Mixer - Tapco by Mackie - what do you think?

petal · Post by **petal** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:51 pm

Hi all

I've been looking for a cheap mixer for a while, but those Behringer just seem like a bad investment.
Now this Tapco by Mackie has shown up:

http://www.tapcogear.com/products/6306/index.html

Does any of you have any experience with it, is it worth the money and is it better than Behringer/Phonic?

Is it very noisy?

Any opinions is greatly appreciated!
Thomas

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:04 pm

Mackie makes the best cheap mixers.

snoopy4ever · Post by **snoopy4ever** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:08 pm

I've checked the website and they claim it uses the same preamps form Mackie.., if that's true.., be sure it won't be noisy.

petal · Post by **petal** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:11 pm

Ok thanks for the feedback... but I'm not sure I follow you, is it a good or a bad thing that they use the same preamps?

snoopy4ever · Post by **snoopy4ever** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:25 pm

On 2004-03-10 15:11, petal wrote:
Ok thanks for the feedback... but I'm not sure I follow you, is it a good or a bad thing that they use the same preamps?

GOOD of course... it's completely good., cause Mackie is well known for their very low noise technology on their mixer preamps.

petal · Post by **petal** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:30 pm

OK - Thanks

siberiansun · Post by **siberiansun** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:38 pm

i've been looking at the tapco for a while as well and judging from this thread it seems like the right thing.

Petal, DO NOT fall for the low pricetag on the behringer compacts!
i've got a mx602a that steals way too much precence to be useful. i only use it as a ctrl room volume leveler while i'm waiting for my tapco.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: siberiansun on 2004-03-10 19:41 ]</font>

petal · Post by **petal** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 7:54 pm

Thank you very much for the warning - I'm pretty sure I'll go for the Tapco, all I need now is some first hand experience on it, from someone I can trust...

Cheers!
Thomas

Post by **garyb** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:48 pm

tapco is made in china.much is made by phonic!

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:25 pm

..phonic.. who make stuff for behringer to don't they?

petal · Post by **petal** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:53 pm

God damnit - I just need a simple mixer that is descent.

Has anyone any experience with this one or any other that would do the trick without being shite?

Thomas

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:58 pm

Low end Berhinger is something to avoid at all costs. Don't buy cheap stuff from them... you'll regret loosing your money. I had one of those little things at home and went back the very same day... plain s**t.

Don't spect a miracle from "any" low end "cheap" product. If you are serious about what you're doing, wait a month or two, do this litte sacrifice, gather some more money and buy something decent. It is too important for your final mixes.

Just my point of view.

siberiansun · Post by **siberiansun** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:15 pm

......Just my point of view.

and a darn good one!

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:26 pm

A friend of mine has one of these yamahas. It's not an SSL but it's relatively quiet & it does the trick!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid ... id/630048/

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: scary808 on 2004-03-11 21:29 ]</font>

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:01 am

On 2004-03-11 19:53, petal wrote:
God damnit - I just need a simple mixer that is descent.

Has anyone any experience with this one or any other that would do the trick without being shite?

Thomas

Mackie is always a safe bet. I think their Tapco line is a low-cost alternative. Stay with the Mackie brand name and you'll be fine.

And this is just a piece of advice based on many years blah blah blah

However many channels you think you need, double it and buy that.

Post by **garyb** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:58 pm

most of the stuff on the market is o.k. as long as it has the features you need.

the lower line stuff is mostly made by phonic.that includes tapco(crapco),behringer,and much of yamaha and some of roland.(phonic will not confirm/deny this)

don't sweat it too much.

if you want to get picky,you need to pay $$$$$......

borg · Post by **borg** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:39 pm

go to a shop...
take a behringer, a mackie and a tapco. just connect the main outputs of these mixers to the amps. then turn the mic pre amp trim/gain all the way up, as well as the channel/master faders (might do this for the eq pots too).
compare...
i'd suggest not going out in the weekends for a month and get the equivalent mackie.

petal · Post by **petal** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:09 pm

Thanks to everyone for their input - Now I have something to work on in my search for a cheap descent mixer....

Thomas