Buying a Used Lawo mc²66: What to Inspect First

The Lawo mc²66 is a large-format broadcast console built around a modular frame, separate stagebox I/O and a router-based core, so a used unit must be assessed as a complete system rather than a single desk. Ask the seller for the full configuration list: frame size, installed fader and control modules, stagebox card population, core and router hardware, and exactly which software options are licensed — Lawo enables many functions via licence keys, and unlicensed features will not simply travel with the console. Confirm all power supplies are present and that redundancy actually works. Inspect touchscreens for delamination and dead zones, test every fader for smooth motorised travel, and exercise each encoder and button. Verify fibre and MADI signal paths end to end, not just a successful power-up. Broadcast desks often come from clean fixed installations with high running hours, so request service history and details of any card-level repairs. Insist on a video walkthrough of a live working session before committing.