Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with mixer

Using a Mixer w/Audacity to do Interviews on a Landline.

CollectiveMind — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:55:07 -0800

Using a Mixer w/Audacity to do Interviews on a Landline.? I am using Audacity v2.02. I am also using Windows XP x32 but I may be upgrading to Windows 7 x64. I want to conduct interviews via a landline using an Alesis MultiMix4 w/USB connector. My PC is connected to the landline through an Intel (R) 536 EP modem v.4.76.70.
- In Audacity there was a phone line selection in the input dropdown menu which I selected. But I didn't hear a dial tone when I clicked record.
- In Control Panel > Audio Devices and Properties > Audio tab, there is a selection for modem #0 record and modem #0 playback. I selected these. The same selections are in Audacity in the input and output dropdown menus. I selected them too. But this configuration gave me an error that said I needed to check the input source and the sampling rate. The sampling rate for a landline is 8Khz. I changed the sampling rate but kept getting the error.
- The Audio tab in Audio Devices and Properties also has a USB Audio CODEC option which I selected thinking it would be a better connection to the mixer. And yes, it does let me record to Audacity through the mixer when the microphone input is selected, but there still seems to be no connection between Audacity and the landline. I thought that through the USB, I could not only talk to who is on the phone through a microphone which is connected to the mixer, but listen to them through the mixer too.
Can the hivemind give me any help? Thanks.

Small audio mixer with mic in, line in, level meters?

DJ Broken Record — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:32:50 -0800

DJ switching to controllers-only: What is a (very) compact audio device (most likely a mixer) that will give me a mic input, an audio input, and reliable, accurate level meters? I'm a DJ who has always used traditional hardware DJ mixers, even when using MIDI controllers and laptops. I'm starting to consider moving to an Ableton/APC40-only set up. But I still can't let go of certain things...for one, I'm just too dependent on my hardware level meters (and my interface, Traktor Audio 6, has a ridiculously high output level). Also, I definitely want to be able to to use a mic. So ideally, I'd have just a tiny bare-bones mixer to take the mic input, mix it with my signal coming from the interface, and give me visual readings on all the levels. And this would have be a small-enough device that it would fit in a bag with the APC and laptop. So size is important.

So far, I've been able to find the Behringer XENYX Q502USB as one option. The only downsides are that the level meter is pretty vague, and I've heard lots of bad things about the quality of Behringer...would I be able to play on a full size professional sound system with it? I've also found this page, but I don't see any with all the features that I want. They also have rack mount mixers, but 19 inches is too big. If they had a half-size rack mount mixer that wasn't too heavy, with all the features I want, I could put it under the APC40, that would be perfect.

The whole reason I'm ditching mixers is because I want a more compact set up (Currently I'm using a Novation Launchpad and a 12" 4-channel mixer. I'm also using the mixer as a hybrid controller. If I ditch the mixer I have to make up for it with the added controls from the APC). Alternatively, if I could find a very small professional DJ mixer, I could go with that. If they can fit those mixer sections into the platter-based DJ controllers, why can't they make the standalone mixer, that size!? So let me know if you know of any professional, very small DJ mixers.

I guess my question is: does anyone know of any very small mixers that have level meters, at least 1 mic and 1 line input and gain controls that would work with my set up? Should I just go with the Behringer? Thanks.

Please help me pick a pair of PA speakers for a music practice room!

The Minotaur — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:41:42 -0800

Please help me pick a pair of PA speakers for a music practice room! What I've got to power the speakers:

A 90's-era Crown Com-Tech 800 solid state power amp

What I want to put through the speakers:

- Alesis DM6 compact electronic drumset -- this the "Costco special" available for like $280 right now

- Boss SP-303 Dr. Sample sampler

- Vocals (2 Shure SM57 microphones)

- Laptop soundz

Additionally:

I'll put everything through a Behringer Xenyx 802 8-input mixer and then into the power amp.

The only thing that won't be coming out of the speakers is my guitars.

