OK, let's talk small mixers that also act as an audio interface.

[St_G]

Just checked: it's the Zedi10FX. Channels 7,8, 9 and 10 are mostly tied up with the returns from the computer. 7 & 8 have inputs, but the channel strip is very limited and it can be a PITA to convince non-DAW software to output to the second stereo set, So that leaves six channels full-time available for regular inputs. I have mine set up thus:

Ch1: Mic
Ch2: Bass DI
Ch3-4: stereo output from guitar pedal board (which I then run into software amp-sims, but I'm not super happy with this setup. I should get a Kemper...)
Ch5-6: Stereo out from synth

I have, periodically, hooked up an iPad and run drum machine type software off of that, but I usually do that with the computer.

 

[two fingers]

View attachment 2876000 Just checked: it's the Zedi10FX. Channels 7,8, 9 and 10 are mostly tied up with the returns from the computer. 7 & 8 have inputs, but the channel strip is very limited and it can be a PITA to convince non-DAW software to output to the second stereo set, So that leaves six channels full-time available for regular inputs. I have mine set up thus:

Ch1: Mic
Ch2: Bass DI
Ch3-4: stereo output from guitar pedal board (which I then run into software amp-sims, but I'm not super happy with this setup. I should get a Kemper...)
Ch5-6: Stereo out from synth

I have, periodically, hooked up an iPad and run drum machine type software off of that, but I usually do that with the computer.

Just curious. What "drum machine" do you run from your computer?

Thanks for your input.

 

[monsterthompson]

I have a K-Mix I’m borrowing from a friend. I haven’t played with it enough, to say much about it. You might be interested in some of the features it offers, but it isn’t quite what you’re after.

https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/k-mix/

 

[St_G]

There are a few, but the one I use most frequently, because it's convenient and I'm lazy, are the virtual drummers in Logic.

Addictive Drums is better, and I like it, but the stuff in Logic is pretty good and just SOOOO easy.

Just curious. What "drum machine" do you run from your computer?

Thanks for your input.

 

[bhernco]

I would Take a look at the QSC Touchmix 8, Lots of features, and works great for live sound also!

 

[Spidey2112]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! All of the YouTube videos about USB mixers are these podcast people! Talk talk talk talk talk talk TALK!!!!!!

If I wanted more talking I would marry another wife and have two more daughters!!!!

Please, oh TB community, rescue me from these horrible videos!!!! Point me to a good mixer for the money. I'm about to stab my eyes with a butter knife!!!

This... Is... Your... Emojie... Story...

I was frustrated with the way things worked out, so I banged my head on a wall, for what seemed like days...

... then, I had a horrible accident in my pants... at first, my initial reaction was anger... not that I had crapped my pants, but that I had forgotten my emergency cache of TP... a real head scratcher...

... I soon realized I was standing way too close to 3 Pile Island, and upchucked whatever THAT was, which I had 4 hours ago... and basically passed out from both the smell and my recent lack of electrolytes...

... not sure this will even make it's way to Netflix...

 

[Manticore]

It's hard to go wrong with Soundcraft, and the Signature seems to have the most of what you want. If I'm not mistaken, you're already familiar with Soundcraft, so it seems an easy choice...

 

[two fingers]

It's hard to go wrong with Soundcraft, and the Signature seems to have the most of what you want. If I'm not mistaken, you're already familiar with Soundcraft, so it seems an easy choice...

Yeah I had the small Notepad for what seemed like 20 minutes. Neat little unit by the way. Now it's on perma-loan to my brother for some voiceover work. I'll likely never see that thing again. But I can't kill him while my parents are still alive.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I'm sure there's better stuff out there for the money now, but when I bought this 6+ years ago it was the bee's knees and it has served me well, lo these many years:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I recorded this album with it in our drummer's basement:



Since I've moved on to a 16 channel setup for recording, it now lives on my desk for solo practicing/recording and other experiments:

 

[two fingers]

I'm sure there's better stuff out there for the money now, but when I bought this 6+ years ago it was the bee's knees and it has served me well, lo these many years:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I recorded this album with it in our drummer's basement:



Since I've moved on to a 16 channel setup for recording, it now lives on my desk for solo practicing/recording and other experiments:

View attachment 2876904

There's a guy near here with one of those for sale super cheap. Might even be a 12 channel? I have looked at so many CL ads lately I can't remember.

 

[two fingers]

So, I'm toying with two mixers.

1) Brand new Yamaha MG10XU. Not as many features but brand new.

2) Barely used Presonus Studiolive AR8. Tons of features.... some of which are over my head at the moment. Great deal but used. This one would be just under a hundred bucks more.

Whataya think?

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

So, I'm toying with two mixers.

1) Brand new Yamaha MG10XU. Not as many features but brand new.

2) Barely used Presonus Studiolive AR8. Tons of features.... some of which are over my head at the moment. Great deal but used. This one would be just under a hundred bucks more.

Whataya think?

I've used a Yamaha mixer and it was a pretty solid performer.
We had one on a remote setup that got wheeled to different locations on campus, at least twice a week, on a cart, for about 10 or 11 years.
It held up pretty well. Had one of the VU meter movements fail (it was mechanical) about year 8, but I'm surprised it lasted that long being dragged over bumpy sidewalks and all.

Can't speak to the quality of Presonus. I always seem to pass them over for something else when making a purchase decision. They might be OK, IDK. They just never seem to check all of the boxes for me at the time I'm looking.

