Using mics in instrument inputs on a mixer

Emp_Fab

Yeah - I know....  This isn't for me by the way.  I have a mate who wants to setup a very cheap arrangement to record jam sessions.  He wants to use a mixer with four mic inputs and four instrument inputs to output to a monitor so they can hear themselves and to a laptop / phone / whatever to record the results.  I have impressed upon him the large bodge-factor in this arrangement and have tried to push him down the JamHub route or similar but he's having none of it.  So......  as you know, little mixers jump in price once you go past two mic inputs.  My question is - if he uses XLR to quarter-inch adapters, and plugs a mic into an instrument input on the mixer - will he hear anything at all - or are the signal levels and impedances so incompatible, it just won't work.  My logic here is, in trying to keep the cost to an absolute minimum, a mixer with 2 mic inputs and six instrument level ones is cheaper than a 4 mic input mixer.  I also have to make sure the thing has a separate mono channel for each input - trying to use the often included stereo channels to take two instruments and juggle the pan knob etc isn't going to work for him.

octatonic

No it won't work.

You need a preamp to amplify the microphone.
You could use a DI to go the other way (instrument into a mic input) there is no way to amplify a microphone to a decent level without a mic preamp.

Danny1969

How cheap does he need a mixer ... you know you can get a 12 channel digital mixer with direct out recording on multiple channel for £230 
If the signals loud enough he can use a mic into a line input .... that's the main difference, the available gain  

spark240

Mixers are super cheap used...

Emp_Fab

I think I need to specify his budget here.....   

£150 tops.

So, forget all ideas of anything sensible.....   it's just a case of 'will it make a noise' !

I've been looking at used Behringer X18 and X16 analogue units.  I'm wondering if it might even be cheaper and easier to get two really small units, like the 802's and merge the buggers.

octatonic

Emp_Fab said:

I think I need to specify his budget here.....   

£150 tops.

So, forget all ideas of anything sensible.....   it's just a case of 'will it make a noise' !

What is his attitude to stealing from a music shop?

Musicwolf

Emp_Fab said:

Yeah - I know....  This isn't for me by the way.  I have a mate who wants to setup a very cheap arrangement to record jam sessions. 

I have a Zoom LiveTrak sat here doing nothing (I now record from my XR18 / laptop) which is designed to do exactly what he wants.  £200 + shipping if you, or your 'friend' wants to PM me.

Emp_Fab

It really is a mate....  I've got my own XR18 under the desk here !  Thanks for the offer but a) it's more than the £150 tops budget and b) it's digital and has buttons...   By his own admission, he's like "a gibbon at the controls of an airliner" when it comes to technology !

Emp_Fab

Oh - and I found out yesterday, the £150 budget has to include powered speaker(s) !!!!

I can do it for him, but it'll be shit and clunky and crappy fidelity - but there you go.

steamabacus

Keep an eye out for an old Behringer Eurorack MX1602A mixer - maybe you'll find one in budget? I've had one as my home studio desk for 25-odd years now and it's done sterling service. It's several 'generations' ago in Behringer desks, so maybe you'll get lucky? I have a vague memory mine was £144 new all those years ago.