Portable Powered Mixer?

[dejacky]

I'm in need of a "good" sounding mixer that will power a simple 2-4 speaker PA system for my band so I'm thinking 12 channel minimum, but I'd also like it to have the following features on each channel:

1. soft & hard limiter
2. noise gate
3. EQ (doesn't have to be fancy)
4. Phantom power (would be nice, but not requirement since I can use my 8 channel PR-8 preamp's line out for this.)
5. Direct input & XLR inputs on each channel
6. Direct Outputs per channel to record each channel into RME Multi-face during live shows.
7. Monitor outputs as well.

It will be used in conjunction with the following mics & inputs:

Sennheiser e835 (vox)
Shure SM57 (snare)
Shure SM58 (guitar)
Shure SM48 (vox)
Shure SM58 Beta (guitar)
ElectroVoice RE20 (kick)
Oktava MK012 cardoid mics w/ -10db pad (drum overheads)
any other good live mic's I add to the cabinet in the near future.

The cheaper the mixer the better, but I realize there is a price-point where reliability becomes a factor, so I need this thing to be reliable. What do you more experienced live-sound gurus recommend?

[Remoteness]

Without giving us a real price range, here's my 3 cents.

Keep in mind that I don't think you should buy a powered mixer for a variety of reasons.
My suggestions are not relative to a powered mixer situation, but this could be useful to you anyway.

It sounds like you really need a digital mixer and the best bang for buck desk (at this timeline) is the Yamaha LS9.
Quite a few bands travel with their own LS9s to handle the IEM monitor needs...

We worked with Ricky Skaggs (with Bruce Hornsby) and Simple Plan last year and they both were carrying LS9-32s for their monitor mixes.

[Roland]

I can't think of a powered mixer that is going to give you what you want. Compressors are far more useful than limiters on a PA rig, and noise gates are the preserve of high end or at least (as Steve put it above) digital desks.

There are several issues you are missing. For starters I can't think of a powered desk that would have enough "poke" to deal with drums successfully. eg. I wouldn't be putting drums through any rig less than about 3-4k minimum, BD's eat power like crazy because of the LF (low frequency) content.

You don't mention bass, however I assume that your band has one.

Noise gates are a PITA, I try to rarely use them, IMHO only good for fixing problems that can be fixed by proper drum tunning, damping, correct miking and mic placement. Compressors are really useful, particularly for vocals, drums, Bass, guitars sometimes.

You would be better off with a decent self powered rig, a simple 12 channel mixer like a soundcraft spirit AH mixwizard, Soundcraft LX7 etc. A small outboard rack with a 2 channel graphic (BSS opal is great for the money) couple of 4 channel compressor units, again BSS, DBX, there are a few out there that are cheap and reasonable. Cheap DI box for your bass. Use 57's for guitar cabs rather than 58's or Beta 58's. 57 for the snare is great, but don't bother with an RE20 for the BD, they are a lot of money and don't work on all drums, the Sennheiser BD mic (502?) is cheap and adaptable for almost any kit, AKG D112 is ok, but has too much click for my liking. 58's are great for vocals, 835's are good too, Beyer TG vocal mic's are also worth checking into, I believe they are cheap and have surprised me with there quality.

There are several quite good band PA's, with what you are looking to amplify I would suggest (as a minimum) something with 2 bass bins a side and a top cab, HK actor is good for the money.

Hope this helps.

Regards


Roland

[mslim]

Good advice from previous posters. If money is an issue and it usually is, take a look at the Yamaha EMX5016CF. We use its predecessor, the EMX5000, in my blues band. It's got real 48V phantom, pad, two auxes (monitor),good EQ, two efx engines w/ decent reverb, and two 375W @ 8 ohm power amps. We use S115V's for the FOH and two powered EV's for wedges. Lots of bang for the buck and very reliable if you don't bang it around. We keep it in an SKB case. Apparently the 5016 has compressors built in which we don't have so that would be a plus. We bought the EMX5000 used but like new for $500. The 5016 runs about a grand.

[dejacky]

Thank you all for your great suggestions and advice, I'm considering them all. This yamaha powered mixer seems like exactly what I need and also looks very robust and versatile!