Cheap mini-mixers?

[jrmy]

So I'm looking for a small simple mini-mixer for studioification, so I can split my ootput into three or four, effect each o' those separately, and then send 'em out as a single signal. So, like three or four channels each with an effect send & return and a volume. And then some kinda master volume thingie. I know they've gotta be out there. Help a brudda out!

Oh, and extra points for cheap and/or easily found at Radio Shack or the like.

[Chankgeez]

I was gonna suggest this, until I got to the Radio Shack part:



How cheap?

How easily found?

[jrmy]

Really, separate fx sends and returns for each channel trumps most requirements.

Sub-$100 cheap would be great.

Interweb findable is o.k. - I just have a Radio Shack near me and love the notion of picking one up while out on errands.

[MEC]

I was gonna suggest this, until I got to the Radio Shack part:

How cheap?
How easily found?

My thoughts eggzachry: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/mackie-402-vlz3-compact-audio-mixer

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, jrmy, I think that meets all your requirements and it's better quality than Radio Shack.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

the smallest mixers i've found w/ fx send/returns (and i've looked pretty good)
are the peavey pv6, and tapco mix60 or tapco 6306 also can be found as tapco blend

i have that mackie and it is a fantastic little mixer. no fx sends tho.

[Chankgeez]

... i have that mackie and it is a fantastic little mixer. no fx sends tho.

Ah, didn't realize that. Sorry.

[sonidero]

You need two of these and don't doubt me, say thank you and stop looking...

http://artproaudio.com/artcessories/min ... splitmix4/

[Dr Satan]

Most mixers with FX send and return the FX are summed. So it's not like there is a send and return for each channel that is individually controllable. You can adjust the individual send levels, but the return is a summed signal so that you can send multiple channels to a single effect like reverb or delay or whatever. Now, some mixers do have inserts on them(usually just mic channels) which is the signal goes into the mixer preamp, then out to an external FX, then returns pre EQ, volume, and fader. This allows you to put an effect on a single channel. I have an Alesis Multimix USB 8(http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... fx-regular) and it cost about $150 new and it's fairly decent. It lacks input options that the Behringer MX1002 has but everyone seems to say that the Behringers are noisy. If all you need is 4 channels, get 6 or 8. Mixers are easy to outgrow in a matter of minutes, lol. Also, the way most mixers are marketed is they will say that it's a 12 input mixer to get you thinking it's more than it really is. A channel is a channel no matter if it's stereo or mono, and that's the number that counts not the number of inputs. For the same price you can get this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... ompression and it will probably be quieter too. Notice that it's a 6 channel mixer with 10 inputs.

[Almonds]

I have a Peavey PV6 and it works for me, but it doesn't have separate FX send and returns, just one master. I mainly use it to record 2 inputs at a time, pan one left and the other right then process on my computer if I have to.

[rot gut]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mint-condition- ... 3cd029ae2a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOD-240-4-CHANN ... 3a7f153353

[rfurtkamp]

Pretty much what you're looking for is going to be cobbled together couple pieces of this or that. That many discrete send/returns aren't standard equipment on anything.

I'd probably get a patch bay, set the number of feeds I needed to half normal (so I can have it routing from a single signal source into 4 or 8 or however many outputs I want), then take the front panel out to the effect in question, then effect out to a mixer with an appropriate number of inputs for however many tracks I need.

It won't be in the price range you're looking for or found at Radio Shack, cheapest realistically is probably almost double your budget.

It's why I have a patchbay, it lets me take Guitar > fuzz pedalboard > rackmount preamp (Boss GL-100), bypass and regular outs> patchbay.

Patchbay routes regular out from GL-100 from that to my Space Echo into my Hot Rod Deluxe (with iso cab for recording).

There's a tap off the Space Echo that goes into my other rack stuff (ART, Digitech RDS delays, etc). The rack feeds into a 4 channel Alesis mixer with USB in so I can use it to direct record.

GL-100 bypass goes to Jazz Chorus 50 and Mustang V, again split via patchbay and I can insert other stuff. Mic on the JC-50, Mustang V is USB direct most of the time.

I can change any of that in a heartbeat by just changing insert points on the front without permanently altering anything.

The reason mixers don't have the type of send/returns you're thinking of is because once you get into complex routing, you're going to need a patchbay.

You could use various passive mixer options chained together as well, but you'll be limited by number of channels and have to rewire everything to get what you want if you change it later.

You're wanting a patchbay, you just don't realize it yet.

[jrmy]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone... verrrry interesting. While rfurtkamp may well be right, I think I'll probably go for a solution more like Sonidero's for now. For the stuff I'm doing, I don't mind taking it apart each time I start something up. Hmmmmm, I say, hmmmmmm...

Of course, it'll be a few days or weeks before I make any move on this, so further discussions/ suggestions are welcome.

[UnicornTrap]

my recommendation is look for a used mackie 1202-vlz should be able to find one for $75 range. clean the jacks if necessary and it should be good to go. they last forever (mine is 20+ years old and still used as a glorified studio monitor volume mixer). you can use the fx sends, direct outs, etc

[excane]

I can't recommend the 402 or 802 mackies enough - LOVE those dudes. Before I moved to a much bigger board in the studio, I used them for my demos.