Is Mackie really - as good as it gets?

LowDown Hal · #1 06-07-2008, 07:54 PM

I'm looking to start building up my "practice space" into a "studio" space. I do not object to spending money for really good stuff if/when I'm sure it is the way to go.

My research so far seems to indicate that Mackie equipment is pretty much "it".

ture or false ????

thanks

Uncle Ernie · #2 06-07-2008, 07:57 PM

I don't know if it is 'it', but I have a 1202 VLZ Pro mixer I quite like.

knarleybass · #3 06-07-2008, 08:47 PM

i am sure there are better mixers out there, but a Mackie mixer should never stop you from doing music.

projectMalamute · #4 06-07-2008, 08:52 PM

I think you need to do a little more research if you have drawn the conclusion that a Mackie recording console is as good as it gets. Google SSL or Neve or API or Trident to get a sense of the world you are stepping in to. Not that I am recommending you drop half a million on a console, but Mackie is far from high end stuff. I would rank it below the threshold at which you would want to be using a console at all, I'd rather work in the box than on a Mackie.

JohnDavisNYC · #5 06-07-2008, 08:54 PM

mackies are the very top of the bottom end of pro audio gear...

there is nothing particularly wrong with them, but there is certainly a ton of stuff that is WAY WAY WAY better and nicer... it is also MUCH MUCH MUCH more expensive.

if you are talking about making a recording studio, i would hang out on some audio forums, like tapeop, or gearslutz, and see what is out there... mackie is fine, but very utilitarian in the studio world, and looked down upon by many high end gear snobs.

for a great rehearsal setup, mackie would be great. i think that their powered PA cabs are awesome. for a recording studio i would avoid a mackie console, and probably avoid their monitors, especially as they are now made in china.

for affordable consoles I would look at soundcraft and allen & heath. both of those companies make products in a similar price range as mackie that are much better.

john

D.A.R.K. · #6 06-07-2008, 08:57 PM

having used mackie live and in the studio, i think it is best as a clean summing mixer. if you are looking for character in the pre amps, or musical eq, i would look elsewhere.

bongomania · #7 06-07-2008, 09:06 PM

+1 to JDNYC on all points there. There was a time in the late 80's and early-mid 90's when Mackie was the very best bang per buck for a budget studio, providing quality far above the entry-level price. But those days are long gone, and now Mackie is only "as good as" its price point, and maybe not even quite that. If I was buying a mixer for a budget studio, I would either buy an older MIA Mackie, or certain old Yamaha models; or if I was buying new, I'd get an Allen & Heath. My impression is that A&H is presently the "best of the upper end of entry level" for mixers.

For monitors, a lot of brands and models have flooded the market over the last decade, and I no longer know what's hip. My only suggestion is to have a variety of different kinds of monitors, including cheap car speakers, an iPod dock speaker setup, and some large home stereo speakers, in addition to some "nice" proper monitors, so you can hear how your mix will sound under a variety of "normal" listening conditions. But I wouldn't bother with Mackie monitors unless you get them used/cheap.

LowDown Hal · #8 06-07-2008, 11:09 PM

THANKS, I will look at A&H.

My minimum would be "UPPER entry level -- > "
I think I prefer mid whatever level is next ?

But am willing to pay for something I will NOT grow out of quickly

Munjibunga · #9 06-08-2008, 01:55 AM

I really like the preamps in my Midas Venice 240. Midas is widely used on the concert circuit, and the Venice series meets your criterion of "upper entry level" or higher. The big Midas consoles are "upper professional level." Here's a link: Midas Venice

Here's a link to a picture of the control surface. Note the faders for four of the six auxes and other cool features like 4-band EQ with two sweepable mids. On the four stereo channels, you can actually run a mic and a line in at the same time, and balance them with the balance control. It has phantom on/off for each channel.

Venice controls.

Here's a link to the back. There is no shortage of patch points. Direct outs on every channel. Direct outs and inserts on every group. It pretty much rules.

Venice back.

You may want to research digital boards, too.

namraj · #10 06-08-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

I think you need to do a little more research if you have drawn the conclusion that a Mackie recording console is as good as it gets. Google SSL or Neve or API or Trident to get a sense of the world you are stepping in to. Not that I am recommending you drop half a million on a console, but Mackie is far from high end stuff. I would rank it below the threshold at which you would want to be using a console at all, I'd rather work in the box than on a Mackie.

