Best Mixer for your Studio. Thanks to improvements in technology, you can create professional-quality recording studio with minimum equipment. These studio mixers (most are USB mixers) give you more control over the recording process, and does most of the tasks that you would otherwise have to do on the computer, be it for your home studio or for a big project. Try one of these studio mixers for your next session. Skip to the [easyazon_link identifier=”B008R7F382″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]best USB studio mixer on Amazon[/easyazon_link].
Best Studio (USB) Mixers
Compact and built for the road, these mixers are perfect as all-in-one solution for mixing and recording your performances. These can be used to mix and record live, in the studio, and in rehearsal.
Behringer X32 Digital Mixer
Behringer X32 is a 32-channel board that delivers full digital recall, on-board DSP, and comes with extensive I/O. So if you have been wanting to upgrade your live console, you may want to check this mixer out.
Behringer Digital Mixer X32, a studio mixer takes digital mixing to a entirely new level. It has an extremely friendly user interface and is available at an affordable price. This is one machine that maybe hard to resist.
If you’re comparatively inexperienced in this area, its recommended that you set up the console at home and go through the several instructional/tutorial videos on YouTube.
Main features / tech specs:
- 25 bus digital mixing console, 40 input channel, 6 additional line in/outputs and 16 XLR outputs
- Fully programmable 32 MIDAS designed mic preamps for audiophile sound quality
- 25 fully automated motorized 100 mm faders that allow instant review
- 2 phone connectors and a talkback section with external mic
- Dynamic and individual LCD scribble strips on all channels and buses
Overall, the Behringer X32 is a great product. If you’re looking for a desk with several “pro” features, this is the one.
Mackie PROFX8V2 12-Channel Compact Mixer
Good value for money. Several inputs, USB functions, sturdy, great sound.
Pros: Several inputs and recording options, High-quality sound and effects.
Cons: Slight background noise during USB recording (expected at this price range, and can be eliminated by adjusting USB control).
Nady 4/8 Mini Mixer
Budget-priced sound mixer with eight mono inputs. Decent choice for most applications, but you will have to work around the extraneous noise.
Pros: A budget-priced sound mixer
Cons: Gets noisy without the proper power supply
Behringer 5-Channel Mixer
Great amateur sound mixer. Its affordable and has a few pro features (preamp and 2-Band British EQ).
Pros: Affordable.
Cons: Doesn’t have power switch (you have to unplug the power cord to turn this off).
MAKER HART LOOP MIXER
Portable Audio Mixer, produces amazing sound. Features 10 mono inputs, 5 channels, 3 outputs.
Pros: Affordable. Clean sound without background noise.
Cons: Doesn’t feel very sturdy (but has great mixing capabilities).
Yamaha 10-Input Stereo Mixer
Good specs and quality sound.
Pros: 48V phantom power, smooth digital effects.
Cons: USB interface a bit difficult to use
Behringer Xenyx 802 Mixer
Behringer Xenyx 802 Mixer reviewed here. If you’re a musician, have a band, or have a studio setup at home, sooner or later you will need a compact stereo mixer. Be it for solo gig, or for your band to practice, r to make a quick public announcement, the XENYX 802 is perfect to get a premium-quality sound in an intimate setting. If you want the best bang for your bucks (8 Inputs, phantom-powered Mic Preamps), you need to take a look at the Behringer Xenyx 802 Mixer.
- Pros: 8 total inputs, two XLR channels, two stereo channels, post-fader FX send on each channel and 3-band EQ
- Cons: Its inexpensive so don’t expect great results when turned up too loud
Uses
- Perfect for a band that needs to plug in a couple of mics to your practice PA.
- Perfect for hosting coffeeshop-style acoustic performances at compact venues
- Great for recording in your studio setup
- Great for podcasters.
Great sound
Great-sounding, high headroom XENYX mic preamps that offer an impressive 130 dB of dynamic range, with a bandwidth that extends from below 10 Hz to well above 200 kHz. This is why the XENYX mixers are able to provide such crystal-clear performance. Your mics are just not going to sound the same once you send it through this mixer.
