VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

melissa eX · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: Now I need a mixer

Ok, now that my ISDN lines are in - I have to get a 'real' mixer. Been working with the software with my e-mu sound card til now.

Not sure what I need in a mixer. I hear the Mackie Onyx pre-amps are really good. Don't know about the other Mackie's or any other mixers. Any suggestions?

Also, how big does it need to be - can I use the small 8** models or do I need a 12** ?

thanks!

georgethetech · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:24 am Post subject:

The 8 series are fine for most people.
The 820i is worth the dough if you don't have a good audio interface and your computer has Firewire. It really simplifies a studio and makes for an extremely clean signal path from mic to computer with the necessary I/O for the ISDN codec.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

The Onyx is good, very good preamps and provides a nice all in one solution. It's really the VO Solution for a lot of people.
I use a Yamaha MG 16/4 in my studio - the preamps aren't as good as the Onyx but I like them just as much as standard Mackie and I've found this generation of Yamaha mixers to be more "robust" physically than the Mackies from my experience as an audio engineer both in the studio and in shows.
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 9:28 am Post subject:

I love Soundcraft, they have a wonderful warm sound, not bright and shrill like Yamaha can get -where ear fatigue soon fallows. The M series are very nice.

Also Heath and Allen's ZED Series Mixers are another great option.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I figured "why post something about Yamaha because Mike Sommer will be here within the hour to write about how he thinks they're shrill and induce ear-fatigue"? Smile

Kidding aside, Mike's right that the Yammies are "bright" ...but I like that. It makes me more sensitive to over-compression and having a shrill sound. If it sounds nice on the Yammies it usually translates really well in the real world - especially on the consumer/computer gear that so much sound gets played on these days. I've done gigs recently where I used the MG pres for the mics and the clients and engineers were happy. They are bright, but they have a nice spacial image to them.

Soundcraft is better, warmer...and I've engineered with both Yamaha and Soundraft for broadcast - I think the MG keeps me more honest. YMMD!
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Drew · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

Ditto on Soundcraft. I've had mine for about 5 years.
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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

I like my Onyx 12 channel. Just enough space for what I need to route. The preamps aren't necessarily going to sound like something you paid 2 grand for but they are pretty nice for the money.
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melissa eX · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:26 pm Post subject:

Picked up the Onyx 820i. Trying to figure out how all the buttons work. I think I don't need most of them.