4+in/4out preamp/mixer for around $100?

[omway]

i'm trying to get together a small recording setup to demos and stuff on. now i just bought a quattro(i'm using a laptop), and i have cakewalk. what i need is a preamp or mixer(preferably mixer) that can go between 4 mics/instr and the quattro. the main purpose of this is to act as a preamp. a mixer would just have added features that would be nice, but aren't the necessity. the recording is mostly vocals, but i want all 4 channels separate. i had bought a behr. ub-1202 and realized it didn't have 4 outs for the respective ins. i'm kind of new to all the recording equipment, although i have recorded in studios before, i don't know much about the equipment yet.

[Outlaws]

Here is a little trick to the whole mixer ballgame.

Most have a model number. As does yours.

1202

The first part is the number of inputs.......12
So there are twelve inputs. Not necessarely 12 channels, just inputs. There might be only 8-10 faders, because some are stereo.

But for your question,

The second part.....02

is the buss section. ie, how many outs it has.


This is not a steadfast rule, but it helps.

[Outlaws]

You should return that mixer if you got it at GuitarCenter and get this one.

1204 4 outs

Technically it is 4 outs. It has two stereo outs. So you just pan the mixer at hard left and hard right to each of the stereo busses to seperate the tracks on your recorder.

[omway]

thanks for the reply. well i'm going to return the 1202.

so the 1204 will allow me to send all 4 separate mic inputs separately to the interfaces 4 ins using the pan trick? thanks

what about channel boards?

[Outlaws]

I don't get your last question............


But for the 4 outputs here is what you do:

For this example you are using channels 1-4 on the mixer.


Send channel 1 and two to subgroup 1. Channel one panned hard left and channel 2 panned hard right.

That will send the signal to 2 seperate tracks.

Do the same with channels 3 and 4 to subgroup 2.

[omway]

sorry for the unexplained question... ok i understand now how to set up the 1204 mixer. 2 questions though:

... the link you posted about that sent me to the 1204 at musiciansfriend.com is for the 1204 fx pro. can i use the plain 1204 pro? it seems to be the same w/o the effect processing.

... what i meant by the question in the last post was, someone told me to just get a channel board that has 4in and DIRECT OUTS for each input. will the 1204 be just as good? do you think it's the cheapest, "good enough to get the job done" solution? thanks again

[Outlaws]

Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention. It should be the samething for the most part without the EFX.

I would rather have the ins and direct outs for the options it provides, but when you get picky, you get pricey.

It should get the job done. But there isn't much bragging rights associated with Berhinger gear. People will tell you there is better stuff. But you want to spend $100 so there isn't much you can pick from to start with.

[Outlaws]

speaking of pricey....

My neighbor has an anolog Mackie 1202 board. The thing is like $400 or something. It doesn't even have faders. Just trim knobs.

Quality over quantity.

[omway]

yeah i've heard that behringer in pretty low in the standings, but as of now i just need something cheap that will still get the job done fairly well.

btw - do u think it's worth the extra $30 for the 1204 w/ the efx? i mean, being that everything goes into cakealk anyway to get perfected, would it be necessary? maybe for live performances?

[Outlaws]

If you are going into Cakewalk I woud spend the money on some MonsterCables. But if you need someting for live and you don't have anything then i guess it would. But it might have some AUX sends so you can use better outboard Efx if you want.

[omway]

can a yamaha mx12/4 be used? i've heard inserts can be used as direct outs.

[SonicAlbert]

I'd take the Yamaha MG12/4 over a comparable Behringer mixer any day. Inserts can be used as direct outs.

[omway]

wil the behri mx1604a do the same as the ub1204? it's in the analog sect at their website. what's the diff between 2/2bus and 2+2bus?

it's just that the 1604 is all over ebay

[Outlaws]

Originally posted by omway
it's just that the 1604 is all over ebay

And for a good reason

[Outlaws]

Put up a link to the one you are talking about.