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Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
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Author:  Dr.Rhythm [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
Studiomaster is a pro audio manufacturer from the UK. They have been in business since 1976 so I'm sure someone has at least heard of them.

They have distributed products in the United States in the past but according to the former US distributor they have not had any distribution in the US for the past couple years. I guess some retailers still have a few of their products on the shelves here and there but it seems like whatever is out there now is just left over from a couple years ago. The US distributor told me that they were trying to get their distribution in the states back up and running within the next couple months but, who knows.

I think I saw a couple members on this board from England so maybe one of them might have some more insight.

The reason I am posting this here is because they have a couple products that look interesting for the KJ. I talked to a DJ/KJ who is using one of their rackmount mixers and he has been happy with it.

The first product is the C3 and C3X rackmount mixers.

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Product Link

The C3X is the model pictured. The only difference between the C3 and C3X is that the "X" model adds effects. The C3 has 4 XLR Combo Inputs and 4 Stereo inputs. Since they are piling all these inputs into 1U, some sacrifices have been made. Input 1 has a 3 band EQ and an AUX send for the built-in DSP effects but Inputs 2/3/4 have to share a 3 Band EQ and a single AUX send. The same is true for the stereo inputs, they share a pair of tone controls and a single AUX send. Still with the these limitations I'm sure this could be used effectively in a DJ/KJ setup. The effects selection is small but all effects are intended for vocals.

Next is the Fusion Original

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Product Link

The Fusion is like a DJ mixer with a crossfader and 4 channel faders on the right side and like a live sound mixer on the left with three XLR mic inputs and effects.

Finally, there is the Studiomaster VMS or Vocal Management System.

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Product Link

The VMS is a 1U channel strip with a mic pre, gate, compressor, limiter, 7 band EQ and effects.

All seem like decent products on paper but I have no experience with Studiomaster other than one DJ that I spoke to that was happy with the C3X. Has anyone here used Studiomaster products? With the sketchy distribution here in the US, it might be hard or impossible for somone to obtain one, at least right now and I don't know if they have any authorized service centers here either.

Anyway, I just thought I would share these products since a search on Studiomaster yielded no results.
Author:  Lonman [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
I have heard of the company though never really hear about them, never used their products nor even seen any place where one could try them out. But that 1 rack mixer with effects looks to be what you are looking for.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
Studiomaster occupied the very low end of the "pro" market before Behringer. To my knowledge, they have not made or designed anything for a very long time. They basically died when Behringer came in and made better stuff than them for less.
Author:  Micky [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
mckyj57 @ Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:03 pm wrote:
Studiomaster occupied the very low end of the "pro" market before Behringer. To my knowledge, they have not made or designed anything for a very long time. They basically died when Behringer came in and made better stuff than them for less.


Wow, you mean there's lower than Behringer :roll:
Author:  LondonLive [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
I actually had a Studiomaster mixer back in the early 80's. If I remember right it wasn't real flexible but it was a fairly solid board, It seems I acquired it in Chicago and ended up swapping it for something else within a couple of weeks. As far as build and sound quality I would place it somewhere around the middle range Peavey's and Carvins. But hey, it was the 80's, my memory might have been compromised.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
LondonLive @ Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:48 pm wrote:
I actually had a Studiomaster mixer back in the early 80's. If I remember right it wasn't real flexible but it was a fairly solid board, It seems I acquired it in Chicago and ended up swapping it for something else within a couple of weeks. As far as build and sound quality I would place it somewhere around the middle range Peavey's and Carvins. But hey, it was the 80's, my memory might have been compromised.

That is my understanding of the situation. Their quality was and sound was not great, but perhaps just a bit better rep than Behringer. But they had few features, and Behringer came along and offered a lot more bang for the buck. So they went away.

I am just getting this from historical scuttlebutt in the newsgroups and forums, by the way. I have no first-hand knowledge. I understand they may still have the name out there in Britain, but that they haven't really had any new products for quite a while.
Author:  RLC [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
LondonLive @ Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:48 pm wrote:
But hey, it was the 80's, my memory might have been compromised.


lol
Author:  MorganLeFey [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
LondonLive @ Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:48 pm wrote:
I actually had a Studiomaster mixer back in the early 80's. If I remember right it wasn't real flexible but it was a fairly solid board, It seems I acquired it in Chicago and ended up swapping it for something else within a couple of weeks. As far as build and sound quality I would place it somewhere around the middle range Peavey's and Carvins. But hey, it was the 80's, my memory might have been compromised.


still is compromised...so much for our date!!!
Author:  Bazza [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
RLC @ Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:24 pm wrote:
LondonLive @ Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:48 pm wrote:
But hey, it was the 80's, my memory might have been compromised.


lol


I don't remember much of the 80's either...but I am told I had a really good time!

:P
Author:  Dr.Rhythm [ Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Studiomaster - Anyone ever heard of them or use their products?
Thanks for the feedback on the Studiomaster products. I think I would be better off avoiding them. Besides their somewhat questionable track record based on your input. Chances of getting one repaired if it broke would probably be a pain. I would guess if anything broke it would be easier to just replace it. I read an article about the C3X and they did mention noise issues if you didn't set the gain just right. The DJ I talked to also mentioned that as well. The hardware probably isn't that great.
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