What small mixer should I buy?

[pocketcalc]

Hi,

Within a few days I'll be receiving my HDSP 9632 RME card. Since my plan is to record guitars plugged on my Fender Bassman 59, miced with a SM57, and bass guitars in DI, I'll have to buy a preamp. So, I'm gonna buy a stereo preamp, but not now. Now it would be preferable to have a small mixer where I can feed more sources in, like a friend's sampler and modular synth. I want to start with a good set of connectivity and I'd also like to be monitoring through the mixer to headphones and my stereo, until I get a decent pair of monitors.

My budget is around 100 US$.

The perfect choice appears to be the Soundcraft Compact 4. It has two headphones out, witch is good for collaborating, and a DI switch in one of the mono channels. I'm about to buy it, but before, I searched other options and would like to read your opinions regarding preamp quality (we can talk about the "most usable"), connectivity and my main intentions described above.

Here's some other options I've found:

Peavey PV 6
Alesis MultiMix 6FX
Samson MDR624 and MDR6
Yamaha MG10/2
Behringer Xenyx 1204

Feel free to add mixers to this list. Any input will be appreciated .

Thanks in advance.

[RusRant]

$100 budget ain't gonna get much to speak of. I would recommend saving up for a while and picking up a Mackie Onyx 1202 for $529. The Mackie VLZ pro 1202 can be had for $299 right now. There not bad, but the Onyx is light years ahead.

[FULL-DUPLEX]

Check out Soundtracs Topaz... You will find them used on eBay!

Regards,

F.D.

[pocketcalc]

thank you guys for the inputs! thumbsup

I know my options ain´t good, but thats what I can afford by now. The onyx series are pretty temptating, but way beyond my budget. The soundtracs topaz are way beyond my budget and way beyond my needs.

I think I can change the tittle of this thread to "less shi**y small mixer".

Anyone?

thanks.

[mrbowes]

I've used the Mackie 1202 (non VLZ), Yamaha 10/2, and the Soundcraft Compact mixers.They are all about the same in terms of quality.

Don't split hairs over a $100 mixer.Just pick whichever one suits your needs the best.

It sounds like the Soundcraft would be best. IIRC, the Soundcraft does not have a power switch on it. That always annoys me, but it might not bother you.

[pocketcalc]

Originally Posted by mrbowes

Don't split hairs over a $100 mixer.Just pick whichever one suits your needs the best.

That makes sense. I was just wondering if there is a slightly better option in this price range. Anyway, I think I´ll keep wondeiring for a few weeks before go on shopping.

what about the TAPCO Blend 6?

thanks

[mvollrath]

For what it's worth, I picked up the MG10/2 this week, and haven't broken it yet thumbsup It seems to be the most expansive of the boards you linked to, but I can't comment on its depth (as far as for recording) quite yet. I was looking for a $100 mixer, and chose it.

One thing to consider: I don't think you'll want to use the digital FX on a $100 board for recording.

[taturana]

i have two compact 10's and they are awesome (for their worth)... you can get them on ebay for 140 dollars... and each comes with 4 class-a pre's and you can use the inserts as (pre-eq) direct outs....

i reccomend the soundcraft.. they sound pretty good, miles above mackie and behringer at this price point.

[taturana]

ah e agora percebi que és do brasil tb...

back to english...

[lomky]

I have one of thise Soundcraft notepad mixers that I used a few times. I think I got it used for less than $100.

[thejook]

Chilton!

do a search on that...

[tINY]

Doesn't that card have a mixer on it?




-tINY

[pocketcalc]

Originally Posted by mvollrath

For what it's worth, I picked up the MG10/2 this week, and haven't broken it yet

Man, I´m sold.

[pocketcalc]

Originally Posted by tINY

Doesn't that card have a mixer on it?

Yes, it has more than a mixer, it has a TOTALmixer!! But this is kind of a virtual mixer. I want a real mixer, to multiply physical inputs, use its preamps etc.

thanks for the input.

[pocketcalc]

Originally Posted by thejook

Chilton! do a search on that...

think I´ll stick with the 16 Module mainframe, including P.S.U, instead of the mixer

[pocketcalc]

Originally Posted by taturana

ah e agora percebi que és do brasil tb...

back to english...

Hey!

Sent you a PM.

valeu

[darjama]

I've got a yamaha 10/2, that I bought while my spirit F1 mixer wasn't working. The yamaha is pretty unfocused and muddy in comparison.


If you can spend a little more, there's one on e-bay now, and it will give you 8 preamps:
http://tinyurl.com/yxlk3b


You could get a used spirit notepad for under $100, I think they should be the same preamps.

[RusRant]

People here slam them pretty bad, but I would recommend the Mackie 1202 series. Either the vlz or non. Lots of features, good sound and very flexible for the $. You can get them used for what your wanting to shell out.

[taturana]

the mackies are good.. i've had a few(1204,1604,8bus,4bus) , but the soundcraft sound so much better for the same price... and have better eq and pre's... well the onix' are very good but at a different price point...

[aecio]

Aeee brasileiros na área!

Man if i needed a small mixer right now i think the soundcraft compact 4 is a good choice, because of the route options for such a small mixer.

PM me if you want to chat at msn.

[Paj]

If you just consider the preamp, the SoundCraft wins hands down. If you consider the EQ, the Mackie wins (the SoundCraft EQ has an unusually set bass control). Also note that the Compact4 stereo channels are really set up with consumer RCA (-10dB/RAII phono) connectors. You may have trouble connecting keyboards, guitar amps/modelers, etc.

The Compact4 will give you the two best preamps, 1-Channel DI option, turntable/-10dB options, more flexible headphone monitoring options, and the option to build and use it with a battery pack but it will limit your connectivity. Everything else in this category will give you more flexible routing. Don't buy any Behringer mixer unless it has channel insert I/O (i.e., a way to bypass everything except the preamp). By the time you get to the price of a VLZ1202, you could have the compact10, which does away with the routing/connectivity limitations of the Compact4.

Paj
8^)

[GregP]

I like the features of the Tapco Blend 6 listed here, actually. For the price, you can't expect "stunning" quality. I liked its approach, and particularly appreciated its ability to accept a hi-Z signal, thereby negating the need for a dedicated D.I. box.

However, I've never actually HEARD one, so I can't say.

[celticrogues]

Check out this little guy too - you get 4 mic pres

http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sh...p?product_id=1

Cheers,
-Mike