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spritnoirr2
Published on 08/17/06 at 13:39
Here are the features of Yamaha's little beast:
Analog console with 4 mic inputs (2 with insert)
2 line inputs
4 stereo inputs
3-band EQ per channel + HPF on the mic inputs
2 auxiliary sends
1 stereo return
Possibility of mounting it on the optional BMS10A mic stand
Simple and comprehensive for an entry-level product, every inch is well used.
It's non-rackable. And it should also be noted that all cables are on top, except for the power chord, which is on the rear panel, so its use is more horizontal than vertical.
Everything is facing you and easy to understand.
If you are looking for something simple, reliable and compact, go for it!
UTILIZATION
The mixer is somewhat basic in terms of usability, but it does its job. Even if you have Hulk-like fingers, you can turn buttons without the need to do a choreography with the others. Very practical for giants!
Next...Setup is simple and solid, the buttons don't pop like Champagne. Beginners and pros alike will easily understand more or less everything, more or less right away.
The manual is very hard to understand for an illiterate person, for all others it's OK.
I use it as a complement of a Gemini EX-26 mixer to which I have connected one cd and one vinyl turntable each. That way I only need one track via RCA to listen and/or sample a sound.
The other ones I use for:
1 track for a mic (XLR)
1 track for an ASR10 sampler (stereo jack)
1 track for my MPC 1000 (stereo jack)
1 track for a Roland Jv1080 (stereo jack) / Mp3 Walkman (rca)
1 track for another expander (stereo jack) / Gemini EX-26 (rca)
The advantage of this mixer is that you can connect several devices to the same track.
You only need to keep track of the cable.
i can also use it to sample, re-sample, listen to sounds, to hear my productions and record my masterpieces on MD.
It is stable and perfect for what I do!
SOUNDS
HAHAAAA!!!! The main point!!! The sound of the device!!!! How does it sound???
Well, it's certainly not something you'd use to mix or master an album, that's true. But that's not something you'd expect from it.
It spits out whatever you give it.
The equalizer is more than effective!!! It overloads the lows, distorts the highs and squeezes the mids. It's better not to fiddle too much with it. It is very sensitive.
In normal mode it's OK. If you move the knobs slightly it's all right. But it really loses its temper if you turn them all the way, and if you like the sound of its rage then you have a major auditory problem.
I looked into the noise issue. Is it true or not? The sequel in the next sentence!
With the mixer turned on and all pots cranked all the way up... Yes. There's a bit of noise.
Using the knobs in "normal" mode, the noise is barely audible, if at all.
But once my other gear is on, I can't hear anything. My gemini EX-26 makes more noise than the Yamaha... But its EQ is more effective. So there!
For an entry-level mixer, it sounds quite all right. It's a pity that the EQ is not at the same level.
OVERALL OPINION
I've used it since 2005 and it suits me perfectly.
I bought it new for $99 (and yes, it always pays to bargain with the salesman
). I had the choice of a Phonic, Behringer and some others of the like. I tested the other ones, they were pretty decent, but not sturdy nor reliable enough.
Yamaha has the advantage of manufacturing good pro gear at fair prices. So I decided to spend a bit more and get something better rather than get a subscription to the After-Sales Service Club of my local store.
The electronic components are sturdy enough, like the soldering and I think it can work fine both live and in a home studio.
Practical and reliable, it does the job all right.
Excellent value for money. It's a good compromise between the after-sale-service products and the very high-end ones.
If you don't have the money for a Mackie or an Alesis (very, very expensive), you'd better go straight to Yamaha, even if its EQ is not the best, it's reliable and it works!!!
Analog console with 4 mic inputs (2 with insert)
2 line inputs
4 stereo inputs
3-band EQ per channel + HPF on the mic inputs
2 auxiliary sends
1 stereo return
Possibility of mounting it on the optional BMS10A mic stand
Simple and comprehensive for an entry-level product, every inch is well used.
It's non-rackable. And it should also be noted that all cables are on top, except for the power chord, which is on the rear panel, so its use is more horizontal than vertical.
Everything is facing you and easy to understand.
If you are looking for something simple, reliable and compact, go for it!
UTILIZATION
The mixer is somewhat basic in terms of usability, but it does its job. Even if you have Hulk-like fingers, you can turn buttons without the need to do a choreography with the others. Very practical for giants!
Next...Setup is simple and solid, the buttons don't pop like Champagne. Beginners and pros alike will easily understand more or less everything, more or less right away.
The manual is very hard to understand for an illiterate person, for all others it's OK.
I use it as a complement of a Gemini EX-26 mixer to which I have connected one cd and one vinyl turntable each. That way I only need one track via RCA to listen and/or sample a sound.
The other ones I use for:
1 track for a mic (XLR)
1 track for an ASR10 sampler (stereo jack)
1 track for my MPC 1000 (stereo jack)
1 track for a Roland Jv1080 (stereo jack) / Mp3 Walkman (rca)
1 track for another expander (stereo jack) / Gemini EX-26 (rca)
The advantage of this mixer is that you can connect several devices to the same track.
You only need to keep track of the cable.
i can also use it to sample, re-sample, listen to sounds, to hear my productions and record my masterpieces on MD.
It is stable and perfect for what I do!
SOUNDS
HAHAAAA!!!! The main point!!! The sound of the device!!!! How does it sound???
Well, it's certainly not something you'd use to mix or master an album, that's true. But that's not something you'd expect from it.
It spits out whatever you give it.
The equalizer is more than effective!!! It overloads the lows, distorts the highs and squeezes the mids. It's better not to fiddle too much with it. It is very sensitive.
In normal mode it's OK. If you move the knobs slightly it's all right. But it really loses its temper if you turn them all the way, and if you like the sound of its rage then you have a major auditory problem.
I looked into the noise issue. Is it true or not? The sequel in the next sentence!
With the mixer turned on and all pots cranked all the way up... Yes. There's a bit of noise.
Using the knobs in "normal" mode, the noise is barely audible, if at all.
But once my other gear is on, I can't hear anything. My gemini EX-26 makes more noise than the Yamaha... But its EQ is more effective. So there!
For an entry-level mixer, it sounds quite all right. It's a pity that the EQ is not at the same level.
OVERALL OPINION
I've used it since 2005 and it suits me perfectly.
I bought it new for $99 (and yes, it always pays to bargain with the salesman
). I had the choice of a Phonic, Behringer and some others of the like. I tested the other ones, they were pretty decent, but not sturdy nor reliable enough.Yamaha has the advantage of manufacturing good pro gear at fair prices. So I decided to spend a bit more and get something better rather than get a subscription to the After-Sales Service Club of my local store.
The electronic components are sturdy enough, like the soldering and I think it can work fine both live and in a home studio.
Practical and reliable, it does the job all right.
Excellent value for money. It's a good compromise between the after-sale-service products and the very high-end ones.
If you don't have the money for a Mackie or an Alesis (very, very expensive), you'd better go straight to Yamaha, even if its EQ is not the best, it's reliable and it works!!!