Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123
Results 21 to 28 of 28

Thread: Mixer with a Gain Meter

  1. #21
    Member steveryan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    149
    Quote Originally Posted by light-o-matic View Post
    Nice! What decks are you going to get?

    I do like the Xone 92 a lot except for the cue mix and cue buttons are not to my taste. I own a Xone 62 which I like a lot. My favorite mixer to mix on remains the Ecler Nuo, and I like Rane a lot.. I played on a Rane 64 (or maybe it was a 68?) and used basically none of the features as I was.jist doing straight mixing from a pair of XDJ-1000 but the sound quality, gain structure and EQ were all super on that. I'd never get one because I'd be paying for a zillion features I won't use. But if I was made of money I'd treat myself to a Rane 2015 . Maybe one day I'll pick up a used Empath along the way...
    I've always had 1200's but I sold my last set. I don't spin CD's so I'll probably pick up Pioneer XDJ-1000's. Those are the main decks I've been looking at. It will definitely be Pioneer whatever I choose. I originally thought Nexus would be cool, but no need to spend the extra cash for something I won't use.

    It might be better for me to get a Pioneer mixer of some type instead just because that's what all the clubs and everyone seems to be using. I don't want to get caught off guard by having to play on a mixer that has features I'm not familiar with. If I can handle the Pioneer, I should be able to handle most everything else. I'll admit it's been awhile since I've performed live, but I have DJ goals this year that I'm going to work hard on. I need new equipment and I intend to play at least one live set this year. There's really only one house music community in this town. Hopefully they will give me a shot if I help out with promoting and whatever else they need. I also have a friend in Portland that owns his own production company. He would probably let me guest DJ for an hour or so but I would have to fly myself over....which I definitely would.

  2. #22
    Moderator pete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    old orléans
    Posts
    2,527
    To be honest I'm lost in this thread.

    Gain meter on channel?

    Is this a PFL/cue meter per channel? If so there are loads of mixers that have this. From Pioneer 4 channels to basic 2 channels that display the level of each track regardless of which track is mapped to the PFL bus.

    If it is a meter to show how much the gain is turned up on each channel, I can't see the point. Only the PFL level is important, and the gain knob should show how far it is turned up.

    As for DJs adjusting gain...that is just that the DJ has not cued the track correctly. If proper proceedure is applied then gain should not really need to be touched when live - but even so if necessary gain can be turned up or down, no big deal.
    bored, curious, deaf or just bad taste in music?
    finally a mix by me
    and what's this, another shoddy mix...another dull mix

  3. #23
    Member steveryan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    149
    Quote Originally Posted by pete View Post
    To be honest I'm lost in this thread.

    Gain meter on channel?

    Is this a PFL/cue meter per channel? If so there are loads of mixers that have this. From Pioneer 4 channels to basic 2 channels that display the level of each track regardless of which track is mapped to the PFL bus.

    If it is a meter to show how much the gain is turned up on each channel, I can't see the point. Only the PFL level is important, and the gain knob should show how far it is turned up.

    As for DJs adjusting gain...that is just that the DJ has not cued the track correctly. If proper proceedure is applied then gain should not really need to be touched when live - but even so if necessary gain can be turned up or down, no big deal.
    It's pre EQ per channel. I was under the assumption that for most mixers, the meter on each channel displays post EQ + Gain. If this is not correct, my bad.

    I was thinking it would be best to have a pre EQ meter for the purpose of adjusting Gain independently, and then the PFL on each channel would be a combo of EQ + Gain. Then, the master level is a combo of all channels.

  4. #24
    Moderator pete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    old orléans
    Posts
    2,527
    Quote Originally Posted by steveryan View Post
    It's pre EQ per channel. I was under the assumption that for most mixers, the meter on each channel displays post EQ + Gain. If this is not correct, my bad.

    I was thinking it would be best to have a pre EQ meter for the purpose of adjusting Gain independently, and then the PFL on each channel would be a combo of EQ + Gain. Then, the master level is a combo of all channels.
    Ah ok. That's clear. But its very strange.

    Pre EQ level is achieved by setting the EQ flat and checking the PFL.
    Then what is important is making sure any EQ added affects the level as required.
    The the PFL meter is read to make sure it goes well in the mix before using the fader. Hence pre-fade-listen.
    And for the record, I have never used a mixer that displays on the channel meters the level pre-gain / pre EQ.

