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Carvin passive mixers?

richntiff

richntiff

Sep 13, 2012
4,343
8,459
Northern Wisconsin
#1
Hey all - I have a line on a used Carvin 24 channel board. I run a Carvin BX500 with BRX 10.2 cabs, both my guitarists run Carvin VX3 tube amps (WOW sweet amps!), lead guitarist plays Carvin guitars. Yes - we like our Carvin gear :-)

Anyways - haven't heard much on the Carvin PA gear - particularly the mixers. Anyone have any experience with them? 24 channel board is quite a bit more than we need as a 4 piece, but the added flexibility sure would be nice. Any thoughts/experience would be appreciated! Right now we are running through a powered Peavey mixer - and recognizing the need to upgrade our PA to a 'real' mixing board and power amps and subs or powered mains/subs. Tired of trying to run the kick through the mains with no sub to really carry it - touchy stuff, and I know we are losing sound quality and 'reach' because of it...

thanks!
 
#3
I use to own a carvin C1644 IIRC. The mixer was well built and trouble free. I had it for a few years and sold it to another band that gigged just about every weekend with it for 2 years before they upgraded. AFAIK they never had any problems with it.
 
#11
passive - non-powered whatever. I think most would know what you meant -

I Just recently bought one of the Carvin powered (non-passive hahahaha) models and so far really like it.

I like the build quality of their equipment, and durability based on a couple of friends who gig A LOT recommendations.

I have a set of the 12" 2 way passive monitors (plastic light weight ones) and one of the LS 1801 subs also.

I have about 8 shows with the monitor and it has been pretty easy to use and get good sound without feedback or other issues.
 
#12
I have the 2040. I got it in February, and have used it 4 times so far (a lot of gigs coming up though) it has been great.
I like the 4 subgroups, I use them like this (sub groups routed to L+R) - sub1 - all vocals (1-2 subgroup switch down, panned hard left) sub2 - 3 guitars and a keyboard (1-2 subgroup switch down, panned hard right) sub3 - snare,overheads (3-4 subgroup switch down, panned hard left) sub4 - kick and bass (3-4 subgroup switch down, panned 1/2 to right) sub4 though is not routed to L+R but the sub4 send is routed to my subwoofer, this way I have independent control over the subwoofer level. This setup works very well for us.
I like the 4 monitor sends, the 24 channel has 6. I wish mine had record out though.
 
#18
Powered mixer = contains a power amp, can drive speakers on its own. A powered mixer is also active.

Active mixer = requires power to operate, but does not necessarily contain a power amp.

Passive mixer = does not need any power to operate, and never contains a power amp.
 
#20
Floyd Eye said:
How is it a misnomer? Passive means no power right?
Click to expand...
But it does have power ... internally. Lots of little amps in that thing. I think that might confuse some folks (inexperienced, of course). A passive pickup needs no electricity, a passive DI needs no electricity, a passive speaker needs no electricity ... then they make the leap to the mixer ... get me?

Yes, there are truly passive mixers, that require no power source, but the ONLY thing they can do is attenuate one signal relative to the others. They have no gain stage(s).
 

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