Do I Need A Portable Mixer or is it Not Needed? If I do which one?

[Robertofish]

I will soon have an Edioral R-44 with 3 G3 lavs and a NTG-3, and Audio Technica AT4053B (One for inside one for outside) do I need a portable mixer and if so which one?

Thanks

[Richard Crowley]

Maybe yes, maybe no. You didn't mention WHAT you are shooting, and HOW you are producing it.

We use mixers for one or more of these reasons:

1) To provide a convenient and straightforward way of seeing levels and providing the ability to adjust microphone levels.
2) To take more sources than you have recording channels and mix together the signals to fit the channels.
3) To provide cleaner gain in the mic preamps than you would perhaps get from recording directly to a camcorder (or DSLR).

You can say that those are all desirable things to have. OTOH, you could also make the case that you already have them with the R-44:

1) The R-44 offers channel gain controls and metering on a par with most mixers.
2) You have four recording channels on the R-44. You didn't mention how many microphones you are using, but if it is less than 5, you are at the ideal spot of recording one mic per channel which gives you maximum flexibility in post-production editing (although you didn't mention your workflow?)
3) The mic preamps in the R-44 may be on a par (or even better) than what is in your camera (which you didn't identify?)

I don't believe in going out and buying equipment that I haven't proved that I really need. You can make a significant case that a mixer would be redundant in your setup. But we really don't know for sure because there are so many other unknowns not revealed here.

[Robertofish]

Oh ok thanks, camera is hv30 but I sync the audio in post currently with the Zoom H4n but I want to upgrade that way I can have 3 lavs and a boom so 4 mics, as for editing set up I have FCS and Logic studio and have talented friends in the audio area so if I don't know something they will, does that answer the set up question?

[KINOKS]

Maybe just to ad to Richards post:

4) Mixers usually have limiters. This in my opinion is one of the best attributes of a good mixer. It keeps your levels in the green. Not being clipped.

[Gohanto]

Your current setup recording all 4 channels will likely work pretty well honestly.

A low or mid-level mixer likely wouldn't be worth investing in here, and I'd stick with what you have.

If a higher-end was possible ($2000+) then you could get higher quality preamps, better limiters, brighter meters (helps in daylight), easy to send an audio line to the camera (helps if sound guy and/or director wants to hear the audio, or you want a backup recording).
Sound Devices 442 (discontinued so you'd be looking at used, many places likely still rent it though)
Sound Devices 552 (5 channels in, plus a 2-channel recorder built-in as a safety recording)

But, like I said, your current setup sounds like it'll work pretty well if you're not bursting with extra $$ in the budget. Otherwise, just make sure you've got all the right accessories that a lot of people overlook (sound mixing bag, extra XLR cables, cable ties, mic full blimp (not softie), headphones, etc...)