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#1
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entry-level mixer
I am about ready to buy my first live mixer. I've narrowed it down to
Soundcraft MFX20 and Mackie CFX20. My 2 Questions; the mackie has a subwoofer output which feeds an amped/powered subwoofer system with a 75hz low cut summed-stereo signal. Is there a way to recreate this behavior on the soundcraft? Is the only way to solo listen to a channel on the soundcraft to move my headphone plug? A distant third is a Yamaha MG206C-USB, because my associate has a macbook which we could theoretically use for fx processing. I'm guessing the latency is unacceptable though. In general, what does everyone think about these units? Thanks much Joseph Stavitsky Teachers Assistant - Computer Based Recording Bergen Commuity College 201-951-6148 |
#2
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entry-level mixer
Donovan Digital wrote:
I am about ready to buy my first live mixer. I've narrowed it down to Soundcraft MFX20 and Mackie CFX20. My 2 Questions; the mackie has a subwoofer output which feeds an amped/powered subwoofer system with a 75hz low cut summed-stereo signal. Is there a way to recreate this behavior on the soundcraft? You can add an external crossover between the amps and the mixer, which will not ONLY give you a low-pass filter for the subs but also a low-pass for the mains. This is a whole lot more useful. Is the only way to solo listen to a channel on the soundcraft to move my headphone plug? I don't know, does it have a button marked PFL or SOLO? If not, you do not have a solo buss. The solo buss is a wonderful thing. A distant third is a Yamaha MG206C-USB, because my associate has a macbook which we could theoretically use for fx processing. I'm guessing the latency is unacceptable though. I have never used the Yamaha or the Soundcraft, but I will say the Mackie is really a pain in the neck and a step down from the larger Mackies. The EQ is even worse than on the 1604 and the faders don't feel so good. It has a cheesy effects unit that I advise you not to use, but which too many people are tempted to overuse because it's right there. In general, what does everyone think about these units? I'd want to know first of all what your budget is, what your band is like, how many mike feeds you really have, and what your speaker system is. How many monitor sends do you need? What makes you think you need effects on the mains? --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#3
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entry-level mixer
On Mar 23, 1:45 am, Donovan Digital wrote:
I am about ready to buy my first live mixer. I've narrowed it down to Soundcraft MFX20 and Mackie CFX20. Right off, I'd weigh strongly toward the Soundcraft, but it depends on what you really need and how you intend ot use it. the mackie has a subwoofer output which feeds an amped/powered subwoofer system with a 75hz low cut summed-stereo signal. Is there a way to recreate this behavior on the soundcraft? Not directly, but you may not need it. If you're using a powered subwoofer, it may have a crossover built into it (and one at the right frequency rather than a fixed 75 Hz). And you can always add a crossover at the mixer output. The subwoofer output on the Mackie CFX is convenient if you happen to have an old big speaker and power amplifier laying around and want to add some boom to your mix. But in a more modern system, it's best to use something else. Same for the (noisy and undefeatable) graphic equalizer on the Mackie outputs. Is the only way to solo listen to a channel on the soundcraft to move my headphone plug? No need to do that. The headphone output either monitors the PFL (solo) bus or the selected output bus (Main mix, subgroups, or external "tape" in). The selected output is what's normally fed to the headphones, but pressing the PFL switch on any channel overrides that selection and switches the headphone and monitor outputs as well as the meters to the soloed channel. Note that these MONITOR outputs are for speakers in the control room, not to be confused with (or used as) stage monitors. You'd feed stage monitors from an AUX output. A distant third is a Yamaha MG206C-USB, because my associate has a macbook which we could theoretically use for fx processing. I'm guessing the latency is unacceptable though. Mixers with a built-in USB output are useful for live recording where latency doesn't matter. Generally they aren't set up for convenient work in the studio environment where you're overdubbing and latency does matter. Like I said, it depends on the application. I've played with a small MG series Yamaha board and it sounds quite good. Hard to believe that they can make something that good for the price, but it feels (and is) quite plastic and might not hold up very long under hard use. But I don't really know. In general, what does everyone think about these units? While I'm a pretty big supporter of Mackie in general, I don't care for the CFX. It's OK in applications where a one-box solution is important because nobody really knows how to use a mixer and hook up components. But it doesn't share many of the design features like the clean and quiet mic preamps that earned Mackie its reputation for decent modestly priced mixers. Is a Mackie VLZ3 within your budget? It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the CFX, but those bells and whistles are kind of weak. |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
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#5
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
On Mar 23, 8:54 pm, Donovan Digital wrote:
how about this guy? Oh, I supose that one is OK too. I've never used one or even seen one up close. The Firewire setup is handy for recording a live show to a computer but, like the Mackie Onyx Firewire opton, you may find it a bit cumbersome to use for studio-type recording.where you're overdubbing to other recorded tracks. |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
Mike Rivers wrote:
