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Looking to buy my first mixer HELP !!!

Huw Phillips

Huw Phillips

Life is like TV if the channel sucks change it
Jan 4, 2019
1,087
1,156
Hoboken
#1
Hi, I am looking to buy my first mixer, I have used Dj mixers in the past and owned 3 over the last 20 years, however the selection of sound mixers if that’s the right word, and what they do is daunting to me I have spent a fair bit of time on line looking and would appreciate any pointers from more educated members of the forum.
I am looking for a mixer to do the following if possible at around $500+/-

1. Enough channels to play multiple instruments presently a bass and a drum machine and a mic but this will expand.

2. Easy mixer to usb recording or and recording to SD/HDSD

3. Able to take phono for samples from vinyl, this is not essential but would be sweet, I can record to a usb stick on my dj mixer and do things that way however if the mixer was capable of this it would e nice

4. usb to power my drum machine a Uno Drum, this is a great drum machine in my opinion not overwhelmingly complex to use and cheap with great sound, and lots of options to shape the sounds easily

5. Effects I would like to get a unit with some decent effects, my experience with effects on dj mixers is the effects are generally not great, I would prefer effects/functions that are good and usable. I understand that it’s important to shape the sound so it all comes together like a great cake, not too sweet not too dry or sickly but am yet to learn how to do this, if the mixer had some onboard functions to help me along this path I would be v happy

6. I would prefer something that’s easy to use I am pretty good with a computer however I would prefer to do the bulk of my mixing on a mixer rather than in a DAW, basically I prefer to use buttons and knobs that being stuck to a screen, However I understand that a DAW offers many many functions over a mixer and may be a necessary evil towards the end of the process.

this is where I have got so far is this compatible with most of my wishes
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Allen-...ecs&recs_dtl=search_page.rr1|SolrSearchToView

Many thanks in advance sorry for the length of the post h
 
#2
that's a long shopping list you have for a budget mixer, but it seems you have found a good candidate for most of your needs.

No RIAA phono preamp in the Allen & Heath, but I wouldn't care for a built-in unit anyway. If you really want phono input, you probably already know what you need to do.

"usb to power (a) drum machine.." no, there's no USB power here that I see from the description, other than what you need to power a thumb drive. Not sure if this meets that requirement.

Anything you find with all of those features for that price is going to have shortcomings somewhere. Hopefully this unit's shortcomings are in the FX side of things.
 
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#3
I think the best mixer/recorder in this priceclass is the Tascam Model 12.

3. Only DJ mixers and my Akai MPC have phono preamps, get a cheap phone preamp instead.
4. This is not the task of a mixer and you won't find any that offers that or a very bad one
5. The Model 12 has decent effects for vocals and live sound etc. Only the basic parameters are tweakable. If you need something special, you have to buy specialised devices. But otherwise the Tascam effects sound decent.

6. In this regard the Model 12 is a dream come true. You can record to SD card and/or a computer. You can use it as a control interface for a DAW. And - kind of a standalone feature these days - it has midi.

The only competition I see is the Zoom Livetrak series. These have the advantage of 5 independant headphone outputs for monitoring. The Tascam only has 2. But what I like about the Tascam is that it has hardware controls for all the necessary channel functions: the compressor, the eq, the panaroma, the aux-sends etc.
Another advantage: you can record dry - without EQ, Compressor etc., but still use these for a rough mix or live to send it to the PA.

The larger Tascam units are very similar, but their mixers are fully analog. They don't work as a DAW controler and they don't have midi.

The Model 12 even has basic looper functions called "VAMP".

I've used many interfaces and recorders and even own a much more expensive - and good sounding - SSL mixer, but the Model 12 has become kind of the centerpiece of everything I do. Simply because it is so convenient.
Everything I need is connected, I don't have to rely on a computer, I can record or mix just pressing a button, or just rehearse. Made me much more creative.

Huw Phillips said:
1. Enough channels to play multiple instruments presently a bass and a drum machine and a mic but this will expand.

