The basic Mackie 1202? I have the generation 1 model and use it for utility stuff like patching in outboard like a space echo, auditioning mics, a front end for stuff I’m doing with contact mics etc.

It’s tough and small! Also it makes stuff sound a little less good, so I wouldn’t run a final mix through it. The newer versions might sound nicer. If I lost this one, I’d replace it with whatever the current version is.

(Not sure what you meant by 6-8 channels. If they are all mic inputs, then the 1202 isn’t for you)

losthighway wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 10:12 pm

ErikG wrote: Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:05 pm Looking for a small mixer, 6-8 channels. Two aux sends for effects. Home recording and live stuffs.

Any hot recommendations?

It seems like the new smaller profile mixers are all made by the typical big companies: Mackie, Yamaha, Sound craft. I'd expect decent performance from any of those at which point you just need to count direct outs, xlr ins, aux sends, eq bands or whatever specs you need. As well as price difference if more than one fits the bill.

Last I looked, over half the market for handy smaller stuff was swept into on board digital multi fx, which is annoying if that's not something you're looking for.

Yeah, I wish manufacturers could keep it simple and not bundle in unwanted features.

I already have my own shitty effects.

twelvepoint wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:04 am The basic Mackie 1202? I have the generation 1 model and use it for utility stuff like patching in outboard like a space echo, auditioning mics, a front end for stuff I’m doing with contact mics etc.

It’s tough and small! Also it makes stuff sound a little less good, so I wouldn’t run a final mix through it. The newer versions might sound nicer. If I lost this one, I’d replace it with whatever the current version is.

(Not sure what you meant by 6-8 channels. If they are all mic inputs, then the 1202 isn’t for you)

I only need a couple mic inputs. Probably going to be used mainly for drum machine/synth/sequencing etc. but flexibility for other stuffs is cool.

The local resale shop has a Tascam M-208, a Soundcraft EPM12 and a Mackie CR1604, each in the $250-$300 range. I think these are a bit older with no onboard digital distraction features. Any opinions on these, or suggestions for something else? I should add that <$500 is preferred but you get what you pay for.

I recently bought an acoustic Guild D-140. I need an acoustic pickup for playing live now. What's a good one that's like, less than $200?

zircona1 wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:48 am I recently bought an acoustic Guild D-140. I need an acoustic pickup for playing live now. What's a good one that's like, less than $200?

I recently bought a LR Baggs M80, used it a couple of times (not 'permanently' installed) enough to decide that live acoustic is not for me. I'd sell you it for $200 even, but I understand if you'd prefer a cheaper option.

zircona1 wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:48 am I recently bought an acoustic Guild D-140. I need an acoustic pickup for playing live now. What's a good one that's like, less than $200?

The LR Baggs Element can be had for $140 new and gets very little complaining from anyone on a live stage. Only bad things is it's under the saddle so you have to drill a small hole under the saddle. If I'm reaching for downsides, I've found in a dark guitar it gets pretty dark, and it can suffer a little bit from that squashed piezo squak if you're REALLY digging in, at like abusive levels - and most systems other than magnetic or a mic are going to be the same.

This is a big part of my work life right now so if you have more questions have at it

I have an older LR Baggs Passive M1 installed in my acoustic. I'd venture to say that it's better than those cheapo- pop it in the soundhole with a dangling cord options from Seymour Duncan or whoever, but maybe not as full range as some of these newfangled active, or hybrid systems that have a magnetic pickup coupled with a piezo.

It's totally serviceable though.

While acoustic guitar pickups have really come a long way, "serviceable" I think is the operating word here. We have to be honest and admit from the jump that these are a compromise in sound quality - at least from the expectation of what you hear when you play an acoustic instrument is always going to be different than what it sounds like when trying to amplify it in some way.

That being said, there are options out there that are least-bad choices that may have as much to do with what you are wanting to hear to get you to the closest representation of what "good" is to your ear. The ones I've liked the least have this high amount of a "zingy" sound if that makes any sense. It bothers me to no end that there's probably an entire generation of people who somehow think "that is what an acoustic guitar is supposed to sound like."

I agree that the <$100 Seymour Duncan option isn't a good one. I can confirm in the price range you're talking about the LR Baggs M1 sounds pretty good to me every time I am dealing with someone who has one in a live situation. Usually what I do live is set up a SDC & send the pickup sound back to monitors/in-ears and then the SDC out front, but w/ the M1, I have been like "yeah ok, that's fine not mad at this."

The nicest thing in the world is that there are tons of youtube videos demoing any of the options on the market for you to listen to in headphones and make a reasonably educated decision. Hopefully you have an opportunity to buy from a local music store and try it out before making the decision.

ErikG wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:30 am The local resale shop has a Tascam M-208, a Soundcraft EPM12 and a Mackie CR1604, each in the $250-$300 range. I think these are a bit older with no onboard digital distraction features. Any opinions on these, or suggestions for something else? I should add that <$500 is preferred but you get what you pay for.

Can't comment on the others, but the CR1604 is well respected in techno circles for when you overdive the inputs, producing a pleasing saturation/overdrive. I realise this may not be important to you.

ErikG wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:30 am

twelvepoint wrote: Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:04 am The basic Mackie 1202? I have the generation 1 model and use it for utility stuff like patching in outboard like a space echo, auditioning mics, a front end for stuff I’m doing with contact mics etc.

It’s tough and small! Also it makes stuff sound a little less good, so I wouldn’t run a final mix through it. The newer versions might sound nicer. If I lost this one, I’d replace it with whatever the current version is.

(Not sure what you meant by 6-8 channels. If they are all mic inputs, then the 1202 isn’t for you)

I only need a couple mic inputs. Probably going to be used mainly for drum machine/synth/sequencing etc. but flexibility for other stuffs is cool.

The local resale shop has a Tascam M-208, a Soundcraft EPM12 and a Mackie CR1604, each in the $250-$300 range. I think these are a bit older with no onboard digital distraction features. Any opinions on these, or suggestions for something else? I should add that <$500 is preferred but you get what you pay for.

Word to the wise...

That Tascam will be a bit of a moose, and there is no telling where it will be as far as needing work on the "Keep It Up And Running..." front.

If this was me?

I would flip a coin on buying it for "Recording..." I would probably pass on "Live Use..."