Soundcraft Spirit Tracker Pro Rack Mounted Mixer

The ProTracker's strength is its simplicity — not only is it easy to use, it also has a very short signal path, and this results in very little coloration of the recorded sound. Working with an 8‑track recorder, where you want to record one signal or mic per track, the ProTracker is ideal, but it does fall down in one area in comparison to conventional mixers — with only eight channels at your disposal, you can't route complex subgroups to tape. This isn't too serious when you only have eight tape tracks to play with, but if you double up to create a 16‑track system, I feel you might find the routing options a little too limited. Similarly, the lack of EQ means that you can't do much with the sounds other than limit them or connect processors via insert points, and while this is absolutely fine at the recording stage, it leaves a lot to be desired if you have to do your final mix on the ProTracker.

I see the ProTracker mainly as a 'record‑only' mixer, and in this light, it performs brilliantly. The sound quality is exemplary, the limiter is a real life‑saver, and the fact that the mixer is only 3U deep means you could flightcase your entire mobile studio and still be able to carry it with one hand. If you want to work with 16 tracks (or even more), and you don't need fancy subgrouping, just link two or more ProTrackers together.

I'll finish as I started, by saying that the ProTracker concept is really based around eight mic/line DI boxes with limiting and phantom power combined with a simple 8:2 monitor mixer. When you add up the cost of buying all these bits as discrete components, the ProTracker makes a lot of financial sense — and it also reduces the live recording wiring nightmare to a bare minimum. OK, so it can't tackle every conceivable job, but in the majority of situations, it's all you need. A great idea — and something that I see myself using on a regular basis.