Simmons SPM 8:2

This is an article culled from archive material, circa 1997.

This single rack-space, automated MIDI mixer was hailed as "amazing" by the UK music press when it was announced in the mid 1980's. This says more about the UK music press than the unit itself, which was undoubtedly the worst piece of crap ever to grace my studio.

The feature set was tempting: total automation over eight channels, two effects sends, programmable crossfade per channel, sweep EQ and internal LFO modulation of EQ and pan. But the thing sounded dreadful. The sound of any instrument put through it came out flat and lifeless. Zipper noise and rumble were a constant problem, especially once the unit got hot (and overheating was also a constant problem).

The mixer was an absolute pig to program: a rocker switch selected programs, and had to be pressed exactly in the centre to store an edit: get it wrong, and the edit is lost. The channel knobs were small and very fiddly. There was no way of determining current patch settings. There was no system exclusive and no provision for external control other than program changes.

Last time I checked, Ian Boddy had two of the things and used them regularly, but I wouldn't touch one ever again. What more can I say? Avoid.