Oh, I supose that one is OK too. I've never used one or even seen one up close. The Firewire setup is handy for recording a live show to a computer but, like the Mackie Onyx Firewire opton, you may find it a bit cumbersome to use for studio-type recording.where you're overdubbing to other recorded tracks. Years ago, Phonic was the OEM manufacturer for Yamaha. I'm not sure about now. I have a general question about these Firewire mixers. Do they record to separate tracks via Firewire, or do they just provide a stereo mix? |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
On Mar 22, 10:45*pm, Donovan Digital wrote:
I am about ready to buy my first live mixer. I've narrowed it down to Soundcraft MFX20 and Mackie CFX20. My 2 Questions; the mackie has a subwoofer output which feeds an amped/powered subwoofer system with a 75hz low cut summed-stereo signal. Is there a way to recreate this behavior on the soundcraft? Is the only way to solo listen to a channel on the soundcraft to move my headphone plug? A distant third is a *Yamaha MG206C-USB, because my associate has a macbook which we could theoretically use for fx processing. I'm guessing the latency is unacceptable though. In general, what does everyone think about these units? Thanks much Joseph Stavitsky Teachers Assistant - Computer Based Recording Bergen Commuity College 201-951-6148 I'd check out the Yamaha LS916 or LS932. The 32 has 32 preamps and 16 XLR outputs and you can carry it under your arm. It has two card slots that you could configure several ways. Put a mLan16 card in a 01V96 and direct record through the firewire of your computer to any Mac core audio multitrack application. I own a 01V96 with the mLan card that also works as the control surface for ProTools. |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
I have a general question about these Firewire mixers. Do they record to separate tracks via Firewire, or do they just provide a stereo mix? separate tracks |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
yea list price six grand, maybe later
that said, the first outfit i worked on had one. Good board, but expensive. |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
"Donovan Digital" wrote in
message I am about ready to buy my first live mixer. I've narrowed it down to Soundcraft MFX20 and Mackie CFX20. I really like the MFX20 and the rest of this series of mixers because they don't cost a ton of money, they have a good pedigre, almost all inputs are mic inputs, and they have a real insert (for tapping off to record) on just about every channel. My 2 Questions; the mackie has a subwoofer output which feeds an amped/powered subwoofer system with a 75hz low cut summed-stereo signal. Is there a way to recreate this behavior on the soundcraft? Making mono from a mixer's output is just a couple of resistors in a Y cable. If you're doing SR, you probably want that, anyway. Also, there are lots of ways to provide a signal to a sub. One involves using an Aux send that is only driven by channels from sources (e.g. *not* vocal microhones) that can't give you problems with feedback. That can work, too. Is the only way to solo listen to a channel on the soundcraft to move my headphone plug? Well, there are all these PFL buttons. They are for that purpose, even though their name isn't solo. Another great feature. BTW, Soundcraft gets points from me for not calling them Solo buttons, because in my lexicon, they ain't. Macke often seems to think otherwise, and I can live with that, too when I have no choice. You still have a choice! A distant third is a Yamaha MG206C-USB, because my associate has a macbook which we could theoretically use for fx processing. I'm guessing the latency is unacceptable though. In general, what does everyone think about these units? I wish I had one for small gigs. It looks to me like a great SR board and a great board for recording. Too bad the whole thing ain't digital! Come back in 5 years. ;-) BTW, I answered all your questions by reading; http://www.soundcraft.com/download.a...nge/MFX_UG.pdf Which google found in a flash on this page: http://www.soundcraft.com/product_sh...product_id=149 I've always been of the opinion that I'd rather teach someone how to fish and fillet, rather than just give them a fish stick. You live next to a lake of knowlege called the web - please learn how to fish! ;-) Also, it sounds like you could know more about doing live sound without hurting yourself (couldn't we all!), You might want to read Yamaha's Sound Reinforcement Handbook, which again Google can give you a zillion sources for. |
#11
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
"D C" wrote in message
Mike Rivers wrote: Oh, I supose that one is OK too. I've never used one or even seen one up close. The Firewire setup is handy for recording a live show to a computer but, like the Mackie Onyx Firewire opton, you may find it a bit cumbersome to use for studio-type recording.where you're overdubbing to other recorded tracks. Years ago, Phonic was the OEM manufacturer for Yamaha. I'm not sure about now. I have a general question about these Firewire mixers. Do they record to separate tracks via Firewire, or do they just provide a stereo mix? I have a friend who has an Alesis FW mixer, and it provides feeds for both the stereo mix, and every input. Sweet. |
#12
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
"Donovan Digital" wrote in
message yea list price six grand, maybe later Worth every penny, if you have the pennies. ;-) that said, the first outfit i worked on had one. Good board, but expensive. Right, your OP mentioned the Soundcraft, which looks like a good choice to me. |
#13
Posted to rec.audio.pro
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entry-level mixer
On Mar 23, 11:53 pm, D C wrote:
I have a general question about these Firewire mixers. Do they record to separate tracks via Firewire, or do they just provide a stereo mix? You have to read the literature - carefully. Some do individual channels (direct outputs to Firewire) and some feed just the stereo mix to the Firewire output. This particular Phonic mixer appears to have direct outputs from each of the sixteen channels. And unlike some others, you have a choice of whether those outputs are taken pre- or post-EQ, though I didn't dig deeply enough into it to see if this was a global switch, a switch for each channel, or an internal modification-by-jumper. |
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