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The Most Amazing 80's Console You've Never Heard Of
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- čas přidán 30. 11. 2023
- The Sony MXP-3000 series of consoles seems to be the most under rated large format console from the 80's. I can't believe how little these are talked about. Maybe because the owners want to keep it a secret so they can keep all the amazing sounds to themselves.
In any case, I found it facinating to learn all about these consoles as I restored one.
#studiolife #studiogear #newgear #sony #MCI #MXP-3000 #MXP-3036 #vintagegear #vintageconsole #expo86 #restoration #vintagerestoration #audio #vintageaudio #audiogear
Like I said in your first video, we had two of these at Reflection Sound Studios packed full of John Hardy Mic Pres, and some of the very rare Avalon pres, yes Avalon made a mic pre plug in for this console. Also, there were 4 different mic pres made by Sony for these and three different EQs. Loved these desks and for certain kinds of music much better than our Neve V Series. Just a really fun desk to track on.
I do not have a breadth of console experience to draw on for comparison, but based on everything I learned and seeing how well constructed this board is, I don't think I was overstating my click-bait title. ;-)
@@EdgetoneStudios Not at all and I am impressed with what you did. I only have experience removing consoles so I’ve never actually installed a large format desk.
Thank you John. So much fantastic info as I'm in the process of putting my MXP3036 back together 🙂
Awesome. Mine is about to go to a new owner, but if you want a second one for parts, there is another nearby.
facebook.com/marketplace/item/1610889866107871/?ref=saved&referral_code=null
I grew up working in a studio that had 2 rooms the expensive room was all MCI gear, we had the JH-636 console and 2 MCI JH24 2-inch tape Machines and mixed down to a JH-110 1/2 inch, I worked in the cheaper B-room with 48 channel Yamaha PM-4000 with the Transformer package which recorded to a Foster G24S 24 track 1 inch machine and mixed down to a Otari MX5050 1/4 inch machine and later to DAT. I always loved working in the MCI room I felt like a real engineer and to just the house engineer for the demo room LOL. MCI were huge in Nashville and most of studios outside of LA and New York. Artists who had home studios had a ton of MCI gear because it was built well and was cheaper than the alternatives from API or Harrison at the time. I always liked the MCI EQs. I have 4 of the Sony MCI 3000 EQs in my rack still today 2 are the state variable EQ32 and 2 of the passive inductor EQ34s. The passive EQs are the last great passive console EQ ever made and all 4 are the quietest 90s analog gear I have ever used. MCI really was the pinnacle of hi-fi audio meets pro audio without the snake oil. I now work on a ATI paragon 2 console which was API's live version of an SSL 4000E but with better mic preamps a fully parametric EQ and API thrust VCA compressors on every channel. I always wanted an SSL but couldn't justify dropping 100K on a mixer so I found a pair of the ATI paragons that were used in a megachurch in Memphis Tennessee for less than 10K so I have a working console and a complete spare. Congrats on finally getting the console up and fully restored I have been watching every update!!
Thanks for the tales. I love hearing what people who worked in the industry actually had experience with. My music industry stint in the 80's was short lived and not very broad. I didn't really do anything musical from 91-02, while my kids were young. Finally picked up a bass in 02, and got back into recording gear in 07. By then the world or recording had drastically changed (mostly for the better).
This was great! I feel sad that the series is over but I'm excited to see whatever is next!
Thanks.
I missed a few things by not writing a script, such as the Fred Forssell, custom channel strips and master sections, plus a few minor things, but it's a place to start for anyone interested in the Sony MXP series.
The previous owners of my console used the original Sony automation daily! Tons of their old mixes are still stored on the computer. It may be archaic and overly complicated by today’s standards, but it did work back in the day!
Glad to see you made all of these videos. I’m sure you’ll be a huge help to people starting their Sony journeys!
Yeah, perhaps I was too harsh on the automation. There just seemed to be a lot of pushback on the forums to not bother with it, because it wasn't worth my while.
One of the things that drew me into this series of videos was that in the Spring of 2022, I bought a Sony APR-24 24-track machine that was being sold at auction by a place called Trod Nossel Studios in Wallingford, CT. In the same auction was an MXP-3036, and I could have gotten it pretty cheaply. But I just could not figure out the logistics of getting it here to SW Ohio where I live. The APR-24 was hard enough. But I have thought more than a few times that I wish I'd gotten the console at the same time.
I think I came across Trod Nossel Studios recently when trying to find studios with the MXP. I couldn't determine if they still had one though. I guess you answered that.
The recording workshop in Ohio has a couple of Sony MCI consoles. Or at least they did when I was there in the late 90s. Many students learned signal flow on that desk.
Nice. They seemed to be everywhere. I know that CBC in Canada had several across the country.
I have the MCI predecessor (JH618) that I’m about to restore. Great video.
Cool. Let me know how it goes. And watch for rodents chewing through the ribbon cables. ;-)
😅 I will@@EdgetoneStudios
Great great great console. Had one in our studio for 8 years!
