Looking for a good mixer

[MaestroRage]

I'm looking for a solid studio mixer to use as a midi interface on my rig. The more I look into it the more data i'm finding and i'm starting to lose my way.

FIrst, what is unpowered and powered mean exactly? Does it work like reference monitors?

Second, any recommendations? I'm not looking to invest a LOT on this thing, 200 tops. I am looking for 8 channel at minimum if possible. Mic capability is not a factor.

thanks guys.

[IKONiC]

I'd say go for a Mackie or even one by Allen & Heath. Just my recommendations.

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 11:42 AM, MaestroRage wrote: FIrst, what is unpowered and powered mean exactly? Does it work like reference monitors?

Powered means the board contains an amplifier to power speakers. Not what you're looking for for a studio environment, generally. They're usually designed to be the heart of a PA system for quick and easy operation.

Second, any recommendations? I'm not looking to invest a LOT on this thing, 200 tops. I am looking for 8 channel at minimum if possible. Mic capability is not a factor.

As far as recommendations, I purchased one of these bad boys for our studio theater last year, and it's a really solid little board that I think would be great in a studio. It's got a number of outputs, some decent built in FX, and the build quality is good. I like it.

[MaestroRage]

that's looking like a very solid buy. Cheers loan.

I found this incredible 16 channel analog buy. The seller recommends I get an analog to USB adapter. I normally am a bit wary of getting converters. Can anybody give any advice or experience stories with these things?

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 01:32 PM, MaestroRage wrote: that's looking like a very solid buy. Cheers loan.

I've been really pleased with it.

I found this incredible 16 channel analog buy. The seller recommends I get an analog to USB adapter. I normally am a bit wary of getting converters. Can anybody give any advice or experience stories with these things?

Well if you're looking to record to your PC, then you're gonna pretty much have to get an interface.

I use a 1x2 m-audio unit. I use it to record guitar, both direct and by micing a cab. It does a fine job.

Something to consider, if you've got 16 channels in your studio, is getting a larger usb interface, so you can take more channels into your computer. This lets you set levels AFTER the recording session, rather than having to be 100% sure of your mix before you hit record. They get pricey, but I know tascam makes some eight or sixteen channel interfaces.

At the very least you could look at 2-4 channel interfaces. This would let you, for example (not really knowing what your intended use is i'm gonna make stuff up) throw all your drums into one set of stereo channels (via an aux or group out) and your guitar/bass/singer into another. Or anything like that. If you ask me, the more tracks you have going into the computer, the better.

an 8 track m-audio unit

tascam

There are also smaller solutions that might well fit your needs, like the fast track pro.

[nathanallenpinard]

A quick set of questions with the OP:

1. Are you using the mixer to record multiple instruments at once while recording? Or are you using it simply to track one instrument at a time?

2. What kind of DAW are you running?

[MaestroRage]

the ultimate goal is to be able to control my DAW through the mixer. I have no intention of recording anything which is why mic capability is not a deciding factor.

If it's possible to make the analog mixer work in my DAW (without a driver or sorts the DAW would not see it would it?).

Thanks for all the tips and info, proving useful.

[nathanallenpinard]

Well, you'd have to have a multi out audio interface connected to your PC, piped into your mixing channel by channel to do that. Which means you'd need two pieces of gear, a mixer and an interface that matches the mixer with outs.

I was looking at this while you were posting, it's one piece to your puzzle, but it's more cash for this AND the mixer: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/D elta1010LT/

I can't seem to find anything with 6 outs. There 4 outs, and those are 100.00.

Can you not control your DAW with just your computer controls? You'd have the benefit of automation you know.

[nathanallenpinard]

Here's a mixer that is suprisingly cheap and not too shabby for 100.00.

That puts your price tag at 300 not 200, though.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M ultiMix6FX/

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 02:06 PM, MaestroRage wrote: the ultimate goal is to be able to control my DAW through the mixer. I have no intention of recording anything which is why mic capability is not a deciding factor.

Ooooh. That's a whole different class of hardware.

If it's possible to make the analog mixer work in my DAW (without a driver or sorts the DAW would not see it would it?).

Nope. There's no way to make your DAW respond to the controls on an analog mixer (not without some significant hackery, anyway). You're looking for something along the lines of... this, a MIDI control surface. This will allow you (depending on the DAW) to map the physical inputs to various functions inside your DAW.

An analog mixer would only be helpful if you were taking outside sources into your comptuer.

[nathanallenpinard]

Wow, that KorgKontrol is nice. I have the NovationSLZero and I barely use it because it's bulky as hell. And for 60 bucks? Having a few of those linked would be nice. I wonder how big they are acually though, and flat.

Loan is right, your faders will not move with your mixer faders or anything. No control will happen that way.

However, I assumed you were more of an analog purist, and wanted to mix and process with your own pedals and effects processors.

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 02:19 PM, nathanallenpinard wrote: Wow, that KorgKontrol is nice. I have the NovationSLZero and I barely use it because it's bulky as hell. And for 60 bucks? Having a few of those linked would be nice. I wonder how big they are acually though, and flat.

