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Hey all! I've been reading the forums here for some time now & am finally making my first post! The amount of insight I've gleaned from everyone here is astonishing. I owe you all a great thanks - but that's for a different thread.

So... I'm looking at updating my audio desk inventory to the digital era! I'm currently running an Allen & Heath GL4000, a Crest X-Eight, and a Midas VeniceU & Allen & Heath MixWizard 16ch. (among other smaller "desks"). I'm looking at everything from the $3k - $10k range but I have to cap at $12k. If i can stay below $10k, that'd probably bode well for reporting my budget to my supervisor, but it's not a deal breaker to be above $10k.

The events I run span from small, local bands/singer songwriters, to national comedians, University Commencement ceremonies, to B & C list national acts. It's gotten to the point my current inventory is frowned upon when these larger acts come in & it's not worth the effort to travel across state to rent a desk for a 3 hour show. So I need something versatile to handle a variety of acts & still be suitable for larger acts when necessary.

I've been looking at the Midas Pro1 (as a starting point - eventually upgrading, with a new budget, to a Pro2 or Pro2C), the Midas M32 (not yet released), the Soundcraft Si Performer 3, and a few others. From what I've read, the Midas Pro series isn't very rider friendly; the Performer has DMX control which i won't utilize so I'm unsure of paying for a utility I won't utilize; and Yamaha & PreSonus are a brain buster trying to navigate.

Here's the rub: I oversee a staff of college students who aren't necessarily going on to pro-audio as a profession. Now, that doesn't mean they're not capable, only that their primary focus is classwork. Event production & learning new gear comes second, third, maybe even fourth on their priority list. So, above all - this digital desk should be simplistic in its design & navigation.

Does this desk even exist? What are some recommendations?

I look forward to joining the community & the conversation. Thanks in advance everyone!

<blockquote data-quote="i.d. sonnenfeld" data-source="post: 9970" data-attributes="member: 1863">Hey all! I&#039;ve been reading the forums here for some time now &amp; am&nbsp; finally making my first post! The amount of insight I&#039;ve gleaned from&nbsp; everyone here is astonishing. I owe you all a great thanks - but that&#039;s&nbsp; for a different thread.So... I&#039;m looking at updating my audio desk inventory to the digital&nbsp; era! I&#039;m currently running an Allen &amp; Heath GL4000, a Crest X-Eight,&nbsp; and a Midas VeniceU &amp; Allen &amp; Heath MixWizard 16ch. (among&nbsp; other smaller &quot;desks&quot;). I&#039;m looking at everything from the $3k - $10k&nbsp; range but I have to cap at $12k. If i can stay below $10k, that&#039;d&nbsp; probably bode well for reporting my budget to my supervisor, but it&#039;s&nbsp; not a deal breaker to be above $10k. The events I run span from small, local bands/singer songwriters, to&nbsp; national comedians, University Commencement ceremonies, to B &amp; C&nbsp; list national acts. It&#039;s gotten to the point my current inventory is&nbsp; frowned upon when these larger acts come in &amp; it&#039;s not worth the&nbsp; effort to travel across state to rent a desk for a 3 hour show. So I&nbsp; need something versatile to handle a variety of acts &amp; still be&nbsp; suitable for larger acts when necessary. I&#039;ve been looking at the Midas Pro1 (as a starting point - eventually&nbsp; upgrading, with a new budget, to a Pro2 or Pro2C), the Midas M32 (not&nbsp; yet released), the Soundcraft Si Performer 3, and a few others. From&nbsp; what I&#039;ve read, the Midas Pro series isn&#039;t very rider friendly; the&nbsp; Performer has DMX control which i won&#039;t utilize so I&#039;m unsure of paying&nbsp; for a utility I won&#039;t utilize; and Yamaha &amp; PreSonus are a brain&nbsp; buster trying to navigate. Here&#039;s the rub: I oversee a staff of college students who aren&#039;t&nbsp; necessarily going on to pro-audio as a profession. Now, that doesn&#039;t&nbsp; mean they&#039;re not capable, only that their primary focus is classwork.&nbsp; Event production &amp; learning new gear comes second, third, maybe even&nbsp; fourth on their priority list. So, above all - this digital desk should&nbsp; be simplistic in its design &amp; navigation. Does this desk even exist? What are some recommendations? I look forward to joining the community &amp; the conversation. Thanks in advance everyone!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="i.d. sonnenfeld, post: 9970, member: 1863"] Hey all! I've been reading the forums here for some time now & am finally making my first post! The amount of insight I've gleaned from everyone here is astonishing. I owe you all a great thanks - but that's for a different thread. So... I'm looking at updating my audio desk inventory to the digital era! I'm currently running an Allen & Heath GL4000, a Crest X-Eight, and a Midas VeniceU & Allen & Heath MixWizard 16ch. (among other smaller "desks"). I'm looking at everything from the $3k - $10k range but I have to cap at $12k. If i can stay below $10k, that'd probably bode well for reporting my budget to my supervisor, but it's not a deal breaker to be above $10k. The events I run span from small, local bands/singer songwriters, to national comedians, University Commencement ceremonies, to B & C list national acts. It's gotten to the point my current inventory is frowned upon when these larger acts come in & it's not worth the effort to travel across state to rent a desk for a 3 hour show. So I need something versatile to handle a variety of acts & still be suitable for larger acts when necessary. I've been looking at the Midas Pro1 (as a starting point - eventually upgrading, with a new budget, to a Pro2 or Pro2C), the Midas M32 (not yet released), the Soundcraft Si Performer 3, and a few others. From what I've read, the Midas Pro series isn't very rider friendly; the Performer has DMX control which i won't utilize so I'm unsure of paying for a utility I won't utilize; and Yamaha & PreSonus are a brain buster trying to navigate. Here's the rub: I oversee a staff of college students who aren't necessarily going on to pro-audio as a profession. Now, that doesn't mean they're not capable, only that their primary focus is classwork. Event production & learning new gear comes second, third, maybe even fourth on their priority list. So, above all - this digital desk should be simplistic in its design & navigation. Does this desk even exist? What are some recommendations? I look forward to joining the community & the conversation. Thanks in advance everyone! [/QUOTE]

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