New Mixer, tips?

[el murdoque]

I'm looking to upgrade my home-studio mixer.
It's not actually a home studio, but rather my home jam place with the occasional recording needs.

Here's my wish list:

1. I need inputs for two Pedalboards (mono balanced XLR), one mic, one e-drum Kit (stereo)
   and at least one spare for who-knows-what.
2. I want somewhat of a full channel strip for most channels (at least gain, three band eq, volume fader), accessible with physical knobs
3. A good headphone out, also with a physical knob/fader to adjust volume
4. All analog signal path, but a built in DAC that can feed signal to my laptop and back.
5. Very compact form factor, yet all the necessary knobs (and faders).
6. Bluetooth input would be cool.

I currently use a Behringer Flow 8.

Here's what I don't like about it and why I'm looking to swap it for something else:
1. Full function only with a smart device paired with it.
2. Gain and EQ Setting outside a smart device are somewhat clumsily implemented and it really grinds my gears touching either of these through the hardware.
Motorized faders would have been the way to go here, but I guess cost and size prohibited that.
3. Both the volume adjustment for headphones and bluetooth are on knobs that turn endlessly, and endlessly you shall have to turn them because they go in increments of .00001 dB or something.

Any Ideas? What I found from online searching were the Mackie Onyx 8, but I read (older) reviews that complained about the drivers, and the Yamaha MG-X10U. Both don't have faders (the Yamaha is available as the MG-X10UF, but that's a little bit too big to fit my desk).

 

[Aloe]

I had a Yamaha and for recording it plainly sucked.

I have a Zedi-10fx since, it's way better. I've also had the Flow 8, I'd say, Flow has better in-built DIs and a variable HPF, but Zedi overall sounds better.

also note that with most analog-digital consoles you get either a stereo mix and a couple of mono buses to DAW, or like inputs pre-everything except gain. for me a straight sound card is better for recording, but for live mixing and occasional writing audio from the board those mixers work. some even have a SD card for this purpose, so the laptop is not required.

 

[el murdoque]

I had a Yamaha and for recording it plainly sucked.

I have a Zedi-10fx since, it's way better. I've also had the Flow 8, I'd say, Flow has better in-built DIs and a variable HPF, but Zedi overall sounds better.

also note that with most analog-digital consoles you get either a stereo mix and a couple of mono buses to DAW, or like inputs pre-everything except gain. for me a straight sound card is better for recording, but for live mixing and occasional writing audio from the board those mixers work. some even have a SD card for this purpose, so the laptop is not required.

For recording, I usually only use one channel.
The other application would be video conferencing (teaching bass online), where I'd need to send the mic and my bass signal, and receive the audio from the PC.
The Zedi looks like it ticks most of my boxes, except Bluetooth.

 

[TFunkadelic]

Tascam Model 12 or 16

 

[LowG]

Budget? SSL worth a look

 

[Brandon Shea]

I’ve heard good things about the Soundcraft Notepad-12FX and similar models. Apparently they have a decent audio interface built-in, so recording is more practical than on other budget mixers.

 

[monsterthompson]

I’ve been curious about a similar device and also considered the Mackie Onyx 8. I’ve considered a few devices which would be compromises for form and/or function like some of the Zoom offerings (lacks the physical channel controls wanted by the OP) or 1010 (a very compact but very digital device). I’m curious what gets suggested.

I currently run a Mackie Mix 8 and it’s pretty good though has a couple of minor quirks on occasion (sometimes the left channel bleeds through when the master out is set to fully off/ccw, though goes silent once nudged slightly above 0). It’s been on the desk for ages pretty reliably powering my monitors and phones).

 

[logdrum]

I have a Behringer control surface called the X touch. - they have a smaller version now $300 or so That way, I can use the built in EQ and other plugins of my DAW and I am only limited by the inputs on my interface which has 4 XLRS and 3 TRS but via ADAT I can connect tp 16 more . Even though there are only 8 channels, it can handle I think 32 and you just select the group and the faders will move .

The faders are motorized and the cool thing is you can use them for mixing. later without any IO from the interface or mixer, There may be other products also

For me this was very practical when I am tracking a band live in a remote location, I use the plugin from the DAW and the interface app to the firmware controls of my interfaces (which map as plugins in logic - for example Zentout had controls for emulate compressors and limiters etc) and I do not need the mouse at all and in many instances, I also played in that live recording. I know there are iPad controllers but nothing beats the ability to use all your fingers and move 8 faders.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XTouchC--behringer-by-touch-compact

 

[el murdoque]

Budget? SSL worth a look

I have actually looked at them, and coughing a little when reading the price tags, I was relieved to find out that their SIX is too chaotic for my eye and lacks at least one more channel, and the BIG SIX is too big for my desk.

