The Best Digital Mixer ... Pre's, routing, dynamics....?

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 5:22 am

Oh I guess I should mention that DP7.2 has built-in support for the iPad---I saw it in action

David Polich · Post by **David Polich** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:10 am

IMO, the best digital mixer ever made was the Soundcraft
Spirit 328, which I still have. Feature-wise, soundwise,
connectivity-wise, a winner. Totally a loser on build
quality, unfortunately, mine has probably seen a dozen
trips to the shop over the last fourteen years. I keep it
going because Soundcraft (located not far from my house)
still has some parts for it, and I love the sound. One of
these days it's going to breathe its last, I'm sure. At that
point I'll probably go for the Presonus Live desk.

YouTube · Post by **James Steele** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:31 pm

BradLyons wrote:Oh I guess I should mention that DP7.2 has built-in support for the iPad---I saw it in action

You mean that the DP Control app will also run on the iPad, right?

dixiechicken · Post by **dixiechicken** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:17 am

DC here!

Hi - I'm researching this subject too - since my Yamaha 01V mixer
has crashed no 1 channelstrip and the Aux 1 & Aux 4 send has stopped working.
(not to say I cant get a lot of work done anyways - but still...)

How about the the relatively new Phonic Summit digital mixer - any thoughts on that one.
Its cheaper than both Presonus LIve 16.4.2 and the Yamaha 01V96VCM.

Didn't Phonic use to manufacture a lot of stuff for Yamaha?

Cheers: Dixiechicken!

Rainman · Post by **Rainman** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:48 am

I've been using the Presonus StudioLive for a year now. It's a very good piece of kit for the money. The pre's are every bit as good as Brad says and it's very versatile. Apart from having 16 channels (and zero latency) you get gates, expanders, compressors, limiters, eq's, for all channels, subs and master. If you want to print one track or six or all with processing, no problem. Tracks can be returned via channel strips or 2-track returns, giving you a number of monitoring options. I still mix ITB mostly but wouldn't hesitate to run a mix through it. I've also done plenty of FOH, live recording (you can't beat it there) and stage monitor mixing. Six auxes, very nice both live and in the studio. Loads of headroom, my last few projects were with full bands and cutting beds live off the floor is still a blast (just like the good ol' days). I've used other mixers in the past, Yamaha, Mackie and a Mackie clone (ugh!!). This is the best so far in my price range and I'll be keeping it for some time, the only reason I'd sell mine would be for the 24 channel version.

Rainman

dixiechicken · Post by **dixiechicken** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:33 pm

Hello Rainman - Dc here!

Thanks for your input -
The StudioLive does seem to be a nice piece of hardware.

Have you - or anybody else for that matter -
heard anything about the Phonic Summit?
Pros & cons - any reviews or experience with it?

Cheers: Dixiechicken!

Rainman · Post by **Rainman** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 8:50 pm

Hey dc, I must confess to never having heard of Phonic Summit, funky name tho'

Rainman

dixiechicken · Post by **dixiechicken** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 3:46 am

DC here!

Curious because the price is right

Didn't Phonic use manufacture a lot of stuff for Yamaha??

Cheers: Dixiechicken!

wonder · Post by **wonder** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 12:12 pm

here's my sitch...

I just ordered a screen for my DM24. The pre's on the DM24 are pretty much unusable ... and I haven't dug into getting the automation to work with DP's automation ... (I'm thinking this isn't possible considering this board is more than 10yrs old?)

I'm looking into getting a board I can use the pre's on if needed, 8 channel aux for CUE's going into my HEARBACK system, and some onboard verb for the vocalist if needed while tracking.

Any leads to any good boards like this? I'm looking to spend a TON of money ....

or should I stick with the DM24 and buy the FW card to it?

BKK-OZ · Post by **BKK-OZ** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:41 pm

After a lot of research, I just ordered a 1640i from Mackie - another option you might want to consider.

wonder · Post by **wonder** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:01 am

My main needs are pre's. I'd like to get into a digital board with tracking quality pre's, 8 aux, and possible on board fx for running verb and compressors to my cue mixes.

I COULD run my cues from cuemix but it's just easier to run it outboard.

Anyone have any mixers they can vouch for?

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:37 pm

Price range? A used Yammie digital mixer might be a good option, but I'm not sure you'd get as many as eight busses.

Allen & Heath has some fairly nice ones that are beyond budget-range quality. They and Yamaha, and the newer Mackie Onyx-based mixers, are probably best bang-for-buck without too much compromise in mic pre-amp quality.

Yamaha also has the excellent and underrated n-series mixers that have firewire built-in. I heard they are being canceled, but this may have just been a rumour. They put some of their better mic pre's in those units. If I didn't already have a Yammie MG-series, I'd get one.

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