apart from channels 31 and 32 on the meterbridge being sticky from bad comparators (I think). The channels are loaded with TL072s and TL074s while the summing is from 5532s split up so each half of the dual opamp is handling one side of a stereo signal.... crosstalk is surprisingly low though. All of these budget brit desks are fully inline but only the A&H has short faders, the others have knobs for the tape/monitor returns. Short faders (monitor volume pots) can sum only to the master bus for mix down although this can be hijacked with clever patching to an aux return if that's your bag. All mono aux sends, stereo returns routable to corresponding numbered bus pair or master bus. Nothing fancy but easy to understand. A stock topaz has a lot of -10 ins and outs and may need to have some jumpers soldered depending on your use case. All of them have a number of unbalanced connections but in a small studio this is not such a big deal. If space isn't an issue there are better mixers for the same money that provide similar facilities and equal or better sound. If 24 to 32 channels aren't important and say 16 not inline is enough there are way better options that sound better, are more serviceable and provide similar features. If you're looking at something, ask me.

I'm only discussing in-line mixers because we started there, if you're looking for something where all monitoring is DAW, tell me. I use my in-line desk differently for expanded routing, but if you just want a mixer to mix some shit like a live show, dang, there's a lot of options. Broadcast consoles are a great place to look for limited mic preamps, mainly line inputs, routing aplenty and great sound quality. The mix minus feature on broadcast gear can be cool sometimes for live performance, you would be surprised. Kinda between sound reinforcement and in-line recording in topology.

Excellent choice! I'm more of a Modal guy but only because ASM wouldn't give me a discounted hydrsynth.

yeah, older, pre-dx7 yami synths are killer, I just fixed up a giganntic old yamaha string organ machine and its got a sound alright!