Rolls v Azden at DVinfo.net

Jonathan Lee · July 13th, 2008, 01:20 PM

Hi,
I'm looking for a good but simple and straightforward mixer for my Z1. I was looking on BH Photo and saw the Azden FMX 20 2 channel field mixer which looked good but also the Rolls MX124 4 channel submixer. In the UK Im not that familar with these manufacturers and I know in this business you get what you pay for, so if anyone has any expereience/opinions of these or other products I would appreciate a bit of info.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Gary Nattrass · July 13th, 2008, 06:59 PM

Hi havent used either of those but i ended up buying the eng-44 mixer from pink noise systems as it gave me all the features I needed.

Check it out at:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-channel-Port...3286.m14.l1318

I have used sqn mixers for years in my broadcast career but find this a good quality budget mixer with a lot of features for the ££

John at Pink noise is a gent and good to deal with, PM me if you want further details of the eng-44.

Jonathan Lee · July 15th, 2008, 05:29 PM

Thanks Gary, looks really good.

Jonathan

Gary Nattrass · July 16th, 2008, 02:45 AM

Just to add the eng-44 is a very quiet mixer, it has tons of features and the meters are very accurate. It also has a reasonable limiter, the only down side is the switches are a bit flimsy but for the money it is good value.

I have mine in a petrol case so that it gets protected from knocks, I can also fit three radio mics and a few extra bits so that the whole lot is self contained.

Ngo Vinh-Hoi · July 16th, 2008, 09:05 AM

BTW,

For U.S. buyers, the ENG-44 is marketed by SignVideo (www.signvideo.com), although I'm not sure if they're the OEM. It's also sold by B&H, although it's currently out of stock. Great price point in any case.

Steve Oakley · July 16th, 2008, 06:18 PM

14ma total phantom power across 4 connectors would mean pretty much powering more then one mic would be pushing it. 3 lower power mics at 5ma would just put this over the edge. as per spec it should be 20ma per channel.if you want to run a couple of lavs and a condensor overhead, you would most likely have problems. the freq response was not particularly flat either at +-1.5db, and the low cuts at -6db per octave is not really very aggressive and would easily let some handling noise thru. it should be more like -12db.... but you get what you pay for.

Gary Nattrass · July 16th, 2008, 06:42 PM

I take the points on the roll off and the phantom power but hey +- 1.5db freq response that is nothing to write home about as you cant hear a difference such as that, most pro analogue gear wont be much worse than that.

Also most mics have a top end 2k hump greater than +1.5db

I run mine with a rode with -10 db bass cut on the mic and -6 on the mixer so it is enough for most jobs and the other three channels have radio mics so no phantom required, but as you say if users need lots of power then an external battery supply will be needed as the AA batts will not be enough.

Vvicente Villaescusa · September 5th, 2008, 12:10 PM

I dont know about the quality of the ENG mixer as I havent tested yet, though for the price sounds quite good.
Anyway John at Pink Noise Systems got other offers with really good prices,
Pinknoise Systems, its not publicity but I have dealt and worked with him before and he is a really cool guy and will be able to advice you.
Good luck!
Cheers
Vicente

Chris Barcellos · September 5th, 2008, 01:01 PM

Bought the ENG-44 last month, and used it in a 48 hour film contest shoot. My sound guy was happy with results. Had one problem with a bad bit of sound, though I think it came from a mic issue, and not related to ENG-44.

Chris Luker · September 8th, 2008, 10:08 AM

I've been to the Rolls factory here in Salt Lake. Nice people, great service! +1 for Rolls.
I have the MX442 and used it this weekend to shoot a short. Very solid, built nice and strong.
I had a little problem with a Neumann km184 distorting (had the gain up a little too high), but on the Azden SGM2X audio was fine.

Jonathan Lee · September 8th, 2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks guys for all the info. Actually I was quite sold on the Sign 4 channel until I saw this the other day.

Azden Corporation - Wireless Microphones For Working People - FMX-42 4-Channel Portabale Mixer

It's roughly the same price as the Sign (at B&H anyway $549.00 rather than the MRP of $750). The only major difference seems to be the analogue meters as opposed to the Sign's digital ones. I assume pro's still prefer the analogue readouts?

Regards,

Jonathan

Gary Nattrass · September 9th, 2008, 02:05 AM

Looks a lot like the rolls one, my preference is for led bargraph meters as these are easier to glance at than a vu needle.

Bill Pryor · September 9th, 2008, 03:11 PM

I've noticed that some of those cheaper mixers have only one XLR output and some don't have a master knob. Just something to look out for. The SignVideo has 2 XLR outs and master control; I don't know about the Azden.

Marty Wein · September 10th, 2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

The SignVideo has 2 XLR outs and master control; I don't know about the Azden.

So does the Azden.

