Thinking about adding a mixer in my studio

[CompC]

I was looking for something small and one to learn off of for the time being and just wanted to know what is anyones take on the Behringer Xenyx 802 Premium 8-Input 2. And I have a MBOX 2 Pro now, how would I hook it up if possible at all.

[daeron80]

What is it you're hoping to learn? If it's mixing technique, I'm afraid I can't imagine what you could learn from a tiny mixer with no slider-type faders. Maybe you could find a used Yamaha digital mixer on ebay or something. Maybe a Mackie 1604. But with only 6 outputs? It's kind of hard to see the point, honestly.

[Dism]

Originally Posted by daeron80

What is it you're hoping to learn? If it's mixing technique, I'm afraid I can't imagine what you could learn from a tiny mixer with no slider-type faders. Maybe you could find a used Yamaha digital mixer on ebay or something. Maybe a Mackie 1604. But with only 6 outputs? It's kind of hard to see the point, honestly.

I agree.

No point getting a cheap mixer if you're expecting to "learn" something from it.

Find a used 01V and now you're using a real mixer.

[nedorama]

1. what do you need the mixer for - are you combining inputs, using for mixdown, both?

2. Stay away from the Behringer mixers - they're cheap, but ripoffs of Mackie mixers and other brands. Quality control is not that strong, so spending less on that and $0 on design gives you a cheap mixer.

[Park Seward]

I agree. No to Behringer, yes to Mackie. And then on to Yamaha.

And you would take the 2 bus out stereo to the MBox.

[albee1952]

As asked above, what is your aim here? Personally, I would skip the mixer and upgrade your interface to maybe a used 002 or 003 rack. Lots more live inputs there(trying to record a drum kit with an Mbox is not fun). Also, any analog mixer is going to give you nothing in the way of control, so maybe you should look at the Command8?

[The Dougfather]

When you say learning do you mean routing?

I could understand getting to assist with routing because pro tools is similar to an analogue console.

The downside is if your mixing through a mixer then your going to need log sheets if you want to recall the sessions.

Your money would probably be better invested ina control surface and some decent learning resources. I've recently been working through some of the Lynda.com tutorials and they're fantastic, everybody could learn something from them.

The bcf2000 is a cheap control surface and integrates well in to pro tools.

Good luck.

[fsb1]

I prefer the Onyx 1640i, 16 I/O with M-Powered and a great signal flow learning part ;o)

And why mix recall? The whole live is a risc and there's also no recall. It's better to understand how to "recall" an EQ on an analog type mixer. After this "lesson", a digital mixer is perfect. Like my DM-3200.

[The Dougfather]

And why mix recall

If you mix through an analogue console then your going to need to make notes if you ever want to open the session back up later on to make any amendments, changes etc. You don't have the total recall that you get when using just Pro Tools and a control surface.

[CompC]

i appreciate everyones feedback and advice but i guess the question I had was for just recording vocals would a mixer be helpful in cutting things such as the bass out of the vocals while i'm recording? Or can this already be done within Pro Tools? I've pretty much been learning as I been recording so far