Small mixer for sorting my own monitor mix

[ore_terra]

Hi

I’m looking for a small mixer to do the following when performing live:

- inputs 1 and 2: my guitar and my vocals straight from a Neural Quad Cortex (sort of Helix, Kemper, etc). XLR
- input 3 monitor feed (wich will now be a mix of everything but my guitar and vocals)
- inputs 1 and 2 need to be able to run through the mixer, out to FOH. Either panned hard L and R via the main outs, either with direct outs.
- in parallel I should be able to make my own mix with all the 3 inputs and take it out to my headphones.

So far I’ve seen these small mackies, which have also the advantage to set main outs as XLR mic level, so the sound guy can’t complaint of me sending him or her weird levels or any other blablabla

Mackie 1202 VLZ4 and the smaller 802 with 3 XLR inputs and only one Aux.

The way I’ve thought to work it around:
- ins 1 and 2 hard panned as I said and sent to main out. All at unity.
- patch main out parallel TRS outs to 2 spare channels. Let’s say 4 and 5.
- send channels 3, 4 and 5 to alt outs 3-4
- set headphone out to listen alt 3-4
- enjoy with my own mix, even having chance to EQ it

The same could be done with Aux 1 and 2 in the 1202. 802 has only 1 aux. I could also patch TS cables in the insert in only half way, having direct outs. But I dont quite like this option for live context (half way in cables, use of adaptors… entrophy)

I have also the chance of getting a 2nd hand Onyx 820i, reviewed by SOS in 2009 https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/mackie-onyx-820i

Are these any better than the new ones?

Any other suggestion? The mic/line level switch at main out really attracts me.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Personally, I'd invest in a mic splitter box and an active DI box for your processed vocal and guitar, respectively.

The local PA takes the mic split and guitar DI in the usual way, both mic level on XLR, both galvanically isolated from your monitoring system.

You then add a micro desktop mixer with two mic/line channels (with a high-z input for the guitar), and another line input (or two) for the Foldback mix.

Balance and pan to taste. Output to floor wedge / in ears / local gig recording as desired.

The advantages of splitting at source are numerous and greatly simplify the monitoring setup, avoiding any risk of PA-busting howlrounds if you accidentally press the wrong button or tweak the wrong knob in the semi-gloom of a stage set.

[Drew Stephenson]

....or tweak the wrong knob in the semicolon of a stage set...

Now obviously this is an autocorrect but I am more than a little curious about what word it was supposed to be?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Autocorrupt... the bane of my life, especially on the phone where it does it's work much more secretively!

It was supposed to be semi-gloom... and I've updated the original to avoid further confusion.

[ore_terra]

I guess I was so focussed in looking for a 1 device only that I forgot about splitters

Palmer does a 2 channel splitter, and that would allow to go for a much more simple mixer.

Still I’d like to have it all in one only device, but splitter is probably the wisest choice indeed.

[Murray B]

The Rolls PM 351 might do the trick for you. It will mount on a mic stand or a pedal board fairly easily.

Not cheap, but well regarded by the folks that use them.

[Music Wolf]

The Quad Cortex has, I believe, two sets of outputs. 1 / 2 on XLR and 3 / 4 on TRS jack. If it behaves the same way as my Helix then you can route your signal to both sets in parallel, meaning that you already have a built in splitter.

I imagine that you are running the Cortex as 2 discreet effects chains, one for guitar the other for vocals, so that you have two mono outputs rather than a stereo pair? If so, make outputs 1 & 3 = guitar and 2 & 4 = vocal. Send the XLR to Front of House and the TRS to your mixer (or the other way around if FoH would like to go via a DI box).

[ore_terra]

The Quad Cortex has, I believe, two sets of outputs. 1 / 2 on XLR and 3 / 4 on TRS jack. If it behaves the same way as my Helix then you can route your signal to both sets in parallel, meaning that you already have a built in splitter.

I imagine that you are running the Cortex as 2 discreet effects chains, one for guitar the other for vocals, so that you have two mono outputs rather than a stereo pair? If so, make outputs 1 & 3 = guitar and 2 & 4 = vocal. Send the XLR to Front of House and the TRS to your mixer (or the other way around if FoH would like to go via a DI box).

I know. However you would have to 1. Open the lid (I have it with a plexyglass lid) 2. Swipe down to access the I/O screen 3. Set the mix.

This is something I would be keen to do if I was only playing guitar, but being singing too I need something more immediate with physical knobs or faders. Ideally I wouldnt touch it once the gig starts, but you have to be ready for the worst scenario…

[Sam Spoons]

IME you will always have to change your foldback levels after the gig starts. The most acceptable reason is that the room will sound different with an audience present but, as well as that, your bandmates will usually be playing with more energy than they did at the soundcheck.

[ore_terra]

Mine is quite the same. Not always, but so very often.

[Sam Spoons]

I think you are pretty lucky with the guys you work with then, the bands I gig (occasionally as I'm mostly retired) with now is great but they are the exception that proves the rule IMO.

[ore_terra]

The band is not really the problem here. When we do small gigs doing our own sound I never have issues with my mix. Set at soundcheck and forget.

So it must be something (someone ) else