Turtlerock Forum

I'm working with someone who is deciding between an SSL Matrix or the Neve custom series 75 and I thougheek would see what everyone would choose and why?
He is ultimately aim for a tracking room and his idea was to go the ssl matrix and set up a mixed bag of neve, API etc preamps or pay more to have the neve preamps in the console.
The RRP on the matrix is 26000 and I'm not sure what the RRP is on the 75
He has a nice selection of out board that is growing. If you were going to hire a studio for tracking or mixing what would you rather use? He would love to hear everyones thoughts.

There's a calculator on the '75 series site where you can work out a rough cost:
http://www.customseries75.com/site/about-us/

Not that my opine is of any worth, but I'm drawn to the Neve - esp. if it's still made here in Oz ..... (though I did read that there were some meter bridge availability issues a while back).

I could never recommend anybody by the powered by neve custum
Thingy

If that is really the choice custum powered by vs ssl matrix

The matrix plus lots of outboard to taste is a simple enough
Solution to a complex problem . And a price I guess

I don't really know the answer

I had a tour of the neve 75 series factory awhile back and whilst enjoyed that immensely and had a great discussion with the designer about a range of possibilities with the console there were a few niggles that bothered me. One of those was longevity both of the company and the console itself. Another was the whole one console does everything approach which (unless the console is absolutely killer) fewer and fewer people are going for.
The Matrix seems a good price, loads of modern features whilst still working as a console and is from a company thats here to stay (at least as much as anyone can tell the future anyway).

If I was spending my money I'd be getting racks of killer preamps (there are loads of good options and you'd be buying some money channels anyway) and looking at an integrating solution like the matrix or something else altogether.

i looked very hard at the matrix a couple of years ago
and again this year.
its a pretty amazing way of going about it... if i suddenly had a whole bunch of money to drop - id probably go down that route next week.
also since i already own a lot of outboard, it would make sense rather then "starting again" with an all in the console type set up.

I investigated these kinds of options a few months ago and have to agree with everyone else. A Matrix plus a bunch of outboard is a much more solid option. I've heard of people having some issues with the Neve's (they're still very new), but I haven't had first hand experience of it.

In the end we ultimately decided to have an SSL X-Desk with X-Panda and a bunch of good outboard pre's as we couldn't justify the Matrix price vs functions we'd actually use, and also because we already had some outboard pre's we could add to. Ended up being a much cheaper option but with the added bonus of different flavours of preamp to choose from.

Thanks for all of your thoughts on the subject guys I think it helped him out.

Well he purchased the SSL today so he must be stoked!

nice bit of EOFY right off!
well done.

Yes I think it was a wise move by him as prices on audio gear/music equipment are sure to rise as of tomorrow.