Mostly this will be for pretty low-volume practice but it would be nice if these speakers would let me play a little show if there's an occasion.

I'd like to spend maybe $200-$300 on the speakers.

Thanks for reading!

---

Output power rating for the amp, from the manual:

Dual mode (with both channels driven):
490 watts into 4 ohms.
305 watts into 8 ohms.
460 watts with 70 volt output.

Bridge-Mono mode:
975 watts into 8 ohms.
610 watts into 16 ohms.
920 watts in 70 volt mode (140 volt output).

Parallel-Mono mode:
965 watts into 2 ohms.
610 watts into 4 ohms.
915 watts with 70 volt output

I need help understaing how to use a professional stage mic/line mixer.

Jamesonian — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:06:29 -0800

I know next to nothing about professional audio and need expert advice on how to use an intimidating-looking portable mic/line mixer for my office's webcast. What are all those knobs for?!? My office is planning a live webcast and I have to get the presenters wired for audio. I've been handed two Shure PGX wireless kits, a Mackie ProFX8 mixer and all the necessary mic cables. I just need to mix the microphones down to a single, mono signal that I can send to my laptop.

Which input on the mixer should I use? Which, if any, should I avoid? How much of the EQ, AUX, PAN or other knobs do I need to worry about? Can I just leave them in their default positions? What do they do, anyway? And which output should I use? The unbalanced RCAs or the balanced XLR? If I use the balanced output, which one (let or right) will have my mono signal? Both? The mixer's manual offers some help but it assumes that the reader knows something about professional audio. Sadly, I don't know much.

Finally, for future reference is there an on-line resource that would help me understand how this mixer works?

Thanks in advance.

ermahgerd hand mixers

roger ackroyd — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:20:39 -0800

Hand mixers! Can you recommend one? Lots of stand mixer questions in the archives, but I couldn't find any hand mixer recommendations. Is that because they're all the same? My needs are basic: whipping eggs, whipping cream, maybe making frosting from scratch every once in a while. What say you, kitchen wizards of Metafilter? Which mixer should I get?

What happened to Ecler?

heybudday — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:26:00 -0800

Ecler is a Spain-bases audio manufacturer, including for DJ equipment. However, they haven't made a new DJ mixer or updated their website in years. Does anyone have any idea what is up with the company?

What should I do with my new toy?

spunweb — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:01:27 -0800

What should I make with my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer? I just got a brand new toy as an anniversary present! It's a red, 5qt Kitchen Aid mixer with a magic lifty bowl and three attachments (a paddle, a whisker, and a dough hook). So far I've made cupcakes and muffins, but want to...

-- Start baking a little healthier. I've lost about 10 pounds since moving because of eating better, and want to keep that up.

-- REALLY make use of the awesomeness of my mixer -- the cupcakes and stuff that I've made are the kinds of things I'd've done anyways.

-- Show my appreciation for my gift (seriously, I've wanted one for about 5 yrs) by using it every week.

So here's my question. It's got two parts.

PART ONE:
What should I make with my new mixer (its name is RED SONJA <3 <3) that's healthy and delicious? We're in Hawaii, so assume access to a wide array of foods.

PART TWO:
What things do you bake on a semi-weekly basis?

No more cookies (for a while...)

JoanArkham — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:07:47 -0800

So, I got a KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas this year...yay! But I'm also trying to get back to healthy habits* after overindulging over the holidays. Other than whole wheat bread (proven recipes welcome) is there anything healthy I can make with this thing? Should I spring for the pasta maker attachment to try whole wheat pasta? *Not a diet! Not a resolution!

Where to get a Kitchen-Aid stand mixer motor replaced/upgraded?

DoomGerbil — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:01:47 -0800

My somewhat recent Kitchen-Aid stand mixer died and just repairing it is almost as much as replacing it, since it's no longer under warranty. I read a post on Chowhound awhile back about someone replacing the standard KA stand mixer motor with an "industrial" motor - that sounds like the route I'd like to take, except that I don't even know how I'd go about finding somewhere in Los Angeles to get that sort of work done. Is there a way to find somewhere to get this sort of work done in Los Angeles? Does anyone have any experience getting something like this done?