 

[two fingers]

I've used a Yamaha mixer and it was a pretty solid performer.
We had one on a remote setup that got wheeled to different locations on campus, at least twice a week, on a cart, for about 10 or 11 years.
It held up pretty well. Had one of the VU meter movements fail (it was mechanical) about year 8, but I'm surprised it lasted that long being dragged over bumpy sidewalks and all.

Can't speak to the quality of Presonus. I always seem to pass them over for something else when making a purchase decision. They might be OK, IDK. They just never seem to check all of the boxes for me at the time I'm looking.

The primary differences in this case are as follows....
1) The Presonus can do multi-track recording. The Yamaha just does one stereo track of everything going through the mixer.
2) The Presonus does Bluetooth. So I can play songs from my phone or one of my laptops with no cable.
3) The Presonus comes with its own DAW and some plug-ins.
4) The Presonus can record to an SD card right on the unit.
5) The regular price of the Presonus is about $200 more.

I can get the Yamaha for $176 on sale new. I can get the Presonus for $289 And it's a "customer return" that comes with everything a new one comes with. The customer just got buried in features and wanted something simpler.

The big question is (other than Bluetooth) would I get any use out of the other features?

 

[TomB]

We don't have the capability, but our band has often talked about the value of making multi-track recordings, where each channel is captured. That way we can do mixdown later for demo purposes, not something a stereo mix allows. That would have value to me, especially if you could multi-trackk to an internal SD and not have any ganglia sticking out.

 

[two fingers]

We don't have the capability, but our band has often talked about the value of making multi-track recordings, where each channel is captured. That way we can do mixdown later for demo purposes, not something a stereo mix allows. That would have value to me, especially if you could multi-trackk to an internal SD and not have any ganglia sticking out.

This would be sort of in between. Yes, it multi tracks. But there are only a few XLR inputs and some 1/4". So to get a whole band we would have to at least sub mix the drums (use only one input from another small mixer with all if the drum mics mixed and run from that mixer into this one).

 

[TomB]

This would be sort of in between. Yes, it multi tracks. But there are only a few XLR inputs and some 1/4". So to get a whole band we would have to at least sub mix the drums (use only one input from another small mixer with all if the drum mics mixed and run from that mixer into this one).

Yep - probably would want an ambient mic too, assuming we're talking live performance - for a quartet I like to have 8 XLR's for this taks, sorry. I guess that would be the next price bracket up, eh?

 

[two fingers]

Yep - probably would want an ambient mic too, assuming we're talking live performance - for a quartet I like to have 8 XLR's for this taks, sorry. I guess that would be the next price bracket up, eh?

$400 used is the best price I see on the AR12 which has 8 XLR inputs.

 

[two fingers]

Dang. New detail.

The guy said he would sell me a brand new one for only $25 dollars more. That's about $85 off the new price.

I may have to jump on that.

 

[two fingers]

So this is what I'm looking at. Any thoughts? I'm thinking it will be fun to record some stuff for myself.

Also, it crossed my mind that one experiment might be fun. One of the uses for this mixer will be my own monitor mix. A full monitor mix in one channel and just my bass in another. How cool would it be to record every show to the SD card with my monitor and bass mix? I can think of no better way to analyze my playing than to listen to it out front bit in context after every show. It will be the musician equivalent of a football team watching video of the last game.

Plus I keep set list playlists on my phone. Being able to use Bluetooth and practice with one less cable might be nice. I have been offered a sale price of $314 and free shipping. It's a little more than I was initially thinking but the extra features may put me over the top.
PreSonus StudioLive AR8 8-Channel Hybrid Digital/Analog Performance Mixer SLMAR8

 

[Manticore]

The primary differences in this case are as follows....
1) The Presonus can do multi-track recording. The Yamaha just does one stereo track of everything going through the mixer.
2) The Presonus does Bluetooth. So I can play songs from my phone or one of my laptops with no cable.
3) The Presonus comes with its own DAW and some plug-ins.
4) The Presonus can record to an SD card right on the unit.
5) The regular price of the Presonus is about $200 more.

I can get the Yamaha for $176 on sale new. I can get the Presonus for $289 And it's a "customer return" that comes with everything a new one comes with. The customer just got buried in features and wanted something simpler.

The big question is (other than Bluetooth) would I get any use out of the other features?

I've played in bands with a Presonus StudioLive board. I haven't run sound, so I'm not entirely clear on how it works; I can attest to the notion that it actually does work, and does so exceptionally well. I've hovered during sound check a couple of times. The nested menus are likely to present a moderately steep learning curve, but I've been assured that once the concept is grasped and the location of various features is noted, you will find a use for a large number of features you haven't considered terribly important.

So this is what I'm looking at. Any thoughts? I'm thinking it will be fun to record some stuff for myself.

Also, it crossed my mind that one experiment might be fun. One of the uses for this mixer will be my own monitor mix. A full monitor mix in one channel and just my bass in another. How cool would it be to record every show to the SD card with my monitor and bass mix? I can think of no better way to analyze my playing than to listen to it out front bit in context after every show. It will be the musician equivalent of a football team watching video of the last game.

Plus I keep set list playlists on my phone. Being able to use Bluetooth and practice with one less cable might be nice. I have been offered a sale price of $314 and free shipping. It's a little more than I was initially thinking but the extra features may put me over the top.
PreSonus StudioLive AR8 8-Channel Hybrid Digital/Analog Performance Mixer SLMAR8

View attachment 2881212

One of the bands I'm in uses a Presonus StudioLive 16 at gigs. I think you'll find this board amazingly useful.