Mixer:Pure Analog Path

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AudioJunky

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Hi, great to be here. I always wanted to find a forum like this :)

I am looking into buying an analog mixer and for me it is very important to have a pure analog path from the ins to the outs (out to the monitors). My main aim is to perform live with analog equipment (voice over mic, guitars, analog synths and drum machines) mixed with some digital control of analog synths (over midi) and some digital sounds from the computer where needed.

As a first choice I am looking at the Behringer Xenyx 1002 or 1202 (10 and 12 track) but they have them with or without a built-in (digital) effects processor section and USB. I was wondering if the A/D converters through the built-in effects processor only affect the signal if you are using the effects, while otherwise the audio stream would still be purely analog, and if that is the same for the USB connection. The difference in price is small so I don't mind having the effects in case I want to use them (and USB is handy in any case) but I would prefer having no USB and no effects processor if I am not sure the signal is pure analog all the way! Yes, I am a purist...:)

Does any of you know whether this is so? By the way, is there a way to see/test if an audio signal is analog or digital in any way? :) maybe it is a silly question but I just thought of it! :)
 
I don't know the answer to your question with regards to the Behri mixers. But if you give a little more information, the folks here would be able to give you a better answer.

To what are you going to be recording? A computer or a tape machine?
 
AudioJunky said:
...for me it is very important to have a pure analog path from the ins to the outs (out to the monitors). My main aim is to perform live with analog equipment....
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Why...what's your concern...etc?

There's a million live analog boards out there....from a few hundered $$$ to thousands $$$....so the Behringer is not your only option, and if there's some important aspect of it being a "pure analog" path, then it sounds like you might want to consider something more upscale than a Behri mixer. :)
 
Hi, thanks for the replies guys.

Famous beagle: I can record to either the computer DAW or a tape recorder (4-track Fostex) but as I said my main aim is to have a powerful pure analog sound coming out of the speakers for small live performances.

Miroslav: well, this will be my first mixer. My main concern is to have a good pure analog signal for live performance but at this stage I am hybrid (some digital sounds and effects coming out as well, plus sequencing say bass and drums with Ableton Live). Behringer mixers can have both USB and general good digital effects like reverb and delay for a few extra money. For my hybrid aims that would be good add-ons but I want to make sure I still have a pure analog signal when not using the built-in effects or USB in the mixer...In any case would be very happy to hear your opinion on a good mixer (around 2 mono and 4 stereo ins) for a good clean analog signal for live performance.
 
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I honestly don't know what to recommend to you. You are looking at a sub-$100 mixer and you're concerened about purity of path.

I mean....there's Mackie, Yamaha, Crest, etc, etc etc....all have analog mixers in variouss price ranges, so any will do, but again at a sub-$100 price range for a mixer, if you're looking for "purity" of any kind....it's somewhat of a stretch, but if you just don't want your analog mixed with any digital, then just get a analog-only console.
Many, many to pick from....maybe even much better than the Behri for some more $$$.
 
Behringer is crap. I'll suggest you to take a look at a used Fostex 812 (12 channels) or 820 (20 channels). They sound more than decent, have direct outs on all channels, a reasonable amount of patching options and are pretty underrated and sometimes go for just above 200 dollars.
 
I'll answer your question without the snobbery:

With the Xenyx 1002 or 1202, signal remains in the analog domain from input to output unless using the digital effects...then you are mixing in signal that's gone A/D/A through the effects engine. Or of course if you are using the USB out. That signal has then gone A/D.

Hope that helps.

Geez, guys...nice job giving a new member a hard time. If he wanted to know opinions about the signal quality of a certain mixer brand he'd have asked. Or if he wanted to have his ideology picked apart juxtaposed with the gear he's using.

Just sayin.

Let's keep it traditional "Analog Only" which has been, IMO, generally inclusive and helpful to anybody pursuing analog anything.
 
Have you considered the Yamaha MG12 as a possible alternative? I've been using an MG16/4 happily for some time now, and assuming they haven't cheaped out since mine was made, it should serve you well.
 
sweetbeats said:
I'll answer your question without the snobbery:

With the Xenyx 1002 or 1202, signal remains in the analog domain from input to output unless using the digital effects...then you are mixing in signal that's gone A/D/A through the effects engine. Or of course if you are using the USB out. That signal has then gone A/D.

Hope that helps.

Geez, guys...nice job giving a new member a hard time. If he wanted to know opinions about the signal quality of a certain mixer brand he'd have asked. Or if he wanted to have his ideology picked apart juxtaposed with the gear he's using.

Just sayin.

Let's keep it traditional "Analog Only" which has been, IMO, generally inclusive and helpful to anybody pursuing analog anything.
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Sweetbeats: thank you for the straight and clear answer, exactly what I needed! Great stuff. I am a newbie in mixers and I thought the Behringer could be a good entry level mixer. So, even if I use the USB connection (as a digital audio input from the computer for example) it still is pure analog from the mixer analog inputs to the outputs right?

