Audio Mixers Interfaces For Next Level Mixing
The numbers of controllers, buttons, channels and levels in the Audio Mixers surely makes it look like one hell of a complicated instrument.
But for music makers, its their paint and brush and they are bit easy to understand just like that.
The device Audio Mixer can be easily summed as a set of horizontal channels strips (made of several individual controls) proceeded by repeated (variants) of several channel strips.
Audio mixing is an art in itself, It's not something that everyone can really do without having a passion for it.
The recording console offers a tons of feature that can make even a seasonal musician easily gets confused and end up getting something that not matches you need.
So if you are concerned about your purchase (and you must be as these mixers does not comes cheap) Reviews are generally good corners to start with to look for the audio mixers that matches your needs and budget.
In this post I am going to suggest few of Budget Friendly Audio Mixers and will try to keep it short and sweet. And, I just hope you have done your homework and know what (features) you are looking for.
I will only recommend those mixers which I have personally used or came across in my journey till now.
Lets Dive-In,,,,
Best Budget Mixer Under $300
Mackie PROFX12V2 12-Channel Compact Mixer
This 12 channel audio mixer looks like one you could use nowadays for several applications. It will admit you to entertain yourself using the audio mixer more often.
The application of the vita mic preamps is of top performance quality.
This is good to assure that you enjoy the live mixing which you get from Mackie Pro FX. This factor makes it great for you use this for the outdoors for live shows if you are a musician or sound engineer.
You can admire the noiseless specialty that allows for having a clean sound at all times.
The ready FX effects engine is here to make to your effects to even superior. This is because it features new and improved floating point DSP.
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This delivers on the comprehensive processing of the high-quality sound. You can be assured that the sound effects in the model deliver on the best mixing always.
You should have some mixing that entertains the audience.
The Mackie ProFx V2 permits for USB recording and playback. The USB interface is for you to easily record your mixes and music and play them later.
In the end, the model should conventionally work great for you at all times.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Allen & Heath ZEDi-10FX Hybrid Compact Mixer
This audio mixer is known for having a great arrangement that stands out as one of the best.
This particular audio mixer is great for both live sounds and recordings. When it comes about affordability, we're still within the affordable price range.
With this audio mixer, you will get a very solid and stable portable build, configurable USB ins/outs, 3 stereo inputs, 4 mic/line inputs with also the built-in FX inputs.
You can say that you are getting all the inputs that you might need when it comes about the overall use of the audio mixer.
You will notice that it comes with 2 channels that also offers a guitar mode.
There aren't as many channels as some others, but most will call that more than enough for most applications ( for both recording or live).
Its 2 guitar DI high impedance inputs will make you a pro guitarist with the mixer.
The 3 bands EQS are for easy creative and corrective tonal shaping.
The Allen and Heath audio mixer generally looks admirable.
Well, you will be lucky to know that it also sounds just as good as it looks. It has something that many people would love to listen.
The Allen and health ZEDI-LOFX is another one of the most strong contender for audio mixers out there.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Mackie PROFX8v2 8-Channel Compact Mixer
The audio mixers are always interesting when it comes about the making the best sounds.
Initially, we have one of the best audio mixers in the market right here when it comes to overall affordability, channels, ins/outs as well as other qualities that are considered important in one of these audio mixers.
You just feel like a true professional. At first, you have to understand their whole functionality to get the right output of sound always.
Mackie PROFX8v2 is the compact live device that you can use whether you are a professional musician, sound engineer or a producer.
The audience will love it for the kind of performance you will get with this model.
If you are going to perform in front of a huge crowd, you should have the best sound with you and your team.
When it comes to the best mixers for audio, Mackie is famous among the DJs for its performance.
The audio mixer comes packing a number of sound effects. This one comes with a total of 16 professional sound effects. It has Mackie Vita mic preamp add life to any input.
Vita mic preamps are virtually noiseless and perfect for live sound.
It has a built-in USB interface for easily recording your mix or for music playback during the show. You can even make a sound library or release CDs of your live shows.
When it comes about recording, you can adopt the Tracktion 3 music production software. This software is delivered with the model after buying it.
Its 7-band graphic EQ will help give you to tune your sound.
When it comes about the controls, it has a well-stocked audio toolkit. From critical tools like multiband graphic equalization to smart feature like channel inserts and foot switches FX mute.
The model has all the features that you need.
Reasons To Buy
Reasons To Avoid
Peavey PVi 6500 All In One Powered Mixer
This Peavy powered mixer offers everything a musician needs by providing up-to 6 homage handiest combinations XLR's and quarter H inputs using Peavey's silencer microphone preamps and 400 watts of power.
This helps for crystal clear audio reproduction.
