Opinions Needed Regarding Mixer Choices

[Doowah]

I purchased a Behringer Xenyx 1832FX-PRO mixer a couple of years back, when I first started thinking about setting up my own home recording studio. Illness and an unexpected change in my personal situation caused me to postpone my plans for awhile. Now that I'm finally getting back to the business of turning that spare room into my studio, I've been educating myself on what to do and how to do it. The unfortunate thing is that I have learned that my Xenyx mixer is probably not gonna be satisfactory for recording. Although I just record one track at a time, I need a mixer for monitoring and practicing purposes, and I would occasionally be sending a signal from the mixer to whatever audio interface that I eventually decide to get.

So, I've decided to sell the Xenyx on eBay (which is a shame, since I never got a chance to even fire it up), and I'll be upgrading to a better mixer. I've narrowed my choices down to the Mackie 1402-VLZ3 or a Soundcraft "Spirit M Series" M4. The Soundcraft is more expensive that the Mackie, but seems to offer specs and features commensurate with the price difference.

My questions are directed to those with a knowledgeable opinion, as follows:

1.) Given a choice between the two mixers (Mackie or Soundcraft), which one would you choose if you were in my situation (i.e., experienced musician with high audio standards and well-developed musical ear, but possessing rudimentary recording skills), and why?
2.) Would either of these two choices provide me with quality built-in mic preamps that would allow me to avoid purchasing an outboard preamp?
3.) If neither of these two Mackie or Soundcraft mixers would be your first choice within my budget range of $400 - $600, what other mixer WOULD you choose, and why?
4.) Am I correct in my assumption that my little Behringer mixer would fall short for home recording purposes?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm trying to do this the right way this time around. When I started preparing to set up my studio initially, I bought a bunch of equipment without doing the proper homework, and now I'm realizing that much of it is not acceptable. I'm trying not to repeat that mistake!

Thanks in advance for all of your help. Since I joined this forum just a short time ago, my knowledge on the subject of home recording has grown exponentially. This is a tremendous resource, in my brief experience.

Now sound off, please...

 

[gecko zzed]

1.) Given a choice between the two mixers (Mackie or Soundcraft), which one would you choose if you were in my situation (i.e., experienced musician with high audio standards and well-developed musical ear, but possessing rudimentary recording skills), and why?
2.) Would either of these two choices provide me with quality built-in mic preamps that would allow me to avoid purchasing an outboard preamp?
3.) If neither of these two Mackie or Soundcraft mixers would be your first choice within my budget range of $400 - $600, what other mixer WOULD you choose, and why?
4.) Am I correct in my assumption that my little Behringer mixer would fall short for home recording purposes?

1. Either Mackie or Soundcraft would be fine. Brand loyalty is going to be more of a factor than anything else.
2. As you are just starting out on recording, yes the pre-amps will be fine. But, you should consider just getting a pre-amp to feed into your interface. If you are just doing a track at a time, you don't really need a mixer at all.
3. I would have a look at what was available at the price, do some spec comparisons, see if I coud get a listen to them in action, and see what the reviews were like.
4. See point 2. If you are starting out, the Behri would be fine.

 

[Doowah]

2. As you are just starting out on recording, yes the pre-amps will be fine. But, you should consider just getting a pre-amp to feed into your interface. If you are just doing a track at a time, you don't really need a mixer at all.
4. See point 2. If you are starting out, the Behri would be fine.

That's really something to consider. I could "make do" with the little Xenyx mixer, just using it for monitoring and practicing purposes, never sending a signal from it into the audio interface for recording. Then my money could be better spent on a quality preamp for recording, giving me the quality sound that I'm after for my recordings, and looking to the future by giving me something that I could "grow into". Hmmmm...

Thanks for the input!

 

[Kingofpain678]

That's really something to consider. I could "make do" with the little Xenyx mixer, just using it for monitoring and practicing purposes, never sending a signal from it into the audio interface for recording. Then my money could be better spent on a quality preamp for recording, giving me the quality sound that I'm after for my recordings, and looking to the future by giving me something that I could "grow into". Hmmmm...

Thanks for the input!

i wish thats what i would have done instead of buying a mixer... those little eq's on those mixers sure do make it tempting to half ass it on your mic placement and try to fix it with the eq.

but its best to practice your mic placements and performace to get the sound right before you eq. so i agree its best to just get a quality pre.

 

[Jeff_D]

I have the M8. Love it. It's definately one of the few small format mixers that has the features and routing that you need for recording.