Buying a Mixer.

yo im im looking at getting a mixer and not really keen on a DJ mixer as i have too much gear ill be using along side turntable and mpc.. i been lookin for a desktop mixer and before you say get a mackie or soundcraft.. i live in new zealand and we pay up to 3x what you pay in america for everything.. so i dont mind buying somthing that has bitten great brands and put another brand name on it and thats why im asking for your opinion.

at the end of the day i wont somthing with low THD and more INs and OUTs. im sure you get the idea..

i came across this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-instrume ... 534586.htm << our ebay. haha.

also if you are gonna say anything please give me a run down on why.. i like to learn.
cheers alot!!

If you're anything like me then you should get more channels than you think you'll need!

I keep buying more things and having to swap cables over

haha yer i have always had that problem and this is why i created a topic as a DJ mixer is 2-4 channel and i dont wanna be unplugging things every time i switch instruments.. or should i use a dj mixer for the TT and plug other instruments into soundcard ?

the only thing stopping me from buying anything is i have never ran a TT through a desktop mixer.. im under the understanding i need a preamp for some desktop mixers (i know DJ mixers have em built in). The specs of the desktop mixer in the link i posted above are better than any DJ mixer i can find that are not 2 ta 3 times the price.. and if i searched the net i would end up back here.

i own the technics D303 TT and wont the 'normal' setup (tt>mixer>mpc>soundcard>computer) but with a desktop mixer instead of the dj mixer so i can plug more instruments in at once.

all i know so far is i need more inputs and "THD" needs to be low.. the thd for the link above is 00003 or less and 7 channels, and add one hundred more dollars and i get a dj mixer with 00009 thd and 2 channels... hence this topic.

any words of advice??

yep, if the mixer doesn't have a phono input (which it doesn't seem to) and the TT doesn't have line-level output (which I don't think yours does), you'll need to put a phono preamp between them, but they're pretty small and cheap.

I'd say don't get too hung up on specs like THD or stuff...what's written on paper usually has little to do with how something sounds. In the end you also want low noise floor, low crosstalk, good frequency response...

The general rule is "You get what you pay for". Although I never heard of SNW, for $129 I say don't expect too much.

And yes, like Pastor said, get more channels, you wouldn't believe how quickly even 16 become too little if you don't want to switch cables.

I got the Makie Pro FX8 today. I already know that I am going to run out of space. I have 1 line that's free and have an Access Virus arriving in a couple of days. Once that arrives I'm out of channels.

noone's going to give you any sympathy when you say "I've got an Access Virus arriving"

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:noone's going to give you any sympathy when you say "I've got an Access Virus arriving"

Sympathy? An Access Virus is a legendary synth .. especially for Dubstep.

JamesJeffery wrote:

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:noone's going to give you any sympathy when you say "I've got an Access Virus arriving"

Sympathy? An Access Virus is a legendary synth .. especially for Dubstep.

yeah, exactly -- I meant you'll get no sympathy for running out of mixer inputs, cos everyone's jealous of your synth. I am anyway.

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:

JamesJeffery wrote:

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:noone's going to give you any sympathy when you say "I've got an Access Virus arriving"

Sympathy? An Access Virus is a legendary synth .. especially for Dubstep.

yeah, exactly -- I meant you'll get no sympathy for running out of mixer inputs, cos everyone's jealous of your synth. I am anyway.

Oooh. Sorry my bad I read it wrong, still a little sleepy from 3 hours sleep last night.

I see you have the KP3. I got one today, just no time to set it up Still struggling with setting up the MPC and logic 9 via midi (separate topic).

Pastor-of-Muppets wrote:you should get more channels than you think you'll need!

Less headaches in the long run.

another kiwi! and I thought it was just DRad and me on here!
without knowing the specifics of your set up (gear, required channel count, mono/stereo requirements, etc) there are a few things you could look at. especially if TMe is your go to spot.
if you have a lot of rack gear and are just looking for overall level control then i wouldnt go past the behringer rack mixers. 16 channels of ballanced control for dirt cheap both new and second hand. good build quality and lots of ins and outs. stereo out so you can dump straight to a tube pre or into your pc or whatever. I have a mate in dunedin who has two (one for each rack) says they rock and can't fault them.

if your really serious about your THD etc then (if it was my $$$$, which it aint but you know ) then i would seriously consider tapping up jansen in auckland for a one of the Allen Heath R16. positively phenomenal desk with more flexibility than i could possible put here. seriously check it out for your self.
however if price is a factor.

then the little palm your looking at will probably be fine. or any of the other cheap things kicking around at the mo. rockshops do Leem gear which is cheap and choice and will have a guaranteed warranty but anything in the price bracket is going to be what it is.
Just depends on
A; your budget
b: channel count.
C: what you need it to do.

me i'm all about flexibility, so the more it can do the better it is for me. if i can use it in the studio or for live work then it's a gem. if it's only good as a desktop mixer then meh not that keen. but that's just me.
also, if your in the wellington area and want to have try out a few different mixers shoot me a PM off topic and i can flick you my work addy where we have PLENTY of options for you to test to see what could work for you.
a la http://secretlevel.org.nz/index.php/recording-studio/facilities

hope thats helpful?

peace