Audio Mixer
 

In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in
message

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

They are relatively rare, particularly if you're talking equipment that
is not fairly expensive.

Still? I'm not terribly up to date on the cheaper end of the market but
expected 'they'd' have got this sorted by now. Although I can quite
understand Behringer expecting you to buy an outboard one from them as
well. Although those are often far to complex for a simple task like this.

--
*A plateau is a high form of flattery*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Audio Mixer
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

Arny Krueger wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

They are relatively rare, particularly if you're talking equipment that
is not fairly expensive.

Still? I'm not terribly up to date on the cheaper end of the market but
expected 'they'd' have got this sorted by now. Although I can quite
understand Behringer expecting you to buy an outboard one from them as
well. Although those are often far to complex for a simple task like this.

Inbuilt comp/limiters seem to be unique to expensive mixers designed for
location recording like your own.

Graham

Audio Mixer
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in
message

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

They are relatively rare, particularly if you're talking equipment that
is not fairly expensive.

Still?

True.

I'm not terribly up to date on the cheaper end of the market but
expected 'they'd' have got this sorted by now.

While there are a lot of cheap mixers with EFX, its all reverb-oriented.

I think that the only mixers that Behringer makes that has built-in
compression/limiting are digital.

Although I can quite
understand Behringer expecting you to buy an outboard one from them as
well.

A lot of mixers are used for live sound, and compression and limiting can
make live sound very complex and hard to manage, when feedback starts being
an issue.

Most compression and limiting I see used for SR is packaged as amplifier
management, along with the crossovers.

Although those are often far to complex for a simple task like this.

That's just it. The OP's basic need could be filled by a sub-$100 mixer,
particuarly if he didn't have clients he wanted to impress with an expensive
piece of equipment.

Audio Mixer
 

In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in
message

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

They are relatively rare, particularly if you're talking equipment
that is not fairly expensive.

Still?

True.

I'm not terribly up to date on the cheaper end of the market but
expected 'they'd' have got this sorted by now.

While there are a lot of cheap mixers with EFX, its all reverb-oriented.

I think that the only mixers that Behringer makes that has built-in
compression/limiting are digital.

Although I can quite understand Behringer expecting you to buy an
outboard one from them as well.

A lot of mixers are used for live sound, and compression and limiting
can make live sound very complex and hard to manage, when feedback
starts being an issue.

Oh indeed. But I wasn't saying it was compulsory to use one - all those I
know can be switched out of circuit. But even in a 'live' situation a
limiter can prevent over driving the power amps and possible damage to the
speakers, etc. I also think foldback chains should have a catcher again to
prevent nasties down the line when things go wrong.

Most compression and limiting I see used for SR is packaged as amplifier
management, along with the crossovers.

Ah.

Although those are often far to complex for a simple task like this.

That's just it. The OP's basic need could be filled by a sub-$100 mixer,
particuarly if he didn't have clients he wanted to impress with an
expensive piece of equipment.

Even for the most simple sound recording on location I use my SQN mixer.
The compressor /limiter on that is either off or on. It's really just a
'soft' limiter. And I really wouldn't be without it. For more complex
stuff I have an 8 channel Audio - that too has a built in limiter.

All you have to do is listen to a large percentage of interviews on TV
news etc to realise just how essential a *decent* mixer with limiter is.
And of course an operator who knows how to use one.

--
*All generalizations are false.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Audio Mixer
 

On Aug 31, 12:53 pm, Ron Hardin wrote:
Adrian wrote:

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a stereo audio mixer? The immediate and primary
purpose of the same will be to mix the output from three microphones.
It will be good if I had the ability to direct the output one or both
output channels.

The need is to record small public meetings commencing with some live
music (piano) followed by a talk.

However, at some point I would like to be able to mix turntable and
line inputs at home. It seems wasteful to buy two mixers when one
might suffice. For this secondary purpose I need two turntable inputs
and/or two or three line inputs. Switchable turntable/line inputs
would be acceptable.

Output will be to a Behringer UCA202 and a Notebook computer.

Many thanks for your input to my thought process!

Adrian

I feed a Behringer UB1204-PRO directly into a Dell notebook mic jack,
which remarkably doesn't seem to mind it, at low volume.

It seems like a nice mixer, though I prefer the older and now-unavailable
models with the wall wart power supplies, as they generate less RFI
than the newer switching supply ones. But it doesn't matter, if you
don't use them right next to radios.

It doesn't seem to come with a wiring diagram, so you're left extrapolating
from older models that do come with them, as to what goes through what control
to where.
--


Thanks Ron,

I have located the more recent Xenyx 1204, which seems to fit the bill
very well.

