Mixer for my edit suite-Suggestions?

BrianMurphy

BrianMurphy

Veteran
Well it seems my "vintage" Behringer Eurorack (lawsuit era) mixer is crackling its way to the recycling yard. Despite the best contact cleaner I could find and many attempts to clean the input jacks, the nasty noise always returns and at the worst times.
It has been an excellent mixer for 20+ years so I can't complain and has easily handled everything I needed starting in the Betacam era to my 4k setup. Though it primarily handles monitoring in the suite, I do use it to record v/o and scratch tracks and now zoom calls etc. It is a very flexible little mixer with lots of inputs and options and the preamps sound fine.

What I would like:
Not to spend a fortune, when I need audio work we have several excellent options in studios big and small and all do great work and I support them. But I want something good.

To eliminate shielded cable going to my computer and go with a USB connection if possible. However I have read about issues with some mixers that come with a usb connection. I work with DaVinci Resolve and have a Final Cut license as well as Logic. But I use Audition most of the time when I record scratch or work tracks. I still fumble a bit with Fairlight and the many options. But a nice clean USB feed to my edit computer would be sweet.

I have looked at the Mackie ProFX16v2 16-Channel 4-Bus FX Mixer with USB but it like the Behringer X1622USB Premium 16-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer, 24-Bit Multi-FX Processor and the 12-input Behringer have features I don't need and are more suited for 'live' stuff it seems. Allan & Heath as well so it seem I am either missing something or looking in the wrong place.

So if anyone has suggestions that can help that would be awesome! Thanks
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6801.jpg
    IMG_6801.jpg
    140.1 KB · Views: 0
Have you thought about looking for a second hand X32 digital desk? The producers go for very silly money now and their computer interface capability are really good, and the preamps are good too - I saw one go on ebay for 400 UKP the other day, and they're small but really highly specified. I' not sure that investing in a new smaller analogue mixer is a good idea at the moment.
 
I work with Davinci and use Behringe x-touch controller/mixer, works fine. Has USB and works good with fairlight.


 
Last edited:
Thanks for the suggestion Paul, I agree that continuing with analogue would be a mistake at this point. I am going to look at digital options and may try renting a mixer from a local music store this week.
Peter, your suggestion would give me control of Fairlight but still requires me to find an I/O for my mics etc. But thanks for the video, the automation looks cool but probably much more than I would need.
 
Hi Brian, How many i/o do you need? I use the focusrite 2i2 as audio-input but you could use a focusrite 18i20 or similar. That gives you plenty of inputs. And the use of the mixer.
 
Last edited:
Publimix said:
I use the focusrite 2i2 as audio-input but you could use a focusrite 18i20 or similar.
Click to expand...

Unless you absolutely need tactile faders, this is the way to go. The Focusrite interfaces have several different configurations depending on how many inputs and outputs you need, but whichever you use will provide USB connectivity along with constant monitoring from your computer.
 
Publimix said:
I work with Davinci and use Behringe x-touch controller/mixer, works fine. Has USB and works good with fairlight.
Click to expand...

X-touch is just a control surface. It has no analog I/O capability. Pairing it with a Behringer XR 18 gives 18x8 channels of analog I/O in a rack mount or portable stage box configuration with 18x18 digital USB I/O. Modest price for a lot of capability and decent quality. Same quality Midas preamps and A/D-D/A front end as the X32, but it doesn't have to clutter up your edit desk.

https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=P0BI8
 
Last edited:
Thanks again everyone for your input (pardon the pun) and excellent suggestions. Being an old school guy, I am most comfortable with "tactile" controls, however I really like the USB connectivity and the lack of shielded cable that comes with it. Lord knows I like many for years have spent time routing cables away from powerbars etc. trying to get rid of hum. So with that in mind I decided that I would try renting over the next month or two and find what works for me based on what everyone has passed along. Since my I/O needs are very limited an 8 channel setup would be fine. Yesterday I went to Long and McQuade a music store here in Canada and rented a Zoom L-8 mixer. I will try this for a while and then a Focusrite and then a Behringer usb option. At first experience, after a bit of a learning curve to get everything working I really like the L8 but we shall see.
Thanks again to all and I will post back when I finally make a decision.
 
BrianMurphy said:
Being an old school guy, I am most comfortable with "tactile" controls, however I really like the USB connectivity and the lack of shielded cable that comes with it.
Click to expand...

I’d take a serious look, still, at the Focusrites. If you need tactile fader control, it’s easy to add a USB control surface as well. That can help keep the edit desktop clean and tidy.
 
Well I called up the same place that I got the Zoom L8 from and said I wanted to do a comparion. They have a Focusrite 18i20 that I can try for a week at the same time as the zoom L8. So thanks for the nudge Alex, we shall see if I can work without a board in front of me. If not I am open to suggestions for a work surface. I must say that the 18i20 is definitely overkill for my needs but the people at the store said the smaller units are backordered due to demand attributed to covid and zoom/skype etc. Go figure, why can't those folks use a nice cheap usb headset LOL?
 
BrianMurphy said:
I must say that the 18i20 is definitely overkill for my needs but the people at the store said the smaller units are backordered due to demand attributed to covid and zoom/skype etc. Go figure, why can't those folks use a nice cheap usb headset LOL?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the pandemic created supply shortages for a lot of stuff like small audio interfaces and webcams. You might split the difference and look at the 18i8. They’re in stock with retailers in the US like Sweetwater, so maybe also more readily available in Canada? Bigger than most of the smaller Focusrite interfaces, but not quite as big as the 18i20. Still plenty of I/O.

As for tactile control surfaces, there are single-fader versions from PreSonus (FaderPort) and Behringer (X-Touch One) that are quite inexpensive, and give you plenty of compact fader control even if it’s for one track/source at a time. Both also offer 8-fader versions if you need more faders.
 
Focusrite small interfaces are nice and pretty inexpensive. Had one at work for an instrumentation front end to an FFT software package.
I like my old MOTU Ultralite Mk3 better for post work because it has a master SMPTE timecode generator, but it was firewire only and went into storage when the computer it was attached to died. Recently revived it when Suzy bought herself a new iMac to replace her first gen Intel model that has a firewire 800 port. Still a solid machine but no longer secure online. Turned it into a dedicated sound workstation.
Best mic preamp I ever played with was a $4k single channel Focusrite Red series I borrowed from a sales rep for a week. Incredible sound quality.
 
Following up....sometime later I admit. So I rented and tried a few interfaces and mixers. The last one I rented was a Zoom L8 and I liked it but found I needed more inputs so I finally bought the Zoom L12. It works wonderfully as an interface via USB with Da Vinci Resolve, handles all the inputs for monitoring I need and doubles as a great recorder for podcasts etc. I used it for a while to record V/O's but wanted more flexibility and range that I was getting with the simple preamp/compressor setup so I bought a Presonus Eureka vintage which has worked out well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top