Mixer settings and hookup w/MR-8

  • Thread starter Thread starter kdgospel
  • Start date Start date
K

kdgospel

New member
Just trying to get a head start before I receive my new mic and mixer. In case you didn't read the other thread I ordered a Behringer UB802 and MXLV67G. Just wondering if the outs on the mixer are XLR or 1/4"? I'm thinking they are 1/4" and therefore will have to get a cord with XLR on one end to go into the MR-8 and 1/4" on other end coming out of the mixer.
Also, what have some of you found works best with eq and level settings on the mixer? Do you just leave the mixer eqs straight up or do you try to adjust eq from your mixer?
Your input is appreciated. I am very familiar with hooking up live sound, but don't have any experience with the outs on a mixer and using a mixer in conjunction w/ digital recorder.
 
I like Blue Bear's recommendation to use negative EQ- instead of boosting the highs, lowering the lows and mids, that sort of thing. (check his website for a better explanation!)

But for your first go round- leave 'em straight up, record, listen on monitors, car stereo, boom box, etc. Then, go back and EQ.

Let me know how your eurorack is- I might want to replace my "saturday night special" BOSS BX-600.

P.S.- you know that is NOT my tablecloth. Yecch!
 

Attachments

  • boss1a.webp
    boss1a.webp
    35.4 KB · Views: 134
Hey Gospel, congratulations on your new mic and mixer. I have the same setup, and so far I'm happy with the quality of the recordings. The outs are 1/4", and I just go into the MR8 1/4" jack. I think you'll be pleasantly suprised with the preamps in the mixer, they are warm and work well with the V67. For sure, the mixer has its limitations, but for what we are doing it is just the ticket. I suspect you'll love the mic, it certainly seems to work well with my voice, although I don't like it too much on acoustic guitar. Let me know how it works for you.
 
By the way, as far as eq is concerned, I put a little top end on the voice as I am going into the MR8. Everything else is straight up. I don't like to over do the eq, but the mic needs a little help on the top end.
 
Thanks a lot morindae.

And mekkab,
Maybe you should sell the Boss mixer on ebay and throw in the tablecloth for free? just kidding.
 
kdgospel said:


And mekkab,
Maybe you should sell the Boss mixer on ebay and throw in the tablecloth for free? just kidding.
Click to expand...

Where do you think I GOT the mixer? ;)

(oh man! did I just admit to paying MONEY for that outloud?! Shoot! I gotta hide!)
 
mekkab said:
Where do you think I GOT the mixer? ;)

(oh man! did I just admit to paying MONEY for that outloud?! Shoot! I gotta hide!)
Click to expand...

That's alright. You should see my pop-filter.
 
flat...

I think I echo what most seem to be saying and run the mixer "flat" w/o adding or taking away any eq -- at least for a while to see how you like the results. There's something about recording "dry" tracks that you can tweak later, but once you've eq'd something, can you go back and take it out? My bias is, the more you can do without touching any knobs, the better. So, try adjusting sound by experimenting with mike placement, etc... Just a thought...
 
I got my mic and mixer in. Man, what a difference when you use the preamps of a mixer and a condenser mic. I still haven't got the levels set right yet. I'm not clipping or anything, but I think I might have the gain (black knob) and the level (white knob) set wrong?

Morindae,
You said you had the same setup how do you set yours?
 
mekkab said:

Let me know how your eurorack is- I might want to replace my "saturday night special" BOSS BX-600.

P.S.- you know that is NOT my tablecloth. Yecch!
Click to expand...

Wow - I had that same mixer, but I think mine was the 8 track model, if there was such a thing. Always did the job until an ex-girlfriend ripped it off.

You'll love the 802 - I'm even running the sound from my USB WinTV box through it as I type.

For such a small unit, it has a nice array of jacks so there's not much need to keep re-patching.
 
Gospel,
I'm assuming you are interested in the way I setup the microphone, and not in anything else I have going into the mixer.
So here goes:
I have the V67 going into the XLR of #1 imput. I pan it hard left and take the signal out of the left output of the control room outs. This is then sent into the MR8.
As I typed the above, I just remembered you have some issues with connecting things. So at the risk of being boring I'll give you some more info. The MR8 Stereo out goes into the Tape in of the mixer. I have my computer soundcard line out going into 5/6 imput. My QY100 soundmodule is going into #3 and I keep #2 free for those occasions that I may want to stereo mic my acoustic. The tape out goes into my cassete machine which I use as a quick reference for mixes when I want to play them on other systems. It's quicker and easier than burning cd's.
I really think you'll be happy with your mixer and micorphone for quite some time. I think you have to spend some serious money to get a significantly better sound. I may invest in a SP B1 next just to have something different to record the voice with. You'll probably want another mic yourself in a few months. Good luck, I hope this was helpful.
 
mrx said:
Wow - I had that same mixer, but I think mine was the 8 track model, if there was such a thing. Always did the job until an ex-girlfriend ripped it off.

You'll love the 802 - I'm even running the sound from my USB WinTV box through it as I type.

