To Smange or anyone else who would know

I have the option of buying this mixer for 300 dollors from musicians friens:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030507003406066032184203433956/g=home/search/detail/base_id/88599
or this one for around $250.00:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=030507003406066032184203433956/g=home/search/detail/base_id/36783

Just because one is more expensive than the other does that mean that it is better?
I'm going to use it primarily for creating a home studio. I know there are way better models on the market but right now my budget is between the $200.00 to $300.00 mark.

The difference in price is probably due to the quality of the preamps.

What do you want to do with the desk ?

How are you intending to set up your studio ?

If you are not intending to record everything simultaneously, you may be better off spending the money on a dedicated one or two channel preamp. and shooting streight into what ever is recording.

Im using both Cakewalk Sonar XL and a Korg D1600 and Im blissfully desk free however I am limited to recording 8 tracks simultaneously (at 32 bit). I use the D1600 as a sort of desk and export files to Sonar for mixing and mastering.

Thanks for the responce Dr_simon :-)

I'm going to have the mixer running straight into my sound card (Sound Blaster audigy mp3+) with guitars, basses, mics, keyboard, drum machine, and home stereo. Note that not all will be hooked up at the same time (At least not most of the time, especially the stero) and may be used for other uses at other points in time.

As of right now I have my sound card hooked up to my home stereo for my computer sound and will be temporarily used for studio playback untill I can afford some decent studio monitors wich I will not be cheap with once I can afford it.

I'm also planning on getting Pro Tools LE for 700+ dollars within a month or two. (So far I like this software better than cakewalk)(I'm using the free version..and 8 tracks is of course more than enough for me ATM)

To be honest I'd get the nicest mic pre amp I could afford and work one or two channels at a time.

Focusrite are really good preamp, they weigh in at about 600 USD. Im using a Behringer ultra voice pro (100USD) and an ART TPS (200 USD) at the moment, both are better than the pre amps on the Korg however Im moving up to Focusrite as soon as I can afford it ! I was going to get a Gibson Les Paul but that may have to wait !

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FOCMH440

As for guitars and basses, do you have an S/PDIF in put on your sound card ? If so recording direct into your card using a Pod or a GNXx works really well ! Bass Im shooting through either a Pod pro or the ART TPS via a SansAmp Bass DI (lovely bit of kit) and that sounds really nice !


Do get nice monitors as soon as you can, mixing with non-flat response speakers is very difficult as you automatically over / under compensate EQ and end up with a bass heavy / light mix !

I have just seen a Focusrite mic pre, Comp. / EQ for 400 at zzsounds.... Cool !

[Edited by Dr_simon on 05-07-2003 at 02:59 PM]

I decided to go with there most expensive line looking at the broader picture
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=8195&Category=Mixers

For the money and the features/possibilities..it kicks butt. What do you think?

pluss it has surround sound integrated into it :-)

Who's smange?

I meant you. Sorry for misspelling your name.

no problem mic

Originally posted by schmange
Who's smange?

:D grunt!!:D LOL
I hadn't even noticed.
More grunts and :D's