Who's the mix king?

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wordizbon

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Need help here. I just destroyed my Mackie 1402 mixer. I am looking into getting a new one.

I have Cubase VST & SX, I also have a MOTU 2408 mk II hard disk unit & a midi timepiece AV.

I am debating on an Analog or Digital mixer. I have been focused on getting the Mackie 1604vlz pro. It always has great ratings and I also like the 4 external bus. Then I came across this Behringer DDX3216 digital Mixer. Looks like it has great reviews.

So I don't really know what is the potential of using a digital mixer. Since it has Tdif connectiviity, could that expand the connectivity with my CPU since I have a 2408 and bounce tracks? Is there storage on the mixer? I need these questions answered.

Could someone help!! Who has the knowledge?!!! HELP Me PPLleassee!
 
Hey,

Im looking up some more information on that mixer because i didnt know behringer made a digital mixer. Sounds like an awesome board for the money. However, stand-alone wont do much good with your setup, because it only has 4 Analog outputs. You can however get expensions for digital outputs via ADAT or TDIF which alow you to do 16x16 which will compliment your Motu 2408mkII. It seems you can also buy 2 of these expansions to have 32x32 i/o. They would go directly into the Motu. It also has motorized sliders which is really cool, and at that price thats an amazingly good deal. Infact looking at it i might possibly get one for myself since i have a Motu 2408mk3. The only concerns i have is the quality of the preamps over your other choice the Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro which i currently own. Also stability is a problem. But keep checking around for information on those things and if it sounds good, i would go with the digital.

The Mackie 1604 VLZ Pro is a good board, but it only does 8 Analog out at a time which has always been a reason why i want to upgrade, plus your stuck with 4 subs where the Behringer has alot more. The preamps in these are also very clean and accurate in my opinion.

Another thing to remember, the behringer only has 14 XLR inputs. I dont find the stereo inputs very useful, but they might work with your situation.

Both have pros and cons with them and i will admit its a tough choice.

danny
 
Just found something i wanted to add.

The ADAT expansion bay is only about $150. Thats a great deal with the whole package! I expected the digital bays to be really jacked up in price. I am really considering buying this now too.

danny
 
Sorry

Im just heavily looking into this board right now and i keep thinking im finished. This is my lost post and i thought it would be helpful for you.

http://www.americanmusical.com/itemrating.asp?UID=2003062917570963&edp=16738


Seems its unreliable like other Behringer products. Sometimes you can get one thats really suite.

And other notes, digital mixers are very confusing and not very speedy to work with. I think im gonna stick with digital.

Check out some of the mackie boards going on ebay. 32x8s with meter bridge i have seen for as low as $1400. Thats a steal i think.

Danny
 
haha sorry. ive never done that before. i got a little carried away and i apologize.

danny
 
Not you danny, this guy posted this question in like five forums. I hate answering a question only to see it posted in multiple...once is plenty!

You were being helpful...good job.
 
Sorry about that jack. Needed an answer ASAP, before I went and made a wrong choice. Sometimes it takes days to get a response, so I thought hey can't help to post more than once.
 
I use that same combination (motu 2408 mkIII and the DDX3216) and they work fine together. The DDX is an amazing board for the money. I'm using both expansion slots with the adat options. Consider you have 16 busses (only digital board on its range that has that), and 32 channels, you can configure it as a split console (2 paths, just like a real recording console), with the analog I/O on CH 1-16 sending levels to tape (motu2408/PC) and then back from tape to channels 17-32 through the digital I/O for monitoring, then use the 4 aux channels to send 4 independent headphone mixes through the 4 multi outs on to headphone amps. That's 16 channels of recording in just one shot with the same flexibility of a recording console. But, in this case, you even have independent EQ and dynamics on both paths, not even a big Neve or SSL allows that, of course, I wish I had one of those ;)
For me that's planety of tracks for a one-shot process. Of course, since you're tracking on a PC, you can keep overdubing tracks over and over. At the end, suppose you have 24 tracks (the max the motu can handle). You can set the ddx's digital Inputs (lightpipe) to 24 tracks, then have 8 spare channels for whatever you can come up with (outboard processor's returns through digital or analog I/O or a combo, 8 busses, whatever). I think that's some sheer power for a home studio.
Since you can have a large amount of snapshots, you can configure the board in many ways to fit your needs, for different processes, and then just do a total recall by just loading a snapshot.
Then again, the ddx has so many uses, its a digital patchbay, even an FX processor (the built in FX are not bad at all), etc...
The board can also act as a surface controller for your mixing software if you decide to mix in the computer. Faders, pans and mutes can be controlled from the board but not plugins or some other stuff. Having used a Control 24 with PT, I actually like to edit plugins on the screen better.
I'm very happy with this board. I've heard there's been some QC issues, I guess I'm a lucky owner. Only thing I can comment regarding this is that the board has a built in fan. I'm yet to see the fan turn on. Maybe I'm just using it on a cool enviroment.
The pre's are not bad. Honestly, I can hear difference between an SSL pre or other high end pre and the DDX's, but I can't hear a difference between a mackie's an the ddx's.
The additional line level inputs can be used with outboard pre's as well, so you can still have 16 mic pre's. I even like that, allows me to 4 different pre's to the ddx's have other color choices.

I would definetly reccomend this board
 
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How on earth did you DESTROY that mixer? Knowing what's in them mixers, they are not that hard to repair... Might save you a few bucks. You could have it ifxed, sell it and buy a new one anyway too.
 
im still interested in buying this but im still not sure about it. I do not want one burning out on me because it is too much trouble when you have clients coming alot.

If the preamps on this thing are anything like behringers other preamps from their analog stuff i will hate this board though. They are not even close to mackie preamps IMHOP. Sure they arnt Neve and stuff but they are better than the behringers in the analog boards.

Im also concerned about the quality of the D/A converters in these things. I wouldnt want to be taking a step back to worse converters.

Danny
 
The pre's are clean. I honestly don't hear much difference between the DDX's and other mackie boards I've tried. There are definetly better out there, but still they do a good job.
The a/d converters are 24 bit AKM Delta Sigma, 128 times oversampling, 116 db's of resolution and D/A's are Crystal, same specs, but of 106 db's of resolution. In my world, the board sounds nice. Internal processing is at 32 bit float, and the EQ's at 40 bit.
My suggestion to you, try to get access from someone that already owns one, or in a store.
 
Shoulda got a Soundcraft M series or an Allen and Heath. Good job bypassing the Behringer.
 
Yamaha's 01v is worth a look. You can get 8 analog outputs; 4 Omni, Left & Right, and Monitor outs. With the optional ADAT card that'll give you 16 simultaneously.
I can not compare the Behringer pre's to those of the 01v. Though I do not find the pre's on the Mackie 1604vlz pro better.
 
Better quality throughout, pretty much unchallenged opinion.

Maybe you can find a used Midas. :)

Soundcraft M series and A&H have better mix busses, better sliders, better pots, better EQ... need I continue?
 
Well I don't think I made a bad choice of going with the 1604. I fear digital anyway. Since it is a computer. There is one thing I know is computers crash. So I just went the safe way. Besides, everybody is a fan of the 1604. So hey.
 
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