Poor man's mixer?

[Lion of Judah]

I'm basically looking for a mixer in the $100-150 price range. I understand that it won't be high quality or have great sound or none of that. I just need something to hook stuff up to.

I'll need inputs for a turntable, a tape recorder, an MPC500, and a computer.

I'll also need outputs to the tape recorder, the computer, monitors and headphones.

Is it possible to get this for the money? Any tips on mixers with these capabilities in this price range? Or will I need to go higher?

Thanks in advance!

[warhead]

Grab a Tapco. Not bad on the cheap.

War

[xabiton]

why bother with a mixer instead just connect the turntable to the mpc ins the mpc to th computer ins and the computer outs to the tape recoder no mixer requireed just some good cables

[Ptok]

I've just built a crude but effective 2-input passive mixer myself, using 6.3mm jack sockets, sliding pots and the insides of an old radio (contains capacitors which work as HP filters). If I needed to (and I don't) I could very easily turn it into an active mixer using an LM386 which I have lying around. The whole thing is an afternoon's work and a much smaller outlay than $100 (more like less than 10 USD in parts), and what's more it's built specific to my own needs.

So, I recommend you build one. Rasta, feel free to PM me if you need any tips on how to construct it (it's easy).

[mute pink]

You should check out the Yamaha MG10/2.

[IzovAge]

soundcraft compact 4 or 10. nice little boards.

[lancebug]

Soundcraft Spirit Folio Notepad. Does all that that you want it to do. Maybe a step or a half-step up from the compact series but strangely more compact than the compact series. I use mine like you describe: as a monitor router, that can send signal to and recieve signal from a real mishmash of crap ranging from my turntable and home stereo to powered monitors and my motu 828. In a pinch it can do a few other tricks too.

[KingDaddyO]

Don't laugh ... but there are always a few Radio Shack DJ mixers on eBay, and these things are very inexpensive and work incredibly well for the cost. I've got one of the older models (a Model 32-1200B, which I throw in the trunk for those moments when you 'just need a mixer' ). It's been beat to hell & back but it's real dependable & passes signal just fine after 15 years of abuse. I've seen quite a few of these go on eBay for as low as $5 !

[LAVLAB]

i second the yamaha mg series

[dragan]

I second the Soundcraft Compact.
Yamaha MGs sound horrible to me.

[krou]

I was just looking at those Soundcraft Compact-10 mixers, lots of bang for the buck. Sure, the pres are probably nothing like a Ghost or even an Onyx, but for the convenience of having everything always patched in and ready to record after years of a mixer-less setup, I think they're perfect. Tired of the Digi 002's limited real-time monitoing (one stereo pair on rca/alt-input).

[dickiefunk]

+1 Soundcraft Compact

[Scinx]

Originally Posted by KingDaddyO

Don't laugh ... but there are always a few Radio Shack DJ mixers on eBay, and these things are very inexpensive and work incredibly well for the cost. I've got one of the older models (a Model 32-1200B, which I throw in the trunk for those moments when you 'just need a mixer' ). It's been beat to hell & back but it's real dependable & passes signal just fine after 15 years of abuse. I've seen quite a few of these go on eBay for as low as $5 !

Back in the day, one of my first "mixing boards" was a cheapo radio shack piece that I got on ebay for about $5...it ran on a 9-volt...if you look around - you should be able to find something cheap and usable.

[UPRYZ]

If were talkin real low end theory utilitarian here go with one of the Behringer doodads. They pack a boat load of features and the prices are stupid low. I have a 6 year old model with 4 mic pres and 2 stereo line ins and it has served me flawlessly - no scratchy pots, nothin. You will of course need a phono preamp to get your turntable into any board (unless its got a built in one).

Dan Fox

[dougb415]

Originally Posted by UPRYZ

If were talkin real low end theory utilitarian here go with one of the Behringer doodads. They pack a boat load of features and the prices are stupid low. I have a 6 year old model with 4 mic pres and 2 stereo line ins and it has served me flawlessly - no scratchy pots, nothin. You will of course need a phono preamp to get your turntable into any board (unless its got a built in one).

Dan Fox

Yep. We just picked up one of those little mixers with built-in FX processor for $110 at GC. I too have had one for about 6 yrs that has not given me any trouble at all, think I paid $50 for it.

[Fman]

Originally Posted by mute pink

You should check out the Yamaha MG10/2.

+1 to that; also I'd second war's call on the Tapco stuff - for the money they get it done and the pres sound better than most at that price... but really don't expect quality or clarity at $150 in a mixer, there's only so much a manufacturer can realistically acheive at that price. But then you already put a disclaimer out there for that

Cheers!

[MDM]

Alesis multimix 6

Really cool - and has reverb built in as well - we're using it for gigs with just keyboard/vocals/backtracks

[alpha80]

90's Mackie boards on eBay is what you want.
Trust.