Small mixer for analog tape machine.

wayne mox · 1st August 2006

Got an old reel to reel, it has limited mixer functions so I need an analog mixer reccomendation.

At the most I record is 4 mics at once, usually just two at a time though then overdub. The tape has the ability to overdub, it's a 4-track.

Anyway, I need a quality mixer with the following abilities:

1) Record rythm track on channels 1 and 2 with outboard send/return to reverb effects unit. (Lexicon PCM70). Recording reverb with live track.

2) Return the previously recorded rythm track and monitor it while I lay down a lead line. The rythm track should NOT be re-recorded with the lead track. It need to be monitored separtely, but still hear it with my live lead track.

3) Quality transparent sound. I don't need preamps on the mixer, but if it has them no problem.

4) BALANCED +4 db outs for the stereo mix.

5) At least 4 XLR mic ins.

I looked at the Yamaha MG10/2, but it seems I cannot use an outboard reverb unit AND monitor a previously recorded track at the same time since it only has one stereo aux bus?

I'm sure this is just a simple answer, but I'm pretty ignorant on mixers. The tape recorder only has 2 XLR ins 2 XLR outs. It has RCA outs but they are staticy, otherwise I would use them for my monitoring, but I'm not an electrician and I don't wanna mess with it. The mixer would give me the ability to have outboard effects as stated which is what I want.

paulneedles · 2nd August 2006

try finding out about old tascam mixers- they're pretty much designed for use with a 4 track and nothing else, whereas most mixers are designed for live use as well and this can make things tricky for wiring up your gear. They're modular as well, so you can easily repair them, compared to say, a mackie or a soundcraft. a friend of mine uses one with his 4-track r2r and i can definitively say they sound better than most new budget mixers.

Dave Peck · 2nd August 2006

Something like a Mackie 1202-VLZ should do it. The trick is in the "MUTE / ALT3-4" buttons. It's hard to explain in a quick email, but basically you use these to route some channels to a 'sub out' to get recorded, while other channels (the playback from the tape recorder) bypass this sub out and go directly to the main outs so you can listen to them but they don't get sent back to the tape recorder again.

Any of the bigger mixers, like the 1402 or 1642, or the newer ONYX series would also work. Some of these have four separate subgroup outs (which you would connect to the tape inputs) plus the main outs, with buttons next to the channel faders to route the channels to the various outputs.

DP

Byll · 2nd August 2006

Wayne: Sent PM to you, yesterday. Might be an answer to your needs...
Best.
Byll

David@MVS · 2nd August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

Something like a Mackie 1202-VLZ should do it.

Seconded.

Regards,
David

nathanvacha · 3rd August 2006

did we get a budget? buy something a little bit gigger than what you need... as you move up, you get more busses and you're gonna want at least 8 faders (4 channels to record and 4 or more to mix) because it will save you a lot of cable swapping so your work flow is way more simple and you can focus on the music.

1st August 2006	#1
wayne mox Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 533 Thread Starter	Small mixer for analog tape machine. Got an old reel to reel, it has limited mixer functions so I need an analog mixer reccomendation. At the most I record is 4 mics at once, usually just two at a time though then overdub. The tape has the ability to overdub, it's a 4-track. Anyway, I need a quality mixer with the following abilities: 1) Record rythm track on channels 1 and 2 with outboard send/return to reverb effects unit. (Lexicon PCM70). Recording reverb with live track. 2) Return the previously recorded rythm track and monitor it while I lay down a lead line. The rythm track should NOT be re-recorded with the lead track. It need to be monitored separtely, but still hear it with my live lead track. 3) Quality transparent sound. I don't need preamps on the mixer, but if it has them no problem. 4) BALANCED +4 db outs for the stereo mix. 5) At least 4 XLR mic ins. I looked at the Yamaha MG10/2, but it seems I cannot use an outboard reverb unit AND monitor a previously recorded track at the same time since it only has one stereo aux bus? I'm sure this is just a simple answer, but I'm pretty ignorant on mixers. The tape recorder only has 2 XLR ins 2 XLR outs. It has RCA outs but they are staticy, otherwise I would use them for my monitoring, but I'm not an electrician and I don't wanna mess with it. The mixer would give me the ability to have outboard effects as stated which is what I want.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
which tape machine is this?	blumediaprojekt	So much gear, so little time!	2	24th February 2006 08:07 AM
synching DP/Motu 2408 with an analog tape machine	squelchpalace	Music computers	2	12th December 2005 03:08 AM
Tape Machine Help	FMNYC	So much gear, so little time!	4	14th November 2005 03:17 PM
analog tape machine alignment	vtone	So much gear, so little time!	1	1st January 2004 02:27 AM

2nd August 2006	#2
paulneedles Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 175	try finding out about old tascam mixers- they're pretty much designed for use with a 4 track and nothing else, whereas most mixers are designed for live use as well and this can make things tricky for wiring up your gear. They're modular as well, so you can easily repair them, compared to say, a mackie or a soundcraft. a friend of mine uses one with his 4-track r2r and i can definitively say they sound better than most new budget mixers.

2nd August 2006	#3
Dave Peck Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: S.F bay area Posts: 2,240	Something like a Mackie 1202-VLZ should do it. The trick is in the "MUTE / ALT3-4" buttons. It's hard to explain in a quick email, but basically you use these to route some channels to a 'sub out' to get recorded, while other channels (the playback from the tape recorder) bypass this sub out and go directly to the main outs so you can listen to them but they don't get sent back to the tape recorder again. Any of the bigger mixers, like the 1402 or 1642, or the newer ONYX series would also work. Some of these have four separate subgroup outs (which you would connect to the tape inputs) plus the main outs, with buttons next to the channel faders to route the channels to the various outputs. DP

2nd August 2006	#4
Byll Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Eastern PA Posts: 293	Wayne: Sent PM to you, yesterday. Might be an answer to your needs... Best. Byll

3rd August 2006	#6
nathanvacha Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,231	did we get a budget? buy something a little bit gigger than what you need... as you move up, you get more busses and you're gonna want at least 8 faders (4 channels to record and 4 or more to mix) because it will save you a lot of cable swapping so your work flow is way more simple and you can focus on the music.