Kettner Creative is an experienced team of audio-visual professionals. We create tutorials, comparisons, demonstrations, and reviews for home studio equipment under $500 including audio interfaces, audio mixers, microphones, and more.
Mixer To Audio Interfacel
The Behringer Xenyx Q502USB is a great budget option for a solo recording. But (and this a big but) this only supports 15V phantom power, not 48V phantom power which many mics require. This also limits your upgrade options severely if you want to continue using this mixer.
Allen & Heath is a well-known name in audio equipment and the ZEDi-8 is a great dual-XLR mic choice. It has very low noise, a 2-band EQ and a 2-in 2-out USB interface. The version linked here is an upgraded model that came out in early 2016 (vs the previous version that came out around 2012).
The Behringer Xenyx Q1202USB is the best budget mixer for 3+ person podcasting, but I would suggest taking a look at the 1204USB below too. A friend of mine recently got this mixer for his new 4-person podcast and they sound great. They had no prior audio equipment knowledge and were up and running easily. This is also the best mixer under $100.
The Behringer Xenyx 1204USB is an upgraded version of the Q1202 above for about $50 more. This is one of my favorite entry-level mixers. It includes faders (sliders) instead of knobs for the volume levels, which are much more precise and easier to adjust.
Otherwise, these include quality preamps and are an excellent choice for a USB mixer. They also have built-in sound effects that give you lots of live mixing options. Great choice of mixer if you want to record spoken audio and instruments.
The Mackie ProFX8v2 gives you an excellent mixer for both recording and live performances. You get 4 XLR inputs with 3-band EQ, Aux/FX, Panning and compression control and faders. It also has a push-button 100Hz low-cut filter. Every channel gets 60mm faders so you can adjust levels with ease.
Another awesome feature is the ability to switch between line-level and Hi-Z for the 1st channel. Hi-Z stands for Hi-impedance and allows you to plug a guitar or bass right into the mixer without needing to go into a direct box first.
Lastly, but certainly not least, we have the Soundcraft Signature 12MTK. MTK stands for multi-track mixer which means you can record each track individually. You get eight 3-pin XLR inputs with Soundcraft Ghost mic preamps. Bonus: comes with Ableton Live!
A DJ mixer will have outputs that you can connect to a speaker, or to any other suitable music equipment, including an audio interface. Similarly, a mixing desk such as an analog mixer will allow you to take the audio signal via an aux out or one of the main outputs and send it to the interface.
Keep in mind that if you have an interface and desk that supports it, you can take multiple audio feeds from each of the channels. This means recording different microphones or instruments through the desk individually.
If you have a modern interface, made in recent years, then the task will probably be even simpler. Many modern audio interfaces either do not need a driver to be installed, or the driver automatically installs as soon as you plug in the hardware. This means that it can be ready to go, sometimes within seconds of being connected to your computer.
If there are multiple outputs and inputs on the interface and you are looking to record individual channels from the mixer then you may have an additional task. You need to route all of the individual inputs to new tracks in your software. This way, you can record vocals separately from guitars, or different audio tracks separately. When you are looking at how to connect audio interface to external mixer you may just want to take one overall feed. Alternatively, you might want to take 24 different audio feeds and have full control over all of them, just like in a professional recording studio.
Other problems can be traced to wires or power supplies, as well as the incorrect settings on your mixer or interface. Check that the gain controls are off, and that phantom power Trusted Source Phantom power - Wikipedia Phantom power, in the context of professional audio equipment, is DC electric power transmitted through microphone cables to operate microphones that contain active electronic circuitry. It is best known as a convenient power source for condenser microphones, though many active direct boxes also use it. en.wikipedia.org is off on the interface, as you will not need this for taking the audio feed from an interface.
The exciting aspect of all of this is the fact that you can record in the comfort of your own home, and make a home studio that will do an incredible job and yield some professional results. Make sure you know how to connect a mixer to an audio interface to get the ideal results and isolate different channels.