 

[el murdoque]

I have a Behringer control surface called the X touch. - they have a smaller version now $300 or so That way, I can use the built in EQ and other plugins of my DAW and I am only limited by the inputs on my interface which has 4 XLRS and 3 TRS but via ADAT I can connect tp 16 more . Even though there are only 8 channels, it can handle I think 32 and you just select the group and the faders will move .

The faders are motorized and the cool thing is you can use them for mixing. later without any IO from the interface or mixer, There may be other products also

For me this was very practical when I am tracking a band live in a remote location, I use the plugin from the DAW and the interface app to the firmware controls of my interfaces (which map as plugins in logic - for example Zentout had controls for emulate compressors and limiters etc) and I do not need the mouse at all and in many instances, I also played in that live recording. I know there are iPad controllers but nothing beats the ability to use all your fingers and move 8 faders.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XTouchC--behringer-by-touch-compact

Sounds like a good choice when you're working on the computer and want to add an analog feel to that flow - also it's often helpful to see the whole board with all it's settings in front of you in 3D.
One (yet unmentioned) requirement of mine is, however, that my whole system comes to life when I flip one single switch. Running a capable DAC into a laptop is too many things to bring online before I can hit a note.

 

[logdrum]

Sounds like a good choice when you're working on the computer and want to add an analog feel to that flow - also it's often helpful to see the whole board with all it's settings in front of you in 3D.
One (yet unmentioned) requirement of mine is, however, that my whole system comes to life when I flip one single switch. Running a capable DAC into a laptop is too many things to bring online before I can hit a note.

My interface Antelope Audio can actually work standalone. It has sort of a patch bay functionality. Yes the full enchilada needs a computer, but I can set up all the plugins and levels and have the abiltity to save 5 scenes that I can choose from the small touch screen interface. Boots up in 5 seconds. It has 4 outs and 2 headphone each with different mixes if you want. I have a DAC with Bluetooth and another one for my synth and I can just plug directly and do not have to wake up the Macbook. I id not intend it that way,, It boots faster then my main keyboard. The virtual compressors and preamps are already setup for these two sources . In another scene it is setup with a virtual amp and cab sim for my Hybrid guitar (bass and guitar outputs) and the same Bluetooth DAC can play a groove app for drums from my phone or tablet. The Apple Silicon Macbook I have boots so fast though , I do keep it only sleeping, I have written scripts so that Logic will open different templates. They also have a companion app that is called Main Stage and that is for performing., I do not know how to use it yet. I know it is a direct competition to Ableton live, which can be set up for non EDM non DJ musicians. John Scofield's GUitar player in Uberjam band has an Ableton Live setup and so does Pat Metheny when he is playing solo-


- but may not be enough for your needs. But you are podcasting /zooming-- so I do not really understand your boot up requirements. You may have to have hardware mixer and probably easier to setup anyway. They do sell a lot of podcast ready mixers

 

[el murdoque]

Tascam Model 12 or 16

The Model 12 is nearly perfect for my needs. Not only does it have all the features I'm looking for, it also has all of them mapped to a physical knob that is in a place where my eye would expect it. In terms of size it's sliglhty above the max, but I'd be willing to let it hang over the edge.
The problem is, however, that all the connections happen on the rear, which means it would have to sit off the wall for another XLR-plug's length and that would be more than I have room for.

 

[Aloe]

ticks most of my boxes, except Bluetooth.

Bluetooth is complex. do you need aptx, aptx hd, aac or ldac?

for example, tascam has aac, i.e. will work fine with iphones, but not androids (will fall back to sbc).

also note that with sure about all-analogue before fx or a dac on the tascam, manufacturer lists is as a digital board, not analogue-digital.

 

[TFunkadelic]

The Model 12 is nearly perfect for my needs. Not only does it have all the features I'm looking for, it also has all of them mapped to a physical knob that is in a place where my eye would expect it. In terms of size it's sliglhty above the max, but I'd be willing to let it hang over the edge.
The problem is, however, that all the connections happen on the rear, which means it would have to sit off the wall for another XLR-plug's length and that would be more than I have room for.

