I have a single Mackie MR5 MK3 speaker currently (going to complete the pair next month). I'm looking for a simple 4 or 5 channel mixer that i can plug my passive bass into, my laptop, and my drum machine into. I'm not sure how anything works really, and was just looking for some general recommendations for quality affordable mixers that would deliver this. I'm not looking for recording at all, just playing.
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Basic mixer for a dude looking to play some music?
- Thread starter s3lggiW
- Start date
Pretty much any mixer will work for you. I happen to like the Yamaha MG10/2 and used to use it for exactly what you describe. I think it's now the MG102C...
Any of the small Behringer Xenyx mixers work just fine and are a good price range. I've had an 802 for a couple years.
I love my allen and heath zed10 mixer. Hooks up to your laptop via usb and it's very flexible with routing. Has two built in hi-z inputs for bass or guitar.
It's much better sounding than the behringer europower deal I had many years ago, and for comparison purposes better sounding than my DIGI002 protools unit.
It's much better sounding than the behringer europower deal I had many years ago, and for comparison purposes better sounding than my DIGI002 protools unit.
There is no reason why an 802 can't do what the OP wants. The Zed-10 lists for $250, the MG10/2 lists for $100 and the 802 lists for $65. All he wants to do is play some music at his desk through his monitors and play along. I do the same thing with my 802 and it has served well for that purpose. No complaints. No issues.
I hope this is not a stupid question, but isn't it a bit problematic that he only has one speaker? Even if his drum machine has a mono out, what about the laptop?
Does any of those cheap mixers have a mono out or a mono-switch?
If he uses two mono channels for the stereo signal from the laptop and just uses one main out and pans both mono channels for the laptop hard to the left or the right - depending on the main out he uses for the speaker - is this the same as a "real" mono signal, doesn't this cause problems with the phase?
Dirk
Does any of those cheap mixers have a mono out or a mono-switch?
If he uses two mono channels for the stereo signal from the laptop and just uses one main out and pans both mono channels for the laptop hard to the left or the right - depending on the main out he uses for the speaker - is this the same as a "real" mono signal, doesn't this cause problems with the phase?
Dirk
I wouldn't worry too much about mono - phase isn't going to be an issue. The only the issue might be missing some of the things going on in the missing channel. That's easy to solve, just use two of the stereo pairs - two lefts as an example.
I've been using a Mackie 1202 for my practice rig for ten years. It has gotten all sorts of use over the years as a utility player. PA, Practice rig, central element of a live recording rig, and as a just enough mixer for some demo records back in the ADAT days. They are cheap on ebay, and very dependable.
I've been using a Mackie 1202 for my practice rig for ten years. It has gotten all sorts of use over the years as a utility player. PA, Practice rig, central element of a live recording rig, and as a just enough mixer for some demo records back in the ADAT days. They are cheap on ebay, and very dependable.
I own a Yamaha MG82 (with effects) and it works wonders.
The problem with Behringer is the quality. Some people get lucky and have good working gear for a long time. Some are not so lucky and either buy a product with a fault or it gets faulty in a matter of months. Behringer is popular where I live because of the price and I've witnessed both good and bad things.
I also heard great things about Mackie and Soundcraft.
As far as have one speaker, all he has to do is pan everything to the left. Obviously it won't sound as clean as it would with two speakers, but he's getting another one soon anyway
The problem with Behringer is the quality. Some people get lucky and have good working gear for a long time. Some are not so lucky and either buy a product with a fault or it gets faulty in a matter of months. Behringer is popular where I live because of the price and I've witnessed both good and bad things.
I also heard great things about Mackie and Soundcraft.
As far as have one speaker, all he has to do is pan everything to the left. Obviously it won't sound as clean as it would with two speakers, but he's getting another one soon anyway
I bought a Zoom MRS1608 a few years back that I had a ton of fun with. Made an entire cd on it from start to finish.
It came with a burner.
You could just plug a guitar or bass right into it and record.
I was using mine for keyboard at the time.
The MRS1608 might be a little dated .
Since then Zoom has come out with newer versions of it.
It came with a burner.
You could just plug a guitar or bass right into it and record.
I was using mine for keyboard at the time.
The MRS1608 might be a little dated .
Since then Zoom has come out with newer versions of it.
Alesis multimix 8.... It has fx and you can plug the USB into your labtop and record. You can pick up a used one for $50-75. I have had one for years. Thinking of upgrading to the multimix12 usb cause it will buss all the channels independently to protools.
Stay away from newer mackie stuff. Yamaha is good stuff to.
Stay away from newer mackie stuff. Yamaha is good stuff to.