Features of the Behringer Xenyx 802 Mixer:
- Analog 2-bus mixer with 8 inputs
- Two XENYX microphone Preamps with +48V phantom power
- Two stereo 1/4″ line input channels for line-level sources – keyboards, electronic drums or other line-level stereo sources
- Send each of the XLR and 1/4″ inputs to an effects bus with a dedicated FX send pot on each channel.
- Post-fader effects send on all channels for use with external reverb units and more
- Separate main mix, control room, and headphone stereo outputs
- 1 stereo aux return for FX applications or as separate stereo input
- Dial in lows, mids and highs with the British-style 3-band EQs with wide Q for warm, musical sound
- RCA “CD/tape” stereo inputs and outputs for playing back music or sending mix to an external recorder
- Tough build quality with durable components for live or studio us
The Behringer XENYX 802 mixer may not look special, if you look at its price, but just spend some time looking at its features and you will know that you have a product that has so many useful applications, and you could just end up using this mixer for years to come.
Buying Links
PreSonus StudioLive AR USB Hybrid Mixers: Make Mixing & Recording Easy
PreSonus StudioLive AR USB hybrid mixers are built for musicians; these are packed with analog connections and digital tools, and quite easy to learn and use.
The series includes three models:
- 18-channel StudioLive AR16 USB
- 14-channel StudioLive AR12 USB
- 8-channel StudioLive AR8 USB.
Watch: PreSonus StudioLive AR USB Hybrid Mixers
Key features of StudioLive AR USB mixers:
- Equipped with a USB 2.0 audio interface (24-bit, 96 kHz quality.)
- PreSonus’ Capture live-recording software, and Studio One 3 Artist DAW (recording and production software) are included free.
- Comes equipped with an onboard stereo SD recorder that lets you record the main mix without a computer
- You may even use the SD recorder to play back MP3 and .WAV files for hours of program music or backing tracks without needing a computer
- The PreSonus Super Channel (unbalanced RCA and 1/8-inch stereo inputs) allows you to connect four stereo analog and digital sources at once.
- Includes Class A mic preamps, two instrument inputs, three-band semi-parametric EQ, pan, mute, and PFL solo. In addition to the main outputs, you get monitor mix outputs with dedicated buses—great for feeding stage wedges, a headphone amp, or an in-ear system. You also get control-room outputs with level control to feed studio monitors.
- Includes internal stereo effects processor with 16 presets. A dedicated effects return, complete with master level fader and monitor sends, lets you adjust the amount of the effects in your main and monitor mixes.
- Use onboard Bluetooth 4.1 to pair your phone to your StudioLive AR mixer and instantly have wireless access to your music library.
Yamaha Live Digital Mixing Console/Desk
Yamaha Pro Audio, Inc. provides a complete line of professional audio products for the live sound and sound reinforcement markets. Their digital consoles can be used for small to large scale live sound, corporate speech events, installations, and much more.
Yamaha Digital Mixing Console “QL Series”
The acclaimed CL series from Yamaha provides an unprecedented level of refinement with evolved sound quality, operability, and functionality, while maintaining the traditional values that have made Yamaha digital mixers industry standards.
These consoles are compact in size and offer all-in-one mixing, processing, and routing capability for any working environment.
Going Back in Time
The first PM mixer was manufactured by Yamaha way back in 1972. It was the PM200. It has gone several variations post that.
The Yamaha PM4000 mixer introduced stereo auxiliary buses and fully parametric EQ on the input channels.
Best deals on Yamaha digital mixing consoles here…
Audio Mixer: Buying Guide
What is a Mixer
Studio mixers are instruments that organize numerous sounds from instruments such as guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, trumpets, etc. in order to generate harmonious tunes.
Its also referred to as the Mixing board, mixing desk, mixing console, sound board, audio mixer.
This software gives you the opportunity to improve sounds coming from the various channels. There are several things you can do like adding desired effects to the various tracks. Using equalization to make sure the sounds are pleasant enough for the human ears.
