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I've been searching for a small desktop mixer.

What i need:
no preamps (or preamp on/off switch)
8 inputs (or 4 stereo inputs)
Eq for each input
1/4" balanced stereo out


I can't seem to find anything except rack units with firewire ports or units that are over $500. I found a ART powermix III but no eq and only 3 inputs. Is it too basic that nobody sells anything like this? Ami overlooking something? When gain is at 0, is the preamp disengaged? The reason i want this is because i have dedicated preamps for everything. I dont want run a preamp into a preamp. And i dont need it for recording to computer.

You are only using the preamp when you use the XLR for mics, that's what the pad switch is for... Almost any mixer will work without the preamps being active, they're not over the whole mixer or anything...

^yup. if u plug into the 1/4" jacks or whatever else you are bypassing the pre

mackie and peavey make some really solid, quality mixers that can be found pretty cheaply used.

tapcos are cheap too and were made by mackie

i think almost all of those cheaper mini mixers, like the art or rolls will give u unbalanced outputs.

Usually Line Mixers (mixers without XLR inputs) don't have EQ because the idea is that it should already sound like you want it if it's at line level.

But as mentioned, using the 1/4" or line-level input will usually mean you're bypassing the pres.

Awesome. I read a few mackie and behringer manuals but they were all unclear. I guess I can get a XLR to 1/4 for my mic preamp then. The eq would be for something like a synth directly in otherwise I wouldn't be concerned about it.

I assumed the preamps were on every input, as a lot of the mixers mention ssomething about being able to use it as a DI for guitar or bass. Also the gain knob sounds like there would be a pre there. Thanks for clearing that up people!

psychedelicrelic wrote:Awesome. I read a few mackie and behringer manuals but they were all unclear. I guess I can get a XLR to 1/4 for my mic preamp then. The eq would be for something like a synth directly in otherwise I wouldn't be concerned about it.

I assumed the preamps were on every input, as a lot of the mixers mention ssomething about being able to use it as a DI for guitar or bass. Also the gain knob sounds like there would be a pre there. Thanks for clearing that up people!

Yeah if your pre just has XLR outs get an adapter and plug into a 1/4'' mono channel on the mixer... Some mixers have a Hi-Z input for guitar but you can use mono channels and the gain controls for guitar... Most newer mixers are setup with the first 4 or 8 channels (depending on overall number of channels) as mono line/mic with a XLR and 1/4'' input, a pad, and a gain control and go through the preamp; the rest of the channels are line inputs setup L and R and you can use the pan to mix their volumes... Any compact mixer will work for what you want but I would still try to spend a good amount cause you don't want the EQ to sound wack and you'll get more routing capabilities with aux and multiple sends and returns and jank...