Using an inexpensive Radio Shack Mixer at DVinfo.net

Jim Quinlan · June 20th, 2004, 06:25 AM

I recently purchased an inexpensive battery operated radio shack audio mixer.

What are the major differences in an inexpensive mixer as opposed to some of the expensive ones (besides the connectors and meters) ?

This one does exactly what I'm trying to accomplish - mix multiple mics/lavs with my Seinheiser wireless unit.

I don't know much about mixers and thought I'd ask if there's any pitfalls in using an inexpensive battery operated mixer.

Boyd Ostroff · June 20th, 2004, 08:21 AM

My experience is that the knobs, sliders and switches on every Radio Shack product I've owned fail very quickly. This has been such a consistent pattern that I stopped buying they products several years ago. In the case of a mixer I'd expect that the pots will get noisy after a bit of use, and even if you aren't mixing live you may find there are bad spots on the sliders where you'll get intermittent noise and have to wiggle them to make good contact. Same thing will probably happen to the input/output jacks.

I actually have a cheap Radio Shack mixer myself which I got maybe 7 years ago. It has seen very light use, but worked OK the last time I tried it. I'd be hesitant to use it during something critical where it might ruin a live performance that couldn't be duplicated though. But since you already have such a mixer why not see how well it holds up? Maybe their build quality has improved over the years.

Jim Quinlan · June 20th, 2004, 11:35 AM

Thanks for the tips Boyd. I'll keep a close eye on it when I need to use it and monitor with headphones jic.

Bryan Beasleigh · June 20th, 2004, 07:37 PM

It's almost a rite of passage. If the mixer works for you and you're satisfied then great. If you need (or just want) more then you haven't really lost that much and it will have been a learning experience.

K. Forman · June 20th, 2004, 08:29 PM

Jim- Which mixer do you have?

Jim Quinlan · June 21st, 2004, 04:22 AM

It says on it "Four channel Stereo Microphone Mixer" Worked well in my tests ... $20.00 from a friend of mine who bought it a year or two ago.

Bryan Beasleigh · June 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM

So for the price of a two four of good canadian beer you can some fun and hopefully a useable tool.

June 20th, 2004, 06:25 AM	#1
Jim Quinlan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 177	Using an inexpensive Radio Shack Mixer I recently purchased an inexpensive battery operated radio shack audio mixer. What are the major differences in an inexpensive mixer as opposed to some of the expensive ones (besides the connectors and meters) ? This one does exactly what I'm trying to accomplish - mix multiple mics/lavs with my Seinheiser wireless unit. I don't know much about mixers and thought I'd ask if there's any pitfalls in using an inexpensive battery operated mixer. __________________ Jim

June 20th, 2004, 11:35 AM	#3
Jim Quinlan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 177	Thanks for the tips Boyd. I'll keep a close eye on it when I need to use it and monitor with headphones jic. __________________ Jim

June 20th, 2004, 07:37 PM	#4
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	It's almost a rite of passage. If the mixer works for you and you're satisfied then great. If you need (or just want) more then you haven't really lost that much and it will have been a learning experience. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

June 20th, 2004, 08:29 PM	#5
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Jim- Which mixer do you have? __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

June 21st, 2004, 04:22 AM	#6
Jim Quinlan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 177	It says on it "Four channel Stereo Microphone Mixer" Worked well in my tests ... $20.00 from a friend of mine who bought it a year or two ago. __________________ Jim

June 20th, 2004, 08:21 AM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	My experience is that the knobs, sliders and switches on every Radio Shack product I've owned fail very quickly. This has been such a consistent pattern that I stopped buying they products several years ago. In the case of a mixer I'd expect that the pots will get noisy after a bit of use, and even if you aren't mixing live you may find there are bad spots on the sliders where you'll get intermittent noise and have to wiggle them to make good contact. Same thing will probably happen to the input/output jacks. I actually have a cheap Radio Shack mixer myself which I got maybe 7 years ago. It has seen very light use, but worked OK the last time I tried it. I'd be hesitant to use it during something critical where it might ruin a live performance that couldn't be duplicated though. But since you already have such a mixer why not see how well it holds up? Maybe their build quality has improved over the years.

June 21st, 2004, 12:23 PM	#7
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	So for the price of a two four of good canadian beer you can some fun and hopefully a useable tool. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"