2. Easy mixer to usb recording or and recording to SD/HDSD

3. Able to take phono for samples from vinyl, this is not essential but would be sweet, I can record to a usb stick on my dj mixer and do things that way however if the mixer was capable of this it would e nice

4. usb to power my drum machine a Uno Drum, this is a great drum machine in my opinion not overwhelmingly complex to use and cheap with great sound, and lots of options to shape the sounds easily

5. Effects I would like to get a unit with some decent effects, my experience with effects on dj mixers is the effects are generally not great, I would prefer effects/functions that are good and usable. I understand that it’s important to shape the sound so it all comes together like a great cake, not too sweet not too dry or sickly but am yet to learn how to do this, if the mixer had some onboard functions to help me along this path I would be v happy

6. I would prefer something that’s easy to use I am pretty good with a computer however I would prefer to do the bulk of my mixing on a mixer rather than in a DAW, basically I prefer to use buttons and knobs that being stuck to a screen, However I understand that a DAW offers many many functions over a mixer and may be a necessary evil towards the end of the process.
Click to expand...
 
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#5
silky smoove said:
Do you need the mixer to have individual outputs via USB per channel, or are you okay with a stereo mixdown via USB? If the former you’ll need a larger budget.
Click to expand...


Huw Phillips said:
I am looking for a mixer to do the following if possible at around $500+/-
Click to expand...

The Model 12 is 589,-. And has not only individual outputs but much more to offer...
 
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#6
Many thanks for all your reply’s I plan to look at a model 12 next week, they look very interesting, the problem seems to be finding stock in stores, I don’t plan to buy for a month so hopefully I will get so see a few more
Thanks h
 
#7
Thanks everyone who has helped me with this I have a couple more questions, I took a look at the Tascam model 12 and liked it a lot, however as is always the way with these things I took a look at the model 16 and 24 and for an extra $200 the 16 seems like a good idea ? And the 24 seems an even better idea, my question is really is it worth the extra for the extra channels? I can see myself using them in the future or is there a better 16 or 24 channel mixer I should be looking at, the tascam appeals a lot. I don’t plan to move the mixer from my music room
Thanks h
 
#8
Huw Phillips said:
is it worth the extra for the extra channels?
Click to expand...

The first rule of mixers is you will ALWAYS end up needing more channels than you think you do. So leave yourself plenty of room. If you ever intend to mic drums plan on 10 (full*) channels just for that. If it's only ever going to be just you then 12 is good. If you might bring in another musician, then 16 is good. If you want the flexibility to do a full band you want at least 24.

I say "full" channels because a lot of mixers will claim to have 12 channels, for example, but the last 4 are actually 2 channels that can be split into 2 stereo channels (so only have 10 inputs), or the last 4 channels don't have all the features that the first channels have (they may have fewer eq adjustments, or can only connect to certain busses, etc.), and so those channels are of limited use.
 
#9
Ok sorry to keep asking questions, I presently use a Roland TR 08, it is a Re vamp of the original basically, would I expect to record each drum sound to a channel or just record the drums to a channel in batches as in
1. Minimal intro
2. Intro
3. Main drum pattern A
4. Main drum pattern B
5. Outro
My thoughts are to program the drums like this ?
Then I will have bass and 3 vocals
6. Bass
7. Bass
8. Bass
9. Vocals 1
10. Vocals 2
12. Vocals 3
13.
14.
15
16.

many thanks in advance for sharing you knowledge h
 
#10
Huw Phillips said:
would I expect to record each drum sound to a channel or just record the drums to a channel in batches
Click to expand...

Typically, you would not record each song section on a different track (unless you plan to EQ or add effects differently in the different sections). Usually you use 1 track per microphone or instrument. If you're using a drum machine, you could record all the drums to one track, or you could record them in stereo on two tracks. A more advanced way is to record each drum individually, so you can EQ and add effects to each drum. Here's how I might do it:
1. Kick
2. Snare
3. Hats
4. Cymbals left
5. Cymbals/hat right
6. Tom Low
7. Tom Mid
8. Tom High
9. Drum Room mic Left
10. Drum Room mic Right
11. Bass dry (no effects, straight from bass to DI box)
12. Bass wet (with effects, either after pedals or mic in front of cab)
13. Guitar dry
14. Guitar wet
15. Vocal 1
16. Vocal 2
17. Vocal 3
etc.
 
