Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

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-- Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

Posted by Zombie14 on Jul-22-2009 02:52:

Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone here has opinions as to what I should purchase for a studio mixer..?

Doesn't need a ton of channels, 4 to 8 would be enough I think.. Just looking for really great sound quality.. Looking to record vocalists and electric guitar samples for use in my productions.

Thanks in advance for any ideas

Posted by Kismet7 on Jul-22-2009 06:07:

Find yourself a used Ramsa. Heard they usually have great warm preamps...and they go for cheap, and since you seem to need decent pres...might be a good fit without breaking the bank. Can probably find a 8-10 channels for under $500.

Posted by Ry Thomas on Jul-22-2009 06:37:

TL Audio M-1 TubeTracker 8

Posted by Kismet7 on Jul-22-2009 06:46:

quote:
Originally posted by Ry Thomas
TL Audio M-1 TubeTracker 8

That is expensive just for a few channels of tracking guitar and vox for EDM, might as well get a proper mixer.

Posted by studiobob on Jul-22-2009 14:24:

whats your budget??

Posted by Zombie14 on Jul-22-2009 18:30:

Thanks for the replies so far guys, will check those mixers out.

quote:
Originally posted by studiobob
whats your budget??

Under $500 would be ideal, and I'd probably ebay it if it's in quality working condition.

Then again, even if you have some "higher-price-bracket" recommendations, I'd still be up for hearing about them so I can research further.. I'm a total newb when it comes to studio mixers.

Posted by Zombie14 on Jul-24-2009 00:13:

any other recommendations kind sirs ??

Posted by spolitta on Jul-24-2009 02:29:

Re: Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

quote:
Originally posted by TylerM
Looking to record vocalists and electric guitar samples for use in my productions.

Thanks in advance for any ideas

You don't need a mixer for that. What you need is good pre(s) and good AD.

so before making any suggestions on what to get... Will you be recording more than one channel at a time?

Posted by henryv on Jul-24-2009 05:08:

great thread. i would like to know also, since im in the market for one.

Posted by Zombie14 on Jul-28-2009 02:02:

Re: Re: Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

quote:
Originally posted by spolitta
You don't need a mixer for that. What you need is good pre(s) and good AD.

so before making any suggestions on what to get... Will you be recording more than one channel at a time?

Nope, probably one channel at a time

Posted by DJ RANN on Jul-28-2009 02:44:

Re: Re: Re: Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

quote:
Originally posted by TylerM
Nope, probably one channel at a time

The get a nice small audio interface, a good pre and good mic. Problem solved.

Posted by spolitta on Jul-28-2009 05:03:

Re: Re: Re: Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

quote:
Originally posted by TylerM
Nope, probably one channel at a time

Are you on MAC or PC? and what is your current sound card?

Posted by Zombie14 on Jul-28-2009 18:53:

Re: Re: Re: Re: Looking for a Quality Studio Mixer

quote:
Originally posted by spolitta
Are you on MAC or PC? and what is your current sound card?

on a powermac, the new one with intel xeon nahelam processors.. so stock apple audio card

Posted by Raphie on Jul-28-2009 20:25:

real good analogue mixing desk?
SSL X-Desk

real good multiport FW interface?
Steinberg MR816

Posted by orTof�nChiLd on Jul-28-2009 22:33:

yeah just get an audio interface

Posted by spolitta on Jul-29-2009 00:29:

quote:
Originally posted by TylerM
on a powermac, the new one with intel xeon nahelam processors.. so stock apple audio card

Good, so you have a MAC. Just get the duet and call it a day. Very clean pres with good enough headroom and good sounding conversion, it's within your budgets too, you'll love it.

quote:
Originally posted by Raphie
real good analogue mixing desk?
SSL X-Desk

real good multiport FW interface?
Steinberg MR816

I always thought a "real good" desk should have pres and eqs but then again what do I know about audio.

Posted by Raphie on Jul-29-2009 05:51:

Really depends on what you want, the X-Desk is all about signal path and summing. high end decks always use external pre's

But then again, the Steinberg is considered to have the best pre's in it's class and it's DA<>DA is pristine, right up with LAVRY, Apogee and Prizm.

As mentioned earlier "a real good desk" is quite a broad requiremeny. it really depends on what functionality you want.

Posted by mfitterer1 on Jul-29-2009 06:22:

On a similar note, what is the top 2-3 digital desks on the market right now for under 10-15k? I know which are out there in that range but it's not easy to demo these things and I don't want to make a purchase I regret or be forced to return things and shit. I want to make a decision I can stick with. I think(?) I can count on you guys opinions! I'm sure some of you have worked on them at some point.

I plan on staying in the box for the foreseeable future.

Posted by spolitta on Jul-29-2009 06:45:

X-desk is more of a mixing tool with monitoring than a tracking mixer. The title is misleading, OP was looking for a mixer to use its pres, not a summing box with faders.

Posted by Raphie on Jul-29-2009 07:03:

for 15K i would buy the SSL Matrix

Posted by henryv on Jul-29-2009 08:23:

What would you guys recommend for PC?

DAW : Ableton! i was looking at the APC40, but i think there's also other good choices out there.

Posted by spolitta on Jul-29-2009 12:35:

quote:
Originally posted by Raphie
for 15K i would buy the SSL Matrix

Why? Do you have lots of outboard?

Posted by Numb on Jul-29-2009 13:14:

quote:
Originally posted by spolitta
Good, so you have a MAC. Just get the duet and call it a day. Very clean pres with good enough headroom and good sounding conversion, it's within your budgets too, you'll love it.

This. Screw the desk.