How to make a field mixer...is it possible?

[brianluce]

Someone wise man once posted that the components that go into 2000 dollar field mixers are relatively inexpensive and that it was the low demand for field mixers that necessitate the high pricing, and that's why studio mixers are comparatively inexpensive.

So I was thinking of building one. The preamp is the key component? the thing that improves the sound over the preamp built in to the camera? (in my case a jvc hd100). My understanding is that it's the higher quality preamp that improves the audio, is the TL 072 or JRC 4558 a higher standard integrated circuit than might be found in a JVC HD100?

Are there other factors besides the preamp the help field mixers improve the sound?

Am I nuts for thinking I can pull this off?

 

[SMuir]

If you have never built a mixer before, this probably isn't the project with which to start. Most high-end mixers are more than the sum of their components. Part of the cost of ENG/EFP mixers is the significant amount of R&D that has to go into producing a high-quality mixer that will stand up to the rigors of production and still be portable.

Also, the same economics that make it expensive to produce small runs of products for a niche market makes it almost prohibitively expensive to produce a single prototype (which is what you're proposing).

That said, give it a whirl and please keep us posted on your findings.

 

[wabbit]

Good limiters, proper gain structure, smooth faders, even power supply, accurate and versatile meters...all in a lightweight, rugged, and compact package. It will cost you a bundle of time and money to get it right. Unless you are planning to start a business I don't see the point.

Most automobiles cost less then a grand to build but most of us are not going to give that a try. But still, I admire your initiative. If you go thru with it, let us know how it goes.

KHmuse was batting around the idea of building one awhile back. Interesting thread: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=37473

Cheers

 

[brianluce]

Good limiters, proper gain structure, smooth faders, even power supply, accurate and versatile meters...all in a lightweight, rugged, and compact package. It will cost you a bundle of time and money to get it right. Unless you are planning to start a business I don't see the point.

Most automobiles cost less then a grand to build but most of us are not going to give that a try. But still, I admire your initiative. If you go thru with it, let us know how it goes.

KHmuse was batting around the idea of building one awhile back. Interesting thread: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=37473

Cheers

Feed me guys. I have no idea how to build a mixer, but happen to know a whiz kid who does and will do it for virtually nothing. He says it's a snap.

 

[Noiz2]

I have built mixers. THey were for "studio" use but battery powering would have been a very easy modification. It is not easy to build a good preamp/ mixer. It is easy to build a bad one. The circuit design is rather critical and the parts are not all that cheap. For instance the input transformers on the MixPre would cost you $40 - $70 each. If you really want to try your hand at it you should find a copy of "Home Recording for Musicians" by Craig Anderton. About half the book is on building a mixer and the other is loaded with good information.

Having done it I would take a Mackie and modify it for Batt. power before I would build one from scratch. I looked at putting one together from RDL modules but that would have cost about as much as the MixPre and not had as many features.

 

[Dave_Fisk]

I would imagine it would cost you more to build one yourself than to just buy one...knowing how much quality components cost and the knowhow to make it work well and not be a piece of crap.