At its core, a mixer is a device designed to combine and mix audio signals to and from various sources. Most will also provide at least a basic set of EQ parameters for each channel of incoming audio to help you polish your mix.
At the end of the day, we are all capturing sound of various forms onto some sort of medium where it can be listened to by discerning ears. And what exactly that medium is has largely been some sort of digital audio workstation for the large majority of home recordists or professional engineers, through some sort of audio interface that is acting as an A-D converter.
Years ago, there used to be a handful of standalone portable hard-disk recorders, but cheap hard drives and the lower prices of laptops have made those all but obsolete. If you wanted to record digital audio, some form of audio interface and computer needed to be involved.
But things have gotten a bit more interesting with this equation in the past few years, as a few companies have ventured to remove the computer from the equation all together and allow users the ability to record digital audio straight to an SD card that can then be used to transfer these files to a DAW at a later time.
Most of these products are a combination analog mixer with some form of audio interface attached, as well as an SD recorder and playback device. Some of these work purely as audio interfaces as well. Which of the following mixers you choose is probably going to come down to your own preferences and individual needs.
TX-6 highlights6 stereo input connectors
2 stereo output connectors
1 stereo headphones connector with headset microphone support
usb audio / midi interface
bluetooth low energy radio interface
rechargeable battery
8h battery life
48x64 pixel monochrome display
inputs and outputs24-bit/48kHz usb interface
3.5 mm mini jack to 6.3 mm jack
headset mic input
aux output
connect to iPhone, lightning cable
stereo or mono for each input
dimensions and weight90 mm (102 mm with adapter) x 62 mm x 23 mm
160 g / 5.6 oz
Teenage Engineering have announced the release of a new product, the TX-6 ultra-portable pro-mixer. A 6-channel stereo mixer with built-in EQ, compressor and digital effects, the mixer can also be used as a multi-functional USB audio interface.
There are some nifty extras packed into the TX-6's compact form factor, including an instrument tuner and built-in sound generator that utilises four waveforms and four drum sounds. The mixer's powered by a rechargeable battery, so it should be useful as an on-the-go mixing solution for live performance or outdoor music-making. It's also equipped with MFi and BLE, so it'll be quick and easy to connect with other portable devices.
Armed with eight built-in effects, the TX-6 offers reverb, chorus, delay, freeze, tape, filter and distortion. Each of its six channels has its own three-band EQ and adjustable compressor. The mixer can also be flipped on its side and used in what TE calls "DJ mode", where channel 1 becomes a fader that crossfades between channels 5 and 6.
The TX-6 looks great - but it's expensive. Wildly expensive. At 1199, the TX-6 costs just 99 less than the latest M1 Macbook Pro. Most portable mixers (opens in new tab) with this specification come in at about a tenth of this price. And if you're looking for portable music-making ability, you could get an MPC Live II, with a similar amount of I/O and what's essentially a full DAW inside of it, for over 300 less (opens in new tab). That said, if you've got the cash, it's a beautiful looking piece of kit.
The StudioLive AR12c from PreSonus is a hybrid digital/analog mixer that's built for today's creators. This mixer is compact enough to be taken on the road, yet offers a wide range of input options to fit any performer's needs. And it's bursting with features such as onboard effects, Stereo SD recording, and a Stereo Super Channel that lets you take total control over your sound. When you use it as an interface, this impressive mixer plugs into your computer with an included USB-C cable. You can record each of the inputs and the main mix for more flexible recording options. As if that's not enough bang for your buck, you'll also receive free software that turns your laptop into a fully-featured production powerhouse. Whether you're uploading your band's latest live performance or your brand new interview, the AR12c will blow you away with its unmatched value and easy operation.
Feesheh is the first dedicated online store for musical instruments and pro audio equipment in the MENA region. We do our best to provide you with the best service, if you need any help please don't hesitate to contact us.
Recording from home can be as simple as getting a microphone, computer, and a recording device. As with much of your equipment, when it comes to choosing your recording device, you have the difficult decision of choosing between an interface and a mixer. 2ff7e9595c
Comments