I'm totally new to the music making world so I literally know almost nothing about these things. I just found a mixer my brother used to use a while ago and just wondering what this thing does and how it contributes to using my 404?

A mixer allows you to consolidate several different audio sources down to one stereo signal (and more).

One example on how you could use this with your 404 is:

Plug a record player, a CD player, a tape deck, a VCR, a DYD player, a laptop, your girl's iPod EACH into the mixer channel INPUTS.
Then route the mixer channel OUTPUTS directly INTO your 404.
Then you can surf through all types of media and go on a crazy sample spree without having to keep plugging & unplugging cables.
You just silence the inputs you DON'T want to hear.

Mixers are never NOT useful for an audio person. Keep it & freak it!

wow thats pretty sick. Thanks for the info.

I probably shouldn't hijack this thread with my question, but which mixers do you guys use? At the moment I just plug in whatever I need without a mixer in between.

Yeah, I've never used and audio mixer just 2-channel dj mixers. What's good at a low cost?

I don't currently use a mixer either (for recording).
But I have a P.O.S. little Nady 6 Channel mixer JUST for listening to stuff from different sources- computer, CD, record, etc... but I wouldn't dare run a recording signal through it.

Before I record a something into pc or Adat I jam a lot. I'm running
drummachine and 2 or 3 synths and sampler at the same time so I need small mixer.
I use Mackie-Tapco 6306 6ch and I find it really clean, preamps are decent,
got one send-return so I can put some outboard FX... I like to jam with best sound as possible...

i got a 12 channel yamaha a few years ago, and it has been a HORSE. no probs, no colouring the sound, only one bus, but that's fine for me. the only turn-off is that the channels are knobs, not faders. but whatevs.

it is considered a 'budget' mixer, but its been awesome and solid, and really the centre of the studio for me.

i recommend the yamahas.

Cool. Yeah, I probably don't mind knobs instead of faders that much.

What would be the bare minimum channels I'd need? I've got a synth, a MC-505, MV8800, I'd want to connect one audio output of my PC, perhaps a guitar FX pedal / rack FX and so on. I take it I could use about 6 to 10 channels...

@fauna: What do you have connected to the mixer at all times?

I have a Behringer UB2442FXPRO, I bought it because I want to record live drums and to do that I needed a mixer with 8 direct outs to run with my soundcard and this mixer was the only i could afford with this feature, here in Brazil audio equipments are so expensive. It's a good mixer, I didn't have any problems with it, but it's a Behringer, so I guess I am lucky.

the "new" behringer xenyx series are very improved...and they are cheap also!
I use the soundcraft compact series which is really very nice and easy to use...too bad i bought the small one...

sorry for the delay - i just saw this now.

i don't really have ANYTHING in at all times. for the most part i swap gear in and out, but primarily will run a sampler (404 or 505), an mc-505, maybe the sh-32 and a turntable IN. my outs will be to monitors and to the pc soundcard.

i sometimes route the bus thru to a looping pedal, and then adjust the ratio on each channel strip to the looper if i want it to be recorded by it. i usually route the looper OUT to a channel of its own (rather than the bus return) as that gives me the chance to EQ it.

make sense?

Yeah, makes sense. So you're still plugging stuff in and out all the time basically. Mmmm, that makes me wonder if I really need a mixer, probably not (yet).

well, i keep it hooked up in the 'home studio', but i also go up to the practice space w/ gear.

when i'm working at home, the mixer is essential for recording.

I just copped one of these

AKAI MG1214 mixing desk