In need of Audio mixer guidelines

[TheShadowblast123]

I'm considering possibly buying a mixer for a friend, but I don't know what to look for or where to start. I just need some guidelines and some tips so that I could start looking in the right places. Thank you in advance

[Bittenfleax]

I'm considering possibly buying a mixer for a friend, but I don't know what to look for or where to start. I just need some guidelines and some tips so that I could start looking in the right places. Thank you in advance

Hmmmm, seems interesting. What is your budget? Also, by all means I am not the best on the forums about giving audio advice. I just know the good vs bad brands. (my bro is a producer) 

[vanished]

to start, know your size.  do you need like 4 inputs, or like 50+ (like the massive things you see in a studio)?

[TheShadowblast123]

Hmmmm, seems interesting. What is your budget? Also, by all means I am not the best on the forums about giving audio advice. I just know the good vs bad brands. (my bro is a producer) 

I wouldn't actually have a set budget. Although I think anything beyond $400 is out of the question.

 

On a side note, do you have your computer specs bellow your posts .

[TheShadowblast123]

to start, know your size.  do you need like 4 inputs, or like 50+ (like the massive things you see in a studio)?

Highly doubt that it would need to be massive. We are talking about someone who is just getting into music.

[vanished]

Highly doubt that it would need to be massive. We are talking about someone who is just getting into music.

In that case, there are many nice little mixers with ~4 XLR inputs (for mics) plus some extras (varies by brand) for well under $1000 (maybe just a couple hundred) that give you the basics, in terms of volume and eq on each input, and can output to 2 big PA speakers through XLR, or connect to a computer through USB, etc.

 

like this for example: http://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/zedi-10FX/

[Bittenfleax]

I wouldn't actually have a set budget. Although I think anything beyond $400 is out of the question.

 

On a side note, do you have your computer specs bellow your posts .

Your a good friend! Haha. @Ryan_Vickers seems like he knows what to do, look at him. lol

 

And yeah, loads of people put them in, it is easy because you don't have to write specs in posts if you ever need to.

[TheShadowblast123]

In that case, there are many nice little mixers with ~4 XLR inputs (for mics) plus some extras (varies by brand) for well under $1000 (maybe just a couple hundred) that give you the basics, in terms of volume and eq on each input, and can output to 2 big PA speakers through XLR, or connect to a computer through USB, etc.

 

like this for example: http://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/zedi-10FX/

Are there any features or brands that I should be hunting for in particular?

[TheShadowblast123]

Your a good friend! Haha. @Ryan_Vickers seems like he knows what to do, look at him. lol

 

And yeah, loads of people put them in, it is easy because you don't have to write specs in posts if you ever need to.

I'll start doing that when I finally get my rig and I don't have to use my mom's laptop

[vanished]

Are there any features or brands that I should be hunting for in particular?

That depends on what he wants to do.  Like I said, #1 is making sure it has enough inputs, but besides that, a good eq (ie, as many controls as possible) on each channel is good to have, as well as the number of digital channels it can send to the computer.  For example, if it mixes all the inputs down to just stereo when sending it through USB, that's OK, but if you find one that will send each channel separately so that you can end up with a track for a mic, and a guitar, etc that makes editing in post possible and a breeze.  As for the best brands, the one a linked is quite good, but there are a number of nice ones - just check reviews and you'll see.

[TheShadowblast123]

That depends on what he wants to do.  Like I said, #1 is making sure it has enough inputs, but besides that, a good eq (ie, as many controls as possible) on each channel is good to have, as well as the number of digital channels it can send to the computer.  For example, if it mixes all the inputs down to just stereo when sending it through USB, that's OK, but if you find one that will send each channel separately so that you can end up with a track for a mic, and a guitar, etc that makes editing in post possible and a breeze.  As for the best brands, the one a linked is quite good, but there are a number of nice ones - just check reviews and you'll see.

Alright thanks 

[Peter Smyth]

Allen & Heath is a reputable brand, I've heavily used a medium-large analogue mixer in live sound, and it's great. The USB features of the one listed above won't be professional quality, but for starting out their a nice thing to have. You might want more inputs for a larger band performing, and an extra output for more monitoring would be nice. It all depends on the usage.

Something from Yamaha, like one of these would work too. If you wanted a built in power amp (these), meaning you only have to plug in passive speakers, is a cool feature, but adds weight to the mixer. I've been vague with the hyperlinks, it all depends on what you need.