Analog Mixers

I bought this mixer in the 1990s to mix a drumset (8 tracks), a guitar (1 track), a bass (1 track) and two stereo keyboards (4 tracks). No integrated FX but 2 busses and 16 tracks with faders, gain knobs hi mid and lo settings, 3 auxes and pan setting. 1 track on/off, one buss change per track and a PFL. A buss junction, 2 mix faders per buss, 3 auxes in pre or post mix, a headphone volume setting, 16 mono inputs (four of them assignable 2-by-2 to stereo tracks). One insert per track. Plus, it’s made by Soundcraft, which can be seen when you consider how long it resists time in spite of all it went through. I got the faders cleaned up by a specialist for 25 bucks, and now it’s like brand new. A real mixing jewel.

Used in a rack. It's sturdy and convenient. The preamps are good, so are the connectors, the 4 aux & 4 busses are really convenient on an analog mixer. Enough channels for a beginner, but in the long term it appears quite limited. Some effects are not so bad, and the faders are sturdy. The global EQ is very convenient depending on the room and speakers, and allows to make the overall sound better. There are inserts for each channel, as well as for each buss and output section, I don't use them but I guess it's quite convenient. The FX sound can be sent on the first aux.

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Rack-mountable (optional). Analog console with 8 mono channels, 2 stereo channels with EQ, 2 stereo channels with EQ except mids, 2 stereo channels without EQ, 1 bus. 3 aux sends on every channel, one of which is exclusive for the LEXICON multi-effects. NO effect returns. Connections on the mono channel: Jack or XLR for mic, 1 direct out and 1 insert per channel The same goes for the 2 stereo channels with EQ, 1 direct out and 1 insert per channel Jack on the 2 stereo channels with EQ but no Mids RCA for the other inputs All outputs are on jacks All connections are balanced The EQ is parametric: The mids only 1 built-in LEXICON multi-effects USE Everything is simple and clear, the manual is very well made and I've had no problems. All functions are accessible without any magic tricks. SOUND No noticeable noise (although the multi-effects does produce a bit) The Spirits aren't transparent, they add a bit of warmth The EQs also have a lot of SPIRIT. 100% effective 1 Hi-pass filter (18 db/oct) on every channel with EQ, for the mics OVERALL OPINION I've had it for 4 years and everything works fine. What I like best is that you buy an 8-channel mixer and you get an 8-channel mixer. It's not like with MACKIE and other brands. The lexicon effects are a nice plus Excellent value for money. Based alone on my experience, I would buy it again. However, as time has gone by, I've gotten more gear, so I would get a bigger model. In any case, I'll remain faithful to SOUNDCRAFT!!!

(Originally written by Peaveycroquette/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Practical and well-designed mixer offering many possibilities in spite of its compact size and its light weight. UTILIZATION It wasn't difficult to learn how to use it, even for a beginner like me when I bought it. It provides all basic functions you can expect from a small mixer. I like especially the possibility to switch the Aux 3 to pre-fader. The long faders are pleasant but a bit too soft for my taste. I haven't opened the user's manual! SOUNDS The mixer has a transparent sound. I tested it for mixing using Logic Audio in the box or with the Spirit as a summing device, and I can hardly hear or see (with the max. waveform zoom in the sequencer) any sound difference. See HERE ( https://forums.audiofanzine.com/index%2Cpage%2C1832%2Cidtopic%2C16697%2Cidsearch%2C0%2Cidcat%2C5800.html ) to see me talking about the comparison. Maybe the problem comes from the fact that it sounds too transparent! But in this price range you can't expect too much. OVERALL OPINION I've been using this mixer for about 9 months for live (rehearsals) and home studio applications. I like its simple design, conception and manufacturing quality. As I mentioned above, a stronger sound character would be better but that would be expecting too much considering the price.

(Originally written by elriton/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Not rack-mountable 8 mono channels (RCA for line level and XLR for mics) with insert points and direct outs. 4 groups. Parametric EQ. No effects. UTILIZATION This mixing desk is conceived for 4-track mixing and recording. But it can be turned into a perfect P.A. mixer using its insert points and direct outs!! Imagine: The mixer allows you to manage up to 12 loudspeakers. Only weak point: The faders are a bit too tight. SOUNDS Very warm and analog sound. Perfect low-frequency response. OVERALL OPINION I bought it secondhand in 1994. It's still in my studio but it wouldn't hurt to give it some service (noise on the pots and problems on the group routing switches).

