Need A Cheap Field Mixer

P

Phil Maker

Well-known member
I'm shooting a doc with Countryman B6 mics. From what I've read here on the forums, I NEED a mixer. What's the cheapest and smallest way to go while still improving the quality of my sound?

What about the MX 422 Field Mixer?

Or the Azden FMX-32 3-Channel Field Mixer?

Are either of these any good? Is there anything cheaper that still does the job?
 
Stay away from the Azden mixers - they are cheap for a reason. Lots of clipping and noise introduce by the mixers.

If you really decide you have to have an Azden I have two I'd be happy to sell you for cheap.

:-)

As far as needing a mixer goes, what makes you think you need one? (You probably do, but you haven't given us enough information to guide you appropriately. All you've said at this point is that you're using B-6's. That, in and of itself, does not dictate a need for a mixer.

Phil
 
Oh, well I'm shooting a doc and everything I've read points to me NEEDING a mixer. I'm recording into a separate Marantz digital recorder. The mixer is supposed to be an essential link in the "chain" of audio. Can I get by without one?
 
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Phil,

Lots of movies are made without a mixer - you still haven't really given us enough information on exactly what you are going to be doing. Are you going to have someone monitoring sound for you? How many mics are you going to have overall? Etc. Etc. Etc.

You will certainly find it easier to manage levels if you have a mixer, but is it possible to make a movie without one? Yes.

Phil
 
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I just want good sound for my doc. I have 2 G2's with Countryman EMW's going into my Marantz digital recorder w/ a separate sound man monitoring them. Then I have one AT4073 on a boompole going into my HVX through 25' XLR cable w/ a P.A. holding the pole. No mixer.
I want good usable sound and I was wondering if I could get by with what I have or if I need to get a mixer.
 
Lots of movies are made without a mixer?
Lets be very careful how we choose our words.
Feature films are made with mixers.

Mixers are more than knobs that let you vary the volume.

1. They let you vary volumes without shaking the camera or getting in the way of the camera op.
2. You may need to do that a lot with some people. I ride gain even if one person is talking if their voice fades on the end of each line. You can only do this in a relatively quiet environment, otherwise you bring up the ambient noise.
3. Mixer preamps (good ones) sound better than camera preamps.
4. Good mixers have input transformers that scrape off RF before it get into your audio.
5. Good mixers have limiters that allow you to record hotter, keeping your audio further above the noise floor without distorting.
6. Good limtiers have EQ that lets you roll of LF HVAC noise before it gets into your audio.
7. Good mixers have mulitple outputs so you can feed more than one camera, or separate recorder simultaneously.
8. Good mixers make your sound better. If they didn't pros wouldn't use them
 
All depends....

What are you trying to do? What are you shooting?

If you are wireless are you run and gun?

Indoors outdoors?

It's like a golf shot. Just depends on where your lie and where you are trying to put the ball.

Give some more details...
 
lets be very careful how we choose our words.

Major motion pictures and TV always use mixers.

Mixers are more than knobs that let you vary the volume.

1. They let you vary volumes without shaking the camera or getting in the way of the camera op.
2. You may need to do that a lot with some people. I ride gain even if one person is talking if their voice fades on the end of each line. You can only do this in a relatively quiet environment, otherwise you bring up the ambient noise.
3. Mixer preamps (good ones) sound better than camera preamps.
4. Good mixers have input transformers that scrape off RF before it get into your audio.
5. Good mixers have limiters that allow you to record hotter, keeping your audio further above the noise floor without distorting.
6. Good limtiers have EQ that lets you roll of LF HVAC noise before it gets into your audio.
7. Good mixers have mulitple outputs so you can feed more than one camera, or separate recorder simultaneously.
8. Good mixers make your sound better. If they didn't pros wouldn't use them.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
A good entry level mixer is the Sound Devices Mix Pre. I am very happy I went straight to the Sound Devices 302 and got more features. the MixPre will hold it's value when it is time to upgrade later. You could also look for one used.

Check the model here before you buy.
 
Ok, I was just told by the guys over at EVS that I don't need a mixer since I have great mics and I'm recording into a Marantz digital audio recorder. He assured and reassured me that I could get great sound with the tools I have. Those tools being great mics going into the Marantz OR HVX with NO MIXER. As long as I can listen with headphones he says I'm golden. He says only the audio snobs would say otherwise.
 
Phil Maker said:
He says only the audio snobs would say otherwise.
Click to expand...

Here's what he meant to say, "If you learn how to use the gear you have effectively, you can get good sounds; if you get a mixer and learn how to use that effectively, you will get great sound."

Do you need a mixer? Not really; a lot of people go straight into the camera and never noticed the difference. Will a good mixer give you better result? You bet! It's like you don't need an HVX to shoot video, but will it give you better result than a Handicam? You better believe it.
 
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