Model 16 has them in the top if you can free up some space. I got one awhile back and its been a very practical, versatile board

 

[el murdoque]

Bluetooth is complex. do you need aptx, aptx hd, aac or ldac?

Really not much. I do use it frequently to play music through them, but it's for practice or when I'm teaching mostly, so there's not much difference between AptX HD and a simpler, older codec.

 

[el murdoque]

I’ve been curious about a similar device and also considered the Mackie Onyx 8. I’ve considered a few devices which would be compromises for form and/or function like some of the Zoom offerings (lacks the physical channel controls wanted by the OP) or 1010 (a very compact but very digital device). I’m curious what gets suggested.

I currently run a Mackie Mix 8 and it’s pretty good though has a couple of minor quirks on occasion (sometimes the left channel bleeds through when the master out is set to fully off/ccw, though goes silent once nudged slightly above 0). It’s been on the desk for ages pretty reliably powering my monitors and phones).

If you're looking for something small and simple, don't discard the Flow 8 I'm fed up with.
It works as a simple mixer and DAC on its own, for the EQ, compression and filter options, you'll have to pair it with a smart device.
Beware: If you're running Android, you will have to have location turned on and let the app access it or it won't pair. If you're sensitive about these things forget I said anything.
But apart from that, Pushing faders on your desk works pretty well with the Flow 8, it takes up next to no room and works surprisingly well for what Behringer asks for it.

I'm pretty sure by now that my next mixer will be a Mackie, I just need to decide on Onyx 8 vs ProFX10 v3+

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm pretty sure by now that my next mixer will be a Mackie, I just need to decide on Onyx 8 vs ProFX10 v3+

I’ve gone back and forth on those. Our intended applications might be different, but I see the attraction/decision here.

 

[el murdoque]

I’ve gone back and forth on those. Our intended applications might be different, but I see the attraction/decision here.

It's really tough to figure out what's best here, since their feature set is very similar.
Mackie seems to have set the Onyx at a higher price point, but in my market, it's actually cheaper than the ProFX10v3+

 

[monsterthompson]

It's really tough to figure out what's best here, since their feature set is very similar.
Mackie seems to have set the Onyx at a higher price point, but in my market, it's actually cheaper than the ProFX10v3+

I’m not as picky about the physical EQ knobs as you are. I’m also not interested in the effects the mixers have. I do like the idea of a mixer that can be an interface or standalone multitrack recorder, like the Tascam mentioned earlier in the thread. I’ve gone in circles looking to replace my interface (Komplete Audio 6 v1) with a few ideas, ranging from the KA v2 to the Arturia AudioFuse Rev2 to the StudioFuse, to a mixer+interface.

As it is, I’m running a OTO Bebe Cherie for summing and coloration (EQ, clipping, compression) into a Mackie Mix 8. The OTO is also a nice headphone amp. It’s expensive for what it is, and there’s a competitor bringing a similar unit to market soon. Though, it’s probably outside of your interest here.

 

[el murdoque]

I’m not as picky about the physical EQ knobs as you are. I’m also not interested in the effects the mixers have. I do like the idea of a mixer that can be an interface or standalone multitrack recorder, like the Tascam mentioned earlier in the thread. I’ve gone in circles looking to replace my interface (Komplete Audio 6 v1) with a few ideas, ranging from the KA v2 to the Arturia AudioFuse Rev2 to the StudioFuse, to a mixer+interface.

It surely is not helpful when you do have a working system in place, because it encourages more circling.
I mean, my Flow 8 does the job, it's just mildly annoying me every other day.

What I really like about it is that my phone's audio connects on its own as long as bluetooth is active.
So I flip the mains switch, my pedalboards, E-Drum and other gear light up, and I'm good to go the moment I have the bass on my lap.

It sonds weird, but this kind of convenience is a big factor for me.
It makes the difference between playing a micro session that's only 5-10 minutes or thinking "nah, I only have 5 minutes, no time to boot the laptop and start up the software, I played around with gain and EQ last night and need to reset that before playing"

As it is, I’m running a OTO Bebe Cherie for summing and coloration (EQ, clipping, compression) into a Mackie Mix 8. The OTO is also a nice headphone amp. It’s expensive for what it is, and there’s a competitor bringing a similar unit to market soon. Though, it’s probably outside of your interest here.

If that Bébé Chérie had 1/4" inputs, I'd be all over that!