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small mixer in front of PSM200?

mrpackerguy

mrpackerguy

Gold Supporting Member
Jul 3, 2004
4,694
3,192
Madison, Wisconsin
www.whozplaying.com
#1
My casual playing band has gone to all IEM. However, our Mackie board only has 2 monitor sends, so the drummer, keys player and guitar player share a channel, and the lead singer and I share a channel using the PSM200.

Our drummer runs the 16 channel board. That's the problem. I've been having a real hard time getting a decent sounding personalized mix (the lead singer won't care as long as he can hear himself in the least). I already run my mic through one of the 2 pass-through channels on the PSM200. The other channel accepts the monitor send from the board. It has helped being able to adjust my own mic volume on the PSM, but I still can not get a decent mix between my bass, the lead singer and my own backing and on some songs, lead vocal.

Would a small mixer in front of the PSM give me more control over the mix of those three channels (my vocal, lead vocal and my bass). I know some of the problem is that most of us only use one ear bud (I know! I know! Verboten!) when we should all be using both. But the lead singer and I are always real interactive with the audience and it's tough frequently pulling out one ear to take a request or whatever and then stick it back in. An ambient mic has helped that some.

Any suggestions. If a small mixer, any brand recommends?
 
#3
If you get a 4-channel mixer, you could run your bass, your mic, and the lead vocals into it and then use sends from each of those channels to the main mixer. Then run your monitor mix from the main board into the 4th channel on your mixer.

Then feed the Mains mix from your personal mixer into your PSM200.

You'll be getting a "dry" mix of your bass and vocals (dunno if you're doing any processing of those channels once they go into the main mixer), but that shouldn't really be a problem for use in your IEM.
 
#4
Yes it will and that is what I do. I have a small Alesis mixer that has 4 xlr and 2 stereo channels. It has effects which really help. I run my bass into one channel right out of my sansamp. I even use the mixer for the phantom power. The FOH gets my bass send off my amp DI (which is pre out from my amp). I get a dedicated monitor mix from FOH and I take a patch of my drummer who uses electronic drums. On occasion I also split my vocal at the snake and use a channel for me only. then I send the mix in stereo to my Transmitter. I used to use the PSM200 but upgraded recently to a Senn. G3. The reverb on the mixer and stereo image really makes for a nice evening. I also pan the drums almost to one side as well.

chris P.
 
#5
StuartV said:
If you get a 4-channel mixer, you could run your bass, your mic, and the lead vocals into it and then use sends from each of those channels to the main mixer. Then run your monitor mix from the main board into the 4th channel on your mixer.

Then feed the Mains mix from your personal mixer into your PSM200.

You'll be getting a "dry" mix of your bass and vocals (dunno if you're doing any processing of those channels once they go into the main mixer), but that shouldn't really be a problem for use in your IEM.
Click to expand...
Makes great sense. Suggestion on a 4-ch mixer? Chap above mentioned Alesis. Having trouble finding a small 4-ch where each channel has a separate send, or maybe I'm misunderstanding.
 
#6
mrpackerguy said:
Makes great sense. Suggestion on a 4-ch mixer? Chap above mentioned Alesis. Having trouble finding a small 4-ch where each channel has a separate send, or maybe I'm misunderstanding.
Click to expand...

The Alesis mixer I use is a MultiMix 8USB Mixer $159.00

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-8USB-Mixer-with-USB-and-DSP?sku=630166

Before this upgrade I used a cheap Behringer it was ok :rolleyes:. Both were small enough to fit on a half a rack shelf in my rack and left room for my SABDI and my X2 wireless receiver. I pull it out and set it ontop of the rack during the gig so I can adjust it on the fly. Those drum patchs can be mighty touchy :eek:

CP
 
#13
TimmyP said:
A small mixer add-on will help, but do you really want to mess with all the extra cables and crap? Sell the CFX POS and get a MixWiz, which you can get for as little as $500 for the old version. It's a much better mixer in many ways (channel EQ, # of Auxes, repairability, ....._).
Click to expand...

You know one thing in favor of a different mixer is the mike channel sound. I find an AUx out from the board is rather bland but run it into even a cheap board and wow, tone and pre amp quality galore. i have muy mixer racked up in my bass rack all calbed up. no fuss.
 
#16
Before spending money on a mixer I think you should look at getting custom ear buds. I was using the UE Superfi 5 pros until I got my customs, and the difference is like night & day. Check out the Alien Ears triple drivers.
 
#18
+1 to those suggesting a new FOH board with a proper number of aux sends. Other solutions are just creating a cabling headache and more opportunities for technical issues. Any money you spend trying to create your own monitor submix would be much more wisely spent on upgrading the piece of equipment that is lacking in functionality (your FOH board).
 
#19
Barisaxman said:
+1 to those suggesting a new FOH board with a proper number of aux sends. Other solutions are just creating a cabling headache and more opportunities for technical issues. Any money you spend trying to create your own monitor submix would be much more wisely spent on upgrading the piece of equipment that is lacking in functionality (your FOH board).
Click to expand...

I have to totally disagree with this. With a sub mix/system I can play with any band I want and get the same results. One cable from the front of house and I am good to go. No one else has to go to IEMs. I can also EQ to taste.
 
#20
musicman7722 said:
You know one thing in favor of a different mixer is the mike channel sound. I find an AUx out from the board is rather bland but run it into even a cheap board and wow, tone and pre amp quality galore. i have muy mixer racked up in my bass rack all calbed up. no fuss.
Click to expand...

If this is the case, you need a better board (or you need the aux to be modified to post-eq).
 

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