in the market for a new mixer

hey everyone i don't post here a lot but i check the site every day or two to see what's going on. i've been rocking this guy for about 4 years now:
it's held up and been great but i definitely need to get something new.

ive been doin a lot of research and i'm still not entirely sure about a mixer so i figured i'd come here and see if anyone could toss in their 2 cents.
ive checked the tweakheadz guide: http://tweakheadz.com/choosing_a_mixer_ ... tudio.html
i've watched a sh!tload of youtube videos and read every product review.
im definitely not looking to be spoonfed info, just more like opinions on stuff.



i have my mpc1000 going stereo in to the mixer and a synth going stereo in as well. nothing too fancy

as of now when working on a beat i constantly tweak the mix as i make it. then when im satisfied i record from the main outs of the mixer into a USB fast track ultra inputs 1 and 2 to make one stereo track in the DAW.

basically i hate multi-tracking and then mixing on the computer. (who enjoys that shit lol)
i dont even want to have to turn on the computer to make a beat.

anyway i would do it if i felt i could achieve a better sound that way but this works for me. i really enjoy doing it out of the box on an actual mixer and have achieved results that i'm happy with: http://coppertony.bandcamp.com/album/poems-vol-i

so i realized that if i have a mixer that also doubles an interface i can cut out the middle man (fast track ultra) save some space and some time potentially. also i just want to get a new mixer with more inputs that can last me for years and handle any future gear i might acquire


my price range is up to $500

i've checked out the mackie firewire i series(820i, 1220i) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtf_u7uOoEQ
but i wasnt feeling them too much. it was cool the fact that you can essentially hook it up to your DAW and have individual tracks that correspond with but ive had trouble with firewire in the past and am not entirely sure

ive also checked out what allen and heath has
stuff like the zed mixers http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZED12FX
they seem pretty awesome. the usb acts as like a stereo out which would be good for me because i mix in the box and essentially record through the stereo out already in a more ghetto way. the only thing is the stereo input tracks dont have a mid EQ

and this other mackie one http://www.zzounds.com/item--MACPROFX12

these are just 3 of many ive checked out but i've been doin so much research that im starting to lose my mind. so i figured id hit up my mpc forums fam to see if u guys had any input on this shit.

thanks for any input at all

copper tony

I think you can't go wrong with either a Mackie Onyx or an Allen & Heath ZED mixer. Both get good reviews.

I have a Mackie Onyx since more than a year now and i'm really happy with it. Good sound, great build quality, nice EQ, nice routing options.

jibber wrote:I think you can't go wrong with either a Mackie Onyx or an Allen & Heath ZED mixer. Both get good reviews.

I have a Mackie Onyx since more than a year now and i'm really happy with it. Good sound, great build quality, nice EQ, nice routing options.

hey jibber thanks so much for getting back
i read some reviews where people were saying the onyx was putting out a really low db level into the DAW as to where it was almost not audible even with the gain cranked up high. i have an imac that is relatively new, 4 months. i'm looking to not have an troubles with that kind of stuff.
u ever experience anything like that?

also as well as sending individual tracks can u send a stereo mix through the firewire cable?

thanks man

I have the Yamaha MG166cx, and my dad has one too.
16 channels with fx. They have it with usb also.
Works nicely, allthough haven't tried one with usb.
Really a worth of checking it out.

Copper_Tony wrote:

jibber wrote:I think you can't go wrong with either a Mackie Onyx or an Allen & Heath ZED mixer. Both get good reviews.

I have a Mackie Onyx since more than a year now and i'm really happy with it. Good sound, great build quality, nice EQ, nice routing options.

hey jibber thanks so much for getting back
i read some reviews where people were saying the onyx was putting out a really low db level into the DAW as to where it was almost not audible even with the gain cranked up high. i have an imac that is relatively new, 4 months. i'm looking to not have an troubles with that kind of stuff.
u ever experience anything like that?

also as well as sending individual tracks can u send a stereo mix through the firewire cable?

thanks man

I never use the mixer connected to the computer via firewire to be honest. I have an apogee duet and i trust it has better converters than the mackie, so i simply mix on the mackie and then record the stereo output into logic using the apogee duet (normally i record it to tape first, then into the duet).

I am pretty sure however that it's possible to connect it via firewire and send a stereo mix to the computer.

i'm going to sell my mackie 120vlz, it does not double as an interface but i'd sell it to you for pretty cheap

You cant go wrong with a A&H Mix wiz. I used to run a 14:4:2, sold it and pretty much regretted it immediately after (currently mixing/tracking into a Digi003rack....computers are **** stupid, lol) try and find a used one, they are pretty spendy brand new

If yoy can afford to, **** with a mixer with some groups on it, will help boatloads with analog mix to stereo tracking, plus you will be able to utilize you 6 individual outs on the 1000....


IMO of course.

thanks for all the help guys
im still figuring stuff out but i have a much better idea
this thread helped me out a bunch
thanks again

nym im good, i appreciate the offer tho

its crazy
this would be perfect
http://www.allen-heath.com/uk/Products/ ... ctId=ZED10

i just wish it had a mid eq on the stereo channels