Quiet Clean Mixer

[tone_aot]

Hello folks. I was wondering what are some good quality clean mixers available under $300? I needs something with atleast 2 busses, 3-4 stereo pairs, a.k.a. 8 trs inputs(not counting mic pre's), usual pan and eq options,and dead silent. I have an old behringer ub1002 i'm using for right now but i've noticed with so many things plugged in, it's a little noisy. I know it could possible also be cables(which i do need).

[tone_aot]

Any feedback on the mackie vlz series? I see some of those on ebay.

[ez_willis]

I use one of these.

Does the trick for me.

[jamacian]

Originally Posted by tone_aot

Hello folks. I was wondering what are some good quality clean mixers available under $300? I needs something with atleast 2 busses, 3-4 stereo pairs, a.k.a. 8 trs inputs(not counting mic pre's), usual pan and eq options,and dead silent. I have an old behringer ub1002 i'm using for right now but i've noticed with so many things plugged in, it's a little noisy. I know it could possible also be cables(which i do need).

Do a little test here, it would be a shame to get a new mixer and find that it seems to have all the same noise. With everything plugged in and turned on and faders up unplug your gear one piece at a time. If your noise goes away your problem is the gear and not the mixer. If you need a bigger mixer then that's a whole other deal.

[tabiggs]

I've got a 1202 VLZ Pro that more than meets my needs. The pres are good and EQ is precise, although sliders would be nice. I/O options are pretty standard for a mixer of this type and size. It's given me additional flexibility in my little home studio. I would recommend you consider a Mackie.

[tone_aot]

Thanks for all the responses folks! I'm gonna get the mackie vlz mixer and some good quality instrument cables for my keyboards. I did need a bigger mixer so this would be great. As far as the noise, i think it's half the mixer's fault and half the cable's fault. Thanks again!

[tone_aot]

Oh yea, also i'm not bashing my little behringer mixer. It's held up and worked fine since 2004. Thats good enough for the little money i paid for it.

[kojdogg]

other alternatives might include: mackie onyx 1220s-- can be had relatively cheaply (say on craigslist), also the yamaha mg's have a good rep for the money. i have a friend who has a soundcraft compact10 which he's happy with, but i don't know if it would meet all of your needs.

[ez_willis]

Cables are noisey?

[tone_aot]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

Cables are noisey?

I've had noisey cables before!! I didn't believe a difference until i heard the diff between one of my cheap cables and a mogami cable. Silent!

[tone_aot]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

other alternatives might include: mackie onyx 1220s-- can be had relatively cheaply (say on craigslist), also the yamaha mg's have a good rep for the money. i have a friend who has a soundcraft compact10 which he's happy with, but i don't know if it would meet all of your needs.

I heard that onyx stuff was really good.

[Treeline]

I like mine. Onyx 1640 mixer, mostly used for live work. It's built like a tank and is very, very quiet. I get mixer noise when I'm pushing a preamp or fader way too hard - and that usually means I've got something else way off that has to be fixed first, like mic placement and so on. Run this unit within its design specs and it does a really nice job.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by tone_aot

I've had noisey cables before!! I didn't believe a difference until i heard the diff between one of my cheap cables and a mogami cable. Silent!

No shit? Did you do the comparison AFTER you bought the Mogami? I bet you did.

[Lectric_Lab]

seem to went over the $300 range 'eh? I use Soundcraft, good mixers. Buy a Ghost!

[jamacian]

Originally Posted by tone_aot

Oh yea, also i'm not bashing my little behringer mixer. It's held up and worked fine since 2004. Thats good enough for the little money i paid for it.

I'm sure it still works fine. It's what's plugged into the mixer that is noisy. I have never heard a noisy cable. Either it passes signal or it doesn't. There is a crackly middle ground but noise...no, not really. Gear is noisy, a mixer aint gonna change that. The mackie will be a very slight step up in quality and possibly a slightly lower noise floor but nothing you will notice in the average recording.

Spend your money on better gear.

[tone_aot]

Originally Posted by jamacian

I'm sure it still works fine. It's what's plugged into the mixer that is noisy. I have never heard a noisy cable. Either it passes signal or it doesn't. There is a crackly middle ground but noise...no, not really. Gear is noisy, a mixer aint gonna change that. The mackie will be a very slight step up in quality and possibly a slightly lower noise floor but nothing you will notice in the average recording.

Spend your money on better gear.

I figured out the noise problem. It was a pretty dumn thing. Gain staging. I know about gain staging but sometimes i'm in so much of a rush trying to put down ideas before they're gone, i kinda skip over that kinda stuff. As far as noisy cables i've had, i meant cables with bad shielding and stuff. I have a radio shack and mogami trs->rca cable(used for going from the mixer to my m-audio audiophile 2496). With louder volumes, the mogami is alot quieter than the radio shack cable. The radio shack has a buzz. Did the price justify the difference, NO!!! Too high!! As far as my equipment going in to the mixer, i'm using a Korg Triton Le and Roland Jv-35.

[tone_aot]

I would like to get some better gear(as far as the recording chain) down the road. I really don't have money for apogee converters and avalon's right now! I guess i'll spend the mixer money on some more acoustic panels or something. I will be at sam ash or guitar center this week getting me an electric guitar though!!

[bubbagump]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

No shit? Did you do the comparison AFTER you bought the Mogami? I bet you did.

I have had "noisy" cables too... but it almost always comes down to the cable having gone bad internally... broken shields or bad connections or whatever.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by bubbagump

I have had "noisy" cables too... but it almost always comes down to the cable having gone bad internally... broken shields or bad connections or whatever.

And a Mogami can break internally as easily as a cable that is reasonably priced.

[jamacian]

Originally Posted by tone_aot

I figured out the noise problem. It was a pretty dumn thing. Gain staging.

Yeah, that can get noisy. Glad you tracked it down.