Studiomaster Clubxs Mixers

[GRAHAM99]

I need to buy a mixer for band use.
Studiomaster Clubxs mixers look to be good value.
Just wondering if anyone has had experience of them?

[Wonks]

Which one? How many inputs? Does it give you all the aux outputs you might need? Decent EQ options like a parametric mid?

Despite the ‘British’ badging, they are now just another Chinese manufacturer like Behringer, with some British R&D.

[amanise]

I had an 8 or 10 channel one about 20 years ago that I bought second hand, yes, they have been around that long and don't look to have outwardly changed that much from what I can see. My one had no FX, the FX models came later I think. They look well priced.

What I would say about mine is that, as it was my first desktop mixer, I didn't realise how much it was colouring the sound until I changed it out for a Mackie. Now, there are plenty here who'll no doubt have a giggle at that - but there it is. I switched it out because the left channel main bus lights all packed in. Channel still worked fine - just no leds. Then when I replaced it I noticed it had been 'adding character'. Maybe they cured that though.

[Sam Spoons]

I would be looking at a Behringer XR series mixer for a band. The XR18 is £400 so £100 more expensive than the Studiomaster but it has far more facilities*. I prefer faders but I cope fine on an iPad with my Mackie DR1608 with 16 inputs so I would only recommend the Studiomaster over the Berry if you really can't live without faders.

* 16 mic channels rather than 12 and 6 aux's instead of 2 and compressors and multiband eq on every channel just for starters..

[adrian_k]

My friend has the Berry and found the built in wifi unreliable. Might be because it is often on the floor, and also fighting any other networks at the venue. If considering the XR16 I’d also budget for a router you can put up high on a stand, that fixed it for him.

[Arpangel]

Despite the ‘British’ badging, they are now just another Chinese manufacturer like Behringer, with some British R&D.

Absolutely correct, you may as well get a Behringer, or an Alto, it's a matter of sticking a pin in the map. I'd get a small Yamaha, at least the effects are a cut above.
Studiomaster "were" one of my favourite studio desks, but that was a long time ago, I had a 24-8-2 Series 5, amazing, incredible, full of character , and the EQ was truly amazing, but that was a different "Studiomaster" than what we have today.

[BigRedX]

My friend has the Berry and found the built in wifi unreliable. Might be because it is often on the floor, and also fighting any other networks at the venue. If considering the XR16 I’d also budget for a router you can put up high on a stand, that fixed it for him.

AFAIK the only people using BehringerX-series mixers who haven't also gone for an external router are those using a wired connection to control it.

[Stratman57]

Correct. I run my XR18 connected by by Ethernet cable to the computer. And I have an X-touch for fader control. I do have an external router for when I need to connect wirelessly.

Regards, Simon.

[Sam Spoons]

I use old Apple Airport Express routers for my Mackie DL1608 and for my X32 neither of which have built in routers. The router on the XR12 has not been tested in hostile circumstances but I'd probably go wired or use an Airport Express with it.

Even allowing for the need for an external router (and I'll be most of us have a redundant router in a drawer somewhere) the XR series offer an awful lot for the money and the ability to walk the room at soundcheck with an iPad was a game changer for me at least.

[Drew Stephenson]

Personally, if keeping the budget down is priority, I'd go for a Behringer.
Of if you do want a step up in quality then I'd be looking at either Yamaha or A&H. After that you're up into the digital mixers.

[GRAHAM99]

I am thinking of getting a used Allen and Heath Zed FX12.
We need a couple of auxiliary sends which this has.
Looks to be in good condition.

[Wonks]

It's a good desk and has often been recommended here.

[Sam Spoons]

Yup, A&H's Zed series are one of the better budget analogue desks I have used.

[GRAHAM99]

Got the Allen and Heath desk and used it last night.
Very impressed!
The singer said he had superb fidelity in his in ear monitors.
Just one issue ,one of the meters is a bit temperamental seems to work on and off.No effect on the output.Is this an easy fix?

[Wonks]

If it's new, send it back.

It's probably a bad solder joint but with surface mount components it may not be very easy to spot.

[GRAHAM99]

Bought it second hand so will have to live with it!

[Wonks]

It's going to cost a fair bit just for someone to look at it because it's so time consuming removing all the nuts, knobs and switches holding everything on the top surface on to the board underneath.

[S2]

I am thinking of getting a used Allen and Heath Zed FX12.
We need a couple of auxiliary sends which this has.
Looks to be in good condition.

I've got one and it's excellent. Very quiet - quieter than the singer's XR18 and a lot more reliable. And you get physical controls as well.

I've got X32 which is also good, but for simplicity I'd definitely go for (and I see you have) the A&H.