Bill Pryor · September 10th, 2008, 09:09 AM

Good. I couldn't tell by the little picture. They both seem pretty decent for mixers in that low price range.

July 13th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#1
Jonathan Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 83	Rolls v Azden Hi, I'm looking for a good but simple and straightforward mixer for my Z1. I was looking on BH Photo and saw the Azden FMX 20 2 channel field mixer which looked good but also the Rolls MX124 4 channel submixer. In the UK Im not that familar with these manufacturers and I know in this business you get what you pay for, so if anyone has any expereience/opinions of these or other products I would appreciate a bit of info. Thanks, Jonathan

July 13th, 2008, 06:59 PM	#2
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Hi havent used either of those but i ended up buying the eng-44 mixer from pink noise systems as it gave me all the features I needed. Check it out at:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-channel-Port...3286.m14.l1318 I have used sqn mixers for years in my broadcast career but find this a good quality budget mixer with a lot of features for the ££ John at Pink noise is a gent and good to deal with, PM me if you want further details of the eng-44. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

July 16th, 2008, 02:45 AM	#4
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Just to add the eng-44 is a very quiet mixer, it has tons of features and the meters are very accurate. It also has a reasonable limiter, the only down side is the switches are a bit flimsy but for the money it is good value. I have mine in a petrol case so that it gets protected from knocks, I can also fit three radio mics and a few extra bits so that the whole lot is self contained. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

July 16th, 2008, 06:42 PM	#7
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	I take the points on the roll off and the phantom power but hey +- 1.5db freq response that is nothing to write home about as you cant hear a difference such as that, most pro analogue gear wont be much worse than that. Also most mics have a top end 2k hump greater than +1.5db I run mine with a rode with -10 db bass cut on the mic and -6 on the mixer so it is enough for most jobs and the other three channels have radio mics so no phantom required, but as you say if users need lots of power then an external battery supply will be needed as the AA batts will not be enough. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

September 5th, 2008, 01:01 PM	#9
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Bought the ENG-44 last month, and used it in a 48 hour film contest shoot. My sound guy was happy with results. Had one problem with a bad bit of sound, though I think it came from a mic issue, and not related to ENG-44. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

July 15th, 2008, 05:29 PM	#3
Jonathan Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 83	Thanks Gary, looks really good. Jonathan

July 16th, 2008, 09:05 AM	#5
Ngo Vinh-Hoi Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 30	BTW, For U.S. buyers, the ENG-44 is marketed by SignVideo (www.signvideo.com), although I'm not sure if they're the OEM. It's also sold by B&H, although it's currently out of stock. Great price point in any case.

July 16th, 2008, 06:18 PM	#6
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	14ma total phantom power across 4 connectors would mean pretty much powering more then one mic would be pushing it. 3 lower power mics at 5ma would just put this over the edge. as per spec it should be 20ma per channel.if you want to run a couple of lavs and a condensor overhead, you would most likely have problems. the freq response was not particularly flat either at +-1.5db, and the low cuts at -6db per octave is not really very aggressive and would easily let some handling noise thru. it should be more like -12db.... but you get what you pay for.

September 5th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#8
Vvicente Villaescusa Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 52	I dont know about the quality of the ENG mixer as I havent tested yet, though for the price sounds quite good. Anyway John at Pink Noise Systems got other offers with really good prices, Pinknoise Systems, its not publicity but I have dealt and worked with him before and he is a really cool guy and will be able to advice you. Good luck! Cheers Vicente

September 8th, 2008, 10:08 AM	#10
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	I've been to the Rolls factory here in Salt Lake. Nice people, great service! +1 for Rolls. I have the MX442 and used it this weekend to shoot a short. Very solid, built nice and strong. I had a little problem with a Neumann km184 distorting (had the gain up a little too high), but on the Azden SGM2X audio was fine.

September 8th, 2008, 05:46 PM	#11
Jonathan Lee Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 83	Thanks guys for all the info. Actually I was quite sold on the Sign 4 channel until I saw this the other day. Azden Corporation - Wireless Microphones For Working People - FMX-42 4-Channel Portabale Mixer It's roughly the same price as the Sign (at B&H anyway $549.00 rather than the MRP of $750). The only major difference seems to be the analogue meters as opposed to the Sign's digital ones. I assume pro's still prefer the analogue readouts? Regards, Jonathan

September 9th, 2008, 02:05 AM	#12
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Looks a lot like the rolls one, my preference is for led bargraph meters as these are easier to glance at than a vu needle. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

September 9th, 2008, 03:11 PM	#13
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I've noticed that some of those cheaper mixers have only one XLR output and some don't have a master knob. Just something to look out for. The SignVideo has 2 XLR outs and master control; I don't know about the Azden.

September 10th, 2008, 09:09 AM	#15
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Good. I couldn't tell by the little picture. They both seem pretty decent for mixers in that low price range.