Topic: Small portable mixer recommendations needed fast...

[Chuck]

What mixers are you guys using for matrixes and on the fly SBD/ audience mic mixing and recording?
I spent the whole day looking for a small (minimum 4 channel) mixer today. There must be ten mixers in the $100 range that I looked at. Which ones are best? I saw the Peavey, Yamaha, Wharfedale, Tascam, Tapco, Behringer and on and on... Are they all basically the same? Are they all crap? I have listened to most of them, in  the stores, but it is difficult at best to make a decision based on what you hear in a music store with some kid playing the bass right next to you while you are auditioning a mixer 

I need two channels (with phantom power) for microphones and two for line/sbd feed. AC power is not a problem. Clean sound and ease of use are key.

If you have a mixer you really like, or one you really don't like, I'd like to hear your opinion and the reason you feel that way. I'll be making a purchase ASAP for a project later in the week.

Chuck

[poorlyconditioned]

What mixers are you guys using for matrixes and on the fly SBD/ audience mic mixing and recording?
I spent the whole day looking for a small (minimum 4 channel) mixer today. There must be ten mixers in the $100 range that I looked at. Which ones are best? I saw the Peavey, Yamaha, Wharfedale, Tascam, Tapco, Behringer and on and on... Are they all basically the same? Are they all crap? I have listened to most of them, in  the stores, but it is difficult at best to make a decision based on what you hear in a music store with some kid playing the bass right next to you while you are auditioning a mixer 

I need two channels (with phantom power) for microphones and two for line/sbd feed. AC power is not a problem. Clean sound and ease of use are key.

If you have a mixer you really like, or one you really don't like, I'd like to hear your opinion and the reason you feel that way. I'll be making a purchase ASAP for a project later in the week.

Chuck

I don't think it matters much in that price range.  It comes down to features: ac/dc power (ext. power brick needed), phantom power needed (can it do this from DC power), (apparent) build quality, connectors, metering, etc.

  Richard

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

Mackie 1202 VLZ   

[Roving Sign]

I use the Yamaha MG10/2...love it!

It had the best metering...peak lights on all 4 mic ins...thats a key feature.

[Chuck]

I use the Yamaha MG10/2...love it!

It had the best metering...peak lights on all 4 mic ins...thats a key feature.

I actually looked at this mixer yesterday and liked it. It seems to have decent meters.
Are the mic pre-amps OK? Basically what I'm going to do is take a SBD feed and mix in enough audience (from mics on stage pointed at the audience) to make it sound good on the fly. It's been a while since I've bought a mixer or any otboard gear like that other than my two track taping stuff. The Yamaha dealer in town was actually pushing the Peavey equivilent over the Yamaha.

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

IMO whatever mixer you choose make sure it has solo's on it.  Key feature for matrix.

[Chuck]

IMO whatever mixer you choose make sure it has solo's on it.  Key feature for matrix.

Yes, I agree, that is the feature this is really missing in the mixers I have been looking at.

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

Great deal.  This is what I have....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mackie-1202-VLZ-Mixer-MINT-Condition_W0QQitemZ7405652146QQcategoryZ41473QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There's actually a ton of em on ebay.  I'd go that route if I were you.  Just make sure it's a vlz.  They have solos.

[Chuck]

I just found this:

http://www.zzounds.com/item--SPIRW5650

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

Even though it has 2 more pres I'd still go for the Mackie above.  The mackie pres are nice although I still run external pre's before it anyways.  Just my opinion and it ain't worth much.  Good luck Chuck.