Tapco Mix.60 vs Blend 6

[twodirtydogs]

I am looking into the two small mixers from Tapco (Mackie) (Mix.60 and Blend 6) and can't decide on which to go with. They both have received great reviews. Tapco seems to market the Blend 6 as more of a mixer for live situations. I plan on using it to record some jam sessions either by plugging right into the board or by using microphones in the room, or most likely a combination of both only because I am new to mixing and like to experiment.

Can anyone explain to me the differences between these two mixers and/or recommend one over the other?

Cheers

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I am looking into the two small mixers from Tapco (Mackie) (Mix.60 and Blend 6) and can't decide on which to go with. They both have received great reviews. Tapco seems to market the Blend 6 as more of a mixer for live situations. I plan on using it to record some jam sessions either by plugging right into the board or by using microphones in the room, or most likely a combination of both only because I am new to mixing and like to experiment.

Can anyone explain to me the differences between these two mixers and/or recommend one over the other?

Cheers

Just from taking a quick look at the features and specs, it looks like a devil's dilemma.

Just for one example, the Blend 6 has more I/O routing features such as - surprisingly for a mixer that size - both pre- and post-fader aux sends (the Mix.60 has only the standard single pre-fade aux send.)

OTOH, The Mix.60 has slightly better performance specs in that it is a lower noise mixer than the Blend. This is typical; live mixers tend to be more noisy because they can afford to be.

I'd say - this is just offhand, mind you; I've never actually used either product - that if you're using it mostly for recording and not live mixing, and that if you plan on doing everything on computer from there, get the Mix.60. If you want to use it for actual live mixing/submixing and/or you have outboard gear where you can take advantage of the extra I/O, then the Blend might have the advantage.

G.

 

[twodirtydogs]

Thanks G. I just heard back from Tapco support and they said pretty much the same thing, ie.

"The Blend 6 has two aux sends, two band EQ, and the ability to route the aux return back into aux 1.

The Mix 60 has one aux send, and three band EQ on each channel. Aside from that you are getting the same thing from each mixer."

So it looks like the Mix.60 will be good for my purposes, which will be pretty basic in the short term. I plan on using the mixer into a Zoom H4 then into my computer DAW. I have Cubase LE and Cool Edit Pro to play with at that point.