+1, though I think you may have to sell your family to buy an SSL or a Neve.

namraj · #11 06-08-2008, 02:06 AM

Monitor's wise, a nice pair of NS-10's are still the standard, and infact studio spares do an improved copy that is alot cheaper and is infact improved.

DocBop · #12 06-08-2008, 05:44 AM

First "spending for really good stuff" that all depends on budget. Good gear for what budget because studio gear goes into the hundreds of thousands. So you need to to define a dollar range.

I don't have Mackie gear my friends do and I have read lots of comments about Mackie gear. I would say Mackie is good gear for the price, but not the only good brand in its range. You need to define your wants and needs then research each piece in that category.

kalle74 · #13 06-08-2008, 08:05 AM

are we talking consoles for home studio here?

mackie has many okay products, but I´d go the "in the box"-way. with so many nice options around (pro tools is my fave), you can´t really go wrong... FE, a used 002 and a Mac won´t set you back very much...

bkbirge · #14 06-08-2008, 08:37 AM

I'd look to putting the money into the room design & build before I worried about gear. Yes there are lots better options than Mackie but there are lots worse too. Depends on your budget and how 'pro' you want to get.

rob2966 · #15 06-08-2008, 11:53 AM

Here is a list of Mackie gear I have:

In my home studio:
1202-VLZ mixer
HR824 monitors (the older ones)

In my PA:
Onyx 1640 mixer
HM54 Headphone Amp
SRM350 active monitors

I personally really like Mackie stuff. I like the way it is laid out and designed and the reliability seems good. One of my SRM350's went a bit quiet after a couple of years. I phoned Mackie, they couriered me a new one, once I received it I put the old one in the box, attached the pre-paid packing slip (included) to the outside of the box and dropped it off at UPS. Was VERY impressed with their service.

However, I agree it is not going to be found in any commercial recording studio environment.

Later
Rob

seangoespostal · #16 06-08-2008, 12:02 PM

Mackie stuff is pretty good, but it doesn't knock me out.
If I could afford a Mackie mixer, I would consider spending a little more for an Allen&Heath.
If I was on a strict budget, I would probably get a Behringer and save some bucks.
I have a small Behringer mixer that works just fine as a sub-mixer, or as something simple to bring elsewhere for recording.
Usually I just mix in the box.

**baba** · #17 06-10-2008, 10:12 AM

If you are going to go with Mackie level quality, I'd get Yamaha instead. It think their gear is equal or better and also quite a bit cheaper.

There are many mixers above Mackie, but I think Allen & Heath is a next logical step up.

cnltb · #18 06-10-2008, 10:16 AM

Mackie is alright , but not the only one out there. there are better and worse out there.

blipndub · #19 06-10-2008, 10:30 AM

I'm super impressed with Yamaha boards these days, they run the gambit from little project boards to full on consoles. I think they have moved well in to Mackie territory as far as top of the bottom semi-pro stuff.

But always look for used boards, there are some amazing deals out there for used consoles.

For practice space, however you can't beat the Mackie powered box mixers like the 408. Quick set up sound fine, affordable.

bassbrock · #20 06-10-2008, 10:36 AM

I like Mackie stuff and think that you can't go wrong with some of it.

I have a pair of Mackie HR824 monitors and the Mackie SRS120 studio subwoofer. Fantastic sounding, very transparent, very revealing to your mixes. I've listened to a LOT of studio monitors in various studios around town and glad that I settled on these.

I also have a Mackie Big Knob monitor selector that works great and is very flexible. I use it to switch between a pair of Yamaha HS50M 5" monitors and a pair of Behringer Truth 2031A monitors and the accompanying Behringer studio sub. The Big Knob also has two headphone outs and a headphone pass through that allows me to chain to another 4 channel headphone amp that I use when I have more people in the studio.

I also have a Mackie Control Universal that is used as a control service for Logic Pro 8. This is the standard in control surfaces and I couldn't mix without it. Well, I could but just not as efficiently.

For our church PA we use a pair of Mackie SRM450 active speakers on poles - again they sound fantastic. No complaints other than they are a little anemic on the low end but that is what subwoofers are for!