Recommendations for a compact mixer?

[Elk]

I am a recording hobbyist as well as a classical music performer. I would like to expand my recording setup (Avalon 2022 mic pre direct to Tascam DV-RA1000) to allow for the occasional multi-mic setup. For example, a stereo pair on the ensemble and another remote stereo pair for room sound.

Thus, I am looking for a good sounding compact mixer.

I played with a Behringer 6 channel that I borrowed. It is clearly made down to a price with a crispy, glassy sound. It also obscures detail.

I have also tried a Mackie 1202 VLZ-Pro. This mixer sounds vastly better with much greater detail and without the crispiness of the Behringer.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice sounding compact mixer? Ideally I would like six mic inputs so that I can really play with multi-mic'ing, but smaller is fine also. It will do double duty for remote live recording and as a desktop mixer in my home studio.

Thanks!

[Steve Hoffman]

Sorry, no. I've never heard a good sounding one (at least for under 5k). You'd have to build one. While you are at it, build one for me as well.

[Elk]

:)

That was speedy! You must live in my computer somewhere.

Any opinion on the best of the bad or brands to consider as a compromise?

[phish]

i have a yamaha 10/2 without the effects and i find the sound to be ok. much better than the comparable behringer and better than the mackie one you spoke of.

[MichaelR]

A TL Valve console might be worth looking at
http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/docs_07/product_07/M1.shtml

I would love one of these !!


You could try the Mackie Onyx - probably the best of the low / mid end.


Michael

[Steve Hoffman]

A TL Valve console might be worth looking at
http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/docs_07/product_07/M1.shtml



Michael

Tried it, didn't like it; thin and watery not to mention overpriced.

There really isn't a small mixer that meets the specs of audiophile recording or mixing. Just no such animal.

I use this old valve Ampex MX-35 mic/line mixer; sounds wonderful:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/s1-3.shtml

[axnyslie]

I don't even use a mixer anymore. Only the MOTU 828MKII interface with it's own CueMix software which puts faders and pans on each input. That could be a good option for you if you use the MOTU 896HD (http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/896/) it gives you several mic preamps and 192kHz sample rate.

I use a couple tube channel processors as well with my interface for nice tube based analog preamps and compressors.

[ROLO46]

Sonosax.....

[acjetnut]

I don't even use a mixer anymore. Only the MOTU 828MKII interface with it's own CueMix software which puts faders and pans on each input. That could be a good option for you if you use the MOTU 896HD (http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/896/) it gives you several mic preamps and 192kHz sample rate.

I use a couple tube channel processors as well with my interface for nice tube based analog preamps and compressors.

no no no!!! Sorry, but I used to have a motu 828 mkII and the preamps and a/d on that thing are truly aweful. I have a mackie 1402 vlz-pro (six preamps) and its decent. The preamps are a little "mushy", but are very musical sounding and you can get away with good recordings for a more "rock" (electric instruments) type setup. It may not suit more orchestral-type recording, however.

to hear a sample using the mackie vlz-pro, go to:

http://familyjunction.org/music.html

Listen to the song "Rainbow Moustache". It was tracked live completely through my mackie mixer, and gives a good feel for how the preamps sound.


How much are you looking to spend? I would recommend a sytek rack preamp (four channels). The channels without the brown burr optional opamps are very transparent, quiet, and clean, which probably would suit what you want to record. However, they run at around $800 per rack.

[axnyslie]

I'll take your word for it since I have never used the built-in preamps on it. Black Lion Audio does mods on budget MOTU, Digi, and M-Audio gear to improve the inherent weak A/Ds on these units.

[ROLO46]

Sonosax SX6

6 channels of the finest Swiss mic pre's

Proper EQ (parametric)

Limiter on all channels

Fantastic construction

Self powered (D cells ) or mains

Direct out on all channels

P&G linear faders

Proper meters

Check out the motion picture sound websites for S/H sonos

Might cost 5k but they are the BEST.

Roger IMHO

[Elk]

Great help and suggestions so far. While far ranging, this helps.

The SX-S 6 (with 6 inputs) is $11,255 or $16, 660.00, depending on which price list you use. :eek:

I have also considered getting a Metric Halo or Millenia HV-3D.

[EC3970]

There is an excellent 4 channel - The API 3124MB+ - little more than 3000. Worth every dollar.

