Good line mixer

[fraz]

Hello.......

Looking for a good-ish line mixer (small and no more than 1U rack-if possible) to go with the Xite-1 when it arrives............which will only have the 16 I/O

I do have a Behringer RX1602 (16:2) Euro Rack but unfortunately the left out isn't working..... I know their quite average units...... what would you folks consider above average for this.

[jksuperstar]

I was going to recommend the RX1602 (I have one, and found transients to pass through pretty well, and freq/phase response to be VERY flat). I don't overload it ever, so it doesn't need a bunch of overhead.

The only thing about it that I don't like is the detents on the volume knobs...they don't always match up across channels. But it's easy to work around this. The thing about line mixers is there's not much gain created, so unlike full mixing consoles, the overhead can be pre-calculated easily, and the mixer can maintain a very flat response because of this.

The other thing you should consider is an ADA8000 (or A16 Ultra, or A16 mkII, etc)...instead of mixing into stereo into the XITE, you can convert to digital and go straight into the ADAT inputs, then do the mixing INSIDE the XITE. The XITE has lots of power for doing mixing AND have all the effects AND have synths running, all at once.

[Fluxpod]

This is above average.

http://www.speck.com/xsum/xsum.html


Used A16 is cheaper tho.

[Bud Weiser]

This is above average.

http://www.speck.com/xsum/xsum.html

Speck is superb !
I always wanted a Xtramix 4HU,- but the price ...

Used A16 is cheaper tho.

Disadvantage,- gain switching -10dB/+4dB only in groups of 8 channels.

S|C A16mkII comes more close to a linemixer offering freely adjustable gain per channel.

Bud

[garyb]

actually, i think that's an A16 Mk2 from Ferrofish...

for just a single space line mixer for a reasonable price, it's hard to beat something used from Rane, although their products may be hard to find in Europe. you'd still need the AD/DA in that case. for an AD/DA, the A16 Mk2 is pretty much unbeatable, especially for the price, otherwise the choice probably is Behringer, because the difference in price between good and great is steep.

Speck is very good quality.

[fraz]

Hi JKsuperstar,

I have a Behringer RX1602 that I got from Thomann. It lay unused for ages after delivery whilst I was busy doing other things. I've only just hooked it up and found that the Left out of the Stereo output doesn't work so I presumed a fault of some sort with the left output jack.

The only other permutation is that I've mis-understood how the unit works (because I make heavy weather of grasping things) but after reading the manual it is supposed to output a stereo mix derived from the 16 inputs - Also there is a MON (monitor out) for FX which is meant to work independently of the main stereo output isn't it???

I've written Behringer email and was informed they would get back to me as this unit needs fixing (unless I've misunderstood how unit works) and I've no objection using the unit whilst at the same time seeking to learn about possible better units..... thanks for the link to that other unit.....

[fraz]

How much would the spec unit cost btw ??? in the region of £xxxxxx or Euros??? EDIT : just checked and its $2,000

[fraz]

The other thing you should consider is an ADA8000 (or A16 Ultra, or A16 mkII, etc)...instead of mixing into stereo into the XITE, you can convert to digital and go straight into the ADAT inputs, then do the mixing INSIDE the XITE. The XITE has lots of power for doing mixing AND have all the effects AND have synths running, all at once.

I do have an ADA8000 as I needed to get some pre-amps even if they are not great - Their great enough for now......

I do also have an A16 Ultra Creamware that I got with the Scope card and a VC-8 - I plan to get another A16 for the Xite-1

There is a need for a reasonable amount of I/O for the line level synths as they have multiple outs on them which you don't have to use all at once as the stereo out may suffice - which is why I was asking about line mixers......

[Bud Weiser]

There is a need for a reasonable amount of I/O for the line level synths as they have multiple outs on them which you don't have to use all at once as the stereo out may suffice - which is why I was asking about line mixers......

Fraz, if you already own a XITE, your (line-) mixer is in SCOPE already, but for different line level output synths, you need inputs w/ individually adjustable gain.
So, the Ferrofish (sorry Gary for confusion) A16mkII is a ideal tool even you´re not able to use MADI in SCOPE right now.

I have many different hardware synths, digital and analogue as well as DP and racked MIDI modules,- and all have different output levels even most are line level -10dB and some have balanced outputs +4dB like the Kurzweil PC3 series keyboards.
As a surprise, the Kurzweil is the quietest even w/ it´s +4dB balanced outs,- just because of the programmed levels for every single program or setup.
In fact, the levels are all over the place but most don´t even trigger the 1st LED on my analog console.
It drives me nuts, but they did it by safety reasons not to overdrive the digital bus inside their machine when stacking patches and/or combining lots of internal FX.
Most of todays synths come w/ so many patches, it becomes a nitemare to adjust all the levels of single programs counting in thousands,- so you´ll be thankfull if you have a AD input device w/ separately adjustable and storeable gain !

That said, buying a Behringer AD/DA w/ line/mic preamps to connect to XITE will ruin your signal before it arrives in XITE and SCOPE.
The ADA8000´s preamps are noisy, not that much for line input than for mic, but they are if you have to crank ´em up.
In addition, the weakest point of the ADA8000 is the PSU,- it´s not a reliable piece of gear at all,- but I´d use it for my also noisy Yamaha TX-816 to run via ADAT or my old Fostex R-8 reel-to-reel MTR.

You buyed a 3.890.- EUR XITE-1 (did you ?) and now do yourself a favour and save for the Ferrofish A16mkII.
Any real good line mixer out there cost the same or more.
I myself, I have 5 rack line mixers here and a Mackie CR1604 VLZ,- all usable for live gigging but not good for a piece of gear like XITE-1(D) ...

Actually I use a RME/NUENDO 8 I/O (ADI 8-Pro) which is a very good device, but 8 channels only.
Ferrofish A16mkII is my next purchase to get rid of my analog mixers and the cables.

As Gary said, the Rane line mixer is good as is the Speck and there is/was a ElectroVoice line mixer, 1HU, balanced inputs, stereo out & mono out which worked pretty well (forgot the model name, sorry) but it´s all in the 800 - 1K bucks range and 8 channels only.

Ferrofish A16mkII is EUR 999.- so what ?

Bud

[fraz]

I don't have the Xite-1 yet its not been delivered.... As far as the Ferrofish is concerned its on my list.... ........

As I'm no expert on studio gear I thought I'd ask here for opinions and options so I can weigh up cost vs functionality.

When I got the ADA8000 I knew that I'd probably need to get a better unit later on when I learn for myself how limited it is.

Whats the quality of the Fostex VC-8? - I've had one of these for a while now which I'm happy enough with- no preamps just line on unbalanced phono-

[garyb]

it's ok. it's about on the same level as the Behringer. it's not in the same league as the A16(any of them).