Finally ready to buy a mixer

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Mike BL

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Hey everyone, I posted about budget mixers a few weeks ago, but as it turned out, I wasn't quite ready to buy at that point. I just sold my old Tascam 488 on Ebay, though, so I've got about $200 to work with, and I might be willing to put in a little more if the difference in quality is substantial.

First, a rundown on what exactly I'm looking to do:

The most complicated thing I'll ask of whatever mixer I get isn't actually very complicated at all. All I'm really looking to do is to be able to mix -- at the very least -- 4 drum tracks down to 2 because that's the most I can record at once on my Fostex MR-8 anyway.

So I realize any of the mixers with 4 mic inputs will do the job fine. If I buy new, my options seem to be the Yamaha 10/2 ($100), the Yamaha 12/4 ($200), the Alesis 8FX ($150) or any number of Behringers that fit into my price range.

I've read only positive things about the Yamahas, so I'm leaning in that direction, but I've got a question about the 10/2 model. It has 4 XLR inputs, but the first four tracks are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5/6. Will that have any affect on what I'm trying to do with the drums? All the other models I mentioned are 1-4. I think that's probably a stupid question, but I really can't figure it out.

I'm also wondering if any of you think I'd have better/more options if I were to go the Ebay route. And if so, what specifically do you think is worth looking for?

Sorry if these are dumb questions....thanks for your help.
 
I would look for any vintage of used Mackie 1202. You should be able to find one in your price range.
 
I echo (sorry, audio pun) the suggestion of the 1202. There are always many available on Ebay, from the early pre-XDR to the "pro" version. I picked one up that was virtually new in every respect , the Vlz Pro 1202 for $250.00 and I use it as a sidecar mixer of sorts to mix down keyboards on the way to my bigger Allen & Heath. The bonus here is that you'll get a lot of bang for your buck with 4 decent mic pre's as well as a variety of routing options. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Mackie's eq but for tracking.....it's a great little mixer. I'm guessing that you will quickly outgrow the 4 inputs you were hinting at -- can never have enough channels! The 1202 has twelve inputs--4 mic pre's and 4 stereo line, and inserts on the 4 mono channels . It'll also survive the occasional UGH!! I dropped it! Happy hunting!
 
I've got a Mackie 1202 sitting around. Let me know if your interested.

Tony
 
Thanks for the responses.

Tony, is your mizer the VLZ model, or is it the one before that?

Steven, thanks for your suggestion. I've heard only great things about the Spirit mixers, but they're definitely out of my price range. Guess I'll have to stick with the "junk".

Also, if someone could clear up my confusion with the mono/stereo tracks on smaller mixers like the Yamaha 10/2, I'd really appreciate it. It seems like because the tracks marked 3/4 and 5/6 have XLR inputs, it's possible to use them as mono. Is that correct?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
Steven, you make a pretty strong case, but unfortunately I've sold damn near everything I own (just short of my blood) to pay the rent and have a little left over for a mixer. When I said I'd be willing to go over by a little, I was talking more like $250.

Out of curiousity, though, since I assume you own one of the Soundcrafts, what about them makes you think they're worth so much more than the Mackies or Yamahas with similar features?
 
Probably just a perception thing. I have an older model Spirit Powerstation that is built like a tank. In fact, I dropped it a concrete sidewalk once and it's still working away to this day ( although it jarred the effects board loose - I didn't use the effects anyway. ) I use it strictly for recording now. The pres are very nice ( IMO ) and A/B'd against a Blue Tube - I know, not saying much - were much more open and clean and airy. The pres in the M-series should be quite a bit better than mine; they're reputed to be the same pres as in the Ghost boards or to at least have the same design. The Eq section is very good also (sweepable mids). They also have digital out (S/PDIF) which could come in very handy in the future if you did anything with DAWs. Balanced XLR outputs. The M-Series boards seem to have a very good reputation in general anywhere you look. Just quality stuff. Now as to how they compare with Yamahas or Mackies, I don't know. Like I say, probably just perception, but, a perception derived from a LOT of reading on different BBSs such as this and other material. I know that if I were about to buy a mixer, I would spend the extra to get a Soundcraft. I may get an M8 before long just for the heck of it. The Mackie mixers seem to have a good reputation also and would probably serve you well. I've even heard some good things about the UB Behringer mixers. I'm probably one of the last persons you should listen to for opinions on musical equipment. I just like to talk. However, I still say you oughta save a month or two and get a Soundcraft. You'll be glad you did. In my opinion. :D
 
