Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    Using the keyword "MIXER" I found over 20 notes dealing with mixers
    in one form or another. You may want to read thru those for pointers.
    
    Old notes get just as much exposure as new notes, so feel free to
    ask questions in the appropriate note.
    
    Edd

I've been using a Biamp Rackmax 16-channel stereo mixer. It's great!

Here are some features:

    8-space rackmount mixer
    2 effects loops
    3-band eq on each channel
    Monitor loop
    Optional integral digital reverb (I didn't get this option)
    Exceptionally laid out and easy to use
    Very clean

I paid about $1500 for it last year, and I'm using it with a Crown 
PB-2 amplifier, all in a 10-space rack.

I'm putting the following through it at the moment:

    3 vocal mics
    3 outputs from a U-110 (Left and Right channels, with one "solo" 
    				channel)
    2 outputs from an MT-32
    2 outputs from a tape deck
    1 output from an Octapad
    1 output from a SRV-2000 digital reverb (the mixer has two effect 
    	sends but only 1 return; I think the newest model of the mixer has two 
    	returns)

I'm going to be using a couple more channels as soon as my GR50 guitar 
synth comes in.

-Dan

    Pete:
    
    	I'm having the same problem as you.  I'm tried of always plugging
    and unplugging cables on the 244.  If you can hold out another month,
    the July issue (or whatever next month is) of Keyboard is doing a mixer
    overview that i guess will be similar to what they did with digital
    reverbs a few months ago.
    
    
    Bruce

    Bruce,
    
    Good Input! i haven't seen Keyboard magazine here in the
    Netherlands...........yet.
    
    Can you provide me with a copy of the test? or where can I subscribe?
    
    Pete

Try all your newspaper stands.  I can speak for the Netherlands but I saw them 
all over in Germany and also in Scandinavia.  In Germany I saw them at the big
"Presse" Kiosks at the train stations.  Sometimes they were in the 
"Internationale Presse".  Of course, they were always almost a month behind.

Chad

Hi,

Along with the Roland M-160, you should take a look at the Tascam MM1.  I just
got mine about a month ago and it's great!  Its features are:

16 channels (first 4 have stereo inputs so it's really 20 channels)
input trim control
2 band EQ
4 mono (or 2 stereo) F/X sends and returns
panning (of course)

and best of all, MIDI channel muting: this is great if you have a lot of noisy 
inputs that you want to 'temporarily' shut off when they're not playing.  It can
all be handled through MIDI 'scenes'.

Oh, yeah - the price.  A mere $850.

Good hunting,
Dan

Hi there !

Interesting topic. I seem to have the same symtoms (increasing number of
devices, bank account running low...)

I was wondering if I really need a full fledged mixer and I think no. Basicly
all of my gear has level and tone control. Most of them have their own FX built
in anyway. So why spent the money when not using it. 

Question:

Is there a audio patch bay that allows merging several channels into ONE (e.g.
one mixer channel) ?

Going a step further, are there any MIDI-driven mixing devices without any
poti's etc. like the MIMIX but simpler and cheaper ?

	Richard

>Is there a audio patch bay that allows merging several channels into ONE (e.g.
>one mixer channel) ?
    
    No, but you can build one.
    
    What you need: a bunch of resistors, around 47K ohms should work:
    
    -------VVVVVV-----------|
    			    |
    -------VVVVVV-----------|
    			    |
    -------VVVVVV-----------|
    			    |
    -------VVVVVV-----------|
    			    |-----VVVVVVV-----
    
    Do this for each channel, (that is, build two).  Tha above will
    passively merge four signals into one.  Of course, by using more
    resistors on the left side, you can mix in more inputs.
    
    Total parts:  A $2 metal box, a couple of jacks (maybe $1 each at most) 
    about $2 worth of resistors and some wire.
    
    Also do a "dir.title=mixer" for a note in here about building a cheap,
    active mixer.
    
    							Brian

    > What else do I need
    
    In my experience, you need as many effects send/returns as you can
    get if you are at all into signal processing, or plan to be (and you
    should).
    
    In addition to the obvious usage for effecting signals, effects
    loops have a variety of other swiss-army knife type applications
    such as serving as additional cue mixes, using returns as quasi
    (extra) channels, etc.
    
    For the money, I must say I'm *VERY* impressed with the new Alesis
    1622.  What people look for in mixer features varies greatly according
    to the individual and "how" and "what" he does, but for my needs,
    the 1622 seems to have the right balance of features and trade-offs
    and the per-channel price is incredible.
    
    It is still EXTREMELY far from "exactly" what I need, but I'm resigned
    to the belief that you will never find a mixer that is both exactly
    and only what you need at what you can afford.
    
    The Alesis 1622 is a 16x2x2 or some might say a 16x4 (depending on
    how you look at it).  It lists for $799 I think and it isn't yet
    discounted much because it's hard to get your hands on one but perhaps
    soon...
    
    I think it would make a great board for either live work or 4-track
    recording.  I'm not yet sure how good it would be as a recording
    board for 8-tracks due to the (apparent) lack of tape inputs, but
    perhaps they have a solution for that buried in the more detailed
    literature that I have but haven't read yet.
    
    	db

    
    Re: .7
    
    .8 is showing a simple passive summing network. This will work. You
    want to optimize the impedances to minimize the losses. Realize,
    though, that even with a perfect match you will get loss. You will also
    drive the outputs of your synths harder. This can lead to distortion.
    
    My point is, don't get carried away with this approach. 
    
    CdH
    

    It was my impression that the Alesis board had 8 tape inputs. No?
    
    > hard to get one...
    
    My local music store hasn't been able to sell *1*. Availability has
    had nothing to do with it.
    
    I wish someone else would buy one and report back...
    
    Edd

    Daddy's Nashua has a 1622.  Looked cheap.  I fondled one of the faders
    and it felt "gritty".

    There's no question but that the Alesis 1622 does have a "cheap" feel
    to it.  But it has very good audio qualities.
    
    The guys at Daddy's Nashua called me the minute the first one came
    in.  Their keyboard salesman and I got to give it a pretty good
    evaluation in an empty/quiet store using a variety of other gear
    and I was pretty impressed.
    
    The remaining question marks are how reliable, durable and REPAIRABLE
    they are.
    
    The "cheap" feel may be effecting sales, but I think it's mostly
    a product of the radical new technology it uses rather than an inherent
    lack of quality.  However, people associate the feel of the old
    sliders and pots with quality.
    
    Let's put it this way - if I had the money, I'd buy one.
    
    	db

    Well, I do have the money, and I'm waiting for someone else to buy one.
    
    They are very repairable. Send it to Alesis, they swap THE board and
    return it. That's OK, but I don't want a board that's reapairable, I
    want one that works. My experience with Alesis says "Hold on, Bucko..."
    
    Edd