Budget portable mixer at DVinfo.net

John Mitchell · November 15th, 2006, 01:47 AM

I've been looking at four budget portable mixers - does anyone have any advice on which is best:

Azden FMX-32 3 channel mixer
Rolls MX-422 4 channel mixer
Sign Video ENG-44 4-Channel Mixer
Shure M367 6-Input Portable Mixer With Limiter/VU Meter

I don't know a great deal about field mixers I'm afraid - it'll be used primarily with 2 x Sennheisser wireless lavs a wireless handhel reporter mic and a Rode NTG-1 shotgun.

thanks

Michael Knight · November 15th, 2006, 02:22 AM

We recently bought an ENG-44 and have had excellent results using shotgun and lav mics.

We purchased from Fred Ginsberg of Equipment Emporium in California - the man who wrote the book for the Nagra - and who had considerable input in the design of the ENG-44 (as I recall).

Anyway, you should get some good info from their website, which is extremely informative about many things sound.

Fortunately we had a sound operator who knows her stuff (happens to be an Aussie by the way - now living in NZ - but came to the States to show us a thing or two.

The main thing is - practice practice practice before you do the shoot:-)

http://equipmentemporium.com/

Best.

Michael Knight

Oh yeah...and read the instructions:-)

Seth Bloombaum · November 15th, 2006, 01:01 PM

First, I'd strike the Shure M367 off the list - it's excellent, but not really a field mixer. It's small enough, but would work best on a table, not hanging on your shoulder. They have field mixers, but more costly than your other choices.

Don't know much about rolls & azden - I know there have been some reviews here recently, look for them.

There's some great info on the SignVideo ENG-44 here http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73051

Pieter Saayman · November 15th, 2006, 03:55 PM

I got the Rolls MX422 about 3 weeks ago and I'm very happy with the results.

I'm also using two Sennheisser wireless lavs, a wireless handhel mic and a Sennheisser ME66 shotgun with a wireless adaptor..

Thus far I have no complaints.

Dave Largent · November 16th, 2006, 05:30 AM

With the ENG-44, can you set that up any way
you'd like, such 3 inputs into 1 output, with
the 4th input going straight through to
output #2? Or set it up with 2 inputs
into each output? What I'm wondering
is if you can configure it however you'd like?

How does the gain work on that ENG-44?
Is it per input channel? Of is the
gain on each output? How much gain
is available?

Dave Largent · November 16th, 2006, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

First, I'd strike the Shure M367 off the list

What's the next step up in price above these models
listed by the original poster? Sound Devices?

Does that Shure even offer preamp gain?

Seth Bloombaum · November 19th, 2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Largent

What's the next step up in price above these models
listed by the original poster? Sound Devices?

Does that Shure even offer preamp gain?

Sound Devices MixPre... then the 302? the 302 is a pretty good mixer.

I believe the Shure M367 has mic/line switches - that's it for preamp gain.

Glenn Davidson · November 19th, 2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

I believe the Shure M367 has mic/line switches - that's it for preamp gain.

Correct. Each of the six XLR inputs are switchable to mic or line. Mixer also has phantom power. They are great mixers, but I agree with another comment above that they are not the best for film or video. Shure makes other models just for that application. I do use mine to mix audio into my FX1 when doing event recording at hotels and have be very happy with the results.

Dave Largent · November 19th, 2006, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Bloombaum

Sound Devices MixPre... then the 302? the 302 is a pretty good mixer.

I believe the Shure M367 has mic/line switches - that's it for preamp gain.

The more I see about the ENG-44 the better
value it looks.

Stephen Hall · November 19th, 2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mitchell

I've been looking at four budget portable mixers - does anyone have any advice on which is best:
...
I don't know a great deal about field mixers I'm afraid - it'll be used primarily with 2 x Sennheisser wireless lavs a wireless handhel reporter mic and a Rode NTG-1 shotgun.

thanks

I recently got the Rolls 422. It works great with my Rode NTG2 and NT3 mikes.