    Having pre-EQ level would just tell you how much level the track has before any gain or EQ. I don't know what you could do with this information. Prehaps get in touch with the producer or mastering engineer and explain to them: "Dude! Your levels. They too low mate, sort it out", or "Sweet master on that track, its pumping. Makes me hard." Eventually you could bring this info to the pressing plant and have them explain why the track had to have its levels squashed due to the limitations of vinyl.

    Still...it wouldn't help you mix the tracks any better. All that matters is you have the right level set via gain or EQ before you bring the fader up. Which is why you only need post EQ PFL on the meters.

    However, I love mixers that have pre-EQ listening on the headphones, and complete kills on the EQ. That way you can start a track with all the EQs down and gradually choose the ones to turn up, all the time having the track playing properly in the headphones so it can be kept in time. Not enough mixers offer this function.
    bored, curious, deaf or just bad taste in music?
    finally a mix by me
    and what's this, another shoddy mix...another dull mix

  5. #25
    Member steveryan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    149
    Quote Originally Posted by pete View Post
    Ah ok. That's clear. But its very strange.
    Pre EQ level is achieved by setting the EQ flat and checking the PFL.
    I see. So on a mixer with a rotary EQ, I can just set the low, mid and high to 12 o'clock, the meter would display the music as if the EQ had been turned off. Right?

    Quote Originally Posted by pete View Post
    Having pre-EQ level would just tell you how much level the track has before any gain or EQ. I don't know what you could do with this information.
    I may have misspoke or not been clear enough. The Gain meter I'm talking about should be post Gain but pre EQ.

    I assume that when a song gets sent into the mixer, it first goes through the Gain protocol, then the EQ protocol. Therefore, there should be both a post Gain meter and a post EQ meter. That's what I'm sayin.

  6. #26
    Moderator pete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    old orléans
    Posts
    2,527
    Quote Originally Posted by steveryan View Post
    I see. So on a mixer with a rotary EQ, I can just set the low, mid and high to 12 o'clock, the meter would display the music as if the EQ had been turned off. Right?
    you're not wrong! Some mixers even have an EQ defeat switch if you can't be bothered to reset the EQs.


    I may have misspoke or not been clear enough. The Gain meter I'm talking about should be post Gain but pre EQ.

    I assume that when a song gets sent into the mixer, it first goes through the Gain protocol, then the EQ protocol. Therefore, there should be both a post Gain meter and a post EQ meter. That's what I'm sayin.
    I getcha. But when you cue the track, generally speaking, you cue at it loudest point and set the gain so it hits 0db. Then if you want to fiddle with the EQ after, in the mix, so be it. Just watch the levels and use the upfader accordingly - keeping an eye on the master level. Knowing what the level pre-EQ would be by that point in the mixing is moot, what matters is what is coming out the speakers.

    Would it be useful? Well at the very most, only a tiny bit. It certainly wouldn't change how you'd do the mix.
    bored, curious, deaf or just bad taste in music?
    finally a mix by me
    and what's this, another shoddy mix...another dull mix

  7. #27
    Quote Originally Posted by steveryan View Post

    It might be better for me to get a Pioneer mixer of some type instead just because that's what all the clubs and everyone seems to be using. I don't want to get caught off guard by having to play on a mixer that has features I'm not familiar with.
    Don't get stuck on just one brand just because everybody else is using it. Always better to familiarize yourself with different brand equipments so that you can be versatile.

    Quote Originally Posted by steveryan View Post
    If I can handle the Pioneer, I should be able to handle most everything else.
    Not true. If you're used to just using Pioneer for example and you were asked to play in a club with A&H, Ecler or Rane, it'll sure take you a while to adjust. EQing in these mixers have different characteristics. Fader feel is another thing. Plus the layout and so on.
    Works1200 - the Technics 1200/1210 specialist - FB page
    Nicadraus' mixcloud page

  8. #28
    Member steveryan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Las Vegas, NV
    Posts
    149
    Quote Originally Posted by Nicadraus View Post
    Don't get stuck on just one brand just because everybody else is using it. Always better to familiarize yourself with different brand equipments so that you can be versatile.
    Right, but I have to choose which one I'm gonna buy. The industry standard is probably the smart choice. I'm not gonna drop money on 5 different mixers just to familiarize myself.

    Quote Originally Posted by Nicadraus View Post
    Not true. If you're used to just using Pioneer for example and you were asked to play in a club with A&H, Ecler or Rane, it'll sure take you a while to adjust. EQing in these mixers have different characteristics. Fader feel is another thing. Plus the layout and so on.
    It just seems like Pioneer would be the better way for me to familiarize myself with the modern technology. I'd feel more comfortable going from a Pioneer mixer to a brand I've never tried before than the other way around.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
a