Better Mixer

[geeq]

Hello! I currently own a BEHRINGER Euro mixer...
I wanted to upgrade my mixer..
Can you guys suggest a better mixer under $500?
I've heard lots of good points with mixer, so I search for mackie mixers:

MACKIE DFX12 12x2 w/ EFX
MACKIE 1202 VLZ Pro
MACKIE 1402 VLZ Pro

Can you guys help me out choose a better mixer, or suggest any better mixer if there is a better one than Mackie mixers..

Thanks..

[esun127]

Soundcraft E-12. It's around $400.

[Pha'dur]

yeah get a soundcraft if you can. The pre's are great especially for the price. Mackies pre's are kinda cold sounding. But definetly a step up from the Berhinger.

[Jerry W]

If your only recording into a computer and not that many tracks at a time, loose the mixer. Maybe a DAW controller is better with a patch bay. These cheap mixers all sound a bit crappy in the end compared to real mixers. Lets face it. About the only budget mixers that really sound good are the Yamaha 02R96 or the Sony DMX-100.

I am not trying to be a snob since I do not have such a mixer. I am just coming to the realization that tis better to go direct than through a "budget" mixer. Or, even better, through a good preamp. Get a great stereo preamp and go through that.

Of course, if you are recording a band, you're kind of stuck. At that point, get what you can afford or what you can get a good price on. To me the most important feature between Mackie, Behringer or Soundcraft is maintenance. Whichever one is easiest to maintain, that one is the best.

[geeq]

hmm.. actually. im doin hiphop/r&b music.. i use the mixer to plug-in keyboard and a mic.. do i need a huge mixer? or just a 2 or 4 channels mixer? I only play one at a time..
I just thought having a huge mixer makes the difference.. I heard that a good pre-amp such as grace or aphex makes the vocal sounds good.. so i was thinking to hook up one.. does it need a mixer to hook to a pre-amp? or can i just plug it in directly to the sound card.. i plan to get M-AUDIO Delta 1010 or Echo Layla..
Can you suggest what I should I do?
This is my setup plan:
KEYBOARD: Korg Triton RACK Module w/
MIDI CONTROLLER: Evolution Keyboards
SOUND CARD: M-AUDIO Delta 1010 or Echo Layla
PRE-AMP: Grace or Aphex
MIC: Don't know yet..
of course all are plug in to the computer for recording..
Do I need a mixer? If so, do i need a huge mixer?
I only use an 8 channel behringer mixer, but i seem to not use all of them.. but i Just thought huge mixer makes a difference due to quality..

[Pha'dur]

the difference between an eight track mixer and a 12 track probably isn't going to make the jump in quality your looking for. If you do want a "huge" mixer like 24 track then your getting into better quality but not really if it's just a variant on the 8 track version. You pay for what you get. Also grace's do kick a lot of ass if you have the cash. But check it out with the mic your going to use first and make sure it sounds right for your voice.

[geeq]

so r u saying, i dont really need a huge mixer, i can stick with 8 track, since im not goin got use them all at once..
how's the pre amp will setup?
do i connect it to the mixer, leading to the sound card?
or can i just connect the pre amp directly to the sound card? can i plug the keyboard to the preamp to record audio?

[Pha'dur]

Plug your mic into the pre then you need to plug the pre amp into the line input of whatever track you want it on. Let's say 1 for your vocals. Then you route your output from track 1 on your mixer to the computer or whatever you record to.

[StevenLindsey]

Higher channel count on a mixer does not relate to the preamp quality. If you want "some" better quality for preamps, listen to a Soundcraft mixer. If you want a "truly noticeable" step up, you'd probably better find a good standalone preamp like the RNC or the GraceDesigns 101. Looking at $500 for a real step up. Of course, if you want the least costly and the most noticeable and immediate improvement in your recordings, get a good mic first. There are a lot of inexpensive condenser mics out there to choose from.