From: billy@irvine.com (*** Bouncer **)
Subject: Re: Mixer recommendations
Organization: Irvine Compiler Corp., Irvine, California, USA
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 06:01:52 GMT

>This is a call for recommendations for a general-purpose
>mixer.  I've considered the Alesis 1622, but I'd like
>some more feedback.  I remember reading an article in
>Keyboard a while back that said that the pots felt pretty
>flimsy.
>
>I'm looking for a non-power-amp mixer.  12 or 16 channels,
>around $1200 or so.  I want something that's very quiet,
>solid, and probably rack-mountable (but not necessarily).

Well, it all depends if you need balanced/canon (XLR) inputs on all channels,
some (like maybe eight of them), or if line inputs are adequate.  Most mixers
offer a variety (such as 16 line inputs, half of which double up with XLR
inputs as well).  Since you didn't state what your needs were, I'll tell
you about the mixer I've been using for the past couple years, the Tascam MM1.

Since I was needing lots of line input channels in a compact (yet affordable)
rackmount configuration, I purchased the Tascam MM1.  It offers 20 line inputs,
4 send, 4 stereo returns, 2 band (hi/low) EQ per channel, plus MIDI controlled
muting on all channels (including the main stereo outputs).  It offers a
combination of possibilies including muting, and soloing.  You can store up
to 99 "scenes" instantly accessible through MIDI patch change commands or the
increment/decrement/recall buttons.  It also responds/generates MIDI note
commands (velocity > 64 means mute), therefore you can basically "play" your
mixer's muting into a track on your sequencer.
   The MM1 also offers very informative 3 segment color level meters per
channels, the main stereo outs w/10 segment.  These are all pre-fader, meaning
you can see "active" channels even when muted.  It is an extremely quiet and
clean "sounding" mixer.  I've been mixing down to DAT and it sounds great.
I've taken advantage of the main stereo out muting by sending note-on comamnds
from my sequencer just a fraction of a second before the downbeat of my songs.
The muting is ABSOLUTELY SILENT!!  Its incredible.  That way, when recording
to DAT (and DAT doesn't lie, especially about "noisey" mixers/effects), I'm
able to get extremely punchy downbeats without any "clues" that a song is about
to play back (clues like a noisey effect/chorus pedal, hissy analog synth).
BTW, the MM1 is only 4 rack spaces tall (5 with the "palm rest" to provide
for the cables to be inserted vertically in the back).  Also, this is the
only rackmount mixer I know of which had hinges on the sides to provide
multiple working angles without having to unscrew or unplug any cables at
all.  It then neatly folds back up into the rack for storage/transportation.

     Best of all, this mixer costs way less then your price range.  I bought
mine for $800 two years ago, but I've seen them for sale recently around $600.
Although Roland makes some mixers that have more inputs (like the M480(?) with
48 line inputs in a 4-5 space rack), the Roland (and some others) use teeny
rotary knobs for all inputs whereas the Tascam MM1 offers 10 cm "throw" faders.

-- billy@irvine.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.synth