VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Bish]

OK, so I've now managed to totally confuse myself with the Mackie Mixer options.

The Mackie 1202 seems to be a well respected, go-to mixer for a number of people here, at $275 for the new 1202-VLZ3, it's undoubtedly a bargain (if overkill, and over budget, for me). The 802-VLZ3 looks like a viable option, but at $190, it actually doesn't seem like good value compared with its big brother. The 1202 configuration meets or exceeds all my current (or future) tech requirements with interfacing (alt 3/4 bus, channel insets, headphone routing etc.) and will easily support phone patch integration if I go that route. My prime concern is a quiet & transparent pre-amp. I tried a Behringer 1204 (Xenyx preamps) and was horrified at the amount of noise once the pre-amps were turned up enough to accommodate a dynamic mic (either my Heil PR-40 or the lad's SM-58 )

The used alternative... Looking at ebay completed listings, there are 1202 (non-VLZ3) available from $100-$150 depending on condition and model. Is there any real difference between the regular Micro Series 1202VLZ and the 1202VLZPro? I'm assuming the preamps are the same with these two, and won't be bettered unless I go for a VLZ3, which can be had for $150+ used).

I think I'm asking (justifying?) if I should hold out for the VLZ3... or is there no real difference and the older VLZ or VLZPro would do the job just as well.

Cheers
Peter
(confused in New York)
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[CurtZHP]

VLZ basically stands for Very Low Impedance. The preamps have a few small refinements over the old ones, but most people, even audio guys, would be hard put to tell the difference, sonically speaking. Behringer essentially ripped off and reversed engineered the design of the Mackie, then built it with cheaper components, so I'm not surprised at its poor performance.

The Mackie 1202 is a great little Swiss Army Knife mixer. By all means, pick up a used one. They're nearly indestructable, so it's unlikely to be fried or anything like that.

[Gp]

The VLZ3 is a little quieter than the VLZ pro I think it was. The Onyx pres are supposed to be good.
Is it worth the extra for the VLZ3? Hard question...new means it has a warranty. Mackie is good about warranty stuff too.

[Rob Ellis]

Get at least a 1202 (or more channels) to have phone patch capability.

Not sure any smaller than that will be phone patch- capable.

Plus, the older ones made in US are supposed to be better, but that's possibly subject to debate. I got one of the older US-made ones on ebay for around $150. The preamps are very solid to my ear.

[captain54]

I have a 1202 vlz that I bought about 8 years ago, and lately I've hardly been using is. The preamps are ok, but no better than whats in most usb audio interfaces...to my ears.

Isn't it a bit overkill for the average VO person? I'd be curious to know how these things are being utilized in the average VO setup.

[todd ellis]

[Bish]

Thanks for the comments so far...

I can certainly agree that the 1202 is overkill for most VOs with regard to desk footprint and number of channels. Why it's so popular (IMHO) is that it's built like a brick outhouse (compared to others in the price range), has good quality pre-amps (agreed, that is subjective), all the routing capabilities to future-proof most VO users... and the company itself has a good reputation with guarantees and warranty work. To be honest, I only need one mic channel, one pair to playback from my stand-alone recorder, a pair from the computer... add one for a future phone patch and that gives me a requirement for six. I need main and alt outputs (one for room monitors and one to the recorder) and one insert per channel (just in case).

So yes, my ideal mixer would probably be the result of sawing off six of the 1202's channels while maintaining everything else. The 802 almost does it but... I hate wall-warts, it doesn't have the same design ethic or flexibility of the 1202... and the price differential is relatively small. Again, that is a subjective observation from an admitted gear-head

I really like the Swiss Army Knife description.

Cheers
Peter
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[Bish]

OK... I'm going to put this one to bed without my usual pawing over ebay and agonizing for weeks over a purchase

1202 VLZ3, Factory refurbished (b-stock) from BSW... $239 less my $20 "thank you" coupon code... $219 free shipping and no tax.

Done
_________________
Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[bobsouer]

Peter,

Good choice.
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Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
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[KaraEdwards]

Good choice!

I have the 1202-VLZ3 and need it for ISDN mainly (that, and it helps my "I like things with knobs and bottons" syndrome)- it's a good little mixer!
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Kara Edwards
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[todd ellis]

.gif" alt="W00T" border="0" /> congrats!
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[Bish]

[georgethetech]

You know, the 802 is just enough for just about any VO studio. It does have one feature the 1202 doesn't, and that is the separate volume control for headphones, which I find extremely useful. If only it had 2 Aux sends...
As for wall-warts (I hate 'em too), the 802 uses a "line lump", so it's much easier to deal with, and most of the best consoles made at any price have an external power supply. Not that I would compare them, just sayin'...
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[CarynClark]

I have the 802-VLZ3. I use it with my Zephyr, and I can phone patch with playback (I just have 'em call the first spid for my ISDN line). Works like a charm.

Then again, I do NOT have a passion for knobs and buttons. Matter of fact, for me, the fewer the better. I get confused. Seriously.
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[Zach]

I have the Onyx 820i with the firewire interface. I love it.

It allowed me to run one firewire cable into my booth. The only other cables were usb and a dvi cable for the monitor. I really like how simple it made the process. It sounds good too. At least when I do my part.

Zach