#5

I think we’ve made it pretty clear in that other thread that there’s a hole in the market. Small mixers with aux sends. Problem is, “small” does mean different things to different people, and there are so many potential features that are either “necessary”, or not (add them all and it’s no longer “small”). So, it’s not just a missing product in the market, it’s a missing product line.

#6

The MOTU 624 looks great!

1 Like
#7

Just in time! Check out this Zoom mixer announced just today:

2 Likes
#8

If you don’t mind the cost and size, the A&H Q16 is pretty great. There’s also the Qu-Pac which I guess is similar in concept to the X32 Rack but has more controls onboard.

Personally I use the MOTU 16A and really like it. I used to have a mixer on the frontend and take the individual outs into the 16A channels but I eventually did away with that. It saved me a lot of space, and all the mixing I do is in the DAW anyway which I can do with a controller after everything is recorded. I just set the gain trim on each input so it doesn’t clip and then do the rest in the DAW. You can also live mix with it and it has an OSC interface for that (though I haven’t seen anyone make anything for it yet) as well as an iPad app. Best of all it all fits in a 1U rack space!

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#9

KMI K-mix? https://www.keithmcmillen.com/products/k-mix/

I’m looking hard at one right now. Seems kind of ideal. Works as a standalone mixer, has built in FX (YMMV), 8-in / 8-out usb interface, 3 “pages” of midi control functionality, etc etc etc. Plus it’ll trim down eurorack outputs enough so you don’t need an output module.

Plus my experience so far with KMI stuff is that they’re pretty indestructible, which is a bonus. :slight_smile:

edit: just noticed you said 12-16 channels. Womp.

3 Likes
#10

I did this, for more IO. I feel like the motu is more finicky to get right but that thing is a TANK. Also for euro it pairs nicely with an es-8 for an additional 4 in and 8 out. I still want a mixer though. Probably a mackie vlz 12.

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#11

If its just about having more inputs, get more kmixes? :smiley:

https://www.keithmcmillen.com/blog/k-mix-tips-combine-multiple-k-mix-into-a-single-aggregate-device/

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Screen Shot 2017-08-06 at 12.59.36.jpg1146×494 180 KB

edit: not my desk, not my picture!

3 Likes
#12

If only it was able to record post-fader/post-dsp without sacrificing the aux outputs… Hope they’ll add that one day…

#13

wow, where’s the catch? looks like a no-brainer and yet only hitting the market now

#14

The catch for me would be that the Zoom mixer has no aux sends (just an internal fx send). Apart from that it looks cool and is probably an excellent solution to record a band, etc.

I’ll get a KMix myself at some point, but not yet (gear money has been spoken for for a while and my next big expense will probably be a Teletype).

#15

thanks for all the input, folks!

that’s precisely my thought /: would really like two aux at the least. the keith mcmillen approach does look pretty neat, i have to admit! some further research also lead me to think that the Allen & Heath QU 16 might be very good to use (thanks @kisielk! great tip!) … it’s the size of a normal mixing desk, but i may be able to live with that.

also, there’s the Allen & Heath QU PAC which seems perfect if one can live without faders. it has a bunch of assignable buttons and a touch-screen (which makes handling it probably a bit more flexible than using the X32 rack). if one is willing to go with a tablet all along, last there’s the QU-SB, excelling the X32 due to the fact that it has jack inputs (X32 has only XLR).

i’ll def be selling my X32 – all options of these and the above seem a better approach for me :slight_smile:

#16

ABCDE submixes, probably possible to use one for the purpose?

#17

Yeah I think they would work fine as pre-fader Aux sends. Then use an input or two for aux returns.

#18

Aren’t they headphone outs ? If they go through an headphone amp the sound is likely to be a bit different from a normal aux send (though probably usable)…

#19

If the headphone outs of the Zoom work decently as sends, it’s brilliant. The only thing that’s missing is motorised faders. Now you have to look at the leds to see the saved fader position and move the fader manually to the saved position.

#20

You already have the X32 rack so why not add the XTouch? I use an X32 compact in the studio and I have 2 pedal boards, one with XR18 and one with XR12 for travelling.

#21

that sound pretty good, in deed! have to think about if losing ~two of the twelve channels will be ok, but pre se – thanks!

i’ve considered that… but it’s getting soo big in the end. the xtouch is kind’a sizey and needing to adapt all my line-channels to the XLR inputs of the x32 is a mess, too.

#22

bumping this old topic since i’m looking for a portable mixer / interface combo for a small mobile studio/performance rig. It shouldn’t be large, I’ll be using it with my modular as well as mic and line inputs, and i’d like at least four (ideally 8) ins/outs.

thinking of a kmix or mackie onyx 1220 (though that one seems too large), but if there are other good options I’d love to hear of em. I saw a lot of differing opinions on the kmix when it came out - for those of you who are using one how do you like it? how is the sound? is the myriad of shift button combos annoying? what do you like & dislike?

any help is appreciated.

1 Like
#23

I really like mine, it’s smaller than I had originally anticipated (but not too small). I think my only issue with it is that the touch pads are probably not quite as accurate as a more conventional mixer but it’s not bad by any means. If you find a mixer/interface that’s more compact and as feature rich I’d love to know about it because this thing is solid.

#24

Unfortunately I think an actual analog mixer (with or without interface capabilities) would be too much for my current set up, so I’m looking for a MIDI controller in the format of an analog mixer for playability, set of volume sliders and 3-4 knobs per slider kind of thing. The Livid Instruments DS1 looks like an ideal option but isn’t in production anymore / not easy to find. I know the Akai Midi Mix and Novation Launch Control XL exist but I wouldn’t mind something more robust with a fourth knob per channel.

Anyone know of other well constructed controllers like this?