A mixer brings together all the instruments/parts in one place, from where you can change the various parameters of each part as you wish, such as: Volume, stereo position, frequency content, dynamics and effects.
Once you’re happy with the final mix, you can record it onto a CD (or in any other format such as MP3, Wav, etc).
Why is a Mixer Necessary?
It is necessary so that you can scale up, use lots of tracks, use hardware synths without putting any strain on your computer. Besides, at times you can play your instruments, effects processors, etc. directly through your mixer without having to turn-on your computer.
Here’s a video that provides more information on why you may need an external studio mixer.
Here are some more advantages of having an audio mixer:
- Easy to turn your home into your personal recording studio
- Designed for recording vocals or instruments
- Helps you create that perfect professional grade sound
- Advanced audio mixers can dub multiple vocal tracks, change the effects on a guitar, or add power to your
- drums. Allows you to save multiple takes so you can decide which one works best for your sound.
- Advanced audio mixers provide you more options.
- You can use the audio mixer in a live setting as well, fiddle with the settings to achieve the right tone and effects from your guitars, vocals, and drums.
- Some mixers come with a built-in soundboard as well
Important Mixer Terms
Channels: They accept mic and/or line level signals, and may also have a preamp to increase the input up to an appropriate level. You also get a fader for controlling the channel’s output. In general, the more the channels, the more the things that you can connect. Every channel usually also have an equalizer, and additional controls.
Basic mixers have just a few channels and a master output.
Buses
The mixer channel routes its signals to a bus (single or group of buses). The master mix bus (fed by the channel faders), sends the main output of the mixer to output speakers (or may send it to a recorder).
Auxiliary buses (also known as aux sends or aux buses) are fed by the volume controls of the channels to which they’re connected, and these buses in turn send those signals via their own output jacks (useful for sending a specific mix of signals to headphones, effects processors, or monitor speakers).
Groups
Group function allows you to manage/control several channels collectively. Every group is like a sub-mixer that sits between your channels and the main bus. For example, you may assign all your drums to Group 1, all your vocals to Group 2. Each group has its own output fader, which then feeds into the master bus. Some mixers also have a mute function that you can use to mute a group of inputs or open mics (for example when making onstage announcements).
Inserts
A channel insert allows you to connect external sound processors like compressors and equalizers to specific channels (connected usually after the preamp stage of the channel).
Direct Output
Allows you to connect the mixer’s preamplifier output to external audio interfaces and recording systems.
Types of Mixers
There are various types of studio mixers namely analog, digital and the latest one in the market combines the technology behind analog mixers with additional features such as USB and Firewire.
- Analog Mixers: Functions are controlled by physical knobs, faders, and switches. Operation is more intuitive, easy and its low cost.
- Digital Mixers: For instant changes to signal routing, flexible and extensive signal dynamics, and an amazing array of effects possibilities, a digital mixer is hard to beat. With the touch of a button, you can change a lot of things – signal routing, signal dynamics, and more. Ability to save and recall mixes.
- Software Mixers: Cheaper, requires less space. Used with computer-based digital audio workstation (DAW) (and a MIDI controller keyboard). Software mixers easily integrate virtual instruments, samples, drum loops, and more into your productions. Lets you accomplish just about everything that you can achieve with a physical mixer.
Is a Studio Mixer Necessary?
So is a mixer necessary for your studio? Not really if you are just using soft synths and probably a mic or two to do all the recording. You can do all the adjustments using use the mixer which the software provides, and a good audio interface will ensure that the sound quality is good.
Also read on dj mixer software here
To Conclude
For all those who spend a lot of their time mixing stuff, it is easier to do things on something physical; it is easier to turn knobs and use faders on a physical equipment (you will appreciate it more if you have always worked on a software, using the mouse). You can choose from a simple model with few channels to a behemoth featuring several channels, and features. The mixing board gives you complete control over the mix, and is an important part of the studio.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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