Soundcraft Expression vs LS9

[bradn7]

I am in an opportunity to purchase either an LS9 32 channel or a soundcraft expression 3 (32 channels) very soon. I want something that has the possibility with a digital snake, and also able to record multi-track at the same time. Any input?

[BrentEvans]

I dropped LS9s in favor of Si Expressions when they came out. The Soundcraft is easier to use, and lacks very few features in comparison to the Yamaha. The digital snake is far less expensive and I think they sound much better... and they're a fraction of the price of LS9s.

The only problem with either is that to use the digital snake, you give up the expansion slot. Since the Soundcraft's stagebox works on MADI, there may be a possibility of linking the MADI in with a PC interface and the stagebox, but you'd need to check with them.

If you have the funds for LS9, then you should also be looking at the Allen & Heath GLD 80. It does require the stageboxes, but can do up to 40 channels. The interface (both hardware and iPad) is the best of the bunch, and you can add a Dante card for recording.

If you don't have the funds for that, the Behringer X32 (and presumably the new Midas M-32) will do everything you want at a much lower price point.

[Chris_Allen]

Isn't the LS9 getting quite old now?

[bradn7]

Just a bit more information. I found out that I will be able to record from both of those multi channel by using the MADI card and plugging the Ethernet cord into my network card on the computer. I'll have to download some drivers from audinate Dante, but that is looking to be pretty easy. As for the prices of the respective consoles, the Soundcraft would be brand new, Minimum of 3500 for just the mixer and a nice case. The Yamaha would be 5750 with just the console and a very nice case. If I buy the snake for the Soundcraft I'll be looking at an extra 2000 putting it about the same price as the Yamaha.

As for the Yamaha getting old, what do you mean about that?

[Chris_Allen]

Processing power changes quick - having not used either, I was querying whether the LS9 has enough processing compared to the newer desks.

[BrentEvans]

Just a bit more information. I found out that I will be able to record from both of those multi channel by using the MADI card and plugging the Ethernet cord into my network card on the computer. I'll have to download some drivers from audinate Dante, but that is looking to be pretty easy. As for the prices of the respective consoles, the Soundcraft would be brand new, Minimum of 3500 for just the mixer and a nice case. The Yamaha would be 5750 with just the console and a very nice case. If I buy the snake for the Soundcraft I'll be looking at an extra 2000 putting it about the same price as the Yamaha.

You need to do a little more reading. MADI and Dante are two different protocols. They both run through cat5/cat6 cables, but that's where the similarity ends. You can split off the MADI connection of either console (there are two outs on the optional cards for the soundcraft) and take the channels flowing through that MADI connection into a PC with a card like the RME MADIFace. You cannot use both MADI and Dante simultaneously on the Soundcraft (but you can on the Si Performer, for a few dollars extra). Both protocols require an expansion card, and those cards are in the neighborhood of $1000. There is no Dante card for the LS9, and there is no card that supports more than 16 channels... so the most you can get from a LS9 is 32 channels of stagebox (which is in and out combined). There is only one card slot on the Si Expression, so you're stuck with MADI and the MADIface if you want to do the stagebox and recording, but you can do 64I/32O channels through the one card. Oh.. and by the way.. the RME card is optical and coaxial only, so you'd need to make sure you get the optical connectivity for the mini stagbox and long optical cables, instead of the CAT6 option...

Needless to say this is really complex. The easiest way to do this is upgrade to the Si Performer and get two card slots, putting a Dante card in the second slot.

As for the Yamaha getting old, what do you mean about that?

LS9 as a platform hasn't changed much in 5-7 years. It's an old interface, and it simply doesn't sound as good as the newer stuff (although a good external clock supposedly helps them quite a bit). It's quite a bit more limited in I/O as well (as discussed earlier.

[bradn7]

Thank you for all this information.