Mixer Advise

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Bryan_Lawler

Well-known member
I am looking for a mixer, one that I can use with my editing system but also something that I can use in the field. I only need at most a 4 channel system. Cost is an issue. Here are the ones that I have been looking at. I will be using it for two things. First, voices overs in the edit room and secondly, multiple mics on locate shoots. Any feedback would be great.

Yamaha MW10
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MW10

Rolls MX124 Portable Battery Powered 4 Channel Microphone SubMixer with XLR I/O Connectors and Individual Level Control
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...571&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Rolls MX422 - 4 Channel Professional Field Audio Mixer
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...536&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
 
Bryan_Lawler said:
. Any feedback would be great.

Yamaha MW10
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MW10

Rolls MX124 Portable Battery Powered 4 Channel Microphone SubMixer with XLR I/O Connectors and Individual Level Control
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...571&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Click to expand...

Well you want to try and avoid feedback whenever possible:Drogar-Smoke(DBG):

If cost is an issue I would go with the yamaha for home and the MX124 for the field, then you would have a dedicated mixer for each situation and still be under $400.
 
Anybody have actual experience with these Rolls "professional" mixers? A lot of Rolls stuff is pretty grubby. I won't dismiss these on those grounds, but it would be good to hear from some actual users. I've never met any.

I notice they provide 18v phantom power, which might be a problem for many mics.
 
quick chime in - used a rolls when i started out, and they are not the most pro mixers. I would stay away if at all possible.

I think a general rule if you want to buy stuff and not regret it is stick the bottom line pro stuff - SD mixpre/302, anything by mackie for a cart/studio style system, wendt and SQN where it applies too.

One brand Im curious on for some innovative features, but is still a bit too pro-sumery feeling for me is the PSC stuff.
 
I think for know I am going with a studio mixer. Here are the three that I am looking at. Does anyone have any suggestions on these mixers?

Yamaha MW10 10-Input USB Mixing Studio
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-MW10-10Input-USB-Mixing-Studio?sku=630204

Alesis MultiMix 8USB Mixer with USB and DSP
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-8USB-Mixer-with-USB-and-DSP?sku=630166

Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire Mixer
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-8-FireWire-8Channel-Analog-Mixer?sku=630151
 
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What do you want, something good or something cheap?

If you want something that will be useful down the road, get a decent analog mixer. For my money a small Mackie is the absolute bare minimum acceptable quality. Consider that you cannot get a decent single channel analog mic preamp for $150. Now ask yourself how good an 8 channel 2 buss mixer / USB converter / DSP Wonderbox is probably going to be in comparison.

In all fairness I have never used the Alesis so take my comments with the appropriate grain of salt.
 
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Thanks for your comments tigeba. I am looking for something good, but cheap! I would like a mixer with 4 XLR inputs. It will be hooked to my computer mostly, every once and a while I might use it for a location shoot. Mostly, good voice over. What about Tapco by Mackie?

Tapco By Mackie MIX120 Ultra-Compact 12-Channel Audio Mixer
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...135&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Tapco By Mackie MIX220 FX Ultra-Compact 8-Channel Audio Mixer with Effects Processor
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...138&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Mackie 1202VLZ PRO 12 Channel Mixer with 4 Mic Inputs
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...781&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Somethings like this?
 
The Mackie 1202 is a staple in many edit suites. If you want a used one in excellent condition then PM me.
 
Hi Bryan.

Behringer is pretty junky... I'd avoid it. A lot of people will tell you Mackie is the minimum; but if you want to save money I'd say the Yamaha mixers are pretty nice and better than the others you've listed. Yamahas have fewer features but better quality than price-comparable mixers... and the features are those you won't likely be using. I can't vouch for the Yamahga USB mixers, never having used 'em, but I imagine the analogue circuitry is the same and thus would tend to prefer them over the Alesis.
 
Thanks ullanta,

I was going to go look at some Behringer tonight. I live in a smaller town in Missouri and both two music store both carry only Behringer's. I am not needing a lot of features, as you mentioned. What about Tapco? They are made by Mackie.
 
I beg to differ, I have both Behringer and Mackie mixers. Behringer makes good stuff, for the money. Their mixers won't take much abuse and are of the variety that you toss when they develop a problem. But I can honestly say that after running six edit suites for several years the behringers stood up to the test. They didn't survive the intern spilling jolt cola on them or such but they do a descent job. Mackie products are excellent, great pre's and good "repairable" mixers. But they are not cheap the are reasonable and if you are using it in an edit suite, how much "mixing" are you gonna do? Especially thesed days with everything on the keyboard and flat screen.
GOing in the field, work with an audio person who had good gear so it gets on tape and sounds super. Making good tv or FIlm is a team process.
 
I will mainly be using it in studio voice overs, going directly into my computer. On occasions I might use it on location for mulitple mics. I will not be using it for music.
 
Behringer XENYX 1002 Mixer is $89.00 and a descent mic from Rode or from what I read here Octava here will get you started. Some good headphones and the right acoustic environment( you can research that)and you are in biz.
 
Okay, I'm sorry but Behringer is crap. I've told this story a few times, but it bears repeating here. Behringer was my first mixer. I upgraded my Behringer 1002 to a Mackie 1202, and when I first turned on the Mackie, I thought it was broken or something wasn't working. It was too quiet. The difference was that significant - and the Mackie is at the mid-range of the mixer food chain. (Maybe even the low-mid range). I picked up my Mackie used for a very good price on eBay - my other point - your equipment does not have to be new. You can get great deals on used equipment, just get it tuned/checked out before using it a production environment to be safe.

I just picked up an Alesis MultiMix 16 Firewire, and so far, I'm liking it. Yes, I know, you can't go you can go pre-fader out, but since I'm just starting multi-track, that isn't an issue yet. When it is, I will re-evaluate. I'll post on the Alesis at another time.

Phil
 
Bryan_Lawler said:
I will mainly be using it in studio voice overs, going directly into my computer. On occasions I might use it on location for mulitple mics. I will not be using it for music.
Click to expand...

Bryan,
How do you plan on getting the mic signal from the mixer "directly into your computer"?
 
ozduc said:
Bryan,
How do you plan on getting the mic signal from the mixer "directly into your computer"?
Click to expand...

At my old job I had a Mackie board hooked up to my computer. I went out of the board and into a stereo 1/4 jack into the computer. If memory serves me correctly. I have been gone from that job since Feb.
 
I dont know of any computers that have a stereo 1/4" input jack. Most have a stereo 1/8" jack that I would avoid at all cost for anything remotely professional in the way of V.O. etc. Maybe you should consider one of the USB capable mixers. I would personally rather use one of these than trying to get a balanced stereo signal out of a mixer down to an unbalanced 1/8" plug into the computer.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...Mixer-with-USB-and-DSP?sku=630166&src=3WFRWXX
 
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