Digital Mixer, Mixing Console, Recording Mixer
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| For a DJ, this is pretty straight-forward. You can get by with two inputs, one for each source, be it a deck, iPod, cd player, etc. Most two input mixers will have stereo inputs for both, but you always want to make sure. A lot of these will also come with some amount of mono inputs for mic voice-overs or stabs. You can find these for as low as $100 or upwards of $400 for a solid, entry level DJ mixer. Good brands in this range are Numark, M-Audio, and Alesis.
If you are in a band looking for gigs around town, you open up a lot of options by having your own PA. For this type of situation, you can probably survive on 8 inputs. Most of your instrument outputs will be in mono, but it’s usually a good idea to have at least one or two stereo inputs on your board to play from other sources in between sets. The most common set up you’ll see for entry-level powered stereo mixers is six mono and two stereo inputs. Samson and Peavey have great models at around $300 to $400. |
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If you are looking to build a recording environment, a good mixer is the backbone of your studio. For this, a great starting mixer should have at least twelve inputs, sixteen would, of course, be better. If you’re looking for entry level, these will cost between $400 - $600. Yamaha and Mackie both make good boards for these purposes. If you really mean business, however, you will need to look into spending at least a thousand. And that’s where the options get really fun.
Some consoles have internal effects processors that allow you to automatically add a certain transformation to your sound. A board with an effects processor is more useful out of the box - allowing for more versatile sounds and styles. However, most boards can use external effects, which can add an even larger variety - but they must be acquired separately. |
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| In the end, most people agree that, after a certain level, the quality of the sound of a performance or recording is due more to the skill of the person behind the controls and the loudspeaker system. So the important thing is to find the appropriate console for your purposes. From there, find out what you like. In the long run, the best board will be the one that fits your style above all else. |
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