Worth upgrading mixers?

[Sunset Shalom]

As the title says, looking to upgrade from an old/cheap alto zmx862 which I got for a simple PA/recording set up years ago.

There is a soundcraft signature 12 mtk used locally for 300$, has a ton of useful features and seems like an all around much nicer mixer:

What do you think? Very tempted by the soundcraft, but there are also a lot of other great mixers out. Or I could save my money, but the 4 channels on the small Alto mixer is pretty limiting. And the Soundcraft 12mtk seems like a much higher quality mixer.

 

[ofajen]

For what mixing purpose?

Otto

 

[DWBass]

For recording or band?

 

[Sunset Shalom]

For what mixing purpose?

Otto

General use, recording and listening to music. Will be for a PA and hooked up to a PC for recording. Will be running guitar/bass/keys/vocals through it, along with other stuff like acoustic instruments.

For recording or band?

For recording and probably a band eventually, I don't need anything fancy which is why I've put off getting a nicer mixer for so long. But this Soundcraft one is calling to me, the seller is open to trades as well

For anyone interested here's the manual for the MTK mixer line: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Seems pretty sweet for the price, the routing and built in Lexicon effects are very appealing for recording.

 

[ofajen]

Probably no significant difference in terms of audio, but clearly a lot more channels and features, so it sounds like it may be worth it to you.

Otto

 

[craigie]

I took a quick scan through the manual.

60 Hz is too low IMO for the bass EQ.
It’s nice the mod is sweepable.
It doesn’t have graphic EQ which is too bad.
It it can output multitrack to your daw that’s convenient, otherwise not so much.
It is really an 8 useful input board.

I picked up a Soundcraft ui12 for $300 CAD and love love love it. The EQ and dynamic processing is miles above what you’re looking at here. I’d just go digital.

 

[Ulf_Hansson]

Depending on your needs, confidence and other available gear I'd consider going digital. If you don't need the physical faders and buttons, you can get a lot of digital channels and features for slightly over $300. Probably with mic pres sounding roughly the same as this mixer. And then you don't have to consider what I/O to get for multitrack recording to your DAW.
On the other hand, I definitely understand if you want/need the real faders and ease-of-use in a simple mixer like that. And in that case I'd guess $300 is a fair price.

Come to think of it, it is actually insane how much mixer and sound quality you can get for so little cash these days...

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Depending on your needs, confidence and other available gear I'd consider going digital. If you don't need the physical faders and buttons, you can get a lot of digital channels and features for slightly over $300. Probably with mic pres sounding roughly the same as this mixer. And then you don't have to consider what I/O to get for multitrack recording to your DAW.
On the other hand, I definitely understand if you want/need the real faders and ease-of-use in a simple mixer like that. And in that case I'd guess $300 is a fair price.

Come to think of it, it is actually insane how much mixer and sound quality you can get for so little cash these days...

Digital is tempting but I feel like this mixer has the best of both worlds, it has a USB out and seems like it would improve my current DI set up considerably. I also don't need too many channels, the soundcraft MTK12 already has 3x as many channels as my current small Alto mixer. So that should be plenty for awhile. Going to meet up with the guy in a few hours.

 

[jthisdell]

One of my bands uses the Signature 12 and the other uses a ui12. I much prefer the Signature. Much simpler operation. I tend to be the one running the board in both bands and far easier to adjust the Signature while playing. The ui has a ton of features that we really do not use.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

One of my bands uses the Signature 12 and the other uses a ui12. I much prefer the Signature. Much simpler operation. I tend to be the one running the board in both bands and far easier to adjust the Signature while playing. The ui has a ton of features that we really do not use.

Have you used it for any recording? That's what I am really excited to use it for, though it does seem like a great live mixer as well. Do you use the effects options at all live? I'm excited to run some pedals/digital effects though it.

 

[Sunset Shalom]

Alright got the mixer, have a few questions and rather then make a new thread might as well try here first:

Currently I've been using small mixer to listen to and record music with a PA and PC, and I send the main mix to my 2 speakers. This new mixer has master L/R outputs but they are XLR outputs, my PA speakers have XLR inputs but I don't have long enough cords. The mixer also has "GRP" (group) outputs which are regular 1/4 inch ones, would I be able to use the group outputs like the L/R main mix on my old mixer? Guess I need to learn more about the routing.

Nevermind, figured it out. Sent the channel playing music from my PC to the group output, works fine. Just took a bit of trial and error.

 

[jthisdell]

Have you used it for any recording? That's what I am really excited to use it for, though it does seem like a great live mixer as well. Do you use the effects options at all live? I'm excited to run some pedals/digital effects though it.

I've never used it for recording, just live.