I've always liked Soundcraft stuff, but that would be a deal killer for me. You might find a couple who love them and had no problem. Would that make it OK? I used a Mackie 808S for years till I needed more than 8 channels.
GigRac 600 (discontinued) Larger Images. Now there’s a really easy way to make great live sound, thanks to Soundcraft’s new integrated mixer/amplifier GigRac. GigRac comes from Soundcraft, the name behind the live sound mixing consoles used on many of the world’s major tours and festivals, so you can be sure that the sound quality is.
It's a great powered mixer. That's the problem.
The impression I get from the majority of online user reviews is they're great. What I don't quite get is the (few, say 10%) bad reviews say they are going thru their 2nd, 3rd replacement. They're failing over & over. So maybe it's just them.
They are the ones that are somehow blowin em up? I'd be looking hard at the Mackie 808S if they weren't discontinued. Must've been good rig since you rarely see them used/on eBay. Same with the GigRacs. I'd advice against vertical mixers. They are a pain in the butt to use. I hear ya and it's something I've had to consider.
I've used vertical mixers and they aren't nearly as 'real-time user friendly' as a normal board. For one thing, slider levels are much easier to visualize at a glance & adjust than a knob with a dot on it. And I'd much rather look down on the board than sideways, likely bending down/crouching to see the face. But my situation. Living on a boat, stowage, salt air, transporting across water, mostly outdoor gigs, etc. Is always just one big compromise wrt rigs.
If I could find a 'normal' powered mixer that I thought was bulletproof, would stand up to my environment I'd be a happy camper. There's a new version called the PPM1008. Pretty much the same thing. I've checked that one out too.
Kinda sorta the same but no pan/balance knobs anywhere to be found. How ya supposed to balance a stereo signal? Am I missing something here? Or for example when I want to run my HarmonyG (vocal harmonizer) in stereo. I use two different channels, panning one to the left, the other to the right for separation. 808S had pan knobs on all channels. What I'm finding is virtually all dual amped powered 'box' mixers will allow stereo output to L/R mains (as well as bi-amp or Mains + monitor) but VERY few include pan/balance knobs.
I just find that odd. I've checked that one out too. Kinda sorta the same but no pan/balance knobs anywhere to be found. How ya supposed to balance a stereo signal? Am I missing something here? Or for example when I want to run my HarmonyG (vocal harmonizer) in stereo. I use two different channels, panning one to the left, the other to the right for separation.
808S had pan knobs on all channels. What I'm finding is virtually all dual amped powered 'box' mixers will allow stereo output to L/R mains (as well as bi-amp or Mains + monitor) but VERY few include pan/balance knobs. I just find that odd. Why would you want to run a stereo signal at a live performance?
There are many good reasons to do it. The most obvious would be when using stereo effects for the trippy factor. Then in a wide room where people sit down (as opposed to a pit or bar gig) it is useful to recreate some kind of instrument placement in the band. You may also use the PA to play recorded music, in this case stereo is important. Finally, it is a cheap way to get 2 different mono mixes. Great for monitors.
I've never run a stereo mix when DJing a wedding and I've never run stereo when running an LS rig. In a wide room you as a player may want a 'trippy' effect, but panning the band mix all over the stereo field means that people in certain areas of the room are getting cheated from the whole sound. Mixing LS in mono means that the guy in the back right corner has the same opportunity to hear the lead guitarist's amp the same as the gal who is sitting 1 table off to the left almost in front of the lead guitarist. Why would you want to run a stereo signal at a live performance? That's a fair enough question. I have only 2 real needs for stereo out: My backing tracks are stereo and and for music during breaks In that regard pretty much any dual amp powered mixer that has even one channel to send a L & R to mains would work for me. But I have a want as well; to be able to run my TC Helicon Harmony G in stereo.
That requires two additional separate channels, one panned left, one right (the main vocal is summed to the center). Now if I were in a whole band, 3-4 pieces, whatever, stereo wouldn't really be important to me at all. If I were even an acoustic solo act it wouldn't be important. But as a 'big band dance party' solo act (yea, an oxymoron) I think it's important to add an additional dimension. That projects a bigger presence than just plain ol me standing up there singing with my bass. Otherwise it might as well be Karaoke. I guess it really boils down to the type of music I play.
For example: That song needs to be BIG. I just don't think it would come across/have the same feel in mono. That make sense? The weird thing I've found is ALL the powered 'boards' (e.g. Form factor of a normal passive mixer) are stereo. OTOH, hardly ANY of the vertical 'box' mixers are.