Everybody else: thank you for the alternatives. I have also looked at a Soundcraft M4 and I'll look at the Yamaha mentioned. They are more expensive than the Behringer but I guess, from what you are saying, it provides better audio...Behringer could be ok for now however.
 
Sweetbeats is correct about the Xenyx mixer being totally analogue except for the effects section which has its own AD/DA converters.

However, with respect (and not trying to sound snobbish) if you care about the audio quality enough to worry about a totally analogue path then a Behringer is NOT the mixer for you. They are cheap, low end mixers and sound, well, cheap and low end.

If I were you I'd be scouring eBay and the like looking for a used Soundcraft or Allen & Heath mixer of the right spec and in your budget. Those will give an audibly superior performance and also have a much higher construction quality for the rigours of gigging.
 
Thanks Bobbsy. Unfortunately I am in Europe so ebay is not the best choice for buying? But I appreciate your tip. The Soundcraft M4 also looks good to me but it has no USB.
 
sweetbeats said:
Geez, guys...nice job giving a new member a hard time. If he wanted to know opinions about the signal quality of a certain mixer brand he'd have asked.

Just sayin.
Click to expand...

But Cory....he did ask. :)
He was very adamant about "purity" of the signal...or did I missread that?
So whatever perceived "snobbery" there was, it was keyed of his specific concerns.

It's not like anyone told him he needed to get an API console. ;)
There were lots of inexpensive brands mentioned.

Just sayin.
 
miroslav said:
But Cory....he did ask. :)
He was very adamant about "purity" of the signal...or did I missread that?
So whatever perceived "snobbery" there was, it was keyed of his specific concerns.

It's not like anyone told him he needed to get an API console. ;)
There were lots of inexpensive brands mentioned.

Just sayin.
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He said "pure analog." It seems that you kind of morphed that into "purity" and started talking more about quality of signal in general.
 
famous beagle said:
He said "pure analog." It seems that you kind of morphed that into "purity" and started talking more about quality of signal in general.
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He said a "good pure analog signal".
That seems like he IS talking about purity.


I ask the OP twice what he meant by "pure" in my first two post.
There are two ways to consider the term "pure analog".
He was given suggestions from a few hundred to thousands AFA analog-only consoles, and there was no intended "snobbery"...but let's be realistic here.

With a sub-$100 mixer....I will bet the entire contents of my studio....that even if there was/is a digital component that was blending with the analog portion, the quality of the digital would be much better than the analo singall path at that price range.

So when there's any concern about "pure analog" of either type... one needs to consider what's that concern actually about.
I asked the OP, but he never really answered that, and then it seemed like he had his mind already made up on the Behri....so then what was the point of the thread?
I mean....you go online and look at th emanual or you just pick up the phone and ask Behri about the specs. :)



,
 
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Hey, I didn't mean to cause a fuss here! It seems that people may be a bit prone to that around here...:)

I really appreciated sweetbeats post, I actually agree with him. All I wanted was a simple straight answer. Words are always open to interpretation so I understand "pure" can be read differently by different people. All I wanted to know is whether I can have an analog sound coming out of the speakers from my analog gear - that's all!

I did look at the manual by the way. I also contacted Behringer and got a similar answer by the way but was willing to hear from users as well. Anyway, thank you for reading and replying! I've got a clear idea now. I don't know much about mixers but now understand that the quality of the audio coming out of the mixer may also depend on the brand of the mixer and its built quality. I understand I should look for better than Behringer for better sound quality. Cheers.
 
AudioJunky said:
I also contacted Behringer and got a similar answer.....
Click to expand...

Oh.....so you knew then that it was an analog path.
I guess you were still concerned then that it wasn't....?

Anyway....
I was just responding the the "snobbery" thing that was mentoined.
I hope you didn't think anyone was doing that intentionally to you. :)
 
I too was somewhat taken aback by the juxtaposition of "pure analogue audio" and "Behringer 1202" !
And I am a bit of a Behringaphile! Sure, they don't have the noise performance of a Grace, nor the headroom of...well, anything else really! But, used with care they are capable of decent results, but better suited to the controlled home recording venue I would say that the highly dynamic live show? I also take the point about lugging, build quality is shite.

But, purist beware! There is no such thing in the commercial music world as a completely analogue chain and hasn't been for decades. This section is great fun and interests an old codger like myself but MOST people in audio could not WAIT to give tape the elbow!

I get equally pissed of with valve snobs who want a "pure valve path" in their guitar amps. Not ALL big names are as they seem. Learn to read schematics!

To the OP. Have a look at the Allen and Heath ZED10. Not up there with the top of the range stuff I agree but bloody good and affordable new?

Dave.
 
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