Soundtracs consoles

Soundtracs Jade - The Top of the Tree

This was Soundtracs' flagship analogue console which finished production in 1996: at this point digital systems were flourishing and everyone assumed analogue was a dead duck. Fifteen years later analogue desks are still going strong (if youve got the space) as are many other desks in the SOUNDTRACS range, and theres no reason why these old devils won't be going just as well in 2016...(imagine!)

So why would you want such a large beast in your control room? (32, 40 AND 48 VERSIONS AVAILABLE)

For a start off you cant put a Jade in your bedroom, well...you could, but IT'S BIG!...

• 2.6m wide 948 VERSION)
• 96 inputs (48 version)
• Discrete pad-less mic amps
• Full parametric "Fdb" 4 band fully swept EQ with 2x Q control
• on 48 channel inputs
• 12 Aux sends
• Gates / compressors/ De-ess/ Pan (Dynamics!) on 48 inputs (some early JADE models just have Gates)
• £48,000 in 1994 - 15 YEARS later ITS ANYONES GUESS !!

More Specs:

• 48 channel with built in Patch bay and legs weighs in at 275 KGs
• Dimensions : 48 inc PB : 1118 (d) x 1007(h) x 2600 mm (w)
• 32 channel with P bay and legs weighs 217 KGs and is 1991 mm wide

EQ specs:

• HF 1.5K>15 KHz +/- 15 >20 dB
• MF1 700>14KHz +/- 15dB Q= 0.5 >5
• MF2 50 >1 KHz =/-15 dB Q= 0.5 >5
• LF 50 >500 Hz =/- 20dB > 15dB

Monitor EQ :

• HF 10KHz +/- 15 dB
• LF 100 Hz =/- 15 dB
• All cables in /out on 56 way MALE EDACS (16 lines /EDAC)
• All mic/line/tape in/out available /all balanced.

NB: Im afaid Studio Systems CANNOT guarantee the TRACMIX automation systems anymore. If it works please accept it as a bonus: They are getting on for 17 years old and we have no way of tech supporting these software systems. I dont actually anyone who actually uses the "stand alone " Tracmix but I just want to cover myself : Anything analogue - no problem !!

What's all this "FdB" EQ all about then? ......which combats the effects on non-linearity in music and ear at the extremes of the audio spectrum. With the FdB Parametric equaliser the 4 band EQ gently increases its gain from 15dB to 20 dB as the filter is swept . The result is superior and more effective equalisation at 20 KHz and 20 Hz" Well - you cant argue with that !

Original Soundtracs Jade sales brochure: Click to enlarge

A recent Jade install (left) , although this chap has "oodles of pro-tools", he still loves the flexibility of a large analogue console to run sessions with ease. See Micks wonderful studio in the heart of Cambridgeshire. Micks Studio

and not forgetting Tom in Cumbria, a Jade fan with a great studio with wonderful scenic views of the Cumbrian countryside Tom's Jade

Also please check out the beautiful Yellow shark studios in Cheltenham

Heres some nice pics of Eddies Jade 32 that he had for Christmas 2009 :

Back to the UK...   Of course the Levellers down in Brighton have had a Jade since new < I wired it in in 1992, we took out Tom Robinsons old CM4400 ( where did that one go?) and put in a lovely Ms Jade 48. They use it all the time under the stewardship of Al Scott , legendary Brighton producer: Levellers web site

In 2008 I put a JADE 32 into Gareth's 'CUBE STUDIOS in Cornwall, he has been there for years and worked on a succession of analogue consoles finaly owning his dream -console the Soundtracs Jade. Please see Gareth's MySpace to get an idea of the quality clients he works with.