EELA is a brand that’s not widely known by the masses. They mostly develop products for broadcast/radio applications. Fact is, you rarely see their products. I bought mine essentially because it wasn’t expensive, so I thought I didn’t risk much. What a good idea I had! Its sound is unbelievable for a very affordable price (350€ on eBay)!! The quality of the preamps is up to par with a studer mixer such as 961/962, and by the way I find its sound quite similar. The EQ section is minimal and to be honest I haven’t really tweaked it, just enough to say it provides these typical analog warm bass sounds, always so pleasant to my ear. It has a limiter on the master section, which I never had to use. For a recording-oriented use, the sole limit is the absence of direct outputs (for this the Revox C279 is quite ideal). So I rather use it as a mixer for my musician’s setup, essentially for synths. It’s perfect for that use, it adds a grain and I’d say it makes the sound less sterile. I regularly see some for sale on eBay and if you want my advice, don’t hesitate and seize the opportunity if you ever see one available!

This was a good low cost mixer for it's time. It has 6 mic/line inputs which may be used as 6 mono inputs or 3 stereo inputs. The mic inputs are low Z unbalanced using 1/4 inch jacks. The line inputs are high Z unbalanced using RCA jacks. The mic level outputs are 1/4 inch jacks, the line level outputs are RCA jacks at -10dB. There is a 20dB switchable pad on each input. There is a rotary master gain pot and a dual mechanical VU meter. There also is a headphone jack but no headphone volume control. It will operate on 6 D cells or an external power supply. I have used mine for live recording, P.A. mixing and radio broadcast mixing. UTILIZATION This is a very basic portable desk-top mixer. All controls are on the top panel. All connections are on the rear. SOUNDS It has been years since I measured the performance but at the time the frequency response was flat from 100Hz to 20KHz. Noise was about -60dB. OVERALL OPINION This mixer proved to be very versatile and I used it hard for 20 years or so. This was be best thing going at the time I bought it. I have since acquired other mixers with features we take for granted now, which didn't exist in that era.

Small mixing console with 8 inputs, 4 mono and 4 stereo. Each input has its own gain control to amplify the input signal.. EQ that acts on two specific frequencies (lows and highs), then there are two buttons to output the sound present at the input to send it to a multi-effects, for example. They are the aux. Then there's a pan control to move the sound left or right. On the stereo inputs they are labeled "balance" instead of pan, but I don't know why. And finally, there's the fader to mix sounds. Oh, yes! I almost forgot about it!! There is also a switch labeled pfl/solo, which allows you to listen to a sound at the input before pulling up the fader. When it comes to the outputs it's really easy because, besides the aux, this console only has a Main output to connect you monitoring speakers, for instance. Which is what I did. UTILIZATION It's very easy to use, but, on the other hand, it's not the most pleasant to use. I think the faders are very plasticky and I often end up with a cap in my hand. That's probably the worst about it, but anyway... SOUNDS I'm not quite an audio engineer and have not many references, but it isn't bad at all! Mine doesn't produce too much noise. OVERALL OPINION I bought it secondhand for next to nothing. Based on my experience, I wouldn't buy it again. It was really annoying, for example, the knobs made a lot of noise when I turned them or there were even faulty contacts in some channels.

The Yamaha MG102c is one of the most affordable analog mixers that you can get today. It has a 3 band EQ on channels 1-2 and a 2 band EQ on channels 7, 9 and 9/10. There is one auxiliary send but it has no busses. This mixer is small and compact, it cannot be racked but that is ok because it does not take up much desktop space at all. UTILIZATION Setting this mixer up is very easy because it really has nothing to do with your computer because it is analog, so that makes it plug and play. There is phantom power on a few channels and it has all of the inputs and outputs that you need for your small set up (inputs: 2 ¼ and 4 ¼ plus 2 RCA, outputs: 2 ¼ for your monitors and 2 RCA for recording). SOUNDS The sound is decent for the money, you will get no hissing and if you are using a good quality microphone with this Yamaha MG102c then your quality will be pretty solid. But if you stick to using cheap microphones then it will not be very good. So it will all depend on what kind of microphone you choose to use with it. OVERALL OPINION I have used this mixer many times and have had it for many years. Though my set up is not so much analog anymore I still find uses for it. I would be nice if there were a few effects on it, the only type of effect it has built in is a compressor which is pretty good for this to only be a 100 dollar unit. There is no talk back function on it, but it gives you a total of 10 analog channels to work with. Though I purchased this a long time ago, I would still purchase it again if I was in the market to buy a analog mixer. I have used plenty of Yamaha’s analog mixers and this is the most affordable one that they make and it is very similar to the MG82CX.