Glass table = hum? Why?

bodgy — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:14:41 -0800

When I set my microphone stand on a table I get a hum. How can I fix that without spending a lot of money or holding the microphone the whole time? This is a follow up to this question:
http://ask.metafilter.com/171268/Help-me-rid-myself-of-this-annoying-hum

After hours and hours of troubleshooting I have discovered the source of the hum--my table. I don't know WHY, and as mentioned in that previous question, this is somewhat new behavior as I recorded like this for years without any hum.

But with my microphone stands sitting on the table, I get a hum. If I lift the stands into the air, there is no hum.

My setup is that I have two microphone stands, metal with rubber feet, standing about 8" high. At the top is your standard plastic mic clip. In the mic clip is my mic. Also attached to the Mic stand is a pop filter.

I set these on my desk, an office desk with a glass top.

I am guessing the noise to be vibration related, but I have turned off all other electronic devices on the table and still get the hum. Further, I have tried "buffering" the mic and the table with bubble wrap, carpet, and paper, and all three still produce the hum.

I have looked into tripod stands for the floor, but due to the set-up, to keep those out of the way would require a 4' or longer boom arm, and the one I tried had balance issues with the boom extended all the way out.

I'd prefer to not have to spend over $200 on mic stands to fix this problem, but not sure how else to fix it. Any ideas would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Help me rid myself of this annoying hum

bodgy — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:10:58 -0800

Why am I picking up a hum when recording? I have been recording in a 2 mic setup for quite some time but lately I have picked up some sort of electric hum. I have spent 2 hours trying different configurations and now, frustrated, I am turning to you Mefites for assistance!

I have two Shure SM-57 microphones. They are connected by XLR to a Behringer X1204USB 12-Channel Mixer, one on Input 1, the other on Input 2. The mixer is then connected to my Macbook pro through an RCA to 1/4" adapter cable.

The hum is something new the past few months.

My troubleshooting steps:

*Plugged Headphones directly into the Phones jack of the mixer, yep I hear the hum.

*I checked all the mixer board settings. I set everything to 0 and the hum went away (though I did hear a bit of ambient static). As I brought up the sound to either microphone the hum came back. I tested some recording levels, and my recordings were overly soft. By the time I got up to where I was hitting 0.5 on the Mac (with the Mac's recording input maxed out) the board's settings were all pretty high and the hum was very audible.

*I tested this with one mic then the other. Both mics demonstrated the hum.

*I then replaced the XLR cable between one mic and the board. Hum still there.

At this point I'd tried 2 mics, 3 XLR cables, and 2 outputs all with identical results and thought perhaps my board was bad. So I pulled out my old Nady MXE-612, hooked up the two mics, plugged my phones in the jack...and there's that god damn hum!

Now I am listening to my room. I do NOT hear this hum. I have turned off everything in the room including the lights. I have UNPLUGGED everything in the room except the mixing board. STILL THIS HUM...

The hum is NOT constant but it is rhythimic. In the recording software I see it ebb and flow like a sine wave. I don't know what to make of it.

I have uploaded an MP3 of this sound to http://cilff.com/wtf.mp3 The beginning is the hum when the levels are set at a recording volume where my words can be picked up. The end of the WAV is where I turn everything WAY up to get the maximum noise and show the way it comes in and out ever so slightly.

At this point I am willing to buy whatever needs to be bought to get rid of this hum, but I'm not even sure if it's a "replace the part" problem as I have replaced every single component now and still get the hum.

I'm losing my mind...please help!

Yamaha mixer muffling my vocals.

hasna — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:53:42 -0800

Mixer (Yamaha EMX 312 SC) is muffling the vocals. Awful sound. Help? They installed two speakers (not sure what kind... they removed the logos/branding for some reason) as well as a mixer, TV and DVD player in the children's gym I'm in charge of. Part of our curriculum relies on music, specifically having the children follow the actions given in the lyrics of songs. So it's a bit of a problem we're having.

