Mixer recommendation? at DVinfo.net

Jeremiah Rickert · January 12th, 2018, 06:07 PM

I'm in the market for a new audio mixer for live events. Anyone have any recommendations? I have been using an inexpensive Behringer for a while (purchased because it would run on 9 Volt batteries) but as I've transitioned from video out in the field to live events, it's too much work in a one-man crew situation to make the Behringer sound decent.

$300-$350 range is what I'm thinking. I only need 10 channels or so, I don't need FX. I would like to have USB.

Soundcraft? Mackie? Yamaha? Allen & Heath?

Thanks!

Rick Reineke · January 12th, 2018, 09:18 PM

What kind of live events? Ten channels for 10 mics? Does it need the battery power option, In any case, $350 ls low. At that price, and if you only need four or six mic channels, a pre-owned Mackie VLZ series mixer can't be beat for quality and reliability.

Jeremiah Rickert · January 13th, 2018, 01:15 AM

I'd like to have a minimum of 6 XLR's. I no longer require a battery power option. I record a lot of plays and choir concerts.

Soundcraft and Mackie both make mixers that meet my requirements. Allen & Heath have a mixer that allows you to send 4 discrete tracks to your computer via USB, something I found intriguing, but other features on the mixer didn't seem that great. (Only 4 XLRs for example).

There are both Soundcraft and Mackie in the same range.

This is the Mackie that I was considering: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2855/KBID/3801

Here's the Soundcraft: https://www.amazon.com/Soundcraft-EP...undcraft+mixer

Thanks for the response, I appreciate it.

Gary Nattrass · January 13th, 2018, 03:42 AM

Check out the Yamaha analogue mixers as they have some nice features like channel compressors and multi bus outputs the MG16UX may be a contender and whilst a little more it gives a lot of features that may be useful: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MG16XU

I have an older 10 channel one and a larger one with power amps built in for PA and find them very good value for money.

David Peterson · January 17th, 2018, 07:45 PM

For live events I'd be looking into one of the Behringer X32 series.

John Nantz · January 17th, 2018, 09:54 PM

And what ever you get, if it has sliders and pots, I'd recommend keeping a dust cover over it when not being used.

Last summer I picked up a nice older 8-channel unit for $10 because it didn't work very well as several channels weren't functioning (always open for a fix-it project). As it turned out, several of the sliders were dirty, including the main ones, and after doing some cleaning on them (difficult to do) they got back to working.

Now it is kept covered. Sliders especially, and pots, can still cause problems but the less dust the better. I'm still also in the market for a mixer and an audio interface but there are too many choices. The search has taken a back seat to other efforts for the time being.

Jeremiah Rickert · January 19th, 2018, 06:33 PM

I usually keep mine stored in the box it came in.

I'm curious about the analog mixers with multiple bus, it's not like a digital mixer where you hit a button and all the sliders jump. How can you adjust the levels for each bus?

I'm currently going back and forth between a Yamaha model and a Mackie. I have used Behringer before, it's what my current board is, but I have found that you get what you pay for with those. They don't seem to have a very good reputation as far as reviews from the live audio professionals that I know. Of course most of them use $1500-2000 boards, hehe.

Gary Nattrass · January 20th, 2018, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremiah Rickert

I usually keep mine stored in the box it came in.

I'm curious about the analog mixers with multiple bus, it's not like a digital mixer where you hit a button and all the sliders jump. How can you adjust the levels for each bus?

I'm currently going back and forth between a Yamaha model and a Mackie. I have used Behringer before, it's what my current board is, but I have found that you get what you pay for with those. They don't seem to have a very good reputation as far as reviews from the live audio professionals that I know. Of course most of them use $1500-2000 boards, hehe.

They have group faders for the buses. Group 1+2 and 3+4 on the Yamaha.

Steven Digges · January 20th, 2018, 07:32 AM

Get the Mackie. Granted they are not high end studio boards. They are made to be kicked around in road cases and survive small time touring band use.

I have an old CFX12 that spent years traveling "motor freight" around the country. In the end the Anvil case is so beat up it will hardly latch closed anymore. The Mackie still works.

