Mixers... analog or digital?

logo80 · Post by **logo80** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:13 am

Finally I decided to buy a mixer... untill now I used my traveler and a behringer bcf2000 as controller.
So since my budget is limited under 1000$ I thought to 2 solutions:
1 Mackie Onyx 1620 (without fw for now...): at work I use a mackie and I'm pretty happy with it, I know that the Onyx series is still better than the VLZ so...
2 Yamaha 01V (second handed): digital is digital... and having 8 channel of digital output would be great for adding 8 channels to my traveler

I would use the mixer for both live and studio purpouses and I need the best signal to noise ratio cos sometimes I record classical music and jazz bands (for this the mackie would be perfect...). I haven't got the possibility to listen to the pres of these two mixers and how they works so I ask you pros and cons about these two mixers.
Thanx in advance, Lorenzo

MT · Post by MT » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:00 am

Thing to remember with the Onyx series is that everything is pre-fader, pre-eq, etc. - meaning that you can't record anything but dry signal.

I recently picked one up (1620) and had the Front End Audio post-fader mod done to all 16 channels, which makes it much more useful.

MT

logo80 · Post by **logo80** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:31 am

pre fader recording isn't a problem at all, I would use a lot it even before upgrade it with the fw option. So the main problem is the quality... if there isn't a big difference between the two maybe I would go for the digital one, else I would chose the mackie.
Regards, Lorenzo

MT · Post by MT » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:35 am

Whatever works for you is cool. Can't help you on the Yamaha, but I'm sure a search (check gearslutz.com as well) would turn up a lot of info.

Good luck with your setup.

MT

logo80 · Post by **logo80** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:45 pm

thanx for the link!
anyway I'll just wait for some yamaha users comments here
regards, Lorenzo

panda · Post by **panda** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:13 pm

i had an 01v for awhile. it's a technically solid board. great for tv production i imagine. highly controlable EQ, built in compressor n' stuff. what i liked about it, it's digitalness. ability to recall mixs [assuming you did everything in there]. it kept all the sound "clear".

that said. doesn't really seem to "mix". more control the levels of multiple sound sources. you can't drive it hard, its overdrive's in the most horrible way. and the EQs and compressor have no personality. after i got over the flash bang. i realised i hated surfing through menu's to mix, might as well just be using a computer imo. if you want digital control. but more I/O's.. just double up your interface..
my 2cents..
oh, and the 01v is 16/48 max.

panda

logo80 · Post by **logo80** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:11 am

I only create CD, so I don't need better audio quality (in terms of frequencies and bits), anyway I'd like a sound with the lowest background noise from the pres. I know that the 01 is a good mixer, and I think it's difficult for me to find out someone who has or has tried both of them... anyway I hope to find some support here and I like all your feedbacks.
Thanx, Lorenzo