Good mixing console for future mods????

[therecordingart]

I was curious to see if there was a decent mixing console out there (16 to 24 channels) that isn't too expensive (under 2K) with potential after mods?

I know this is kind of a dumb question, but I'd really like to get myself a mixing console for a low cost and turn it into something better than your average Mackie.

Anyone has some ideas? A Soundcraft Ghost is out of the budget.

 

[Baltimore]

Yamaha m1516 comes to mind. 16 channels, you can find m1524 or 1532s, but they're rare. You can actually find these for $300-$400 on ebay, but you'll need to pick it up in person or pay a LOT for shipping. I has transformer ins and outs, yamaha 80200 discrete opamps as mic pres. Really nice preamps, but the EQ isn't the best and can't be bypassed, but thats mod worthy. I've got one and I'm going to add a true bypass for the EQ and change the 4558 chips in the EQ to 5532s and hopefully have more musical and quieter EQs.

 

[therecordingart]

Thanks for the recommendation. There is a company near my house selling one for $200. Worth the money?

 

[kvintus]

Tac scorpion, maybe? They are module built and very easy to work on. Single side PCBs and lots of space to add your mods. Lgihtyears from the Ghost. If you're lucky you can find a really cheap Scorpion somewhere. I found one for ?400, fixed it for 300? and sold it for 900?.


/Anders

 

[Baltimore]

Yeah, I think $200 is totally worth it for an m1516. Think of it this way, you get 16 transfomer input, discrete opamp preamps for $200. The EQ is just ok, but you can upgrade it or bypass it. JLM sells inductor based EQ mods for PM2000s, the 1516 has a very similar EQ section and the mods should work for it as well. Something I might try on a few channels.

Kevin

 

[BYacey]

I have a Soundtracs MR 24 that has lent itself well towards modifying, don't know what they are selling for used these days though.

 

[3nity]

How worth could me the mods on a Tac Scorpion??
how is the circuitry??? DOAs? transformerless??
i just watched one for 250$

 

[3nity]

Seems that the TAC Scorpion was sold to owned by Amek??
They look good by themseves...

 

[kvintus]

how is the circuitry??? DOAs? transformerless??

Mostly TL07X if I remember correctly. The one I had was not modded, just restored to original shape and sold. I had a document with mod suggestions but unfortunately it was lost in a computer crash. Try google.

250$ for a TAC Scorpion is quite good. How many channels?

/Anders

 

[3nity]

16 channels. 3-4 scratches 2 channels don't work....good for DIY electronics....