Small digital mixer that sounds good (8-12 lines in)

[MichaelPatrick]

I'm looking for a small and portable digital desk that can take clock and digital audio from a Lynx Aurora and mix down to stereo AES/SPDIF and line-level outputs. Sound quality, reliability and ease-of-use are most important.

The budget is ~$2,500 USD.

I need 8-12 line inputs, up to 24/96, and high-pass (low cut) filters.
EQ, compression and effects would be nice but they are not required.

The purpose is to produce live mixes while multi-tracking live, mostly classical, music. Feeds will variously go to separate tracks, proof CDs, and video recorders.

Any help will be most appreciated!

[David Spearritt]

The TC Studio Konnekt 48 is excellent.

[MichaelPatrick]

David, I hadn't thought about rack mounted units. Thanks for the idea!

[huub]

yamaha DM1000's can be found for little money sometimes..

[Jarp2600]

Originally Posted by huub

yamaha DM1000's can be found for little money sometimes..

Agree on that one, although the UI is a bit bit weird sometimes, compared to other digital consoles.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

I'm looking for a small and portable digital desk that can take clock and digital audio from a Lynx Aurora and mix down to stereo AES/SPDIF and line-level outputs. Sound quality, reliability and ease-of-use are most important.

The budget is ~$2,500 USD.

I need 8-12 line inputs, up to 24/96, and high-pass (low cut) filters.
EQ, compression and effects would be nice but they are not required.

The purpose is to produce live mixes while multi-tracking live, mostly classical, music. Feeds will variously go to separate tracks, proof CDs, and video recorders.

Any help will be most appreciated!

If you can go a bit more the new Presonus Live Mixer maybe what you are looking for.

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

I'm looking for a small and portable digital desk that can take clock and digital audio from a Lynx Aurora and mix down to stereo AES/SPDIF and line-level outputs. Sound quality, reliability and ease-of-use are most important.

The budget is ~$2,500 USD.

I need 8-12 line inputs, up to 24/96, and high-pass (low cut) filters.
EQ, compression and effects would be nice but they are not required.

The purpose is to produce live mixes while multi-tracking live, mostly classical, music. Feeds will variously go to separate tracks, proof CDs, and video recorders.

Any help will be most appreciated!

Metric Halo ULN8 maybe...thumbsup

[Bixby]

I'm pretty happy with our Yamaha 01V96.

[BenFranske]

I was going to suggest an 01v96 or maybe one of the Tascams.

[mixedupsteve]

I like the 01V96 too especially since you can clock it off the Lynx. You'll need MY card for the inputs most likely.

[MichaelPatrick]

TC Studio Konnekt 48 looks awesome for the price, though it does require a computer to control the mixer. The Metric Halo ULN-8 looks killer, in a "better" league but it's very expensive by comparison.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Your inputs have made me aware of options I hadn't even considered.

Does anyone have experience using Motu 828mk3 ?

[LX3]

For the budget you're looking at, that's an 01V96 all the way. Solid workhorse mixers (analog or digital) with a nice variety of easily-accessed analog and digital I/O will always be a good thing to have around. When I'm under pressure, I want to grab a fader or hit a button. Not fiddle-faddle with a trackpad or mouse.

[Marlan]

Hi Michael,

With your price point, if you absolutely need or want to have faders, then it's +1 in my opinion on the O1V96. Great board for the money. Even better if your using the Lynx to feed it digitally.

As many positive reviews as I've heard, I have not used the new new Presonus console so I can't comment.

If you can spend more and don't need a physical mixing control surface, the ULN 8 is just superb. I want one for myself.

Good Luck.

[DannyL]

I would concur with the 01V, very usable and with the external clock it will work great. You also have the option to clock to a digital input, thugh word clock is your nest option. It also has a relatively small footprint.


Of all the units listed in the post, the Motu is by far the least desirable. I have always found their converters to sound rather "grainy" at best.

Danny

[JonesH]

The 01V96 is very competent - I like it alot for its price point vs capability. There should be more rack mounted units that can handle your specs. Maybe this for instance could be useful:

Roland U.S. - M-1000: Digital Line Mixer

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by rmx16

Metric Halo ULN8 maybe...thumbsup

Yeah, he's only $3500 away!

- c

[MichaelPatrick]

Thanks everyone. This has been enlightening as I didn't know the range of options. The variety of solutions makes the decision more complex rather than simpler, because some options would change my recording chain. So now I need to ponder a bit!

THANKS AGAIN!