SOUNDCRAFT-SPIRIT SPIRIT STUDIO

Category: Products / mixing desks / analog mixers

Added: 27-May-00 | Author: admin

New price: discontinued | S/H price: varies on condition/model

SOUNDCRAFT-SPIRIT SPIRIT STUDIO

The 'Spirit' mixer range is a good-buy, cheaper design-range from Soundcraft ('sprit-by-soundcraft' being the company name this product range is sold under)... solid desks, decent Eq, good facilities.... Spirit Studio is available in 16, 24 and 32 channel frame sizes.

Input Section Each input channel strip has a 'Channel' and 'Monitor' path - This is known as in-line monitoring... where the monitor tape returns come back and share 'Switchable' channel strips with normal CHANNEL inputs carrying synths, mic's etc, as opposed to having a dedicated area of the board... So each channel-strip can be switched so you are accessing the CHANNEL: carries the input line or mic signals.... or the MONITOR: designed to carry tape returns from a multitrack... you can't have BOTH at once..... each channel also has a DIRECT send to a dedicated output socket ... you also get inserts all round to patch in processors... mutes and solo's etc...

Mic input accepts balanced or unbalanced signals, with a +48v phantom power switch available. A 10 to 60dB Gain control boosts low sensitivity signals without adding unwanted noise.

Line reduces gain by 20dB for sources from the Line input.

Direct routes a post-fader mic or line signal from the send jack to be recorded by a multitrack.

Input Reverse This switches Channel and Monitor signals, giving the tape return all the channel input's facilities. This is vital at mixdown when full control over the main signal source is required.

EQ Section
Four band eq: HF and LF bands are shelving controls, with 15dB of cut or boost at 10kHz and 100Hz. The HMid and LMid bands are swept, with frequencies ranging from 500Hz to 16kHz and 50Hz to 1.6kHz. The HF and LF sections can be switched into the Monitor path.

here's some Spoundcraft blurb

Auxiliary Sends

The Channel path has three auxs. FB1 is prefader for foldback mixes, while auxs 1 and 2 may be used as post-fader effects sends.

Channel Routing

The channel signal can be routed to the stereo mix or to the eight groups as stereo pairs, and can be isolated for PFL moni-toring. The on switch activates the Channel path: this facility can be automated on Spirit Auto.

Long Throw Fader

The 100mm long-throw fader gives you smooth precise control, with up to 10dB gain over normal level. Spirit Auto's channel faders have Voltage Controlled Amplifiers (VCAs) which allow fader movements to be recorded and edited in sequencer or dedicated software.

Monitor Path

The Monitor path normally receives signals from the Tape Return. The Tape Trim provides gain control from -10 to +20dB while the Pan control alters the position of the monitor signal in the stereo image. The PFL switch isolates the signal for monitoring, with the switch's LED also warning of potential overload.
There are three sends: FB2 is pre-fader, for headphone mixes. AUXs 3 and 4 are post fader and feed external effects processors; they can be switched into the Channel path for additional effects sends.

Group Section

The eight bus group section is ideal for mixdown subgrouping or sending sub-mixed groups of instruments to individual tape tracks.

Outputs

Each group has an output jack, with an insert point for signal processors.

Metering

A 16 segment, three colour bargraph meter displays each group's output level.

Auxiliary Masters

Rotary faders provide master level control of the four post-fader auxiliary outputs. All the aux masters have AFL monitoring.

Effects Returns

There are four stereo effects returns, each with two band shelving EQ, and two foldback sends. A Trim control boosts gain for each return, and a Pan control determines the return's stereo position. The return can be routed to the mix bus or to the pair of groups below it.

Group Routing

Mix routes odd and even pairs of groups to the stereo mix. Pressing Mono feeds them equally to both sides of the mix.

Group Faders

A 100mm fader has unity gain at the top of its travel. Each group has PFL monitoring.

Master Section

This provides final control of the Mix outputs, along with monitoring and talkback facilities.

Metering

Two 16 segment, three colour bargraph meters monitor Mix L and R outputs for accurate control. Pressing PFL or AFL deactivates the left meter, with the right meter displaying the PFL/AFL level.

Oscillator

The dual frequency oscillator is switchable between 1kHz and 10kHz. Its signal can be routed to the eight groups and the stereo mix bus, allowing you to line up multitracks.

Foldback Masters

Rotary faders drive the FB1 and FB2 outputs, and a link switch allows a combined headphone mix from both paths. The Control Room source, or Two-Track replay, can also be used as a headphone mix by routing it to either of the foldback buses.

Two Track Replay

The Two Track inputs allow you to play the output of a mastering device such as a DAT or 2-track tape machine.

PFL/AFL Trim

A rotary control provides level adjustment on PFL and AFL signals. A LED illuminates when any PFL/AFL is selected.

Control Room and Phones Levels

Both levels are adjusted with a rotary fader. The Mono switch sums left and right signals for phase checking.

Talkback

The internal talkback mic's signal can be routed to the Groups and the stereo mix, or to the foldback outputs.

Mix Fader

A 100mm long-throw fader controls mix output levels, with unity gain at the top of its travel.

Specifications

Typical figures, measured RMS, 22Hz - 22kHz Bandwidth Studio

Noise

Line Inputs, unity gain, 150R

Output Noise (Masters down)

Mix Left & Mix Right -98dBu
Group -98dBu

Mix Noise -80dBu

EIN Microphone Input, max gain, 150R -129dBu

CMRR (measured at 1kHz)

Microphone Input, max gain -90dB
Line Input, unity gain -55dB

Distortion (THD 1kHz at +20dBu, 20Hz to 20kHz bandwidth)

Line In to Mix or Group Out <0.006%

Crosstalk (measured 1kHz sine wave)

Routing Isolation, Mix L/R & Group >100dB
Max Channel Fader Attenuation >86dB
Max Aux Send Attenuation >86dB
Channel Pan to Group Isolation >76dB
Channel & Monitor "On" Switch Isolation >100dB
FX Return to Mix >100dB
FX Return to Group >85dB

Frequency Response (measured 20Hz to 20kHz, rel. 1kHz)

Mix L/R, Group & Aux Outputs ą0.5dB

Input & Output Impedances

Microphone Input 2k
Line Input 10k
Insert Sends 75
Insert Returns 10k
Outputs 75

Input & Output Levels

Microphone Input max. level +10dBu
Line Input max. level +30dBu
Mix, Group & Aux Out max. levels +21dBu

Dimensions

(H x W x D from armrest to rear panel, mm)
16 Channel 88 x 894 x 771.5
24 Channel 88 x 1174 x 771.5
32 Channel 88 x 1454 x 771.5

Well... there ya go... there are alot of these about s/h... good little mixers... one thing that is good about them is the vertically positioned plug sockets for it's rear connectors... they all face UP like the mixer controls... this means the Spirit mixers are excellent to stand up vertically against the wall for space saving... cables can be brought in loomed upo and hung on hooks above the mixer.. I've got one mate who works with a Spirit 24 channel like that, and it saves loads of space but lets him work well as he doesnt need seated hands-on as he's mixing in VST.... Good mixers.. it's nicely laid out and the eq is nice and smooth... british made.... comments please...