Compact mixing desk - is there such a thing?

SquireJapan

So ... I've fished out my old W30 workstation and roland R8 drum machine from the loft.

I gave away my old 24 track studiomaster mixing desk (as it was huge) - right now I have no way other than my two input USB interface to get the sounds out of either the W30 or the R8.

Is there such a thing as a good compact mixer with aux sends and inserts? 

I was thinking there might be some piece of hardware with all the inputs and inserts, but software controlled ... such things exist for PA, but not really in the studio space ... I guess people have space - I don't

John_P

Having the inserts and aux sends takes up space otherwise I'd have suggested a rack mounting one - there are a few1 or 2U mixers that could be great space savers.

The other option is to look at a digital desk like the sound craft ui12 or behringer xr12 etc and control it via an iPad.  I'm toying with getting one use live but I don't see any reason not to use on in the studio. 

spark240

Depends on your budget ..

Why do you need Aux sends and inserts in todays digital domain?

SquireJapan

spark240 said:

Depends on your budget ..

Why do you need Aux sends and inserts in todays digital domain?

Good question ... I'd quite like to use my various guitar pedals to mess with things, but I suppose I could do things in software.

... but then I could just drop the hardware and do everything Ableton. I suppose I could just get a very very basic mixer and then just plug the pedals in-line. Messy, but would get the job done.

Budget wise, I've not found anything close to what I want so have no idea

EDIT: So actually ... could I just use one of these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PreSonus-FireStudio-Project-Firewire-Audio-Interface-with-Wooden-Rack-/181931683764?hash=item2a5bf92fb4:g:T~8AAOSwvt1WRk5S and then just mix it all in software (ableton or someting). That interface even has two sends, so I could still use external effects.

Am I missing anything?

spark240

Yep...thats a great start...I use the Presonus16.4.2 desk as my interface, a bit OTT but I like to plug lots of things in.

You can download the Studio One software for free and its fine or use software of your choice.

We used to have one of these,,,great little mixer

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roland-M160-16-Channel-Rack-Mount-Line-Mixer-Used-/281856114134?hash=item419feefdd6:g:m6sAAOSwkZhWRasD

octatonic

How much budget do you have?

SSL X Desk is worth checking out but you are looking at £1900.

If this is for a personal studio then I'd look at a multi channel audio interface- many have 8 channels of simultaneous recording and you can get 16 fairly easily if you ever want to track live drums.

I stopped using consoles after 20 years of owning large format monsters.

My mixers are a hell of a lot better now (a large mixing desk is an acoustic obstacle) and I funnelled the money into decent outboard.