Small desktop mixer with good preamps?

goldtop

I'm looking for a compact mixer with quality preamps and a very simple all-analogue signal path. Don't need USB connectivity (although more and more of these things have it) nor FX. Don't need EQ or Aux/Mon sends either.

Must have:

• one mic channel with phantom power
• one Hi-Z channel
• one stereo channel for line level inputs
• main stereo out
• headphones out

The best I can find seems to be the Mackie 402: https://mackie.com/products/vlz4-series-analog-mixers

That's also the right sort of size for the desktop space I have. Any other suggestions?

(That weird little Roland Go:Mixer would be a contender, but I don't expect the mic preamp quality is very good, given its intended market.)

John_A

The little Behringer Xenyx mixers are surprisingly good 

goldtop

I just had a look at them - 502, 802 - but they all seem to lack a Hi-Z input. Unless that info is buried somewhere?

John_A

goldtop said:

I just had a look at them - 502, 802 - but they all seem to lack a Hi-Z input. Unless that info is buried somewhere?

Good point, missed that bit.  What are you planning using the hi-z input for?

poopot

goldtop said:

I just had a look at them - 502, 802 - but they all seem to lack a Hi-Z input. Unless that info is buried somewhere?

Buy this:
https://motu.com/products/guitar/zbox

hi z problem solved.

John_A

Or something like a Steinberg UR44 interface that can be used in standalone mode

brucegill

SSLSiX is amazing. But pricey. 

goldtop

John_A said:

goldtop said:

I just had a look at them - 502, 802 - but they all seem to lack a Hi-Z input. Unless that info is buried somewhere?

Good point, missed that bit.  What are you planning using the hi-z input for?

For guitar (untreated) into iPad Garageband/Cubasis/other-app. The interface is a MODX synth which has two line-level only inputs which it can send to the iPad. So this small mixer would add just the extra inputs I want, and analogue-only to avoid the extra 2-3ms that AD/DA conversions would add.

And there's just enough space on the top of the MODX to place one of these little mixers.

(Given that AFAIK, the iPad still cannot use more than one audio interface at a time, so there's no point plugging a second audio interface directly into the iPad.)

John_A

The UR44 sounds ideal to me. Forget about using the synth as an interface, use the Steinberg.  Pop the synth in to the line ins and that leaves you 1 hi-z it and three mic pres, The motu z box is another solution

goldtop

Er, no thanks! UR44 is about £250 and the little mixers are about £80!

No point in me buying a second audio interface when I already have one (likely to be the same chipset, as Yamaha owns Steinberg).

octatonic

SSL Six.

It is an order of magnitude better than anything else in this thread.

goldtop

octatonic said:

SSL Six.

It is an order of magnitude better than anything else in this thread.

Did you see the bit where I was whining about spending £250?

I love (the idea of) it, but this is for the cheap setup.

octatonic

goldtop said:

octatonic said:

SSL Six.

It is an order of magnitude better than anything else in this thread.

Did you see the bit where I was whining about spending £250?

I love (the idea of) it, but this is for the cheap setup.

I did.
Not my money

John_A

goldtop said:

Er, no thanks! UR44 is about £250 and the little mixers are about £80!

No point in me buying a second audio interface when I already have one (likely to be the same chipset, as Yamaha owns Steinberg).

Mine here for £150, and open to offers

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/191842/couple-of-thunderbolt-audio-interfaces-zoom-focusrite-usb-interface-steinberg#latest

really can’t think of a more cost/space effective idea.  Don’t know how much the motu thing is, that could be worth a look

edit, this Behringer is a lump cheaper than the Steinberg, not. clear if the instrument input actually changes the impedance though


https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_umc404hd.htm

or this?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_ag06.htm

goldtop

The AG06 is a possible (the AG03 would be about OK, just a little plug/unplug required). The luddite in me wants to avoid any unnecessary digital gubbins for this particular purpose, which is why the Mackie 402 appeals. The Yamaha MG06, too, but not Hi-Z.

John_A

Totally missed you mention the Macke, that looks just the job.  Have a little Behringer one, I’ll have a look and see if that has a hi-z input, but pretty sure it doesn’t. 

WiresDreamDisasters

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mackie-Onyx-1220-Analog-Mixer/254763594212?hash=item3b5117f1e4:g:dMQAAOSwktpflGjr

goldtop

WiresDreamDisasters said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mackie-Onyx-1220-Analog-Mixer/254763594212?hash=item3b5117f1e4:g:dMQAAOSwktpflGjr

Well, that one's far bigger than I need or have space for. But it does have those 'onyx' preamps, which the little one also has. That preamp circuit seems to get decent reviews in SoS/etc. 

WiresDreamDisasters

They're okay. You're not gonna get a 1073 quality preamp in any small desktop mixer like this. Well... maybe the SSL

Macca_25387

Soundcraft Compact 10 Desktop Audio Mixer 2004 Aluminium With Plastic
https://reverb.com/item/36715672-soundcraft-compact-10-desktop-audio-mixer-2004-aluminium-with-plastic?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=36715672

This any good?

WiresDreamDisasters

Those Soundcraft 10's are pretty great actually. I had one in the mid 2000's and used to record band practices with it. Worked very well.