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Wiry · Posted - Wed May 02, 2001 10:31 am

I am considering the Tascam 428 but it is expensive. Does anyone suggest another mixer that they have found works well with CEP? Do I need to spend the $$$ for Tascam.
I plan to use CEP for speaking voice cd's with music background. I might create some of the music, but it would be simple ... not multiple tracks.

thanks

wiry

Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Hello. Well, keep in mind that the Tascam's current implementation with CEP is primarily as a soundcard - and one that has 1/4" AND XLR inputs with gain control. If that's what you mean by "mixer" then I'd say that's probably your best bet for a 4-in, 4-out 24-bit device with great sounding A/D. It's not really a mixer, per se, as it cannot be used as a stand-alone device, ie, it must be connected to the CPU via USB. It can't function outside of the computer environment.

If you just need a pre-amp, you could probably spend a lot less for a stereo preamp (or inexpensive 8 channel mixer) and then just get a nice Turtle Beach card or something along those lines...It just really depends on what your needs are.

---Syntrillium Support

Edited by - syntrillium support on 05/02/2001 12:41:48 PM

Wildduck · Posted - Wed May 02, 2001 12:57 pm

I would think any reasonable mixer from a known manufacturer would be OK. Depends on the actual detail facilities you need.

I've done a lot of things with a bottom of the range Soundcraft Spirit, which secondhand cost around 100ukp (150 dollars ish). Small acoustic music mixing, recording speech etc. For music mixing you really need slide faders, for just setting levels and going, the cheaper knob based mixers are adequate.

Wiry · Posted - Wed May 02, 2001 6:19 pm

Thanks for your input

tomcat · Location: USA

I would advise against getting the Tascam US-428. I bought one when they first hit the market and regretted every minute of it. First, it wasn't compatable with CEP (they kept telling me it would be "any day now"). Whether it is now, I don't know (I waited 5 months). I was also getting it in place of an actual mixer, and it doesn't have enough inputs, etc. to really be used this way. Tascam (Teac) Customer service was equally useless. I finally took it back and was able to get a full refund, which I promptly used to buy a Mackie 1402-VLZ Pro (I got mine for about $500.00, but there is also the 1202-VLZ which, I think, is a little under $400.00). Check 'em out at <www.mackie.com> I now wish I had gotten the Mackie in the first place and hadn't wasted all that time trying to use the Tascam!

Syntrillium M.D. · Location: USA

Just as a note - the latest 2.0 driver for the US-428 is fully compatible with CEP. It is true that their original 1.0 did not operate well.

But, as I mentioned in my first post - it is not, and is not meant to be a stand-alone mixer...it is merely a soundcard with some on-board EQ and gain stage capability.

If you are truly looking for a mixer (and already have a soundcard) there are a lot of them (and even slightly less expensive Mackie clones) that will do the job.

---Syntrillium Support

Craig Jackman · Location: Canada

The Mackie "clones" are fine if you plan on either a)keeping it a long time, or b)making it a throw away device. Your dollars would be better spent on a real Mackie ... at least they have some sense of resale value. I've installed dozens of Mackie mixers, from the smallest 1202 to a 32ch 8-bus. fabulous products all. No failures in the Mackies, except for some faders that wore out on the 8-bus after 3 years heavy use, but lots of problems with the Berhinger I installed once. At the radio station I work at now, we just installed 3 1642's and 3 1404's to go with my trusty 8-bus.

trinitystudio · Posted - Fri May 04, 2001 8:44 pm

So is CEP planning to work with any tacticle surface? Like Motormix? or since many of us use Cakewalk + CEP how about the StudioMix?

mattw · Posted - Mon May 14, 2001 4:27 pm

Mmmm, now that would be nice.

MikeShivley · Posted - Sun May 20, 2001 1:17 am

HI, I mix at the arena on a 40channel crest v8. however we also use at 1604 mackie and i won a 1402vlz pro that i use for voiceover work. I love it!! very strudy board and very clean for the price. Also the mic pre amps are built like tanks. You really need to work to clip them. I was forced to use a small beringer for a portable sound system the we use out here and While the price is nice I'm not a big fan of them. Easy to clip the inputs, faders feel flimsy and they have a dedicated exturnal power supply. You lose it and you are screwed, besides having to deal the all the emf the power supple puts out. Mackie uses a standard cord that can be rplaced at any radio shack, because the power supply is built in.

lpdeluxe · Posted - Wed May 23, 2001 2:52 pm

Wiry: I use an Alesis Studio 12R rackmount mixer into a Lexicon Core 2 card. A lot of people have trashed the Core 2 but when I challenged them about what they didn't like I got no reply, so I suspect they were just repeating what they had heard. Core 2s are available for a couple of bills, and the Studio 12R is 350. The drawback is that it has no reverb or other effects, but if you are using it with CEP that doesn't matter so much.
John

Teddy G. · Posted - Wed May 30, 2001 9:47 am

Anyone with experience using the really tiny Spirit Folio(s)?

Graeme · Member Location: Spain

Wildduck · Posted - Thu May 31, 2001 3:18 am

My bottom of the range several year old Spirit Folio Lite is still doing sterling service here. I try to keep it clean and away from the beer and wrapped in a polythene cover when not is use. The power connector is the most delicate looking bit and worth a good waggle if evaluating to buy secondhand.

Wiry · Posted - Fri Jun 01, 2001 7:06 pm

Thanks, everyone. I found a Mackie 1402 VLZ on EBay and it is great!!! Voice sounds great with the AT4050 that someone else on this board told me about. This is by far the best support board I have ever found. Thanks for all your thoughts on this. There is nothing worse than buying stuff you don't need.

wiry

jonrose · Location: USA

AT4050 is a very good "go to" microphone. I use four. The Audio-Technica 40 series is one of those lines that are a good buy for the money.

All the best... -Jon

coolforalittlewhile · Posted - Tue Jun 05, 2001 7:25 pm

Hello. I'm pretty much a home recording newbie but i use a yamaha 4track, for the money you get a mixer and you can take the thing with you where ever you go to record the voices.