Studio Mixers

[ellaguru]

hi
i have many machines and i would like to listen many of them together one day or another. and record them together to.

would you recommend a studio mixer?
conditions:

1)not less than 4 stereo tracks (well, if theres good 4 track dj mixer...)
2)eq
3)no noise (if it's possible) also to record the music trough it.
4)price: 400/500€ (273/342usd) max

thanx

[hurlingdervish]

with all the stuff you got you should maybe be looking at a 8 tracks and maybe an AUX send for your effects and KP2

[ellaguru]

with all the stuff you got you should maybe be looking at a 8 tracks and maybe an AUX send for your effects and KP2

not bad HD. this could be a good feature also for all the other SP i got (and the ST too..)

[V-F!]

Not sure if you use a daw, but a motu ultralite or a used digi002 would get you 8 ins that you could also multi track. I think you could get on of those for close to 500.

[ellaguru]

Not sure if you use a daw, but a motu ultralite or a used digi002 would get you 8 ins that you could also multi track. I think you could get on of those for close to 500.

thanx
but for now i'm searching for a mixer. i record all things on hardware (digital/analog recorders) then i trasfer some tracks to ableton live.
the motu is a real beast indeed.

[chemisferio]

I have a Soundcraft Compact 10, and I think it would suit you perfectly. You have 6 stereo inputs (plus 4 mono), and the signal routing is designed for recording gear (you have switches to select what goes to either of the 3 outputs). Its noise level is almost zero, and it has a very transparent EQ (although it is similar to that of a DJ mixer, not of much use for studio: only 3 non-parametric bands, ranging from -12 to +12dB).
However, it costs way less than your budget, so perhaps you are looking for something more professional? Have you considered a digital mixer?

[ellaguru]

I have a Soundcraft Compact 10, and I think it would suit you perfectly. You have 6 stereo inputs (plus 4 mono), and the signal routing is designed for recording gear (you have switches to select what goes to either of the 3 outputs). Its noise level is almost zero, and it has a very transparent EQ (although it is similar to that of a DJ mixer, not of much use for studio: only 3 non-parametric bands, ranging from -12 to +12dB).
However, it costs way less than your budget, so perhaps you are looking for something more professional? Have you considered a digital mixer?

thanx!
the soundcraft sounds fine....6 INs are good for me; has it send/return for fx things?
anyway i don't know any digital mixer...some advice?

[chemisferio]

No aux busses on the Compact 10, I'm afraid. This is the kind of thing I meant when I said "more professional". If you want FX send/return you need a more expensive mixer (with many more useless mic inputs and the same amount of stereo line inputs): http://www.thomann.de/es/yamaha_mg_166c_usb.htm
As to digital mixers, I have no idea. A long time ago there was the Behringer DDX3216, which had a great reputation and was cheap enough, but nowadays I don't know which cheap alternatives are worth it. Maybe someone here has more experience with digital mixers and can recommend one.

[ellaguru]

No aux busses on the Compact 10, I'm afraid. This is the kind of thing I meant when I said "more professional". If you want FX send/return you need a more expensive mixer (with many more useless mic inputs and the same amount of stereo line inputs): http://www.thomann.de/es/yamaha_mg_166c_usb.htm

thanx
i don't know this, but seems that yamaha make good mixers, i see this because every music place (live or not) got one...

As to digital mixers, I have no idea. A long time ago there was the Behringer DDX3216, which had a great reputation and was cheap enough, but nowadays I don't know which cheap alternatives are worth it. Maybe someone here has more experience with digital mixers and can recommend one.

personally i'm afraid every time i hear the Behringer label. i had bad experience with some product ot them. but who knows...

[cartesia]

if you can afford it, look at the mackie VLZ mixers..

if the mackies are a bit too expensive, the yamaha MG series is decent for budget..

one thing to note - with noise, you need to use the pre-gains properly, rather than crank up the main gain controls - otherwise you introduce a bit of noise if you just crank each track's main gain and the master gain up to like +6.

[ellaguru]

if you can afford it, look at the mackie VLZ mixers..

if the mackies are a bit too expensive, the yamaha MG series is decent for budget..

one thing to note - with noise, you need to use the pre-gains properly, rather than crank up the main gain controls - otherwise you introduce a bit of noise if you just crank each track's main gain and the master gain up to like +6.

thanx
i will look for the mackie.
apparently those yamaha too are not bad at all...

[ellaguru]

how many watts it has to have? 30watt are few or not? i don't know things like this...

[PHeMoX]

30Watt is a whole lot. Especially since you will use it in a home studio and not on a live stage. I think the 30Watt is mostly about output master gain.

( By the way, with that many pieces of gear, you should be looking at a mixing console, instead of a regular analog / digital mixer. )

[ellaguru]

30Watt is a whole lot. Especially since you will use it in a home studio and not on a live stage. I think the 30Watt is mostly about output master gain.

( By the way, with that many pieces of gear, you should be looking at a mixing console, instead of a regular analog / digital mixer. )

thanx
but a mixing how much does it costs?
i thought about some yamaha mg series, not expensive. for me 4 to 6 channels is ok; i don't want to connect all the machines togheter, it would be too much for me...

[PHeMoX]

Yeah, the Yamaha MGs are excellent.

You will want to look at the Yamaha MG 16 6 CX i think. That offers a whole lot of features for a good price, especially when you're going for a second-hand one.

You could look at the Phonic MU 1822 X series too. Loads of useful features, like solo groups and subgroups. It usually goes for the same price.

You'll have to think about how many channels you want your mixer to have and how many pieces of gear you want to connect simultaneously. Do you want your mixer to have FX or not?

I think with a 300-400€ budget there is a whole lot on the market you could actually go for.

When it comes to the best brand, I'd say that would be Mackie. Secondbest are Yamahas, then perhaps the Phonics and after that with price/features in mind probably Behringer mixers (they aren't that bad actually, but the mic pre-amps aren't great).

400/500€ (273/342usd)

Uhm, oh you meant 400/500$ and 273/342€ ? I think the ones I mentioned should go for about that on the secondhand markets.