portable mixer

I like the PSC DV Promix3 and DV Promix1. I think they both sound as good as, if not better than the FP-33. I've never liked the FP-33, and would like to see it discontinued. If you only need a single channel pre, with the the DVPromix1. If you need 2 or 3, then the DVPromix3 is a good option. If you can spend a little extra money, go with anything Sound Devices. Their stuff is very good, or the PSC Alphamix.

I don't like Behringer. Don't waste your money on their stuff. Every mixer I've ever heard of theirs was so unbelievable noisy I couldn't believe they were in business. The Rolls stuff is ok, but not my first choice.

-Dave
 
Hey Oleg,

I just want to say that I think you give great advice, and if I had the money I would buy the equipment that you recommend. But some of us just have to do our best with the low budgets we have.
 
Sound mixer for sale

Sound mixer for sale

As of wed, I will have a PSC 4m mixer for sale, along with bag, betasnake, harness....

1500..

C
 
I need a mixer to adjust levels quickly. Just shot a play and sound changed so quickly. Any suggestions? I looking below 200. also.
 
You would be looking at the Roll mentioned above or some other Radio Shack level solution (no offense to RS, I shop there for all sort of consumer goods :)). You need to push up to $500 and up if you want any sort of professional quality.

Just like video, good audio equipment is gonna cost of few bucks. If you are not doing professional work and sound quality is second to budget then the Rolls level is what you might want.
 
Okay, so I've followed this thread and maybe this needs a new thread, but here goes. I'm in the market for a new mixer, as well. Right now I use the Behringer 1002 (mainly because it runs on batteries as well as AC). I haven't run into the noise problems described by others and since I'm using the AT897 now (growing up to the 4073 in a week or so) haven't had any problems with the phantom power.

But, I am starting to lean towards a four channel recorder of some sort (maybe the Edirol if I really determine I don't need timecode or the 744 if I do go with timecode) and the 1002 only has two outs.

Here's why I use a mixer:

I do sound for a lot of low budget indies, where location control can be difficult. I use the mixer to help take out background noise, either by cutting it, fiddling with the gain vs. volume, etc. I've successfully taken way down computer server noises (one location was a cube directly across the aisle from a large server farm that had no air conditioning so the door had to stay open), florescent light noises (practical lights in situations where they weren't doing lighting, or minimal lighting), air conditioning noises, etc. While I haven't always been able to remove the noise, I can minimize it, usually to the point the audio is usable for something more than ADR matching track.

So, all this being said, one option I've looked at is just getting another Behrenger 1002 and running them both into the new recorder. But, I also want to explore all of my options at this point. Mackie and Yamaha seem to make some good products. So, suggestions are requested! Thanks in advance!

Phil
 
thisiswells said:
You never, ever, ever, ever, ever EQ a mic on location. That's why location mixers don't have EQ.
Click to expand...

Can you explain why? (Or refer me to a book that can explain it...don't want to bog things down here if the explanation is too lengthy).
 
Sorry if my previous post came across a little pompous....

The idea is to record flat tracks since there is more flexibility in sound design later for "tweaking"
Using a pair of headphones on location to get the "perfect tone" isn't a reliable way of monitoring
besides knowing if you are getting sound at all, and maybe a way to tell if it's clipping.. But, even
the latter is questionable..

"Tweaking" is better left for post production. A rolloff, whether on a mic or a mixer, is a great idea
because low frequencies can clip a signal much faster... There'a better explanation for this..
I've gotta get out the door.. I'll write more later if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Brian
 
Thisiswell covered it pretty well. You start tweaking the EQ on set and you will more then likely damage/alter the audio in a way that can't be recovered. Headphones and a noisy environment? You can't hear 30% of what you need to properly EQ. Save it for post. The board EQ are generally designed for live sound (concerts, speechs, etc) where there is no post.

Yes, the top audio guys have cart mixers with equalizer controls on them, but they NEVER touch the EQ. The one time they might tweak the EQ ever so slightly is to match a lav to a shotgun (the first mixer I ever worked for, had a fetish for doing this EXACTLY right). This is something they have played with before and understand; not trial and error on the set.

Good luck.
 
I never did thank everyone for the info on this thread. Thanks!

What I have found to date on the projects I've been working on (super low budget, barely enough to pay me for the use of my equipment) is that they don't budget for any post sound, and are actually expecting me to fix it on set. So, my plan at this point is to get a PSC or Shure 3 channel mixer (sorry Oleg) and also keep my full board and give them the choice, but make sure they understand that corrections made on the set are irreversable.

I have also started schlepping monitors to the set and checking the recorded output that way to help ensure a better quality capture.

So thanks again. Hopefully I can start booking larger budget projects so this won't be an issue in the future.

Phil
 
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