More Money than Talent

thommyboy

Active Member
I am working with a sister school being built in my district and have been provided with the initial bid... PM5D -RH. I have always been a fan of Soundcraft mixers and it isn't that I have an issue with the Yammie but am I of the mindset that if we are going to spend 60k on a mixer it is better to have one that is easily accessible to those coming from an analogue environment. I have heard that the Soundcraft is more "newbie friendly"...any comments?
 
How do you mean? Are we talking the Vi6 Soundcraft? I think I mentioned in another thread that Yamaha is an industry standard, from churches using an M7 to Broadway with a PM1D at FOH. For theatre, I'd say that going with the PM5D is a smart move, just because it's so universally accepted. Now, I've never been on a Vi6, nor do I expect to be. But I do expect to be using the Yamaha range.

As for your concern about those coming from an analog standpoint, the Yamaha interface is industry standard. Sure, there are desks with a "more analog feel" to them, but those people tend to be afraid of digital in the first place, at least those I've come across. I'm of the mindset that this industry is moving more towards a digital system, digital console, DSP, etc, the only analog being the mic to the stage box, and the amplifier to the speaker. THere are some systems running that way, but it's not the norm. So I think it's good to be training people on how the digital world works before they get out into the industry.

I hope some of that made sense, and I apologize if I misunderstand your question/concern.
 
No, Eboy, that is exactly the type of response I was looking for. I am more in touch with the lighting standards these days then I am with the sound consoles...I have kind of capped out with some time behind an LS-9.
 
I'd personally say that an M7CL-48 would be better for a school 'cause the M7/LS9 OS is slightly more user-friendly than the PM5D (but they're pretty similar!). However, both the M7CL and the PM5D are standards in the audio world - the PM5D is so popular that the M7CL and LS9 were basically standards before they even came off the production line!
 
Random aside,

looks like the new school is progressing nicely. Is it on schedule? I wouldn't be surprised if they were behind due to the weather.
 
Looks like we are actually a little ahead of schedule. Contract says we are paying 7 mil extra for the crew to work 24/7.

Theatre and black box still won't be ready until the spring so that means they will be using my space in the fall...but I will be in a lighting meeting for the spaces tomorrow...wish me luck!
 
...but I will be in a lighting meeting for the spaces tomorrow...wish me luck!
Don't let them put fluorescents in any performance spaces, period!:twisted:
 
Also check into the upcoming iLive T series, which is said to be in the same price range as an M7-32 ilive-T Series Live Audio Digital Mixing System

I have yet to see any of the original iLive series consoles in any installation or with any touring show - but I have seen dozens of yammies in installs, with with touring shows, and with rental companies. After learning on the original 01V, I was am able to step up to just about any yammie digital board and learn it very quickly because the operating systems are so similar. Yammies are the standard, and I think that they'd be best for an educational installation.
 
The first board I ever learned to mix on was a Soundcraft Spirit Live 4². It taught me the basics of mixing on most every console I have had to mix on up until this point in my life. It's a decent mixer for a high school to have!
 
I have yet to see any of the original iLive series consoles in any installation or with any touring show - but I have seen dozens of yammies in installs, with with touring shows, and with rental companies. After learning on the original 01V, I was am able to step up to just about any yammie digital board and learn it very quickly because the operating systems are so similar. Yammies are the standard, and I think that they'd be best for an educational installation.
I currently have an iLive going in a University project and that was after all their people, many of whom are familiar with most of the Yamaha products, auditioned a number of consoles. The Digidesign Venue was also in the running but the A&H had some advantages in fitting the project specifics. And that is always a critical issue, not just what people may like but what works for the application.

I have to disagree a bit on the comment regarding educational applications. Yes, it is good to learn the standard, but I believe that it is also valuable for students to work with other products and to learn and be able to apply the basic concepts in general rather than just learning based on one specific piece of gear. If someone thinks they know how to mix on a digital console but can't adapt that to various products, then they really haven't learned what the probably should have.

I do understand the dilemma regarding familiarity and ease of use and it is something I struggle with for applications such as community theatres and public facilities. I have come to believe that digital consoles are now common in most applications and if that is the best solution for the application, especially in the long run, then while it is a factor, familiarity should not be the controlling factor. As an old fuddy duddy, I learned to mix on analog and while digital did require a different perspective, the basics still carried through. And it probably won't be long before you might have to be more worried about people that have never mixed on an analog console walking in and having no idea of how to use one.
 

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