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rh2y
Joined: May 08, 2007
Posts: 218
Location: Pittsburgh, USA
Audio files: 5
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 Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:
Sub-mixer? |
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Hi all..
I just came to the realization that if I acquire any more audio gear, I'm going to soon be out of inputs on my mixer. I have an older Mackie 1402VLZ. I've still got four spare inputs (only 2 if stereo), but I have a TX81z showing up later this week (they are fairly reasonable on eBay), so that will leave me with just 2 inputs left.
Is the normal thing to do in this case to use a "sub" mixer --- a mixer whose outputs go into the remaining two channels of the main mixer?
I have a Behringer UB802 that I use for other stuff once in a great while, perhaps that will tide me over / let me experiment until I get a "real" sub mixer, but is there something else to do? Only other thing I can see is replacing the 14 channel mixer with a bigger mixer, but the next size up is like 24 or 32 channels, and a LOT of money...
What does everybody else do when they run out of input channels?
Thanks!
Russ
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Sam_Zen
Joined: Mar 08, 2008
Posts: 251
Location: NL
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| Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject:
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I like having a lot of small sub-mixers in the studio. Even just consumer-thingies without any tone-control etc.
Just to merge 4 or 5 channels into 2.
Not only useful to expand the inputs of the main mixer, but also as occasional source for a 2C recorder or e.g. sampler.
Of course the chance of getting a bit more background noise or hum is present.
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Jyoti
Joined: Mar 07, 2008
Posts: 618
Location: Derby, UK
Audio files: 3
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:
Re: Sub-mixer? |
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| rh2y wrote: |
What does everybody else do when they run out of input channels?
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Well, if you're going to be old-school about it, get a patch bay, have your most-used stuff in the normalised sockets then patch the rest in as and when. Clean, simple, no stuff in your signal chain.
But...
I tend to use sub-mixers as I like to have everything on and available to prod. I used to use a Behringer DDX 3216 which I liked as I could gate all the really noisy old gear.
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rh2y
Joined: May 08, 2007
Posts: 218
Location: Pittsburgh, USA
Audio files: 5
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:
Re: Sub-mixer? |
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| Jyoti wrote: | | rh2y wrote: |
What does everybody else do when they run out of input channels?
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Well, if you're going to be old-school about it, get a patch bay, have your most-used stuff in the normalised sockets then patch the rest in as and when. Clean, simple, no stuff in your signal chain. |
That's an interesting idea... I hadn't thought of that. The truth of the matter is, I generally only use a few pieces of gear on any one track, so a patch bay could do the trick. Though I suspect a cheap submixer would probably cost about the same as a decent patch bay.
This is probably fodder for a different topic, but:
Anybody have thoughts on the newer Behringer "Xenyx" mixers versus older Mackie equipment? I'm sure new Xenyx doesn't stand up to new Mackie, but my Mackie mixer is 14 years old. How does the noise floor of one of these Xenyx units compare to older Mackie gear? If it's similar, I could save a bundle on a submixer, as I doubt I really need what the new VLZ3 has to offer.
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Jyoti
Joined: Mar 07, 2008
Posts: 618
Location: Derby, UK
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:
Re: Sub-mixer? |
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| rh2y wrote: | | That's an interesting idea... I hadn't thought of that. The truth of the matter is, I generally only use a few pieces of gear on any one track, so a patch bay could do the trick. Though I suspect a cheap submixer would probably cost about the same as a decent patch bay. |
The "proper" engineer types I know (unlike snivelling home-studio workers like me) swear by patch bays, preferring a cheap patch bay over a cheap mixer. But, as a songwriter, I prefer using submixers even if it does add 0.0003 to the THD or whatever. 
| Quote: |
This is probably fodder for a different topic, but:
Anybody have thoughts on the newer Behringer "Xenyx" mixers versus older Mackie equipment? I'm sure new Xenyx doesn't stand up to new Mackie, but my Mackie mixer is 14 years old. How does the noise floor of one of these Xenyx units compare to older Mackie gear? If it's similar, I could save a bundle on a submixer, as I doubt I really need what the new VLZ3 has to offer. |
Again, I know it's very fashionable to hate Behringer but I personally love their gear. It's cheap, cheerful and it's saved my arse so many times, both DJing and playing live. I used this mixer:
http://www.behringer.com/UB1204FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG
On my last set of gigs in Sweden and Finland and it just worked. Pretty good fx for a live mixer, too. No wall-wart, proper power socket! Yaay!
AFAIK, the Xenyx are upgrades of that range? Meant to have better mic pre-amps.
I have no idea how the Behringer stuff compares to Mackie but I can personally recommend their gear for submixing. Or live mixing.
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rh2y
Joined: May 08, 2007
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Location: Pittsburgh, USA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject:
Re: Sub-mixer? |
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| Jyoti wrote: |
Again, I know it's very fashionable to hate Behringer but I personally love their gear. It's cheap, cheerful and it's saved my arse so many times, both DJing and playing live. I used this mixer:
http://www.behringer.com/UB1204FX/index.cfm?lang=ENG |
I have a UB802; I will have to give it a try as a submixer. I know the Mic preamps in the UB802 are kind of noisy, but as a submixer, I'll only be using line level signals, so maybe it will be just fine.
My other piece of Behringer gear is their "Truth B2030A" active monitors. I have to say I'm very impressed with them. Only downside is that they pick up radio noise thru the power cord, but I live very close to a high power FM broadcast station, so I imagine in most places this is not a problem.
Thanks for the advice!
Russ
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Jyoti
Joined: Mar 07, 2008
Posts: 618
Location: Derby, UK
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| Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject:
Re: Sub-mixer? |
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| rh2y wrote: |
I have a UB802; I will have to give it a try as a submixer. I know the Mic preamps in the UB802 are kind of noisy, but as a submixer, I'll only be using line level signals, so maybe it will be just fine. |
Yep, I nearly bought one of those but I wanted built-in fx. Very small and handy, though.
| Quote: | | My other piece of Behringer gear is their "Truth B2030A" active monitors. I have to say I'm very impressed with them. Only downside is that they pick up radio noise thru the power cord, but I live very close to a high power FM broadcast station, so I imagine in most places this is not a problem. |
Another recent Behringer bit I love:
http://www.behringer.com/DR100/?lang=ENG
For the price, awesomely useful. Stick the chorus mode on and you get that essential '80s wibbly guitar sound: instant Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins or House of Love. And a pretty nice spring emulation which works a treat with analogue monosynths. Eats batteries, though!
Sorry, getting off-topic!
| Quote: | Thanks for the advice!
Russ |
No problem, mate. I'm such a gearhound - it's nice to actually put it to good use for a change! 
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