Cool. Where was your studio and when was that?
I produced a band in the late 80's and 90's called Roachford, there is a track called "Kathleen" off the first album that I recorded and mixed at Hit Factory London in eight hours! on an MCI 3000 series console and two-inch machine, and to this day it's still one of my favourite sounding recordings 👌🏾
Listening now. Sounds great. Thanks for sharing!
very nice song and production, R delivers, great guitar on that track mate, cheers
I've got an MCI JH-528 at my home studio. Absolutely love it
Nice. MCI made great stuff.
Amazing! Thank you so much for this super interesting breakdown! Love all the custom modules. For me probably the Automation would have been the dealbreaker…my ADT Console from Germany has this amazing VCA automation that works sooo good and I would never be able to pull a satisfying mix from the console without it. Then again I know Craig Silvey mixes on an analog Neve 80 series without any automation on board and he just does all the automation pre board in protools… All the best from Berlin, Tobi
Yes, it would have been great if this one had come with working automation. A few owners I talked to still used some of the automation features, but I never got to experience it.
I think that even if this had working automation, my workflow would have still been to mix in the box, but use the board as a straight up summing mixer. I would have had 24 bus summing.
I have a Burl B32 Vancouver that I am now selling. Although it sounds very nice, the hassle of using it outweighed the production benefits. I've opted for a Burl B2 Bomber DAC to add that bit of analogue and spacial improvement to everything I listend to in the room. not just mixes.
Thanks for watching.
VCA is just great 😊
Hook me up with a 8 bus VCA and I will be a happy camper ❤
Great video. I used to work in French audio dubbing company with these consoles for recording, in a smaller frame format. Great sound indeed.
Thanks for sharing.
They do have a great clean sound, and so much headroom.
My mentor and I did some recording in a studio in NYC that had an MCI desk back in the 80's. I believe it was at Secret Sound Studios if I'm not mistaken. Some of our best sessions were done on it!
Cool. Was it the MXP series or the older JH serise console?
I've heard of it! :D I learned audio engineering on a Sony MXP3036 at San Jacinto Community College, Pasadena TX from 1991-93. It had the flourescent meter bridge and VCA automation. We were recording on a Tascam ATR60 2" 24 track with Dolby SR at the time. have fond memories of learning audio and recording on the Sony/MCI. thanks for the history lesson.
Cool.
I assumed that these consoles were more well know than I thought, but I went for the "click bait-y" title and it seemed to have worked. ;-)
I was never able to find reliable info on any famous recordings done on them though.
I loved and miss my MCI 428! With a JH-24, the 80s were a blast!
The 80's were definitely an interesting time and there is much nostalgia.
I may not be using the console, but I still have a Roland D50, Korg DW8000, Akai AX80 and Yamaha TX802 to give me the 80's vibes. I also have a Roland MC500 sequencer, and Yamaha SPX90 and a Roland SDE-3000. So I guess I'm still partly living in the 80s.
tuchel clip madness
You are not wrong. The few that I soldered up were super annoying.
In the mid 80's I was working as an assistant and the studio had a nice large MCI console. We tracked to 2" 24 track. It was a beast!
And I'm assuming you mean "beast" in a good way. ;-)
love a great mix console
They are peices of art as well as audio gear.
Berklee had a few of these in the 90s when I was there. IIRC E, F, and G had them. It was a nice console for learning signal flow, and it sounded pretty good. I have an API in my studio. I wouldn't take the MCI for free these days unless it was loaded with the API modules, which were made for these consoles.
Most I've seen working have been in broadcast.
Cool.
Those API Sony modules are hard to come by and therefore very expensive. Someone on the forums said that API was willing to take orders for the 212s but would require a minimum order of 80! Don't think that's going to happen.
A whole pile of Expo86 gear found it's way into the former Museum of Civilization here in Ottawa. CD80 dimmer packs, Bryston, Turbosound, all sorts of "museum" quality gear 🙂
IIRC that gear was well taken care of and lasted forever tucked away in that place and was only removed in the last decade or so...
Awesome.
There was a recent news article in BC, that any household whose parents attended Expo 86, still had plenty of Expo merchandise kicking around. I know I have an Expo Ernie pin from my dad's pin collection.
@@EdgetoneStudios Long time Montreal family here - we have Expo *67* souvenirs! #FTW
i have no idea what you are talking about or why this was recommended to me but I am hanging in until the end
Haha. Thanks. Maybe you're about to start a journey through the world of analogue mixing consoles.
That's the console I learned on! They have one at Sear Sound that's been hot rodded with Avalon pres and eqs. Its sounds like glass.
Cool. Avalon modules would be amazing.
I never found Sear Sound in my MXP search. Now I see that they don't list it as a Sony MXP but a "SEAR-AVALON Custom Console". Haha.
