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Thread: Need Advice on the best mixer to choose?

  1. #1

    Need Advice on the best mixer to choose?

    Hello, I am asking for advice on the best mixer to buy with my current setup. I only DJ for fun most of the time but I want good equipment. I own a controller with RCA output and I refuse to plug straight into QSC speakers because I know that will sound awful. I want a mixer to plug into that has an XLR output and XLR mic input as I believe doing this would sound better. Here are 2 mixers I looked at, do these look like good choices? Or is there a mixer I could be missing that tops these? I want one that is smaller like these but will hold up well.

    https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Heath-C...ct_top?ie=UTF8

    https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-MG06-6...61&sr=8-6&th=1

    Thank you for your time.

  2. #2
    I think you'll be better off getting a converter instead of a cheap mixer.

    Here's one with stereo ins and stereo outs.
    CLEANBoxPro Dual-Channel Level Converter by ART
    Price: $79.94
    https://www.amazon.com/ART-CLEANBoxP.../dp/B003S7T49K
    But the number of US Supreme Court judges was always 6.
    Then it was 5, then 6, then 7, then 9, then 10, then 7, and then 9.

  3. #3
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    What's the controller? It won't sound better if you add one more thing in the chain.

  4. #4
    BanHammer™⚒️ Manu's Avatar
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    A mixer is not going to make your controller sound better, this is a misconception.

    is there a mixer I could be missing that tops these
    Considering these are the cheapest, everything else will top them.
    Last edited by Manu; 01-10-2020 at 05:11 AM.

  5. #5
    Deez Beats! KLH's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sincavich View Post
    I want a mixer to plug into that has an XLR output and XLR mic input as I believe doing this would sound better.
    Quote Originally Posted by Manu View Post
    A mixer is not going to make your controller sound better, this is a misconception.
    Manu is right, just converting an unbalanced sound signal (like RCAs) to a balanced sound signal (like XLR) will not improve the sound. It will make the sound resistant to noise over long cable runs (think 30'+) but that's about it.

    Now adding mic inputs to a controller-based setup is a practical benefit, IMHO. I use a Mackie 402VLZ3 compact mixer for this purpose.



    It provides balanced outputs over 1/4" TRS - which is easy to convert to XLR for your speakers. The bonus is that you can often find this model for under $50. While there's a newer version, the 402VLZ4, it offers no significant advantages over the VLZ3 model for our application.

    Additionally, having a mixer like this also allows the use of a secondary sound source as a backup - just in case the controller fails. That's a REAL benefit.
    Last edited by KLH; 01-10-2020 at 07:41 AM.
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    The boys are right, the idea that plugging your controller directly into powered speakers would sound bad is wrong, but there are good reasons to add a compact mixer to your setup. The vast majority of the DJ setups I do include a small mixer.

    A small prosound mixer will have much better mic preamps and processing than a DJ console, I don't know why that is but the Mackie Profx8's that I use do a much better job with mics than even a Pioneer DDJ SX that costs a lot more.

    The balanced XLR or TRS outputs on the mixer produce more voltage than an RCA output and that will drive a powered speaker much better, you won't need to crank everything to the max and it allows noise free transmission over very long cables to the speakers.

    If a DJ console has any EQ on the mic input it is the bare minimum. A prosound mixer will have better EQ plus a low cut filter, sometimes a compressor and/ or even a vocal effects processor. These things are more than just fun toys they are mandatory for achieving professional results, you won't believe how much better a mic works when these things are in use and dialed in correctly.

    The better mixers will also have a USB input, this is a great backup that can be used to stream music at the highest quality from your laptop in the event of a controller problem.

    A mixer will often have additional outputs with their own level control that can be used for a variety of things including to drive speakers in remote locations.
    Paul O'Brien
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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by sincavich View Post
    Hello, I am asking for advice on the best mixer to buy with my current setup.
    https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Heath-C...ct_top?ie=UTF8

    https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-MG06-6...61&sr=8-6&th=1

    Thank you for your time.
    I completely forgot to answer this question. Both of those mixers are good, if I had to pick I think I'd take the A&H... they make some really nice stuff. I own one of the larger Yamaha MG mixers and it does a good job too so I don't think you would be disappointed with the sound of that one either, I'd just suggest you step up a notch or two to get one with a few more features.
    Paul O'Brien
    Old Tech Guy
    www.Techott.com

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