New Soundcraft Desk

[IanG]

Soundcraft's latest offering: the LX7ii

 

Personally, I'm a little disappointed. I'm starting to look for a medium-format console and when I heard about this one I had high hopes for it. But having had a quick look:

 

- Groups are stereo so really you're only getting two groups not 4

- Aux's can't be switched pre-insert (I don't know how common this is, but it would be bl**dy useful)

- No monitoring on the channel (c'mon - a -10dB led can't be that hard to add, can it?)

- No polarity reversal switch (again - can't be that expensive surely!)

 

It's a shame because I though this desk might aim to catch up with the Allen and Heath Gl2200 in terms of features, but it seems to fall a long way short.

[Pete Alcock]

Ian,

 

I know what you mean. I was initailly excited when I heard of the launch.

 

Regarding your points, I agree with them all as shortcomings. There is a peak light per channel, but like you say even rudimentary "sig present" would have cost only pennies.

 

My gripes are lack of flexiibility in the Aux returns - no FX to monitor as far as I can see from the diagram. Even my little Spirit FX8 has that! (Sure, you can use a spare channel to bring FX returns back in - providing of course you've got one!)

 

The other one that really annoys me about the Spirit desks is that they put the scribble strip beneath the faders, so for one you can't see it when your hands are riding the faders, and when they do, your greasy palms rub the chinagraphed words off!

 

Guess I'll have to keep saving for that Venice...

 

All the best,

 

Pete.

[James]

Guess I'll have to keep saving for that Venice

 

Is is realy worth 3 times the price of the LX7 though?

 

Oh and I use the stereo strips on my LX7 for basic FX returns whish can easily be r

outed to groups or monitors.

 

 

James

[IanG]

Is is realy worth 3 times the price of the LX7 though?

It's only unique selling point is the Midas badge. It's got more shortcomings than the LX7, IMHO - short 60mm faders being the most memorable.

[london sound]

I'm in the middle of a tour with a band and have encountered both desks.

 

Personally I prefer the Midas as opposed to the LX7 for the following reasons:-

 

The pre-amps will accept hotter signals without breaking up (our keyboard player gets a bit carried away at times).

 

The EQ on the Midas does exactly as you would want.

 

I have encoutered build problems with LX7 (LED meters lighting up for the wrong channel!!!)

 

There are some short comings with the Midas the least of which are the short faders(I can live with that) the lay out of the desk is not great however the sonic quality of the Midas is excellent, and after all thats what really matters.

 

 

 

 

 

Ian

[IanG]

The pre-amps will accept hotter signals without breaking up (our keyboard player gets a bit carried away at times).

 

Nothing that a 20dB pad wouldn't fix, surely?

 

however the sonic quality of the Midas is excellent, and after all thats what really matters

 

I don't dispute that. However, if you're working in the LX7-type price range I would expect that it wouldn't be the weakest point in the system, and any gains in sonic quality would be negated by other components.