Inexpensive Field Mixers at DVinfo.net

Edward Croteau · March 1st, 2005, 11:28 AM

Hello All,
I looked for quite a while but found no adequate previous threads. I am looking for a battery powered field mixer, w/2 channels, & a tone generator...a limiting system would be nice as well. Most of the ones that I have seen w/ these features are at least $800-$1000. Are there any for say <$500 that can be recommended? My brother does sound on feature films & tells me that I can't live without it. Does everybody out there use the tone generators? Does it really give you consistent levels as he argues? Thanks in advance.

Edward Croteau
Red Quill Productions

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 1st, 2005, 11:37 AM

I'm not aware of anything for $500.00 that give you a tone gen, but I don't use a tone gen on a mixer anyway, so I'm not good to give response.

In fact, I use a very low end mixer in the field if I need battery power, I use the Samson Mixpad 4 if I need batteries. It gives me 2 XLR and 2 lines for wireless' or other inputs if I need them. Surprisingly, it's very, very quiet and runs all day on 3 9vol batts.

Jay Massengill · March 1st, 2005, 03:04 PM

The SoundDevices MixPre is around $665 and will meet your requirements.
If you want a tone generator to go with a cheaper mixer, the Behringer cable tester and tone generator is very handy and costs only $50.

Brian Tori · March 2nd, 2005, 09:31 AM

You may want to consider a used Shure M267. This mixer is battery powered, has tone, levels and four inputs. It's an older model that was recently discontinued, but is relatively economical.You could probably find one for under $200.

Jay Massengill · March 2nd, 2005, 10:13 AM

All of those things you said about the M267 are true, but it's not a very quiet mixer compared to the MixPre. It is quieter running on batteries than AC. I chopped the power cord out of mine...
Plus it would be easy to run into one that was going on 30 years old. Mine is over 21 years old. At least they seem to run forever, but I'd still put my money into a newer mixer if I had it available.

Marty Wein · March 2nd, 2005, 12:26 PM

Edward,

Rolls introduced a new 4-channel mixer MX422 (due out in about 2 weeks) that seems to have the features you are looking for. It is not yet posted on their site. However, if it is ok with you I will email you all the info, images, manual etc.

Edward Croteau · March 2nd, 2005, 12:43 PM

Sounds great, e-mail away!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. They are much appreciated.

--Edward Croteau
Red Quill Productions

Steven Digges · March 2nd, 2005, 09:56 PM

I have a Rolls ProMix IV (MX124). I don’t like it, it is noisy and came out of the box with a fader that crackles.

Steve

Nathan Taylor · March 3rd, 2005, 02:05 AM

Hey marty - email me the info on the new mixer if you dont mind?
sobitemybum@yahoo.co.nz

Thanx

Dave Largent · March 3rd, 2005, 05:10 AM

In fact, I use a very low end mixer in the field if I need battery power, I use the Samson Mixpad 4 if I need batteries. It gives me 2 XLR and 2 lines for wireless' or other inputs if I need them. Surprisingly, it's very, very quiet and runs all day on 3 9vol batts. -->>>

Douglass, at one time I was looking at the Mixpad
for a low-cost field mixer, but I thought I heard
it wasn't too quiet. But in your experience
it's decently quiet when run on batteries?

K. Forman · March 3rd, 2005, 06:04 AM

I was using a Korg D12, for about $1000. It had 12 channels, 2 or 4 xlr / 1/4" inputs, several more 1/4' in, mixer, AND a 20 gig hard drive. The downside was no battery. Now, if you could figure out how to hook it up to a battery, you would be set.

March 1st, 2005, 11:28 AM	#1
Edward Croteau New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lincoln, NH Posts: 10	Inexpensive Field Mixers Hello All, I looked for quite a while but found no adequate previous threads. I am looking for a battery powered field mixer, w/2 channels, & a tone generator...a limiting system would be nice as well. Most of the ones that I have seen w/ these features are at least $800-$1000. Are there any for say <$500 that can be recommended? My brother does sound on feature films & tells me that I can't live without it. Does everybody out there use the tone generators? Does it really give you consistent levels as he argues? Thanks in advance. Edward Croteau Red Quill Productions

March 1st, 2005, 11:37 AM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	I'm not aware of anything for $500.00 that give you a tone gen, but I don't use a tone gen on a mixer anyway, so I'm not good to give response. In fact, I use a very low end mixer in the field if I need battery power, I use the Samson Mixpad 4 if I need batteries. It gives me 2 XLR and 2 lines for wireless' or other inputs if I need them. Surprisingly, it's very, very quiet and runs all day on 3 9vol batts. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

March 2nd, 2005, 09:56 PM	#8
Steven Digges Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,828	I have a Rolls ProMix IV (MX124). I don’t like it, it is noisy and came out of the box with a fader that crackles. Steve __________________ www.CorporateShow.com Been at this so long I'm rounding my years of experience down...not up!

March 3rd, 2005, 02:05 AM	#9
Nathan Taylor New Boot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 19	Marty Hey marty - email me the info on the new mixer if you dont mind? sobitemybum@yahoo.co.nz Thanx

March 3rd, 2005, 06:04 AM	#11
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I was using a Korg D12, for about $1000. It had 12 channels, 2 or 4 xlr / 1/4" inputs, several more 1/4' in, mixer, AND a 20 gig hard drive. The downside was no battery. Now, if you could figure out how to hook it up to a battery, you would be set. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

March 1st, 2005, 03:04 PM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	The SoundDevices MixPre is around $665 and will meet your requirements. If you want a tone generator to go with a cheaper mixer, the Behringer cable tester and tone generator is very handy and costs only $50.

March 2nd, 2005, 09:31 AM	#4
Brian Tori Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 408	You may want to consider a used Shure M267. This mixer is battery powered, has tone, levels and four inputs. It's an older model that was recently discontinued, but is relatively economical.You could probably find one for under $200.

March 2nd, 2005, 10:13 AM	#5
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	All of those things you said about the M267 are true, but it's not a very quiet mixer compared to the MixPre. It is quieter running on batteries than AC. I chopped the power cord out of mine... Plus it would be easy to run into one that was going on 30 years old. Mine is over 21 years old. At least they seem to run forever, but I'd still put my money into a newer mixer if I had it available.

March 2nd, 2005, 12:26 PM	#6
Marty Wein Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 229	Edward, Rolls introduced a new 4-channel mixer MX422 (due out in about 2 weeks) that seems to have the features you are looking for. It is not yet posted on their site. However, if it is ok with you I will email you all the info, images, manual etc.

March 2nd, 2005, 12:43 PM	#7
Edward Croteau New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lincoln, NH Posts: 10	Sounds great, e-mail away! Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. They are much appreciated. --Edward Croteau Red Quill Productions

March 3rd, 2005, 05:10 AM	#10
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	In fact, I use a very low end mixer in the field if I need battery power, I use the Samson Mixpad 4 if I need batteries. It gives me 2 XLR and 2 lines for wireless' or other inputs if I need them. Surprisingly, it's very, very quiet and runs all day on 3 9vol batts. -->>> Douglass, at one time I was looking at the Mixpad for a low-cost field mixer, but I thought I heard it wasn't too quiet. But in your experience it's decently quiet when run on batteries?