I feel like a dunce, because I've done a bit of audio work before in my past in the tv/film/live event industry... but alas, I cannot figure out the problem.

I've hooked the mixer up to my desktop computer, and no matter what I try to play (youtube files, iTunes, DVDs, etc) the sound comes out like an instrumental track... the vocals are almost completely gone. (whereas if I use headphones, it's perfect). The rest of the sound is good, if slightly muffled.

I've tried everything Google tells me to, with no result. My first class is this afternoon. Help?

Splitter as a merger?

NotSoSiniSter — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:03:22 -0800

Is it possible to use an all female 3.5mm splitter backwards to allow two inputs into one set of speakers? This might seem a little weird, but if it works, its the most slip stream solution to what I'm trying to do. I just need two 3.5mm inputs into my set of speakers. I don't need to be able to switch between the two, if I'm using one input I won't be using the other.

Right now, I have my 2.1 speakers plugged into my computer. The right and left speakers plug into the sub which then has a hard wire that plugs into my computer. I want to be able to plug my recently bought DJ mixer (with a built in sound card) into those speakers as well. From what I see, Ableton and Traktor will not let me output sound through my computer speakers. Whatever sound either outputs will have to come out of my mixer. There probably is a way to have both programs play though my computers speakers, but that setup is not how it would work out at an actual Live DJ set.

I was thinking about using a 2x male RCA (red and white cables) to a male 3.5mm jack coming from my mixer. I would then run a male to male 3.5mm cable from my computer. Both would plug into a female to 2x female splitter. But in this case, I would user the cable as a merger. Then I would have the hardwire coming from my speaker plug into the opposite end of the adapter. My thought its, its just all electricity and it should all work out. But...am I missing something? could merging cables like this cause a surge in electricity and potentially blow out my speakers? Sure I can just get a audio switcher, but those are so much more expensive and overly complicated to what I'm trying to achieve.

So can such a wiring work? Or am I just a big idiot? :D

Thanks.

Sound mixer: How to record and play back different inputs?

odinsdream — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:53:31 -0800

I have a 14-channel mixer. During a live performance I want to play some channels to loudspeakers while simultaneously recording, but I want the recording to contain more channels that are not played through the loudspeakers. Details and diagrams within. I'm now doing sound for our UU fellowship and we have a Mackie 1402 mixer. I've made some annotated diagrams of how it's currently hooked up, here:

Front Panel
Back Panel (No connections currently used here.)

How it works now: Mic inputs 1 - 5 are unmuted when someone's using them, otherwise they're muted. The room speakers are plugged into MAIN OUTPUT and the CD Recorder is plugged into the TAPE OUTPUT, so everything people hear over the speakers is recorded on the CD.

How I'd like it to work: I'd like to be able to add a mic on the piano, add this input to the recording, but not play it back over the loudspeakers.

In short, how can I decide that some inputs should be recorded and some should be played out loud even if these groups overlap? If I need to re-arrange wires that's totally fine, I just can't figure out how to accomplish it.

If I need to use the ALT 3-4 bus and give up the Mute feature, that's probably fine, as long as turning down a channel's fader accomplishes the same thing.

Thanks!

400w speakers to computer?

NotSoSiniSter — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:37:27 -0800

Whats the cheapest route to plug a DJ mixer/laptop into a pair Audiofile 583lr large floor speakers? I sort of jumped the gun on myself but I thought I should snatch these up before someone else did. Don't worry, these speakers were used in a lot of "white van scams" but I'm paying 50$ for mine. :) The input on these speakers are those push connections you see on the back of home theater speakers that plug into a receiver. The speakers are 400w. I think I need to buy an amp so I can play sound from a DJ mixer.

I really have never had to do this before. If I can get enough sound to play out of these for a medium sized crowd I will be happy. What is the cheapest course of action?

Thanks! :D

DJ equitment for live sets?

