Please help on choosing a mixer

Kamanda~SD

New member
Alright, here’s the deal. I’m getting into home recording, and my friend Christmas is coming up. Basically I’m going to be recording demos and albums for local bands around here (I’m not going to get into detail about that). Anyways, basically I want to run a mic(s)>mixer>computer setup. And right now I’m looking for the mixer that’s going to suit my needs best. Basically I’m getting it from all local shops (from here to 45min away), which limits me (but helped in narrowing down). A lot of the features I need in a mixer will be for drum recording, as it is the most ‘complicated’ to record (more mics basically).
Now with the help of a certain someone (Diabolical) I’ll be able to break this down as best as possible.
Budget: I do not have a huge budget, I do have a part time job and Christmas is coming up. For the mixer itself I was hoping to keep it around or under $400 (Canadian).
Here are the mixers I am looking at so far:
Behringer UB2222FX Pro Mixer- about $360-$400 (http://www.behringer.com/UB2222FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG)
Yamaha MG16-not exactly sure, but it will be a touch more then the Behringer
(http://www.yamaha.ca/content/proaudio/products/mixers/MG16-4/specifications.jsp)

And this mixer just came up used for $300 (and it’s looking like my best bet):
http://www.behringer.com/MX2642A/index.cfm?lang=ENG



And here’s what its going to be sent to:
M-audio Delta44 (list $234)
(http://www.m-audio.ca/products/en_ca/Delta44-main.html)
And the same guy selling the mixer has this for $125.

*Keep in mind the stuff I record will be 95% multitracked, recording a full live band isn’t really an issue in deciding which mixer to get.*
Now, I NEED at least 8 inputs (I only need about 6, but 8 gives me that flexibility). For drum micing, it would be preferred to be able to separate the mics (or at least group into 4 stereo groups) for ease of drum mixing. Now, that’s IDEAL, but not very realistic with my budget. These mixers both have 2 subgroups. The MX has direct outs which will be VERY useful to me (I could separate the tracks easily for drums when running a 4 mic setup on smaller kits). On bigger I could even run Y cables OR get another delta44 in the future (they work together), this way I’ll only have to Pan on the mixer. Even if I can’t get the separate tracks right away, I can still do the mixing of the drums on the board and just do some trial tracks to see how it fits, this is not bi deal to me at all because I know lot’s of people that run it this way and it’s a less of a pain in the ass then I thought. DFX is not a huge deal to me, the only one I would ever use would be reverb, but since the board will be for recording only, all effects will be added in my software which will result in not only better quality effects, but also the ability to reverse it.

So far, budget and feature wise, the MX is looking like the one. I know I talked about drums a lot, but since drums need the most ‘features’ UI was basing it a lot on that. I know I missed a lot and maybe even confused some, I’ll try to add more as it comes to me. All I’m asking now is what should I do? I know Behringer doesn’t have the greatest rep a lot of the time, but this used board was NEVER taken outside this guys home, and hes upgrading cause he records as a full live band. Please help me out on what I should do and feel free to ask more questions if you seem confused or if you think I missed something. My PC specs are fine (and don’t recommend firewire or usb please) and I’m running it all into adobe audition so PC wise I’m good.

Thanks! I wrote this pretty fast so I hope I got it all in there. Also, don’t worry bout mics right now, I’ve got an idea of what I want and I’ll make a thread bout that later!
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

If you have a mic pre/interface with 6 to 8 ins (that you can record at once) you don't need a mixer to track drums. The software you use such as Cubase, Logic etc. have built in mixers.

If I were you I'd put my money into a better interface with good mic pres that can handle 6 to 8 tracks at once.
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Wow! Thanks alot, thats definatly something to look at. The mixer was my route of choice because our vocal situation for rehearsals is a sm58 into a bass amp...not the best (barely makes it loud enough) and the vocalist said he'd buy a power amp and speakers to run vocals through at rehearsals.

do you think for what I want to do the setup with the 2 used items will work?

definatly looking at the preamp idea though.
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

This is what I'm thinking. If you invest in good gear to get your recording's sounding the best they can for your business you'll get more clients and be able to buy a real PA for the vocalist. :)
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

True. Thats a valid point.

Although you mentioned "buisness"...I guess my first post made it sound more formal eh? I AM going to be reocrding my band along with other local bands, this is just sort of a side deal (although I'm really interested in recording and have done some in my short past and I'm looking at schools to go to). If I had the $$ I would definatly go that route.

EDIT: I noticed your username and I checked your site, do you record for a living yourself?
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Thanks alot, I'm still looking at the whole preamp idea as well.

Do you record for a living?
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Thanks alot, I'm still looking at the whole preamp idea as well.

Do you record for a living?

You're welcome.

The pre amp audio interface will give you better quality going into your computer than the M-Audio card and Mixer you are looking at, but it's all about money too.

In the music field I run a small indie record label and produce (Universal, Moonshine and others), I'm also an artist. I spend almost everyday in the studio and have bought and sold more gear than I care to admit. :smack:
 
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Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Can you tell us about some of the gear you use innerdream?

Sure.

At my home studio where I do a lot of pre production and production I have a very modest setup. I run Logic as my audio/sequencer with a MindPrint mic pre, lots of different mics, a UAD card for dsp along with Waves plugins and a few other third party plugins. When I track guitars I usually bring an iBook to a studio and rent an amp or if I have one use it and record through an M-Audio 410 or lately I have used the Toneport on my Another Black Season project. Mixing sometimes is here at my place or sometimes someone else mixes the tracks.
For drums I hire Brian Fullen who is a Nashville session player (Shania Twain, Peter Frampton and others) and he tracks in his studio there. You don't need expensive gear to make good sounding tracks though it always helps. :)
Most of my work is electronic based so a lot is about sound design and soft samplers and synths - you can get away with a lot less gear with that kind of music than say a straight ahead rock project.
 
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Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Wow thats awsome, did you go to school for any of this or strictly experience?


And yes, I know the whole preampway would be better quality, but the rehearsal thing and money brings me back to the mixer (ESPECIALLY because the used stuff came up).
 
Re: Please help on choosing a mixer

Wow thats awsome, did you go to school for any of this or strictly experience?

I studied classical piano, voice and theory in college. The producing has come through countless hours in front of the computer making tracks. I had a very successful electronic track on Moonshine and that opened doors to other work. I don't consider myself an engineer like some people are though I know what I want to hear so I usually can get that on disc.

There use to be a great forum called Artist Pro where some grammy winning producers use to hang out and you could pick their brains - the closest forum to that now that I can think of is Gear Slutz.

And yes, I know the whole preampway would be better quality, but the rehearsal thing and money brings me back to the mixer (ESPECIALLY because the used stuff came up).


Get what you need to work and don't let limitations stop you I say. :)
 
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