I've seen the key controller in person, it's not much wider than your average laptop, and only a couple inches deep. Pretty flat. They also make a pad controller. The price is pretty amazing.

However, I assumed you were more of an analog purist, and wanted to mix and process with your own pedals and effects processors.

hah, unless he's got an orchestra in his pocket, I'm not sure 'analog purist' is the right word.

[MaestroRage]

thanks gents on all the suggestions and input.

It's possible to automate everything through the mouse yes but I find it incredibly tedious and I lose a lot of my inspiration when i'm testing mod patches to see if they sound realistic enough or not. I have one slider on my keyboard I use on and off and this thing is so mad useful I just wish I had more sliders... which brings me to this topic.

[nathanallenpinard]

Well then it sounds like you need the 60 dollar Korg control and your good. Maybe 2 of them.

[MaestroRage]

A good option?

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 03:11 PM, MaestroRage wrote: A good option?

didn't jarrydn just buy one of those?

I'd personally rather have more than just rotary encoders, but I guess it depends on what parameters you'd be looking to control

[MaestroRage]

yeah, i'd much rather it had sliders as well but if it's a choice between less configurable parameters or just rotaries, i'm leaning towards rotaries... though I suppose that does mean i'm going to have trouble changing more then one at a time.

[nathanallenpinard]

The KorgControl has knobs AND faders AND solo/mute buttons and are configurable. Just get like 2 of them, and you probably should be good (set 1 to each scene)

[mariomusicmaker1]

If yyou just want faders and knobs to control your DAW, I would sugest a Roland mc-808, It is discontinued so you can get them dirt cheep, I paid over 1k for mine new, but im sure there are a few retailers out there trying to get rid of them cheep. you get 16 faders any way, and a bonus 800 patches to boot! the drums kick ass in the 808, i would nit suggest buying it for any thing other then a drum machine, or controller, but if you can find one for 200 bucks on clearance, your golden.

you will need an audio interface for recording, but the midi is sent threw usb and that is very nice, you can also record automation on the 808 and export it into your daw, the faders are also motorized so you can scare the fuck out of any unsuspecting friends,

ah fun times...

[nathanallenpinard]

Cheapest I coud find was on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ROLAND-MC-808-SAMPLI NG-GROOVEBOX-WITH-POWER-SUPPLY_W0QQitemZ 360205103693QQcmdZViewItemQQptZKeyboards _MIDI?hash=item53dde5b24d

[loansindi]

I'm not really sure the mc808 would be an appropriate solution, given maestro isonly looking for control, not sound production.

[nathanallenpinard]

At 11/9/09 04:10 PM, loansindi wrote: I'm not really sure the mc808 would be an appropriate solution, given maestro isonly looking for control, not sound production.

That's true, but motorized faders are the only reason why I'd buy another interface.

Not having motorized fades sucks quite a bit. Because you often screw up your other channels because you switch scenes (or whatever the board calls it) and the fader is in a new position.

[jarrydn]

Behringer BCF2000. 8 motorized faders, 8 roatary encoders. Numerous buttons. DAW transport controls. Some dude bought like 4 of these, and 4 BCRs, and made a wicked ghetto Icon style control surface :)

/THREAD.

[loansindi]

nice one jarrydn. My only concern would be that behringer gear kind of sucks sometimes, and 8 motorized faders in a sub $300 unit seems a bit chintzy.

otherwise, it looks pretty sweet.

[jarrydn]

Very true :). But unfortunately, there's not a whole lot else that you can get for $200 or less.

[EchozAurora]

Actually, Behringer stuff has been getting a lot more reliable recently. Still budget minded, yes. But overall, their recent ventures have produced some very solid stuff.

I run a little Xenyx mixer/preamp as a portable solution for when I need to hook up multiple deck setups to an amp without an in-house mixer and/or just need a way to run my mic.

I've also heard great things about their new line of PAs that came out last year. Heavy as hell supposedly, but the components are solid and hard to beat for the price. Just gotta do your research.

[jarrydn]

I personally find that Behringer really cheap out on quality control. I've purchased a few bits and pieces that ended up DOA.

I'm really worried that my reverb unit is going to pack up at any point, because it seems to happen to ALOT of them. Which sucks, because it's a fantastic reverb unit otherwise :[

[EchozAurora]

As I was saying... recently.

And that applies to things that were designed recently.. as in.. past year or so.

Behringer has released entire lines of stuff that were utter shit. LIke, not just the occasional bad unit, but... ...let's compare it to the Xbox 360. You know it's going to die, just not when.

Like their DJX stuff.. well.. their DJ mixers in general. Wouldn't buy one.

Of course... avoid lemons altogether by buying a 2 year or so extended warranty and you're golden.

I do that on all equipment nowadays that is over $100 or so.

[loansindi]

At 11/9/09 09:08 PM, EchozAurora wrote: As I was saying... recently.

I'm not gonna entirely withdraw my reservations about the company. You can't build a reputation for unfortunate build quality and turn it around quickly.

[MaestroRage]

If only I lived in the states

I'm definitely going to pick up one of these. I don't expect very heavy use so I'm not thinking it'll break. But as Echoz said, 2 year warranty at the minimum to make it a worthwhile purchase.