I have done a couple of sessions at Sear Sound in NYC. They have one of these desks fitted with the Avalon mic pre's and eq's. It has a moving fader system, by Martinson. I liked working on it. It was a little "controversial" when it was first installed, as their other studio has a Neve 8048....
Aw Man. That's so cool. I would love to hear the Avalon stuff in one of these boards.
Hey! I just moved to Vancouver. I didn’t know you were here as well. I brought all my MCI equipment up with me from the states. 😅 2 desks, a 24 track, and 3 110 decks. 🙄
Well, I'm just across the water from you on the island. If you ever come to the Cowichan Valley let me know.
Oh man I haven't seen a Dragonfly in years! Nice!
I really like them. I have two.
@@EdgetoneStudiosyou have two but you really need one more
I did some great work on the MCI 636. The only MCI console I really liked. ( did not like the 400 or 500)
Interesting. I've heard that the 636 was well respected.
Shout out to Greg Norman!
No way i have just purchased one in an auction from an old school thats getting knocked down.
I got the desk and all the othet audio equipment, still need to go through it all to see what i got.
Cool. Check out my restoration videos for pointers and ways to start fires. ;-)
Where was the auction and where are you located. Be interested to hear what you have in all.
I'm very interested in acquiring your Sony/MCI...!...What are you asking for it...?
Hey Dave, it's listed on Reverb here: reverb.com/item/76118240-sony-mci-mxp-3036-analog-recording-console-fully-restored
But we don't have to negotiate through Reverb if you want to save on taxes (at least they charge taxes here in Canada).
How difficult is to repair? Some people say that the "hybrid" amps are not available and no data exists to make replacements?
Not my area of expertise, but on the forums they claim they are only in the preamps, some on the channel strips, and the master module. So it's great to have a spare master module and a few channel strips. There are other options for preamps (like the Normaphone or John Hardy).
There also seem to be some schematics for these on the forums as well: groups.io/g/sony-mxp-3k
That being said, my console is now nearly 40 years old and has no issues with any of those. That's not saying they won't die someday, but they are incredibly reliable. Show me any peice of gear designed today that will last 40 years with repair or replacement.
@@EdgetoneStudiosThank you for your answer. Have you ever need to recap. After 40 years many Neve consoles have been through 5 to7 recaps.
@@narvartense there have been zero recaps on this board. And even the designer says not to do any until the caps actually fail!
@@EdgetoneStudios Man that sounds great!
you ended up selling it? did you not enjoy the sound of it in the end?
It sounded great. But the size of it was just a bit too much for my space, and in the long run I realized I would be happier with my hybrid digital mixer/analogue outboard gear setup.
i'll take it... how?
If you are interested, here's my ad for it:
reverb.com/item/76118240-sony-mci-mxp-3036-analog-recording-console-fully-restored
MCI - Sony right? From a time normal people could not afford a console like this.
Exactly. I never thought I would one day get to work on something like this.
They were objects of money is not an issue... time. They were ordered by record labels. Usually owned by large electronics corporations like sony and Philips. Who ordered their special products R&D departments to create these consoles. @@EdgetoneStudios
Makes for good content though.
It really does. And there is still a 20 channel version in Nanaimo (just an hour away) for less than $2000. I keep considering it.
Underrated? Hahahah. Oh dear! Power supply on these things were terrible, quite weak and underpowered - definitely the weak link in the console. The hybrid op amps had many issues from memory and the "sealed" EQ's kinda howl with some weird resonance feedback when certain frequencies are boosted, also the line out amps aren't exactly reliable, the inductor EQ's were very soft and mushy too, just made everything sound like you were running it through a cheese cloth. I know a few guys who gutted the channels on their MXP and wacked in some forsell strips and some others went with API. Apparently Animal Collective's record 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' was mixed on an MXP 3000. It's a decent board if you find one in fully working condition without issues for around 2K and skip the EQ.
Yes, I would say the power supply was the weakest link after 35 years (besides the rodent chewed cables, but that was just poor storage). However, after a full recap and servicing, this is the quietest large power supply I have ever heard.
I thought the Wien EQs sounded pretty darn sweet. But I admit I did not spend enough time to potentially determine "howling" frequencies.
Thanks for the tip on Animal Collective.
The MCIs were dreadful! This is revisionistic! No one EVER used the word amazing in connection with one .(Was stuck with a 636 for 10 years, and mixed 100 records on it, I am not inventing this;-)
Interesting. This is the first negative comment about the MCI consoles I've seen since researching. I'm no expert, so I'm just passing on what I have gleaned.
That being said, the MXP 3036 is considered one of the quietest consoles from it's time. Sony really elevated MCI from their previous quality.
@@EdgetoneStudios Sony suposedly brought them up several notches. I did extensive mods to mine. Changed the preamp cards, modded the summing bus to be discrete, mixed a lot on the «small fader» non-vca bus with the knobs, but it couldn’t really be helped;-) Sounded grey, small and brown tinted regardless.
How much??
reverb.com/item/76118240-sony-mci-mxp-3036-analog-recording-console-fully-restored