NotSoSiniSter — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:56:11 -0800

What kind of equipment should a beginner DJ buy for live sets? This is pretty much a follow up question to my last one focused more on producing music. Basic vibe was to stick to the midi keyboard and learn a bunch of programs. But, how about live sets?

My major goal with one of my friends is to DJ at our schools dances senior year and not suck. (Both of us are 17) I'm looking at the kind of stuff main stream DJs use, its pretty insane how much it all costs. So that doesn't help much. From what I have read, the basic thing you need is a mixer and a laptop to do live sets. Can anyone follow up on that? My price point for a mixer is something like $200ish. But if there's good reason to go above that, I would definitely consider it. It would be nice to not outgrow it in a few years. I would plan to use Ableton live for sets since it seems like a popular option. I don't know if that will effect anything. But who knows.

So yea, any other things I should keep in mind? I'm all ears.

Thanks :D

USB 2.0 for audio. Does it matter?

lumpenprole — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:07:01 -0800

Trying to buy a mixer with a usb interface. Is 2.0 that much better than 1.0? I'm trying to get a better setup for recording a podcast I'm working on. I've been running a couple usb headsets right into my laptop running audacity.

In short, it sucks. No amount of high pass filter can fix how crappy it sounds. Right now I'm shopping for a small mixer than I can run into the laptop instead.

I've been looking at ones with a usb interface so I don't have to buy two things, and found some cheap ones that are cheap because they are 1.0 and not 2.0. Well, does that matter? Isn't realtime, realtime?

Guitar center tried to sell me a $250 usb interface with 6 mic ins so that I would multitrack it and use audacity as the mixer. Is this a better idea?

Price is really a factor here, so don't tell me I need a $500 rig because it's not going to happen.

Whole-grain bread: healthy for us, death for appliances

jluce50 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:35:23 -0800

I recently fulfilled my wife's lifelong dream of owning a KitchenAid mixer. It was a used Epicurean 475-watt beast that was in great shape. That was about a month ago. Now we have the paperweight to beat all paperweights and I need help finding a replacement. You see, the problem is that she uses it almost exclusively for kneading whole-grain bread dough which, as it turns out, is hell on a mixer. It seems a large percentage of the negative reviews find on "pro-sumer" level mixers are from people who kill them trying to make whole-grain bread.

Having done a little more research I think even the best KitchenAids are out of the running. The Cuisinart looked decent until I saw the horror stories of dealing with warranty repairs. The Bosch Universal looks the best, but that thing is ugly as a war wound. I guess we could live with it if we have to...

Our limit is about $400... maaaaybe $450 for a whole-grain stomping, fire-breathing beast - if such a thing exists.

So please, if there's anyone out there with experience making bread dough that would cause a standard mixer to cower in fear, I could use your help! Thanks!

How does one hook up a sixteen channel firewire mixer to a mac?

johannahdeschanel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:36:10 -0800

How does one hook up a sixteen channel firewire mixer to a late 2008 mac? No firewire input. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.

Paging the A/V Club

Mom — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:41:14 -0800

What do I call the device that would connect Tivo, DVD player, game console and cable input to my tv, so I don't have to unplug & replug RCA jacks all the time? Can you recommend a product that does this well and not too expensively? tv mixer? a/v mixer? A/B/C/D switch? Tv has multiple input types, but DVR, DVD player, game console and cable use RCA jacks. Ideally, this device would allow me to run the audio through the stereo, as well. Once I know what to call it, I can shop for it. Please save me a trip to The Shack. thanks.

Calling all live video ninjas.

liquado — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:05:51 -0800

I needs me a good/simple/cheap video switcher for live production. Every year, I'm part of running a live event (nonprofit fishing tournament) that uses multiple cameras for a live, switched video signal projected on a screen on top of the stage -- like the big screen at a live concert.