This audio mixer has some of the exclusive features like Mid Morph EQ, in order to improve tone and clarity of vocals accurately.
Feedback on the other hand is quickly is easily identified and removed with Peavey's 9 ban graphic EQ combined with the Revolutionary Ethel's feedback locating system.
Also it's equipped with Cosmos which drastically enhances both the low and high end of the audio spectrum and is exclusively known to be the PV technology.
Moreover, the foot switchable built in 24-bit digital effects complement the already featured packed unit by allowing the user to select multiple varieties of reverb and delay.
Another advantage is it comes with the integrated Bluetooth technology that allows it to easily connect to various devices for easier control and recording.
Budget Friendly Audio Mixer Under $500
Behringer X Air X18
Up next we have another highly rated Behringer mixer which is not fundamentally budget friendly but a model that may be suitable for your needs.
The model has a bit of different look as you can see. It's 18 channels, 12 buses, 16 XLR connections and USB input are more than enough for a lot of musicians and performers out there.
It also has an integrated Wi-Fi module is something that you can admire. This means you can easily hook up to your smartphones or laptops. The model features a multi-channel USB audio interface built-in, 4 stereo effects, 6 AUX outputs and more.
The Behringer audio mixer allows for manual monitoring. All of that is monitored with a tablet touchscreen. Many audio mixers such as this one are now dealing with touchscreen technology.
The Behringer X Air X18 is perfect for those who are at venues, not only because of the adaptable build but the numerous features it has geared those backstage to make their jobs a lot simpler.
You can be sure to enjoy using it more often as it will be durable.
Pros
Cons
Peavey PVi 6500 400-watts 5-Channels Powered Mixer
Peavey PVi 6500 of the best-powered audio mixers out there. Peavey is a brand we've heard before it comes to more analogue, old school kind of music gears.
This model is perfect for the best audio mixing that you need for your music production. It can also work excellent for the sound engineer who needs to work on many applications.
The model is perfect for up to 100 people audience, churches, schools, bands and carnivals.
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They know that there is something that can help them achieve the best output always.
Its built-in Bluetooth technology is important for the connectivity. There is no confusion that you will easily connect it to the various devices for ease of controlling and recording.
You can now record the sound and analyze it later.
The Peavey PVI model has a lot of digital effects. You can't imagine an audio mixer without the effects, it will be the worst thing that can happen to you.
The manual outlines how you can approach the effects and the overall application.
Pros
Cons
Best Audio Mixers Under $1000 (Between $500 - $1000)
Yamaha EMX 5014C 14-Input Powered Mixer
When it comes about sound mixing, Yamaha generally remains unbeaten in most cases. This is when the price of audio mixers starts to increase a little bit but for good reasons and if you have the money to invest.
It's also when we are looking for some more advanced features that once you learn how to use them, will really separate your mixing from others.
You are getting a mixer, a power amplifier, an EQ and lots of digital effects with it. Now you should have all the tools when it comes about mixing your music.
The best thing about Yamaha EMX is that you will get all of these in a compact and portable device. You also don't need to worry about the setup process as it is so easy.
Yamaha EMX 5014C features admirable sound through the best design and attractive parts selection. There is no confusion that having the best parts picking is going to be important when it comes to obtaining the best sound. You will be glad knowing that you have a model that works superbly.
It has whopping 14 inputs, 10 channels ( single knob compressor on the first 6 ), stereo master faders ( with AFL and PFL monitor switches ), 80 Hz high-pass filters ( helps with rumble ) and a feedback channel locator system.
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The use of special low noise chip resistors helps with experiencing correct and noise-free reproduction of the sound.
Its single-knob compressors will really help you to control vocals or keep the bass tight. The only thing I get confused upon was the idea of having 14 inputs for the model.
But this makes the model highly flexible. The interface is also user-friendly yet foremost for being able to monitor audio very closely.
Pros
Cons
Mackie 1604VLZ4 16-Channels Compact 4-Bus MIxer
Mackie 1604 is one of the best audio models that you can get nowadays that looks customary. We have one of the most famous lines of out there- the Mackie VLZ4.
There's a reason why they have made more than one appearance in the list- not only they give us numerous options in different shapes, sizes and channel counts but also have received a lot of great feedback on their builds and quality.
The Mackie 1604 model has a number of auxiliaries that can help with the performance too. It has 16 boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps. It has 3-band EQs.
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The EQs controls are twisted so that they deliver on the best performance. If you are an expert in using the mixers, then you should be glad about this one.
The rear of the model is full of sockets. With the sockets, you can make some great mixes for you. Since setting up it is simple, you should have a good time doing so. With the right setup, you be at the top and running no time.