Stephen H

Steve Leone · November 20th, 2006, 02:39 PM

I just finished a week of shooting a documentary in NY with the ENG-44...worked flawlessly, the audio was excellent....read the thread Seth posted for my previous review, but I think its a good purchase.

Ty Ford · November 20th, 2006, 07:35 PM

eng-44, light, easy to use.

Dave Largent · November 21st, 2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

eng-44, light, easy to use.

How's the preamp hiss?

Ty Ford · November 21st, 2006, 08:06 AM

I didn't hear any.

Ty

Steve Leone · November 21st, 2006, 10:25 AM

I didnt hear any hiss at all coming out of this mixer.....I have recorded a total of maybe 21-22 hours with this unit (mostly dialogue) since I got it about 3 weeks ago and all of the audio was outstanding.

November 15th, 2006, 01:47 AM	#1
John Mitchell Contributor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 873	Budget portable mixer I've been looking at four budget portable mixers - does anyone have any advice on which is best: Azden FMX-32 3 channel mixer Rolls MX-422 4 channel mixer Sign Video ENG-44 4-Channel Mixer Shure M367 6-Input Portable Mixer With Limiter/VU Meter I don't know a great deal about field mixers I'm afraid - it'll be used primarily with 2 x Sennheisser wireless lavs a wireless handhel reporter mic and a Rode NTG-1 shotgun. thanks

November 15th, 2006, 03:55 PM	#4
Pieter Saayman New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 10	I'm happy with the Rolls I got the Rolls MX422 about 3 weeks ago and I'm very happy with the results. I'm also using two Sennheisser wireless lavs, a wireless handhel mic and a Sennheisser ME66 shotgun with a wireless adaptor.. Thus far I have no complaints.

November 20th, 2006, 02:39 PM	#11
Steve Leone Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 116	ENG Mixer I just finished a week of shooting a documentary in NY with the ENG-44...worked flawlessly, the audio was excellent....read the thread Seth posted for my previous review, but I think its a good purchase. __________________ Omens carry only as much weight as we choose to assign them.

November 20th, 2006, 07:35 PM	#12
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	eng-44, light, easy to use. __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

November 21st, 2006, 08:06 AM	#14
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	I didn't hear any. Ty __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

November 15th, 2006, 02:22 AM	#2
Michael Knight Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mossyrock Wa USA Posts: 65	We recently bought an ENG-44 and have had excellent results using shotgun and lav mics. We purchased from Fred Ginsberg of Equipment Emporium in California - the man who wrote the book for the Nagra - and who had considerable input in the design of the ENG-44 (as I recall). Anyway, you should get some good info from their website, which is extremely informative about many things sound. Fortunately we had a sound operator who knows her stuff (happens to be an Aussie by the way - now living in NZ - but came to the States to show us a thing or two. The main thing is - practice practice practice before you do the shoot:-) http://equipmentemporium.com/ Best. Michael Knight Oh yeah...and read the instructions:-) __________________ All media since 1960. Formerly CP16/Nagra. Currently learning F350/Fujinon HSs18 x 5.5BRM, Mac G5 Quad and FCP Studio.

November 15th, 2006, 01:01 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	First, I'd strike the Shure M367 off the list - it's excellent, but not really a field mixer. It's small enough, but would work best on a table, not hanging on your shoulder. They have field mixers, but more costly than your other choices. Don't know much about rolls & azden - I know there have been some reviews here recently, look for them. There's some great info on the SignVideo ENG-44 here http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73051

November 16th, 2006, 05:30 AM	#5
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	With the ENG-44, can you set that up any way you'd like, such 3 inputs into 1 output, with the 4th input going straight through to output #2? Or set it up with 2 inputs into each output? What I'm wondering is if you can configure it however you'd like? How does the gain work on that ENG-44? Is it per input channel? Of is the gain on each output? How much gain is available?

November 21st, 2006, 10:25 AM	#15
Steve Leone Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 116	Mixer (ENG-44) I didnt hear any hiss at all coming out of this mixer.....I have recorded a total of maybe 21-22 hours with this unit (mostly dialogue) since I got it about 3 weeks ago and all of the audio was outstanding. __________________ Omens carry only as much weight as we choose to assign them.