Kind Regards,

Steve

January 12th, 2018, 06:07 PM	#1
Jeremiah Rickert Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 494	Mixer recommendation? I'm in the market for a new audio mixer for live events. Anyone have any recommendations? I have been using an inexpensive Behringer for a while (purchased because it would run on 9 Volt batteries) but as I've transitioned from video out in the field to live events, it's too much work in a one-man crew situation to make the Behringer sound decent. $300-$350 range is what I'm thinking. I only need 10 channels or so, I don't need FX. I would like to have USB. Soundcraft? Mackie? Yamaha? Allen & Heath? Thanks!

January 12th, 2018, 09:18 PM	#2
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Mixer recommendation? What kind of live events? Ten channels for 10 mics? Does it need the battery power option, In any case, $350 ls low. At that price, and if you only need four or six mic channels, a pre-owned Mackie VLZ series mixer can't be beat for quality and reliability.

January 13th, 2018, 01:15 AM	#3
Jeremiah Rickert Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 494	Re: Mixer recommendation? I'd like to have a minimum of 6 XLR's. I no longer require a battery power option. I record a lot of plays and choir concerts. Soundcraft and Mackie both make mixers that meet my requirements. Allen & Heath have a mixer that allows you to send 4 discrete tracks to your computer via USB, something I found intriguing, but other features on the mixer didn't seem that great. (Only 4 XLRs for example). There are both Soundcraft and Mackie in the same range. This is the Mackie that I was considering: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2855/KBID/3801 Here's the Soundcraft: https://www.amazon.com/Soundcraft-EP...undcraft+mixer Thanks for the response, I appreciate it.

January 13th, 2018, 03:42 AM	#4
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Mixer recommendation? Check out the Yamaha analogue mixers as they have some nice features like channel compressors and multi bus outputs the MG16UX may be a contender and whilst a little more it gives a lot of features that may be useful: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MG16XU I have an older 10 channel one and a larger one with power amps built in for PA and find them very good value for money. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

January 17th, 2018, 07:45 PM	#5
David Peterson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 361	Re: Mixer recommendation? For live events I'd be looking into one of the Behringer X32 series. __________________ http://IronFilm.co.nz/Sound/ (Location Sound Recordist based in New Zealand) http://www.YouTube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

January 17th, 2018, 09:54 PM	#6
John Nantz Trustee Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,254	Re: Mixer recommendation? And what ever you get, if it has sliders and pots, I'd recommend keeping a dust cover over it when not being used. Last summer I picked up a nice older 8-channel unit for $10 because it didn't work very well as several channels weren't functioning (always open for a fix-it project). As it turned out, several of the sliders were dirty, including the main ones, and after doing some cleaning on them (difficult to do) they got back to working. Now it is kept covered. Sliders especially, and pots, can still cause problems but the less dust the better. I'm still also in the market for a mixer and an audio interface but there are too many choices. The search has taken a back seat to other efforts for the time being.

January 19th, 2018, 06:33 PM	#7
Jeremiah Rickert Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newberg, Oregon Posts: 494	Re: Mixer recommendation? I usually keep mine stored in the box it came in. I'm curious about the analog mixers with multiple bus, it's not like a digital mixer where you hit a button and all the sliders jump. How can you adjust the levels for each bus? I'm currently going back and forth between a Yamaha model and a Mackie. I have used Behringer before, it's what my current board is, but I have found that you get what you pay for with those. They don't seem to have a very good reputation as far as reviews from the live audio professionals that I know. Of course most of them use $1500-2000 boards, hehe.

January 20th, 2018, 07:32 AM	#9
Steven Digges Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,828	Re: Mixer recommendation? Get the Mackie. Granted they are not high end studio boards. They are made to be kicked around in road cases and survive small time touring band use. I have an old CFX12 that spent years traveling "motor freight" around the country. In the end the Anvil case is so beat up it will hardly latch closed anymore. The Mackie still works. Kind Regards, Steve __________________ www.CorporateShow.com Been at this so long I'm rounding my years of experience down...not up!