[Chozo Tull]

Hi all,

Hopefully this is not a too stupid-nooby thread.

I was wondering what do you people use as mixers when doing live performances - if any ?

I would be interested to start doing some exp/drone/ambient stuff live (in front of the three people I know who might like it), and as I do not own a mixer I wonder if I needed one. It seems like a useful tool for a live setting. I found some very cheap ones which are mono out - do you use panning live ? Or do you pan channels beforehand ? Or is it the engineer's job ?

I wouldn't mind a small 4 channel mixer like [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register]
but I am afraid that four ambient sources to one mono channel would sound shit.

Any thoughts ? Tips ? Help ? Goats ?

Thanks !

[chasedobson]

Get a mixer. Something with stereo outs!

In most small show scenarios you'll do your mix as a submix that'll go to the engineer as 2 tracks, you'll need to take care of all of your panning yourself.

[Chozo Tull]

Oh well that was quick ! So no mono mixer then :3 thanks a bunch ! You.re always very helpful around here.

[liquid_air]

On that note, any suggestions for suitable mixers?

I've been wondering about analog mixers. 12 channel with AUC sends for FX (doesn't need on board FX). I'm reading good things about Allen & Heath or Mackie.

Thoughts?

[chasedobson]

Allen and Heath > Mackie for small format mixers.

The A&H Zed series are great for the $.

[relic]

I think having a mixer for playing live is pretty essential if you can swing it. Aux sends are great if you have FX. Im a Soundcraft fanboy, but for options:price ZED series is quite nice. I just dont tend towards mixers w onboard FX. Berhinger has some options heavy mixers for a nice price, but you are really rolling the dice there. If you arent gigging w a Behringer they can work, just have to be really careful w headroom is all, Berhinger mixers dont overload pleasantly ...at least not the one Ive used.

If you only have a few boxes and dont need aux sends a DJ mixer could be more "playable" than small format studio/PA mixer.

[Chozo Tull]

^ good to know, I was eyeing the xenyx series by behringer ... Will look deeper into the price range

[relic]

Originally Posted by Chozo Tull

^ good to know, I was eyeing the xenyx series by behringer ... Will look deeper into the price range

It is seriously at your own risk. My dad had pretty good luck with a Behringer Eurorack series mixer...one of his clients bought one and they traveled with it for years and it only had a couple dead channels when it got gifted to me, though last I took it out the thing totally died on me.

If/when I get a new mixer for my studio I'm probably getting a Xenyx because its the only way I can afford individual outs, enough sub groups and aux sends.

And oh yea...you defo don't want a mono master.

[chasedobson]

i have a couple of small format Behringer mixers and they do the job just fine.

however I did have a soundcraft just... not turn on one day. it was the 2nd of those....

[relic]

Originally Posted by chasedobson

i have a couple of small format Behringer mixers and they do the job just fine.

however I did have a soundcraft just... not turn on one day. it was the 2nd of those....

I sold mine like a week after you told me that.

So yea. Low end Soundcraft might not be a good bet.

[purplefish]

I'd stay away from the budget Mackies, I got a Mix8 a while ago and it barely lasted me a year. In the mean time my Yamaha MG124c is still going strong after about 4 years of constant use.

[liquid_air]

Are the Midas mixers any good?

[chasedobson]

yes.


very.

[liquid_air]

So, the question for me would be: expand the MOTU by getting a second 828 and use Cuemix (I.e. Digital) or get an analog mixer and hook that one up to the MOTU. Space concerns aside, do you have head to head comparisons of the MOTU and an analog mixer?

On a related note... what exactly is the difference to an analog summing mixer and why are those so darn expensive?

[relic]

Originally Posted by liquid_air

So, the question for me would be: expand the MOTU by getting a second 828 and use Cuemix (I.e. Digital) or get an analog mixer and hook that one up to the MOTU. Space concerns aside, do you have head to head comparisons of the MOTU and an analog mixer?

On a related note... what exactly is the difference to an analog summing mixer and why are those so darn expensive?

If you want to mix itb, do it. If you want that control in a physical format get mixer. Sound quality recording into the MOTU will be better. Unless you get like a Neve desk or something...

you can also,expand the 828 w an ADAT

[liquid_air]

I was thinking Midas.

[chasedobson]

Having something like a small format MiDAs mixer will allow for a lot of things that, as I've seen your rig progress, you've wanted, most notably but not limited to physical IO for effects returns and loads of different ways of routing all of your gear around.

I would get a mixer before getting another MOTU unit to chain, but as @[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register]
said, one can expand the MOTU's io via ADAT for cheaper.

[chasedobson]

@[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click here to register]


Let me know if you want to get into some of the specifics, I've got a lot of experience building customized recording setups. BONUS: this is a forum so you dont get charged my consulting rate.... yet.

Also, Summing mixers are a different beast all together. They are made with high end components and Voodoo.

[relic]

Id get a mixer before more I/O as well. Unless you are trying to simulataneously multitrack a ton of stuff.

[chasedobson]

Originally Posted by relic

Id get a mixer before more I/O as well. Unless you are trying to simulataneously multitrack a ton of stuff.

well thats the thing, sounds like he is.

mixer with direct outs or subgroup outs will allow for a LOT more flexibility than routing everything to interface IO.

those midas boards are the real deal, loads of IO.