Looking for mixer with effects loop

[Step]

hello people,

I'm looking for a mixer for a DJ-project, the idea is basically that I create tracks on my mac and then have some synths to play over them, the synths dont have MIDI-outs so I'd need to hook them up separately

I also have a kaoss pad and some other pedals/effects so I'm looking for a mixer with an effects loop so I can hook up and blend effects to different channels.

so I thought a 3-4 channel mixer would suffice but I can't find any with an effects loop

cost is a concern, more so than quality, I won't be using it for anything other than this and probably won't be playing out too much with it.

thanks very much in advance

[megadan]

It's a tricky thing to find, most smaller mixers don't have enough aux sends (that's what you're looking for to use as an 'effects loop'), only larger mixers, which have more channels than you need, not to mention being expensive and oversized.

I would steer away from the Behringers if you can, all though they are functional they tend to be noisy and often lacked balanced outs (this is my own personal experiance, not what I've read online).

If you can find some of the smaller old Yamahas and Peavys they could have what you need. Allen & Heath make some of the best mixers around but they're expensive.
Some of the Mackies might have what you're looking for you.


But as of yet, I haven't found a small, proper 4x4 mixer (4 channels with 4 aux sends, XLRs, and direct outs) at a decent price. If anyone has any leads in that area, do let us know!

[hgregs]

is $100 cheap enough? 2 aux sends.

blend 6
http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/blend6/index.html

or the mix.50 even cheaper at $50 w/ 1 aux send
http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/mixseries/index.html

i use a mix.120 (not for f/x) have have been pretty happy with it.

[Step]

Originally Posted by hgregs

is $100 cheap enough? 2 aux sends.

blend 6
http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/blend6/index.html

or the mix.50 even cheaper at $50 w/ 1 aux send
http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/mixseries/index.html

i use a mix.120 (not for f/x) have have been pretty happy with it.

wow that's cheap and exactly what i've been looking for in terms of specs!

thanks alot!

[Charling]

Originally Posted by megadan

If you can find some of the smaller old Yamahas and Peavys they could have what you need. Allen & Heath make some of the best mixers around but they're expensive.
Some of the Mackies might have what you're looking for you.

But as of yet, I haven't found a small, proper 4x4 mixer (4 channels with 4 aux sends, XLRs, and direct outs) at a decent price. If anyone has any leads in that area, do let us know!

Yeah, 4 sends on a 4 channel mixer is a bit of a hard one to find, ditto with direct outs. Features normally just go up in size unfortunatly.

The mackie vlz 1604 is one of the smallest I can think of which has both direct outs and a number of sends (3 I think), but remember that inserts are essentially the same as direct outs. If you plug a mono jack '1 click' into an insert socket it takes a feed of the signal without breaking the chain. This is a legitimate techique even though it seems a bit like a workaround...

Allen and Heath desks are in the upper end of budget desks, really, high end desks are in a world of their own in terms of quality of engineering etc, very expensive, but very cool! Completely off topic, however

[dmrogers]

Charling,
I just checked out your web site. Beautiful place!

Look like a recording paradise.

[megadan]

Originally Posted by Charling

Yeah, 4 sends on a 4 channel mixer is a bit of a hard one to find, ditto with direct outs. Features normally just go up in size unfortunatly.

The mackie vlz 1604 is one of the smallest I can think of which has both direct outs and a number of sends (3 I think), but remember that inserts are essentially the same as direct outs. If you plug a mono jack '1 click' into an insert socket it takes a feed of the signal without breaking the chain. This is a legitimate techique even though it seems a bit like a workaround...

Allen and Heath desks are in the upper end of budget desks, really, high end desks are in a world of their own in terms of quality of engineering etc, very expensive, but very cool! Completely off topic, however

yeah, a mackie 1402 is actually my desk of choice at home right now, i'm just thinking of something more compact for live solo electronics.
I guess 2 aux is probably enough... I just like having more options than I think I need!