Cool....thanks a ton for taking the time to explain. As has been the case with every music-related purchase I've ever made, it's coming to the point now where I just have to decide how long I'm willing to wait before buying. I feel like I've been waiting forever just for to have the extra loot to buy one of the cheaper models I mentioned, and while this might not be the smartest way to do things, I feel like I've really got to get in there and start actually doing something rather than just researching and saving. Anyway, thanks again for your help.

While I've got you here, would you by any chance be able to explain the whole mono vs. stereo input thing and whether it will pose a problem or not?
 
Not quite sure what you mean. All you want to do, if I'm understanding your original post, is use four mics on the mono inputs and then run the main stereo outputs from your mixer to inputs 1 & 2 on your recorder and record onto a stereo track. You can use your high-pass filters, eq, trim, panning knobs, etc to get your stereo image for your 4 drum inputs like you want it and then send it to the recorder. For example: Mics 1 & 2 for overheads, panned left and right, high-pass filter on, cut on low eq. Mic 3 on kick, panned straight up, high-pass off, maybe a little low boost and mid boost. Mic 4 on snare, panned just left of center, high-pass on, low cut, small high boost. ( These are just examples. ) All these signals are summed to your stereo main outputs. Then set your tracks to record - stereo tracks, paired or however your recorder does stereo recording. Listen through the phones. You will be able to hear the stereo spread from left to right as you play from snare to toms. Experiment with panning, eq, etc until it sounds like you want, then record. If you have a digital output on your mixer and a digital input on your recorder you can keep the signal digital when you record. I don't know if this is what you're asking so I may just be rambling. But I hope it helps.
 
Yeah, thanks....that makes perfect sense, but what I'm wondering is, on the Yamaha 10/2, I don't think there are 4 mono tracks. They're labeled 1, 2, 3-4, 5-6.

There's a VERY good chance I'm not making any sense.
 
Ah, now I see what you're getting at. The 10/2 has 2 mono channels (for mics) and 2 more stereo channels with MONO mic capability ( with XLR mic jacks.) It will do what you're wanting to do. It has 4 mic preamps with phantom power ( for condenser mics. ) It also has inserts on the 2 mono channels so you can patch in outboard effects if you want to. Looks like a pretty nice little box.
 
I don't really know why anybody would need that many stereo inputs. I guess its for people who use a lot of machines like keyboards, looping machines, drum machines etc. I use one stereo channel on mine for my synth. On my mixer, you can use the left input of the stereo channel for a mono input.
 
Okay, that's what I was thinking....I wasn't sure what all that mono "capability" stuff was about. Now I guess I've just got to decide if I want to cough up the extra hundred bucks for the 12/4 model, which gives me up to 6 mono inputs. It'd be nice to have that extra room if I need it, but I'm looking to pick up a pair of SD condensers to use as overheads because Ithe ones I'll be using (Oktaca MC-012's) will be on loan from a friend, so it'd be nice to put the money toward those.

Holy shit...as I was typing this, I got an email from the winner of the auction for my Tascam 488, and he told me he couldn't buy it because he got into an argument with a cop and got thrown in jail.

This is so not cool.
 
Mike,
Yes its the VLZ, FYI there is a VLZ and VLZ Pro models. The Pro models have the "XDR" pre amps. Prior to VLZ was the CR series.

T

Mike BL said:
Thanks for the responses.

Tony, is your mizer the VLZ model, or is it the one before that?

Steven, thanks for your suggestion. I've heard only great things about the Spirit mixers, but they're definitely out of my price range. Guess I'll have to stick with the "junk".

Also, if someone could clear up my confusion with the mono/stereo tracks on smaller mixers like the Yamaha 10/2, I'd really appreciate it. It seems like because the tracks marked 3/4 and 5/6 have XLR inputs, it's possible to use them as mono. Is that correct?

Thanks again for all the help.
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