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
Quote from: Chuck on April 22, 2006, 09:41:46 PM
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
Mackie 1202 VLZ ;D
I use the Yamaha MG10/2...love it!
It had the best metering...peak lights on all 4 mic ins...thats a key feature.
Quote from: Roving Sign on April 23, 2006, 11:01:57 AM
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.
IMO whatever mixer you choose make sure it has solo's on it. Key feature for matrix.
Quote from: tapermark on April 23, 2006, 11:42:49 AM
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.
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.
I just found this:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--SPIRW5650
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.