We've historically used a borrowed Videonics MX-1 Digital Audio/Video Mixer Switcher, but the borrowed one has developed signal glitching issues with the crossfade slider -- and, we'd really like to have one of our own. I have no idea what brand/type I should be looking for; so many of them seem far more complex than is required. I know what we need:

-Minimum four inputs (five or six would be ideal)
-Slider/Fader
-Multiple outputs (four or five would be ideal)
-*Maybe* text overlay capability

That's it. Doesn't have to be fancy, or need any audio capability or filters/special effects. I can also work around only a single output with a video amp, if I have to.

I'm open to any options, but cheaper is better -- I really like the idea of working used machines rather than new.

Thanks!

What's wrong with my mixer?

hellojed — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:54:10 -0800

A month ago I got my first DJ setup, a few weeks ago my mixer refused to turn on, what's wrong with it? Recently I acquired my first DJ setup, consisting of 2 Gemini pt 1000 turntables, a 19" Gemini Executioner mixer (looks like this), and a lovely flight case.

After putting it together and plugging everything in, I discovered that the mixer would not turn on when plugged in. It uses a 3 prong male to C13 female power cable, and I used several different cables, each one of them had no effect.

Then, a few days later, I flipped the switch on the mixer and it turned on. I guessed that it needed some time to get warmed up, as it had been sitting dormant in my friend's basement for years and hadn't been used in a long time.

So I was baffled when, a few weeks later, I flipped the switch on the mixer and it wouldn't turn on. I had not bumped or changed anything about it since last using it that morning, when I was practicing. It's been a few weeks since it's worked.

From what I can tell I'm using the correct power cable (rated at 125 volts) with the mixer at the correct voltage setting (115 volts). All of my equipment (turntables, mixer, small amp) are all off the same power strip, but it doesn't matter if the mixer is plugged into the wall or otherwise, it refuses to turn on.

What, if anything, is wrong with this mixer?

What powered mixer do I need?

rumsey monument — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:58:43 -0800

I have two 200-watt, 8 ohm speakers. What PA head do I buy? I received 2 PA speakers as gift. On the back, its says they are 200 watt, 8 ohms. What would be the proper powered mixer to buy to complete my little PA system? I don't really need any more than 8 inputs, and do not need anything with bells and whistles. Thanks!

What's the best (cheap) setup to do on-site podcasting?

HostBryan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:45:51 -0800

What's the best solution for my podcasting situation? I've checked the other podcasting questions on AskMeFi, and I haven't found quite what I'm looking for, so here's my situation:

I started off doing my podcast on the campus radio station, then recently moved to a podcast-only format. We've been using Skype since our crew is now dispersed around the country, and that works well. Thing is, a local business wants to do more promotional stuff with the podcast and wants us to do live-to-tape shows on location store during big events. We've done one already that was sort of cobbled together and it was OK, but I'd like to have my own setup tailored especially to my needs.

Basically, I'm looking for a good mixer and microphone to record directly to my computer. Here are the stipulations:

1. I'm running a 2007 Macbook Pro. It's a great computer but has no mic preamp built in, which makes a lot of un-powered mixers useless.
2. I want a mixer that preferably has 3 or 4 mic inputs. I can live with two, though.
3. I don't have a preference between USB and line-in mixers, but I would like a traditional board setup.
4. I'm recording voice only. No music.
5. I would prefer this to be on the inexpensive side. Preferably sub-$200, since I make no money on this podcast and I am but a poor grad student.
6. Something that works with Garage Band or Audacity would be preferable.
7. I'm not adverse to flash/other media recorders, but I still want a good mic input.

If you feel this question has been answered well in another thread, don't hesitate to point me towards that thread. Otherwise, I kneel prostrate before you, oh great hive mind.

Different kinds of partay....

fvox13 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:51:51 -0800

What's the difference between various types of parties? Why are some called hootenannys, others called hoedowns, still others called mixers, balls, dances, shindigs, etc? Can anyone point me towards a (semi-serious, or totally facetious... either one would be valuable) list or comparison of various types of parties? Bonus points for descriptions of linguistic / dialectical differences.