For such a small unit, it has a nice array of jacks so there's not much need to keep re-patching.
Click to expand...

yeah, for now it makes things LOUD-er, and loudification is pretty much all I need. I'm at a point right now where pretty much all of my gear is messed up and falling apart (apart from my MR8!) so I just want to get some demos tracked. So my idea of good sound is "levels aren't too hot and nothing is clipping" !
 
morindae said:
Gospel,
I'm assuming you are interested in the way I setup the microphone, and not in anything else I have going into the mixer.
So here goes:
I have the V67 going into the XLR of #1 imput. I pan it hard left and take the signal out of the left output of the control room outs. This is then sent into the MR8.
As I typed the above, I just remembered you have some issues with connecting things. So at the risk of being boring I'll give you some more info. The MR8 Stereo out goes into the Tape in of the mixer. I have my computer soundcard line out going into 5/6 imput. My QY100 soundmodule is going into #3 and I keep #2 free for those occasions that I may want to stereo mic my acoustic. The tape out goes into my cassete machine which I use as a quick reference for mixes when I want to play them on other systems. It's quicker and easier than burning cd's.
I really think you'll be happy with your mixer and micorphone for quite some time. I think you have to spend some serious money to get a significantly better sound. I may invest in a SP B1 next just to have something different to record the voice with. You'll probably want another mic yourself in a few months. Good luck, I hope this was helpful.
Click to expand...

You are doing a lot different than me. Mainly I was just asking, for the sake of saving time, where you set the gain and level of the channel you are plugging your mic into on the mixer.

Aside from that I am just plugging the mic into channel 1 on the mixer and going out mono (through the main out) to the MR-8 via 1/4". Like everyone said before when I asked, I have the trim level on the MR-8 at 0.
 
Gospel, forgive the rant.
I have the gain set at about +8db sometimes 0db. Like you, on the MR8, I have the trim set to zero. The gain level is completly dependent on what kind of vocal effect I am going for. If I want to have the proximity effect I may have the gain a little higher and just back off to get my levels where I want them as I am singing. I have had some headphone bleed, and because of this I recently ordered some of Harvey Gersts 'More Me' headphones. They are a good deal at $20. I'll be giving them a test run sometime this week.
 
morindae said:
Gospel, forgive the rant.
I have the gain set at about +8db sometimes 0db. Like you, on the MR8, I have the trim set to zero. The gain level is completly dependent on what kind of vocal effect I am going for. If I want to have the proximity effect I may have the gain a little higher and just back off to get my levels where I want them as I am singing. I have had some headphone bleed, and because of this I recently ordered some of Harvey Gersts 'More Me' headphones. They are a good deal at $20. I'll be giving them a test run sometime this week.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. Sometimes I have a problem understanding gain. I'll experiment further with the settings you gave and see what happens. Where I had the mixer settings to get the levels where I wanted them on the MR-8 made parts of the first recording (with the new mic) right, but other parts were really blaring. Another thing is I'm gonna have to get used to the condenser mic. With the dynamic I really had to back off at times and get real close at others. With this new mic you can just about stay the same distance from the mic throughout a whole song.
 
That's really interesting Gospel. I find the condenser to be really sensitive to distance, and find myself moving back and forth in an attempt to maintain a good level. Again, it depends in the song and what type of affect I am going for. If I am doing rock then I definitely have to stand back a couple of feet. I don't have to do this so much with dynamic mics.
 
In thinking about it and trying it out some more, I don't think it is as much the mic as it is the fact that the mixer's preamps are so much better than the MR-8's. With the dynamic and MR-8 pre on soft parts you really have to get close to the mic or it wouldn't even pick you up. With the mixer pre and condenser you don't have to do that. Bear with me I'm learning.
 
Yeah I hear you loud and clear on this one Gospel. The condenser does take some getting used to after using a dynamic mic, especially with the new preamps. I am actually quite pleased with the sound of the Behringer Pre's, my vocal recordings have improved immensely and the V67 is really growing on me. I wasn't quite sure at first as I found it to be a tad harsh. However, it is really proving to be a real bargain.
 
Yeah, the V67 has a very warm sound. I did what someone else suggested and added just a touch on the high side on the mixer and through the phones it sounds just right. I'll have to see once I transfer something to n-track.

By the way, you mentioned something earlier about bleed through from your phones. I haven't had this problem, but have noticed that the condenser picks up a lot more of the sounds of the room. With the dynamic I didn't have to turn my fan off. I guess I'll just have to sweat now (my studio is a bonus room with no AC vent).
 
jUst read this thread. I see the ub802 is $50 at MF, wow. And the phantom powr boxes are that much alone. There's a deal.

I heard good things about the v67, I got a ecm8000 since i wanted to start w/ hearing everything first, and I got an expensive pre, but you guys are saying the 802 has enough power to use it as a pre? insane deal.

I was thinking I'd like to xy mic my acoustic and sing into a 3rd mic so I'd need a decent mixer and preamps for 2 or 3 mics.

I'd like to stereo the guit and mono the voc. the next one up from 802 is the UB1202 and it's still only $80 (mf) and has 4 xlr phantom w/ pre's. Anyone hear aobut this mixer?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top