Color me crazy - getting a Mackie mixer to use with DP...

twistedtom · Post by **twistedtom** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:43 am

I have about every in put and out put full on my Makie vzl Pro full. The one thing I would like is just more ins and outs.
For the money you can not beat it. Most of us are not in the high dollar studios and have to go with bang for the buck.
Even if you have all the best equipment your studio still needs this.

http://www.shakti-innovations.com/audiovideo.htm

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:24 am

Honestly and truly? What differences have you noticed when using the "on line" units?

Shooshie

twistedtom · Post by **twistedtom** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 5:26 am

The truth is I have not tried them. My electronic technician was in a few moments ago and almost died laughing. I do not think they do much of any thing and the wire one only covers a small chunk of wire. I do not see where it would work like the bounce inhibitors on USB cords ECT.

This thing looks like it could do something.
[img][img]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/t ... 72_Pix.jpg[/img]

http://www.shakti-innovations.com/hallograph.htm

rockitcity · Post by **rockitcity** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:43 pm

This thing looks like it could do something.

Yeah, like empty your wallet or maybe attract lightning if you mounted it on the roof...

Bob

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:57 pm

I've heard about things like those bricks, and I've always laughed. But after looking at their list of devotees, I was impressed. Conrad and Johnson? Those guys made my amps! They definitely know something about this stuff. If they're recommending these things, I'd be willing to listen to their reasons. On the other hand, someone could easily have made up that list. But I've always found that stuff funny, and my first reaction to your posted picture was to laugh. But who knows... maybe the last laugh is on us? Maybe they actually work!!! I'm not getting one, however, until my ears tell me that my music makes gigantic leaps forward in their presence.

Shooshie

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:05 pm

twistedtom wrote:This thing looks like it could do something.
[img][img]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/t ... 72_Pix.jpg[/img]

http://www.shakti-innovations.com/hallograph.htm

Ok... now I'm laughing again.

But... I always hold that little 1% chance of hope that it really DOES do something, and I'm just not informed enough to understand it. 1% is not enough to make me buy it, but it's enough to get me to listen to someone I respect who says there IS a difference.

Shooshie

KarlSutton · Post by **KarlSutton** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:36 pm

Resonant Alien wrote:
KarlSutton wrote:my partner uses a mackie & he goes back & forth between ITB & runnign stems through the mixer. If nothing else it will give you some more things to experiment with.

I go back & forth between ITB & OTB but I've got a Soundcraft Ghost.
How do you like the Ghost??

Rick

I like the Ghost quite a bit. I enjoy having very flexible routing (2 different cue mixes) and it can mix down 72 inputs if needed. I got mine in the late 90's for around 5K & I think it still holds up to it's marketing. I've spent time on Mackie's & o2R's & still prefer the Ghost.

I do a lot of what I call "hybrid" mixing. A blend of ITB & OTB. Only major drawback is the mixes aren't saved this way. I'm never really sure if it is the analog summing I'm drawn to or just my lack of ability to get mixes where I want them ITB. Seems like it is always pretty easy when I have everything split out on the Ghost.

Resonant Alien · Post by **Resonant Alien** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:10 am

Update: Got the 1642. Not happy. I never even got around to running the summing and panning tests. I couldn't get past the crosstalk that bleeds all through the Mackie! gearboy called it on that one! I was really surprised and disappointed that the Mackie's audio path is so dirty.

The first (and last) test I did with the board was simply running my DAW stereo mix out to a stereo input on the board and bringing it up. The crosstalk is horrible. Even when I had all the buss assignment buttons "up" (unassigned) AND the Mute button engaged, I could still hear the output of the DAW coming through the main and control room outputs - granted it was very low volume, but still - this simply should not happen. I should hear silence at this point.

I didn't even bother with any other tests - I didn't see the point. Boxed up the unit and shipped it back...oh well.

Interestingly enough, I tested my Big Knob and there was no crosstalk. With the assignment buttons up and/or the mute button down, there is silence.

I am not totally done with the "Inexpensive Mixer" experiment yet. I am considering trying out a Soundcraft Spirit M series next. I would tend to expect higher quality from Soundcraft, even on their low end stuff, so we'll see.

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 12:21 pm

Interestingly enough - this whole thread got me trying something.

I use a Metric-Halo Mobile I/O (MIO) and have been able to set it up as a summing box...it accepts 18 mono/9 stereo inputs from DP. This allows me to use the 80-bit summing matrix in the MIO box while still using automation & plugs right in DP. I just assign out to the box directly (like sub-mixes). All summing is then handled outside of DP.

To my ears, I hear a difference...especially in larger mixes. The sound stage is bigger, more open.

The added plus is that I can then use the record function from the MIO and do a realtime bounce to BWF - overcoming the fact that MOTU still hasn't added BWF as an option for DP.

If it hadn't been for this thread I may not have ever stumbled upon that or, if I had, I may not have tried it.

Resonant Alien · Post by **Resonant Alien** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:06 pm

sdemott wrote:Interestingly enough - this whole thread got me trying something.

I use a Metric-Halo Mobile I/O (MIO) and have been able to set it up as a summing box...it accepts 18 mono/9 stereo inputs from DP. This allows me to use the 80-bit summing matrix in the MIO box while still using automation & plugs right in DP. I just assign out to the box directly (like sub-mixes). All summing is then handled outside of DP.

To my ears, I hear a difference...especially in larger mixes. The sound stage is bigger, more open.

Interesting. So this would be external digital summing. A new take on the OTB summing argument!

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 1:10 pm

Resonant Alien wrote:Interesting. So this would be external digital summing. A new take on the OTB summing argument!

Yes - OTB digital summing. Who would've thought

vier-personen · Post by **vier-personen** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:27 pm

I thought I should write a reply here, as before I was bitching about mackie VLZ mixers.
I just came back from a concert, where I played various stompboxes and some analogue synth modules patched into my mackie VLZ 1402 into a eden bassamp with an acme lowB1 cab. nice, quite flat sound.
this was soundcheck. then for some technical reason that I don‘t want to go into I had to switch mixers with another musician - it was a behringer. and there was noise! I suddenly like my mackie VLZ a lot more than before!

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:30 pm

I want to chime in and comment on VLZs. For live sound, they are great. For critical recording, look elsewhere. This has probably been stated before.

Mackie VLZs are the SM58 of mixers. Great for live stuff.

GDKF · Post by **GDKF** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:51 pm

jrdmcdnld wrote:I want to chime in and comment on VLZs. For live sound, they are great. For critical recording, look elsewhere. This has probably been stated before.

Mackie VLZs are the SM58 of mixers. Great for live stuff.

So what is a good recording mixer under $1000?

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:15 pm

So what is a good recording mixer under $1000?

Ever heard the phrase "you can't get there from here"?

Look for something used - mixers with external power supplies are generally quieter. At least one sweepable eq band is helpful.

In my opinion, Ramsa. They don't make em' anymore. I've heard some awesome stuff mixed through a w4424. And I was just outbid on ebay for one. I think there is a w4416 on there now. Clean and quiet they are. I haven't heard any of the new soundcraft m series stuff. Probably sound better than Mackie.

...This reminds me of another point. The absolute best sounding recordings I've heard have been done live to 2track.

That is a situation where a Mackie mixer has sounded good on a recording for me. ....used a CR1604, mixed 16 line ins from the FOH board (A&H 24 channel somthing) - mixed with sony headphones - everyone in the band and myself dug the raw, gutsy "real" sound. There's something about having only one chance to mix something that brings out the best engineer in us sometimes.