Any suggestions on which audio mixer I should buy? Can't imagine using more than 4 channels, so I don't think I need anything elaborate. I would like to have a good brand though...willing to pay extra to have the best.
Try Sound Devices. Model 442 for 4 channels, model 302 for 3 channels. They have good performance, small size, lots of features and ruggedly built. And use AA batteries.
The Sound Devices products rock. The 442 is around $2,500.00 fat ones, though.
For something older and cheaper as a bottom of the professional rung tool, I bet you could easily find a Shure FP33 on ebay for about 600.00 any day of the week. It burns through 9V batteries really quickly and is pretty bulky compared to the Sound Devices 302, but might do the job okay for a pretty low risk price to see if you even like using a mixer.
Related to using the DVX--I can't imagine doing audio work without a mixer. The annoying delay + awful sounding hissy headphone monitor on the camera make it painful to have any clue what you are actually capturing from your mic.
My workflow:
Always use a mixer
Set levels on the camera using 1K tone at -20db or -12db
Always use a betacam cable to check return from camera
Always actually monitor from the mixer, not the return feed, as the mixer sounds better
Hope this helps--and again I second that Sound Devices rock.