Mixer for analog vintage gear

[DenBaitos]

Hi,

I am currently setting up a little studio with vintage analog gear but I still need a 16 channel mixer to be able to use them all together in studio projects.

I was just wondering how much a mixer can impact the sound. Can a specific synth sound different on a Behringer mixer in relation to a Soundcraft or a Mackie? What are the things I would need to pay attention to when making a descision on which mixer/brand to buy? What are the brands you have good experiences with?

Note that it's essential that the warm, imperfect analog sound I'm looking for is kept live on the mixer. I'm not afraid of a little bit of noise, but I am afraid of a mixer who would 'clean' the sound by removing noise of the inputs too much etc. I am not interested in on-board effects.

Thanks,
Maarten

[DenBaitos]

And of course, a good EQ section is very important to me.

[nogginj]

Yes, the mixer is going to usually color the sound to a certain degree.

Behringer is notorious for using poor components and generally being noisy / muddy...not in a cool 'analog vintage' way.

Soundcraft and Mackie are known for having good sound. Personally, I have a Mackie and I love it. It's clean, but also adds a nice character. I imagine the soundcraft is even cleaner.

The mackie VLZ series are incredible bang for your buck mixers. I have the smaller one, the 1202 and love it. The mute bus/alt 3-4 outputs are a godsend for sampling.
This is the newest model @ 16 channels: http://www.mackie.com/products/1604vlz3/

You can likely find an older model VLZ 1604 used and save some money.

[DenBaitos]

Thanks for your input. That Mackie mixer you are refering to has the features I am looking for (4 auxilary sends and 4 busses). And if it sounds good, it would indeed be great value for the price.

Do you or anyone else have experience with Allen & Heath mixers? The EQ is said to be better than that of the Mackie...

[madrasputin]

Hey I saw this a while back and forgot to post so forgive my tardiness. I have an Allen and Heath Zed14 and I love the h**l out of it! The EQ is better on the A&H Zed series boards than the Mackie but that's really my opinion not the whole world's opinion right? I think you'd do well to look into the Allen and Heath boards although they are a little bit pricier than the Mackie ones but not by much.

[yamaha22]

what about an old tascam?

[Stab Frenzy]

Yeah Allen & Heath are better than Mackie for sure. But don't do for one of the Zed series, get a Mixwizard. I use both quite a lot and the Mixwizards are noticeably better. Also they have two bands of swept mids and a usable amount of aux sends. The Zed series are close to being good but have about one or two things left out that mess it up. The Zed R16 is the exception, but you pay for it.

Re: Old Tascams, depends on which one. Tascam made a lot of desks, most of them not so great but a few good ones.

[philip]

I've the same need,and I want a mixer exactly to make mix.Now I have VLS Mackie,but only 12 channels. so there is not enough now/Mayby u can suggest some vintage 24 ch boarg that could give some warmth to my sound?

[volumetrik]

excellent thread

anyone know about old school Yamaha mixers are they any good?

Here's RM 804


Also, I heard that the older Mackie 1604's are actually better due to different PSU design?

[madtheory]

And of course, a good EQ section is very important to me.

If you want to be sure of preserving the sound, I think eq is best avoided. Make the sound on the synth. Raindirk make a very robust top class line level mixer, 16 channels. I've never used one but have been gassing for years . It would give you the cleanest sound, no unecessary extra distortion and noise from a mic pre amp. All the mixers mentioned so far use the mic pre for line level, they just pad the line input to bring it down to line level.

http://www.lntech.nildram.co.uk//linelevelmixer.html

[DenBaitos]

Madtheory> I would prefer a mixer with EQ, certainly. It gives you more control over the mix.

[Stab Frenzy]

excellent thread

anyone know about old school Yamaha mixers are they any good?

Here's RM 804


Also, I heard that the older Mackie 1604's are actually better due to different PSU design?

Go into any rehearsal studio and you'll hear what those yamahas are like. *shudder*

Maybe the older 1604s are better than the new ones, I still don't like Mackie EQ. Really really don't like it.

If EQ is a priority, the MixWizards are usable but not amazing, the Urei 1605 is very nice but limited in other ways, Midas Venice is pretty good, Verona is really nice, Toft ATB is very nice too.

If you're spending a lot on synths cause you want them to sound great then you're doing yourself a disservice running them through a cheap mixer. It'd be like buying a Ferrari and then putting the cheapest tyres you could buy on it, having it converted to LP Gas to save fuel and getting it serviced by your cousin cause it's cheaper. It's still a Ferrari but you can't get the performance you want out of it.

[DenBaitos]

This looks amazing and the specs sound fantastic:

http://www.toftaudiodesigns.com/atb16.html

But hey, I won't buy a desk that costs as much as a Korg MS-20, a Juno 60 and a Minimoog Voyager all together! An Allen & Heath would do fine, I guess?

[tallowwaters]

Madtheory> I would prefer a mixer with EQ, certainly. It gives you more control over the mix.

Your synths don't have a filters?

[DenBaitos]

Your synths don't have a filters?

Well yes, of course. But sometimes you want to add a little bass to a basline or make some hats a bit crispier etc (note that I am also working with drum machines and the likes). EQ can do that.