#11
Thank you for your great explanation, I am understanding more, my understanding is that I could mix each section of my song till I am happy record it move it off the mixer then move on to the computer, then mix the next section and so on, once I have the whole song I return it to the mixer and do my mix move it back to the computer for final mix and finished ? The reason I am keen to mix in sections is I will have more channels available for each section, this is not a standard blues 1,4,5 it’s a more drum and bass / trip hop Strutural that’s very loose kind of like Massive Attack, Tricky
Thanks for you excellent reply
 
#12
You should consider that although it looks as if the Model 12,16 and 24 are part of the same series of mixers with just a different channel count, the (newer) Model 12 is much different. It isn't an analog mixer with an USB interface attached. It is fully digital. Only the Model 12 can be used as a DAW controller. Only the Model 12 has midi. Only the Model 12 can record before the comp and the eq, while these are still being used for the main mix or front of house. Only the Model 12 has a kind of generic looper called Vamp. I would only buy the 16 or 24 if you really need the additional channels and can live without the advantages of the Model 12.
For me - in this price-class - analog isn't an advantage. Analog starts getting interesting when you invest 2 times the price of the Model 12 into just a mono compressor or a preamp.
 
#13
Thanks for your reply, I am pretty much set on the 12 now and will continue to recherché it on YouTube and in written reviews, the idea is to get the 12 and the latest version of Logic, I had a 90 trail and liked it, I feel that the 12 is a good entry level for me rather than double it the price and channel count, I want to keep costs down to start with, by building things slowly, I also like the idea of having access to the Apple library of sounds
Thanks h
 
#14
Super versatile..... QSC Touch-Mix 16
51jtFoCZugL._AC_.jpg
 
#16
Huw Phillips said:
I took a look at the model 16 and 24 and for an extra $200 the 16 seems like a good idea ? And the 24 seems an even better idea, my question is really is it worth the extra for the extra channels?
Click to expand...

-- Only model 12 has MIDI. 16 and 24 do not and you mentioned a drum machine.

-- If it matters the actual mixer circuit in the 12 is digital. 16 and 24 are analog mixers.

-- You should also take a look at the Zoom Livetrak series and the Presonus StudioLive ARC series.

-- If you don't want to use a computer, look at the Tascam DP24 digital multitrack...24 tracks, can record 8 at a time, you can do all the mixing on the machine or upload the recorded tracks to a computer for further manipulation, records to SD cards, $400. I owned their earlier 2488 mkII, it was a good machine.

-- Having extra channels is much better than not enough. If you ever get to the point of recording a band live as opposed to one-man-band projects, you might need more than 8 mike inputs. Modern mixers cheat on channel counts, the Tascam 12 has only 8 for instance. It's only 12 channels when you give up two mike inputs for two stereo line pairs and then count in the stereo USB return as two more channels. 6 + 4 + 2 =12. Just count how many XLR inputs the mixer has to see the real capability for mikes.
 
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#17
@brianrost thanks for you input I will check them out, I am not the best at working with daws and would prefer something that has good integration with logic, I liked that the model 12 had the capability to eq pre and post recording and that the compressor was on each fader, as this is all new to me it’s a learning process, I don’t plan to buy till the start of may so will get into NY and check the models you mentioned, I plan to record bass, electric guitar, Roland tr 08 drum machine and mics and maybe some prerecorded sounds of the city subway announcements possibly.
I really appreciate your help h
 
#20
I am getting more and more confused here !!!
I basically want to be able to record
Bass
Electric guitar
Drum machine
Vocals
My understanding is that the model 12 is a hands on mixer that you can do everything in from start to finish ending up with a recording on an SD card, it also has seem less integration with logic that could prove helpful offering many options of loops and effects etc, for when I have a better understanding of how multitrack mixing and recording works. I fully understand that the model 12 has certain limitations however I feel it’s a good start and seems to be well reviewed and looks like something I could work with when I saw it in person.
Please excuse my lack of knowledge on this subject as they say I just want to shut up and play my bass, this is a means to an ends to me rather than a passion at the moment, I hope to gain some love for plastic knobs along the way
This is an example of a review I have read and has lead me to believe the model 12 would fit my requirements
Tascam Model 12 Mixer Review | GuitarPlayer.
 
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