- Rack-mountable mixer, but the brackets are optional! So add about 50 bucks to he price! - 3 returns, 16 xlr or line inputs, 16 direct outputs to send to a soundcard!!! It's perfect for recordings!! - Quality Lexicon built-in effects compared to the effects on similar mixers! USE Clear manual (you can download it from Soundcraft's website) No issues in use, it's simple and user-friendly! SOUND Transparent console, "warm" sound, no noise unless you really push the effects, but then again...! Effective EQ! OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for a month. I love its compactness, its 16 XLR inputs and its direct outputs, plus its quality effects!!! It's very handy as PA system for a band...it has everything you need! I used to use small mixers but I needed more inputs for a drum kit...9 inputs alone for the drums!!! Drummers, they always need more! Soundcraft could include the brackets in the price...! Excellent value for money, I bought it new for 590 euros!!! Can you find a better price? I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again!

This mixer have been ordered in the early 80s by Radio France for the recording of Concrete and classical music. EMT worked with a German company named ABE for its manufacture. The Mixsystem is very similar in look and in part in its design to the Studer 169 but unlike Studer, its design is simple (in a good way), making it easier to maintain / modify. As with the Studer, we can link more channels at will. Pierre Henry has a M100 20 tracks (See photo studio P. Henry: http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2007/12/29/03004-20071229ARTFIG00001-pour-ses-ans-pierre-henry-surprend -encore.php). Pierre Boulez worked with the M40, built around the same channels but with sub groups. For those who're interested into classical contemporary music you'll have an idea of what were their quest into sound quality ... In a more modern style, the studio "The Pool" has a M100 30 tracks and recently Nick Nave, bloc party, franz ferdinand, The Horrors have seen this base ... The basic configuration is made up of: 10 channel mono mic / line (A111) with: 100mn Fader Penny & Giles Mic and Line with excellent Beyer Dynamics Preamp XLR inputs Insert stereo jack A tape output (can be modified for direct output) Two AUX sends (one switchable pre / post fader, the other pre-fader) LPF Phase Reversal EQ very musical, somewhat rounded BF at 40Hz, A semi-parametric midrange for a 14kHz RF Panoramic PFL / Solo / Mute / Eq on-off A master section (2xA112) with: 100mn Fader Penny & Giles limiter Seen meter amplitude and phase correlation, balanced outputs (XLR) Insert (TRS) A slice of a stereo Aux return (A113) Fairly comprehensive monitoring section (A114) Internal power supply (A115) The table is rackable because it has the size but must be handy. It can be considered portable being quite heavy though. I put a Nine for the 2 fixed freq EQ but one can't be compact and have everything isn't? UTILIZATION Simple and direct SOUNDS Transparent, clean, "High Fidelity" oriented EQ sweet and musical Preamp with power energy while remaining very soft! Excellent SNR OVERALL OPINION I love this little beauty, unrecognized, rare. Having worked on a Sonny MPX200 then Amek Angela, the EMT, although being simplest, is by far my favorite. I would do this choice without a doubt, if it comes out when I'm solvent!

The SSL 4000 G+ is an extremely famous and highly popular analog console used by professionals in all sorts of popular music. It has 48 channels that each have a preamp and a parametric EQ. It also has a few built in compressors as well as a ton of other features that would take way too long to go into here, but I would recommend those truly interested to look up the specs on this console, as they are pretty easy to find. UTILIZATION The configuration of the SSL 4000 G+ will certainly take a new user some time to get used to, as there are a ton of features available on this console and it can really take years of use to fully understand everything this console has to offer. While it is easy to access and use the basic preamp and EQ features, the SSL 4000 G+ can get extremely in depth and will take some time to learn it all, no matter how experienced of an engineer you are. I have never seen the manual for the SSL 4000 G+ console, but if you have one it is definitely a good idea to have it around while trying to learn this impressive console. SOUNDS The sound quality of SSL 4000 G+ is all around just about as good as it gets. The preamps are extremely clean and full sounding and are great for recording just about anything, while the EQs are also super clean with a good amount of control over what you are cutting and boosting. This is an awesome console for popular rock and pop music, but is absolutely qualified to record any and all genres of music. This console is probably the cleanest sounding board that I have ever used, and that is really saying a lot! OVERALL OPINION I first used the SSL 4000 G+ console about four years ago and I have been unable to replicate the sounds I get with this console with any other type of console. While my first choice for recording consoles is Neve, the SSL has a totally different quality to them and while both console are great, they simple excel best in different places. If you are recording popular music I believe there is no better console than the SSL 4000 G+, but if you are after a more vintage sound, Neve is the way to go. The SSL 4000 G+ is one of the most popular consoles ever made for a reason and I expect to see this beauty around and being widely used for years and years to come.