[Kent Teffeteller]

Hi,

The Ampex MX 35 mixer is superb but hard to find. The small Studer battery powered desks are very excellent when recapped. Otherwise, homebrew is your only real alternative here.

[EC3970]

There is an excellent 4 channel - The API 3124MB+ - little more than 3000. Worth every dollar.

A bad photo - but here I'm recording a band with it live to open reel. It's sitting on top of two Dolby A/SR units with a backup 4 track cassette above it.
Afterwards I use it as a mixer to two track.

[ROLO46]

Apogee Duet two channel pre with 75 db of gain and HiRez has just been released

This with Logic 8 (which has halved in price) means 1k buys a top pro system for a Mac.

Still love a Sono though......

Roger IMHO

[Gerry]

ATI 8mx2. At about $3000 it isn't cheap, but it has eight good mic pres, bypassable limiters (if you want 'em) and a fairly deep master section. Toggle power switch on a single-rackspace mixer is kinda dumb though.

[MichaelR]

Tried it, didn't like it; thin and watery not to mention overpriced.

There really isn't a small mixer that meets the specs of audiophile recording or mixing. Just no such animal.

I use this old valve Ampex MX-35 mic/line mixer; sounds wonderful:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/s1-3.shtml

Thats a shame - certainly looks the business though !

There is also the neve summing mixer - no preamps or eq though, just mixing.

http://www.ams-neve.com/html/models/Outboard/88__Series/8816/

I reckon there is a big gap in the market for a top flight, small mixer .. if there was something out there for about 1.5 to 2 k I would buy one !!




Michael

[BeatleFred]

I'm not sure what your price range is, but a vintage Teac Model 2, or 2A can be had on Ebay for merely $100 or so. Having the MB-20 meter bridge is an added plus. This was matching mixer to the Teac A-3440 four track.

[Dan]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice sounding compact mixer?

I think you are going to get a LOT of responses from $50 to more than $5000. What is your budget?

If you are talking under $1000 I like the Soundcraft M-series. Allen & Heath or the Mackie VLZ series would work too. Stay away from Behringer.

[The Wanderer]

For $129.00, how about the Yamaha MG102C?

[Elk]

Thanks everyone!

I feel a little better that I was having trouble making any initial determinations as to what might both work and sound good; there are more options that I was initially aware of. I can find lots of inexpensive little mixers but I do want at least good sound quality - I don't expect excellent sound for what I am willing to spend but don't want to be completely frustrated by the equipment either.

Budget - around $1,000.00 but plus or minus depending on what I find.

Ideally I would like 5-6 mic pres, with some line ins as well. Good basic sound on the line ins is more important than the pre-amps as I can use my Avalon and a few other mic pres to feed the mixer when I want to do the absolute best I can. However, some times I don't want to haul all the equipment to location, such as for rehearsal recordings, etc.

Thus, my comments about sound quality - I appreciate that I need to compromise.

The Behringers I have played with are yucky (technical term).

I admit to an anti-Yamaha bias as their preamps and amps traditionally sounded cold to me - but I haven't listened to any in a number of years. Do their smaller mixers sound OK?

The Mackie VLZ-Pro that I am borrowing right now sounds OK but I am not excited enough to immediately go out and buy my own. I have not heard their Onyx mixers however and am interested and willing to spend the money if they are good.

I will check out the suggestions made so far and appreciate any additional thoughts and ideas anyone may have.

[The Wanderer]

For $129.00, how about the Yamaha MG102C?

I think that the Yamaha MG102C is the successor to the Yamaha MG 10 2 mixer, which my research shows, seemed to score high marks.

For example:
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=225257

My way of thinking is that a mixer should be a neutral intermediary to sound, operating mostly like a switchboard - bells and whistles unnecessary and unwelcome.

[Elk]

My way of thinking is that a mixer should be a neutral intermediary to sound, operating mostly like a switchboard - bells and whistles unnecessary and unwelcome.

Exactly! I would rather the money go into a good basic circuit than into anything else.

[ROLO46]

Just bought a Sonosax SX 8

20 yrs old

Fair condition , needs TLC.

£600.

Will be a classic I hope.

They are out there ,especially in Hollywood.

Check out the reseller sites

It can be done on a budget.

Roger IMHO