in case you’re a recording engineer or perhaps in case you’re a musician managing the own recordings of yours, and if the idea of yours of a great sound is raw, analog-driven vibe, digital-free, organic, you will most likely prefer to think about treating yourself with a summing mixer.
Summing mixer is an analog audio mixer that usually uses a set of 4, 8 or perhaps sixteen channels. It’s standardly crafted to sum the signals in analog, rather compared to electronic form.
Essentially, summing mixers force you to produce a very good natural sound coming from your amplifier and instrument. They rob you of any artificial digital tools and vibe, and leave you with the guitar’s organic audio output.
In situations like these, it is do or perhaps die, but in case you adapt very well, you will get the good those digital dudes are only able to dream of. So join us for a brief rundown as we narrow down to the four best summing mixers on the market:
Mackie 802
The 802 VLZ3 is a far more compact version of the company’s 1202 VLZ3 mixing board, and really its relatively small footprint is among the primary things that tends to make it stand out from the competition. It gives you 2 mono channels, 2 stereo channels, plus a fifth channel which could be used for either, each one with a designated mic as well as line inputs and channel inserts. Because it also provides you with a stereo auxiliary return, you can mix a total of 10 lines that are different – very impressive for such a small mixer.
The 802 VLZ3 can be also used as more than simply a summing mixer. It provides you with a great variety of signal shaping options for every one of the 5 channels, including a three band EQ, mute, pan, and solo. There is also an auxiliary send on each channel, in addition to the master toggle switch. There is also a designated volume knob for the headphone jack, a feature many mixing boards do not have that causes it to be ideal for both home and studio use.
The primary reason the 802-VLZ3 can be so light-weight is due to its power supply. Unlike other Mackie mixers that have power transformers inside the chassis, the 802 requires a power source with a mini XLR connector. This causes it to be a little trickier to replace parts in case they are lost or perhaps damaged, but considering additional ways it excels at the comfort factor, majority of folks find this a suitable trade off. If you are on a budget, the 802 VLZ3 is likely the best summing mixer for you.
Dangerous Music D-Box
The Dangerous Music company has a quest to offer solutions for typical studio problems, while still providing you with top sound quality. The D Box combines 2 vital pieces of studio equipment into one tool, giving you an analog summing system along with a monitor controller all in one.
The summing section of the D Box provides you with 8 inputs with independent controls, with the first 6 configured as stereo pairs. You are able to position the last 2 inputs with pan pots on the front panel, offering a lot more options for fine tuning your stereo image and giving you complete control over the sound of yours, tooling it especially for your digital audio workstation. There is also a common level trim control, giving you an attenuation to 12dB.
Along with analog summing, you also get headphone level amplification controls and an array of tools for selecting speakers, converting audio, and monitoring your signals and lines.
You are able to get separate units to perform each of these functions, but by placing them all in one the D Box is a life saver for cramped traveling recording or studio spaces engineers. While it is not really cheap, it’s a great value for the amount of range and equipment of features that you are getting, which makes it an excellent investment for sound professionals.
Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite
If cash is no object and you are taking a look at the top tier of studio worthy mixing equipment, this model from Rupert Neve will be right up the alley of yours. It is meant to be usable right out of the box and is rack mountable, making it so easy to fit into your set up.
The 5059 has a total of sixteen individual channels. Each one has a level and pan controls, and also designated sends and inputs, for truly independent channel operation. While it is not really an easy interface, the layout is intuitive. Even analogue equipment is easier to connect because of the aid of channel inserts.
The texture controls on the 5059 are another huge selling point. It’s 2 modes (Silk and Silk) for much more nuanced adjustments of each signal’s harmonies and tone. In Silk mode, saturation is increased in the top quality, giving tracks a better, more sparkling quality. Silk mode increases saturation in the lower end, perfect for beefing up basslines or perhaps adding additional depth to any recording.
Rupert Neve is known for producing consistent, professional level equipment for the discerning sound engineer. Their 5059 summing mixer certainly lives up to this reputation. In terms of sheer performance, it is arguably the best summing mixer on this list.
Precisely why should I buy a summing mixer?
There’s rarely an obvious answer for this question, after much like any thing in music, liking a certain sound is a case of taste. But in case you like your recordings totally free of the frequently bashed plastic vibe of contemporary electronic technology, you should really consider one of the 4 gents listed above.
At a good as well as affordable price tag in some cases, summing mixers provide you with all of the sonic technology and power you have to buy an organic, strong, raw, professional and powerful recording.
They may require you to invest additional time into mastering the craft of yours, as you will find no shortcuts here. But in case you do master the craft, you won’t ever deal with cheap sounding digital recordings ever again.
In the personal opinion of ours, this’s the method to go, and analyzing these products was a hoot. All we are able to say about these items is the fact that each is recommended and earns major thumbs up!