The model is a solid mixer to check out. The mixing quality is great when it comes to using this model. It would be great for live concerts as it always delivers on the great sound that you need.
pros
cons
Mackie DL1608 16 Channel Digital Live Sound Mixer
Mackie DL 1608 model comes from the brand that makes some of the best audio mixers that you can purchase on the market nowadays.
This is super digital ( connects to your iPad with lightning connector ). This is the reason you will admire having it around with you.
The Mackie DL 1608 offers 16 channels and some high-quality 24-bits audio, here's another Mackie model to keep in mind. The manufacturer tried to keep the hardware to a fundamental as much as possible. The audio mixer feels durable and nicely put together.
Its 16 inputs allow for more connectivity. It has a whopping 16 Onyx mic preamps, wireless mixing function and some essential effects ( delay, reverb, compression ).
You will have a great time using this kind of audio mixer knowing that it will always work superbly to make sure that it gives you the best outputs you need.
As part of the networking, there is an Ethernet port, you can also integrate the model to a wireless router for ease of access.
Pros
Cons
Best Higher End Audio Mixers Above $1000
Soundcraft Si Expression Digital 16-Channels Live Audio Mixer Console
Here's one of the best digital mixers that really overrules others when it comes to the quality of sound and capabilities it brings.
It is great whether you're performing in a live show or recording in a studio. You should be glad to know that it is here to make music mixing even better.
SoundCraft SI Expression manipulates the use of the best technology to make it works better.
The model has 16 channels and mic preamps ( recallable ), 4 line ins, 4 stereo FX returns and the ability to use up to 66 processing channels ( with the expansion slot 64*64).
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You will experience the one-touch easy mix. This means you will see the AUX, FX or the main bus to mix to all on the touchpad.
The Sound Craft audio mixer features the Faderglow colours. This is fundamentally having different colours for each of the Fader slots equivalent to the Fader function.
They state it's recommended for broadcasting, churches, live concerts, recording in studios, and theaters- so really, any applications you can see yourself detecting- this one is very versatile.
This is great and useful when recording from direct outs or if there are two consoles in use and they distribute the same stage box.
Its copy and paste feature is something you will admire. It will admit you to copy a wide range of functions. It could be the channels mixes, settings and more.
Its security feature allows for only access by authorized users. You don't need to worry about people who are using your mixer while you are away.
Pros
Cons
Presonus Studio 24.4.2 AI Active Integration Digital Mixer
If you do have the cash to invest in something huge to really distinguish your mixes from the rest of the music recording and performance world, the StudioLive series by PreSonus should be taken seriously.
Presonus Studio 24.4.2 has the analogue-like mixing surface that is attached to the power of digital mixing. Now you will have better sound and accommodate it with the software important for producing your music.
The model has 24 channels with the class an XMAX mic preamps line inputs, analogue inserts and direct outputs for connectivity.
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Now you can get the clear sound for every channel that you get to achieve right now. You will admire the way it is possible to store these settings and retain them later and enjoy the performance of each.
You don't need to worry about any limitations when it comes to using this model. The model gives you with all the important features you need for making the best sound always.
The Presonus Studio audio mixer offers wireless or wired connectivity to any standard router and networks with Macs, PCs, and iOS device running the StudioLive AI software library, which features UC surface multi-touch mixer-control software with smart measurement technology, specialized iOS apps, capture 2.1, and studio one 3 artist DAW.
Best of all, all controls are one to one, so there is no chance to get lost in, and your main mix is always at your fingertips.
This audio mixer is for those who are serious about their sound as it costs quite a lot.
Pros
Cons
Audio Mixers Buying Guide
Inputs on Audio Mixers
This is absolutely going to be one of the most important features for your audio mixer.
You have to look at channels and input counts that come with your model.
These are literally signal paths for your need depends on preferences and uses here. If you are not connecting a bunch of gears ( microphone, guitars and other instruments as well as additional preamps and processors ) to your model, grabbing a 4, 8 or 12 channel model will be more than achievable.
Special Effects
Audio mixing is more than just monitoring the volume of your instruments.
You must have to look at the FX effects options that you get with the model.
It depends upon the model you can always deal with a number of options. Some of the common special effects are equalization, echo and reverb.
The function of equalization will help you to adjust the volume of different frequencies that as separated as low, medium and high. With the Echo, you can easily create a literal echo to the sound.
Your Budget
The best audio mixers have a very large range when it comes to price point.
It all depends upon how much money you have to invest in your audio mixer.
Earlier, you could get the audio mixers being large in size. But that has changed today.
Now, you can get many models right now that are easily portable or handy.
Computer Connectivity
Nowadays, you can never ignore the importance of computers.
Many musicians or sound engineers always use the computers to record their music.
Hence, it is important that you should have a model that delivers on the best computer compatibility.
