does anyone use a good line mixer

[bigbaby987]

i'm thinking of getting a great line mixer...any ideas?

[Tedly Nightshade]

If you already have a great mic preamp, or are planning to get one, take a look at the Folcrom.

 

I have some very nice line mixers, but they are very expensive and very rare. It's hard to find such things. Look at Speck also.

[Geoff Grace]

Originally posted by Ted Nightshade:

If you already have a great mic preamp, or are planning to get one, take a look at the Folcrom.

 

I have some very nice line mixers, but they are very expensive and very rare. It's hard to find such things. Look at Speck also.

I'm happy with my Speck Electronics XTRAMIXcxi :

 

http://www.speck.com/images/xmix3c.gif

 

As is typical with line mixers, it has no mic preamps or EQ. However, it has a clean signal path and more features than most line mixers, including 20 stereo line inputs, 8 bus assign, 8 effects sends, and a master section.

 

XTRAMIXcxi Specifications .

 

Best,

 

Geoff

[robmix]

What do you want to use it for ? Summing a DAW, remote recording monitor, or just a basic mix of synths while you're writing ? If the latter go with the Mackie 3204's. I've got a 3204 and it's expander the 3204E that all my synths run into while I'm writing and programming. For tracking I bypass the mixer and track through some great outboard pre's. If you're looking to do some more critical listening through them, DAW summing, mixing etc. then definitely take a look at the Speck. If you're really want to jump up in quality check out the Cranesong Spider or the Manley Line mixer. Again it depends on what you want to do with it and how many inputs you need.

[marino]

As far as line mixers go, the Xtramix is absolutely fantastic, probably the best around. Quite expensive though.

 

The Mackie is very practical to use, but I find its EQ rather useless.

 

As for me, I've gone two very different ways for home and live use. At home I have a Behringer 32-channel console for my synths. I thinks it works great; the preamps aren't the best, but since I very rarely record acoustic instruments at home, it doesn't bother me.

For stage use, I have a small Roland M120: *One* rack space with 12 channels, two sends, and a separate 'monitor' circuit which has saved my life more than once. No EQ though.

It's very quiet and tranparent, enough anyway for live. I've used it for a long time - in fact, I have three of them.

[Geoff Grace]

It also should be noted that (for tracking and/or mixing applications) the signal path to and from the mixer is every bit as crucial as the signal path within the mixer. In other words, almost all the cables feeding my XTRAMIXcxi were custom-made for my setup, using Neutrik plugs and Canare cables . (Also, as was appropriate for the XTRAMIXcxi, all mixer-end cable connections used TRS balanced quarter-inch plugs.)

 

Best,

 

Geoff

[robmix]

I agree with Geoff. My whole rig is all custom wired mogami with Neutrik connectors to Audio Accessories patchbays. When I track synths I come right off the bay with custom mogami TT - 1/4" into the front panel DI inputs of my outboard pre's. When I had fewer synths I used to go direct from the back of the synth to the DI but it's way to complicated back there now I still do that with my MPC and non-rackmounted synths.

[hermanjoe]

I need to replace my crappy mixer I am using for summing synths together in the live setting. I want something that gives no coloring and very low noise that mearly combines the signals of the synths. I plan to send the left and right out to a pre-amp. Would some sort of patch bay device work for this? Can I have someone build one for me?

 

Thanks

[clusterchord]

Originally posted by hermanjoe:

I need to replace my crappy mixer I am using for summing synths together in the live setting. I want something that gives no coloring and very low noise that mearly combines the signals of the synths. I plan to send the left and right out to a pre-amp. Would some sort of patch bay device work for this? Can I have someone build one for me?

 

Thanks

patchbay wont work, no.

 

as stated before: FOLCROM fits this description perfectly, but it seems to me, for live gig, you need faders as well. so that wouldnt work. Folcrom only sums, but you've got to provide the levels and panning..

 

if you can't, then you need a 'classic' mixer - with pans, faders etc. two models i know that have very nice eq, noise floor etc are ALLEN AND HEATH Wizard series or GL2200 series, and Venice series by MIDAS.

 

my preference would be Midas, but it costs more per channel. Allen and Heath doesnt have warm eq, more like 'British' style, and it's summing bus is arguably less good than Midas. but it has 12ch models, Midas is 16 minimum. so it depends on your needs.

 

still, both are miles above in quality from mackies, behringers, samsons, small analog yamahas etc.

[hermanjoe]

Thanks Cluster,

 

I'll check that stuff out.

[hermanjoe]

Unfortunatley,

 

all those items are little more than I need. The folrom is along the right lines but i don't think its exactly what I am looking for. Basically I want something to give me L and R outputs so I can send them to a speakeasy tube pre. I definatley don't want to pay thousands for the mixer part. Maybe $500 tops if i have to.

[eric]

I was recently on the prowl for a good mixer and was looking for built-in basic FX and no wall wart. I like Mackie mixers and found a used DFX6 for $89, so I bought it. It is really a good mixer and suits my needs perfectly! The custom road case I had made for it cost more than the mixer, but I don't like toting gear without solid cases.

 

Regards,

Eric

[hermanjoe]

Eric,

 

I will check it out.

 

Look at this as well: Line Mixer

 

That is sort of my idea of what I am looking for.

I also thought of running though a tube pre and forgettting the mixer. Art makes a decent two-channel tube pre. Buying two wouldn't be that bad. Cheaper than speakeasy for sure.

[clusterchord]

Herman, did you check WZ20s by A+H. while it's not $500, it is under a grand. at least here.

it does have a few mic pre's , but most of it is genuine line mixer with line-level pre's.

 

You're only other option might be a 12ch version of ONYX Mackie. But i have to explain to you why i dont like mackies for this application:

 

in difference to more expensive solutions that feature mandatory mic pre AND a line-level pre for the line/DI input , per channel - Mackie doesn't: it uses a pad after the line/DI jack and runs this thru its relatively crappy mic pre.

 

in sum it means first it attenuates the hell out of your synth signal (with pad not being too transparent), then amplifying it back with a not so great mic pre. freq response, noise floor and integrity/punch of your synth dissapear

 

as you're beginning to find out yourself - a true affordable summing line mixer is really hard to find. everyone wants to dump you a bunch of mic pres and some 4 band cheapo EQs you dont need. i really think there is a market for a affordable mixer with perhaps 2 mid-class mic pre's, nice summing bus, and 10-16 hi quality line inputs. put it in a rack and it will sell.

[Dave Horne]

Was this covered ... how many channels does Bigbaby987 actually need? How many keyboards or modules are we talking about.

[hermanjoe]

as you're beginning to find out yourself - a true affordable summing line mixer is really hard to find. everyone wants to dump you a bunch of mic pres and some 4 band cheapo EQs you dont need. i really think there is a market for a affordable mixer with perhaps 2 mid-class mic pre's, nice summing bus, and 10-16 hi quality line inputs. put it in a rack and it will sell.

I completly agree with you there. I found something by Summit Audio which was a 4 line input tube mixer. Judgeing on the quality of their stuff and that fact i was lucky enough to use some of it on keyboards I think that would be great.

 

Check it out here: Summit

 

I will look into your other reccomendations. Keep in mind I can't afford some of the stuff. One mixer was about 9k. Way too much for me right now!