searching for a mixer

[lucidlfe]

I am searching for either a control surface, or analogue mixer, or preferably a hybrid. I have $1000 to spend, and my gear list includes:

slmk2
Genelec 8030a
saffire pro 24
technics 1200/1210
maschine
korg kaoss pad

I want to get a few synths, and some rack gear also down the road, but as of right now I am itb.

With only having to mic inputs it makes it tough to record a group of people, or multi mic instruments. I hate mixing with my mouse, and I am preferably a hands on person, so my workflow will work great with a mixer( and that is also why I want outboard gear, and synths.)
I like plugins don't get me wrong so I want something that will cater to that also.
I have been going on craigslist, and ebay looking all over fla for a mixer. I've done research on a few, but at the end I am left confused.

If you need more info I will do my best.

thanks

[outbound]

Personally I would go the route of control surface, here is why:-

Buying a mixer:
- Limited by number of physical I/O on your pro 24 (unless you get a desk with digital I/O but that will drive up the price)
- Recall, do you really want to have to have a recall sheet for every time you change to another project?
- That analogue vibe, yes it will impart it's own sound but unless you're spending a fair bit this may not necessarily be a good thing, I'd much rather stay ITB and use some emulations of analogue gear or buy some outboard that you can run things through to get more vibe (coloured comps etc)

Buying a control surface:
- Not limited by number of tracks
- Takes up less space
- No need for recall, its saved in the project
- Doesn't impart it's own sound
- No need for physical I/O so no coloration there + you don't need to worry about how many channels you're sending out.

I used to own a mixer, a 24 channel job. I ran some audio through it then realised it just didn't do it for me, I could totally see the benefits of a control surface though and would advise going that route and saving your money for some nice synths or maybe some outboard effects.

[fragments]

I'd say your best bet is to get a new interface with decent pre amps and enough line level I/O for all your kit. Get double the number of pre amps and line level I/O you *need* right now. I'd look at MOTU possibly and then get a control surface. Mackie makes a couple motorized ones Mackie Control I think it is. And presonus makes one called Faderport really decently priced one, is compact, and supposedly workflow genius. The only issue with the Faderport is that it doesn't have support for all the major DAWs, so you have to deal with work arounds and it may not work at all in some cases (especially FL Studio). They are only 125 NEW...I seriously considered switching to a presonus DAW just for this gear, lol.

For a 1,000 dollars you can probably get a pretty options heavy MOTU interface and the Faderport.

[lucidlfe]

Thing is I want to get away from the mouse as much as possible. I rather get a mixer, so I can mix with it, instead of using my mouse all the time.

[fragments]

the sound quality and options of analog EQ even in a 1,000 dollar mixer are going to be pretty gritty. Look at that presonus or mackie controll surface I mentioned in my previous post. Youll probably get at least one sweepable mid freq, maybe two on each channel. Then a LPF and HPF. If you are serious about EQing outside the box with analog Id suggest looking at 500 series units and a lunchbox.

I dont know anything about digital mixers.

[AxeD]

I would run out the door and find the first Mackie 1220i I can.
It's a mixer with converters per channel out via firewire. Would classify the overall quality as high for home use.

Leaves you with some money to spend on needed cabling and beer.

[nowaysj]

I'd stay in the box, unless you really like to work outside, and then let's be honest, you're going to be in a hybrid setup. I think you need the potential to be entirely out of the box... how to say this... whatever your task outside of the box, needs to be entirely outside of the box... fuck, to knackered to explain.

Mixing though... like really mixing your tracks... I'd suggest getting an ssl 4000 I mean, the step up from incredible world class plugins to world class mixing desk and hardware gear is enormous. You may feel like $1,000 is a lot, but it ain't shit compared to what a good desk and processing would cost to entirely mix out of the box. Gitmeh? I'd just deal with the fucking mouse. I am in a hybrid setup, but the tasks that I do out of the box are more like beat making, some sequencing, fx'ing, and then a hardware stereo channel strip ultimately into the box (not actually a channel strip, but hardware pre, eq, and comp). I can't stand mousing, twisting a real knob, and mousing and twisting a real knob. Fucking sucks. Might as well just be on the mouse.

Check this out:



The mti is only like $2,500 bucks, and is the future. Of course, the future has a habit of fucking you, and this will be $250 in 18 months (maybe not really, but it WILL be $250 at some near date). Oh, and never mind Steven, he comes across as a major dorf, but his softs are totally legit.