Adrian

Audio Mixer
 

On Aug 31, 4:31 pm, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:
In article .com,
Adrian wrote:

Can anyone recommend a stereo audio mixer? The immediate and primary
purpose of the same will be to mix the output from three microphones.
It will be good if I had the ability to direct the output one or both
output channels.
The need is to record small public meetings commencing with some live
music (piano) followed by a talk.
However, at some point I would like to be able to mix turntable and
line inputs at home. It seems wasteful to buy two mixers when one
might suffice. For this secondary purpose I need two turntable inputs
and/or two or three line inputs. Switchable turntable/line inputs
would be acceptable.

Sounds like you're into a disco mixer if you want cartridge inputs.
Personally I'd go for a Behringer or Mackie and use external pickup
pre-amps.

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

--
Cartridge input seems to just cloud the issues these days. I will
either use turntables with pre-amps, or forgo turntable input
altogether. I have very little vinyl.

Adrian

Audio Mixer
 

On Aug 31, 7:04 pm, Eeyore
wrote:
Adrian wrote:
Hi,

Can anyone recommend a stereo audio mixer? The immediate and primary
purpose of the same will be to mix the output from three microphones.
It will be good if I had the ability to direct the output one or both
output channels.

The need is to record small public meetings commencing with some live
music (piano) followed by a talk.

However, at some point I would like to be able to mix turntable and
line inputs at home. It seems wasteful to buy two mixers when one
might suffice. For this secondary purpose I need two turntable inputs
and/or two or three line inputs. Switchable turntable/line inputs
would be acceptable.

Output will be to a Behringer UCA202 and a Notebook computer.

Many thanks for your input to my thought process!

The only mixers that have magnetic cartridge inputs are 'disco' mixers. These
will be overkill for your original application and 'disco gear' is almost
invariably of lower audio quality than purpose designed microphone mixers, hence
not a good choice since it'll also not be optimal for your original application.

I do know of one example where quality has not been sacrificed .............
(since I designed it !)http://www.studiomaster.com/fusion.html

But you may find it difficult to find one. You don't say where in the world you
are for example !

The alternative would be to buy a cheap but adequate mic mixer and ditto disco
mixer. Look at Behringer for example. Maybe for example ....http://behringer.com/UB1202/index.cf...x.cfm?lang=eng

Graham- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You designed a nice mixer. However it is overkill for my needs. I am
going for a Behringer.

Thanks for advising

Adrian

Audio Mixer
 

On Sep 1, 1:24 am, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article ,
Eeyore wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.
Many ppl have managed without compressors just fine.

Depends on how you define 'fine'.

The OP suggests it will be for recording public meetings with multi-mics.
So by nature no real chance to pre-set levels at a rehearsal - especially
if there are questions from the audience. Of course if recording to good
digital you could simply record leaving plenty headroom. But then
you'll likely end up with a dynamic range far too great for home listening.

I record speech (as well as other things) for a living and even on drama
where you do get a rehearsal I'd end up with clipping on occasion without
the use of a compressor. In my case, an SQN mixer - which has probably the
finest one available for this sort of thing.

Of course like all these aids you need to know what it does and how to use
it.

--
Sounds like I have a real learning curve ahead.

Audio Mixer
 

On Sep 1, 4:07 am, "Arny Krueger" wrote:
"Adrian" wrote in message

oups.com

Can anyone recommend a stereo audio mixer? The immediate
and primary purpose of the same will be to mix the output
from three microphones.

Check out the lower end of Behringer's mixer line. You should be able to
find something for less than $100.

It will be good if I had the
ability to direct the output one or both output channels.

Direct???

Do you mean control the volume?

The need is to record small public meetings commencing
with some live music (piano) followed by a talk.

Pretty straight forward.

However, at some point I would like to be able to mix
turntable and line inputs at home.

Unless you want to accept the limitations, overhead and extra cost of a DJ
mixer, you probably want to provide your own RIAA preamp for the turntable.

Output will be to a Behringer UCA202 and a Notebook
computer.

What's wrong with Berhinger mixers?

Thanks Arny,

Found myself a Behringer Xenyx 1204 for just under USD100.00.

Adrian

Audio Mixer
 

On Sep 1, 4:07 am, "Arny Krueger" wrote:
"Adrian" wrote in message

oups.com

It will be good if I had the
ability to direct the output one or both output channels.

Direct???

I want to be able to direct input from a mic. to the left of a piano
to the left stereo channel, and the right to the right. When I am
speaking I want to send the mic. input to bboth channels in even
proportions. Do I sound new to this? There is a reason for
that! :-)

Adrian