Cheap Digital Mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter rnelson
  • Start date Start date
R

rnelson

New member
Hey guys, this ones easy. I need a cheap digital mixer to be used as a control surface for cubase via midi. Since I wont be using the preamps they dont need to be of very high quality but I would like a lot of channels, faders, etc to assign to different cubase parameters. At least 16 channels, preferably 24.

I was looking at the Yamaha ProMix 01, its an old 18ch mixer which seems to do the job, but I really no NOTHING about mixers, brands, sizes, prices etc, so help would be appreciated.

Also think I might use it live, but for that there is no need for high quality preamps.

As for price, anything under $500 is fine.

Thanks in advance!
 
Look for the Yamaha 01V on e-bay (the old version, not the 01V2), its a nice mixer and i've used that one to control Cubase, you can in fact control 28 channels with that mixer, its tricky coz it doesnt have scenes, but if you press the memory button, cubase will make the scene change. BTW cubase already has the 01V functions programmend in it, so its as easy as plugiing in the midi, and selecting the 01V in the devices column.
 
You're right in the ballbpark to get a Tascam 2488mkII which is good and portable.
 
Maybe look at a Tascam FW-1082 Firewire Control Surface if you've got a firewire port on your PC. I have one that I use with Logic to control 24 tracks and it works flawlessly, although its actually designed for Cubase. I got mine new for $479.

If it must be a midi controller, you might also look at the old Fostex VM-200 if you can find one on eBay or the like. It's got flying faders and a bank selector, so could potentially control quite a few channel strips via midi control.
 
Yeah I guess I could use firewire or usb but The reason im looking at mixers and not at actual control surfaces is that I would like the mixer for live use and I dont know if all control surfaces can handle that( can they?).

Also from what ive researched control surfaces in general seem more expensive than cheap digital mixers.

Great suggestions so far guys, keep em coming if you think of any more.
 
rnelson said:
Yeah I guess I could use firewire or usb but The reason im looking at mixers and not at actual control surfaces is that I would like the mixer for live use and I dont know if all control surfaces can handle that( can they?).

Also from what ive researched control surfaces in general seem more expensive than cheap digital mixers.
Click to expand...

It depends on the control surface. The Tascam 1082 can also function as an 8/2 digital mixer, although in a more limited capacity than a standalone digital desk. Some others, like the US-series, are strictly control surfaces with no I/O section.

Price, again, depends on what you get. My 1082 was less than $500. You can find a used 01v for about the same price. An 01v or similar will make a better live mixer and a decent control surface. A dedicated control surface will make the opposite - better control tool and a so-so mixer.
 
I think you can get a Tascam DM-24 pretty cheaply these days. I used to own a couple of them and they are good sounding mixers with a lot of nice features like touch sensitive faders.
 
I'm looking for the same thing! I've found a few similar mixers:
Behringer DDX3216,
Soundcraft 328,
Tascam DM-24,
DM-3200
DM-4800
Yamaha ProMix 01,
01V(96),
02R(96),
03D,
DM1000,
DM2000.

There might be more, but I'm looking for something around 16input and just know of/found the others. (If you know of more similar to these, let me know)

The ones to look out for, that you might find cheap, are Behringer DDX3216, Soundcraft 328, Tascam DM-24, Yamaha ProMix 01, 01V, 02R, and 03D. I doubt you'd find the others cheap.
 
If it were me I'd avoid the Behringer altogether. Too many problems, and it's not nearly as sophisticated or polished as the Tascam and Yamaha mixers.

There's also the Panasonic/Ramsa DA7.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top