• From: Canada
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 480

Topic: Soundcraft Spirit Folio SX anyone?

Anyone around here have experience using one of these?  How do you like it?

I need a cheapish mixer again, and would rather not go the Behringer/Mackie route if possible.  I like the look of this guy because of the 8 direct outs and the sweepable mids.  100mm faders seems like a nice bonus too.  I remember when these came out in the mid 90's and they seemed nice at the time.  They're pretty cheap nowadays but I can't really try before I buy.

As it is now, I run most of my gear directly into my audio interface, but I miss having a proper mixer.  Sometimes I want to work on music without turning on the computer.

unicity's Website

  • Registered: 2008-07-23
  • Posts: 76

Re: Soundcraft Spirit Folio SX anyone?

I used a Spirit Folio F1 some time ago, I don't know about the similarities in the sound (F1 is warm and soft, nice for house music, it has a lot of character), but the design is similar. Faders are easy to move and long, eq is decent, and it's actually very durable and shock resistant.

I replaced it with a  MackieCR1604, only because I needed a mixer with a "harder" sound, although for some tracks I'd prefer the F1.

But anyway this could all be irrelevant if the mixers are very different. Anyone with more experience?

3 Reply by Brian Chinetti (edited by Brian Chinetti 2008-08-12 21:22:01)

  • Registered: 2008-07-07
  • Posts: 663

Re: Soundcraft Spirit Folio SX anyone?

I also use the F1, not the SX, but they are very similar. The F1 is just a smaller SX, the SX has a few more routing options and more channels. I bought my F1 new and I used it as a studio and live mixer for about 3 years. After that I only used the F1 for live, and sometimes as a sub mixer. It's great for live because it easily fits in a suitcase with some other gear, unlike the Mackies that you often see on stage which are too chuncky. And it is very reliable, it has been traveling with me for almost 10 years now and it still works very good (much better than it looks wink ).

Soundwise, it has always been a very quiet mixer. The EQ is good, perhaps a bit boring but still musical enough to record some decent tracks. Only thing that sucks for live is that the headphone out mutes the monitor out. I've had a few soundguys getting grumpy when I told them that I don't want to use the monitor out from my mixer.

As for the build, I really think it's extremely reliable. As said, mine has been traveling for 10 years and to this day I have hardly any problems with it. It has taken quite some beatings and it really looks worn with it's bend faders and bend pots. But the only thing that is showing signs of wear is the headphone pot meter; a few months ago it started to crackle. One thing to be aware of is the psu input. Mine felt wiggly since day day 1 and I was afraid it was the first thing to die. I'm amazed that it actually didn't die in all those years, but I have seen a few SX's with psu input problems so it is something to look at.

All in all, I can't really think up anything against these late 90's Folio mixers. They are low budget and a bit sparse, but they are reliable and they sound decent. If mine dies tomorrow, I'll get the same one the day after tomorrow, no doubt.

Brian Chinetti's Website

  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2008-07-08
  • Posts: 480

Re: Soundcraft Spirit Folio SX anyone?

Sounds good.  A good reliability rating is reassuring since I'd definitely be buying a used one. 

I had read about the headphone out canceling the monitor out, but I wouldn't be using it in a live situation so that's no biggie for me.  I think I'd mostly be using it for having fun with the individual outs on my drum machines and as a synth submixer.  As long as it's quiet and sounds nice (I had a CR1604 for years and found it sounded a bit "foggy") I think I'll be happy.  Thanks!

unicity's Website