~Mixer Options. Your Thoughts.

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seiiki

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Hey Guys,

So i want a mixer for my home studio that i can plug into Digital Performer 7 and use to control the virtual mixers, volume, pan ect ect (you guys know the deal). However i need one that i can also chuck in a mic and record some vocals, guitar ect. Do you guys know any mixers on the market that can cater for both these actions well? Also in a under $1000 budget here..
Any help would be great as im pretty new to the whole mix/mastering side of DAW studio work.

Thanks Heaps

~Seiiki
 
The terminology of what you're looking for is something that acts both as a "digital mixer" (that will have the inputs and preamps and so forth to enable the recording input part of it) and as "control surface" (the part that allows it to act as a controller for your computer software.)

I personally am unaware of anything that will handle both of those functions and do it for a budget price range.The cheapest one I know of is something like the Tascam DM-3200, which is something along the price of $3000 brand new, Maybe there's something out there that I don't know of that's smaller and therefore cheaper; you can look based upon those keywords.

An alternative would be to get two different units; a small interface for the input/record part of it, and a small dedicated control surface for the DAW software control. You can find small versions of each of those for a few hundred each, which may be a better way of fitting your budget.

G.
 
Thanks for not totally ripping into me as most people would, since i didn't know the right terminology. As i said im pretty new to this world.

But thats cleared a lot up for me. Do you know of any good 'digital mixers' around this budget?
 
I can't say that I do. That doesn't mean that there aren't any, because I am not an expert on every piece of equipment available out there.

For someone on your budget, I'd recommend foregoing a digital mixer anyway. For 1/2 to 3/4s of your budget your could get an 8-channel interface that would allow you to record up to 8 channels (mic or line) at a time to your PC, or for under $200 you could get a 2-channel interface if that's all you need.

If you played it right, you could have enough left over for a small control surface that'll give you the feel of a mixer for controlling your DAW software. Even that's optional; while control surfaces are nice, they are far from necessary. But if you really insist on having a physical control surface, you can get some small ones for a few hundred dollars.

I'd recommend heading over to a place like Sweetwater or other full-service, full-line retailer like that, and ordering yourself a free product catalog. Wherever you wind up buying from, one of those catalogs are great for seeing just what's out there, what it all will do, and how much it costs.

G.
 
Well, you've helped make a lot clear. With a bit more research i think its a control surface that ive been looking for.

I checked out the Zoom R16, but for some reason when it comes to Zoom i get a little skeptical. It just feels like they cram in way to many functions, and what you end up getting is just a mediocre product.. just MY OPINION :P

So im down to a Behringer BCF2000 VS Novation ZeRO SL MkII

If anyone has any advice about either of these, which they prefer, or about compatibility with Digital Performer that would be great!

~Seiiki
 
Well, cyrano beat me to it, I was gonna suggest the R16, too. I have one, and it has it's limitations (not as many knobs on it as I might like, for instance) but it meets your design criteria:

can plug into Digital Performer 7 and use to control the virtual mixers, volume, pan... check
can also chuck in a mic and record some vocals, guitar etc. Done and done- it even has two built-in mics.
under $1000 budget here. Yep.
 
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