Ask Big Al: Using Analog Mixers For “Color”
This represents a new feature here on the blog, “Ask Big Al“. I get a lot of questions from a lot of sources, but recently a lot from my Twitter followers. Some answers are short and easy, and some aren’t. So, I decided to offer to answer the more complex questions via posts here on my blog. Here we go . . .
@LoPro311 asks:
“Was wondering if you knew what type of mixer would work well with the M-Audio ProFire 2626? Trying to get that analog feel.”
This is a very common question these days as ITB (“in the box”) trackers and mixers chase a little analog magic. Charles Dye has identified this “magic” as saturation and uses specialty plugins to add it back into his mixes without going out of the box at all. But, some still prefer the hardware. This can be in either the form of an analog mixer of some kind, or something known as a “summing box.”
None of what I’m about to cover depends on what interface you’re using. Some will have more or less flexibility in their input and output options making it easier or more difficult to achieve the end goal. Either way, all the same principles apply in most situations.
Option #1 – Mixers
The advantage of choosing a mixer is that it’s a multitasker. You can use it for its analog goodness while you’re tracking and you can sum through it during mixdown.
The downside is the price, at least if you want some decent analog sound. Most anything new in the under $5,000.00 range is mostly transparent (or low consumer grade). That’s not going to give you any of that analog color you’re looking for. However, between $5,000.00 and $10,000.00 there are quite a few really nice options.
My friend Bryan Stevens, from the Music Pro Show podcast and Bonzo Tunes studio in Atalanta, Georgia USA also craved some analog action. He recently removed his 32-channel Mackie console (a popular, but mostly transparent choice) to replace it with a Toft ATB24. It’s a 24-channel board and with the optional meter bridge has a street price of just under $7,000.00. Not only is it well made, it sounds great too. Bryan is definitely getting what he was looking for. Just ask him. 
The Toft ATB Mixing Console
Along the way, he also considered console offerings from Allen and Heath.
Purchasing a used board (like a Soundcraft for example) can certainly get you more board for your money, but it can also deliver more pain per dollar when it comes to maintenance and repair. Buy carefully and plan on some ongoing expenses.
Option #2 – Analog Summing Boxes / Mixers
While this generally doesn’t offer you options while tracking, it does offer the analog color you’re looking for at a much lower price point than a full console. Some of your options here are:
- SM Pro Audio PM8 8-Channel Passive Summing Mixer (entry level)
- Solid State Logic (SSL) X-Desk 16-Channel Summing Mixer
- Dangerous 2 Bus
Solid State Logic X-Desk 16-Channel Summing Mixer
To pass your signal through analog hardware while tracking you might consider adding a couple of nice analog mic pres to your summing box; like the Universal Audio Solo 610, Universal Audio LA-610 or the dbx 386. If you don’t need oodles of simultaeneous inputs, this could fit your budget very nicely.
Universal Audio LA610 Mic Pre
Bonus Option #3 – Carefully Selected Plugins
Yep, I’m gonna do it. I’m also going to recommend you try getting that same sound completely in the box. The best person to demonstrate this is the one that opened my eyes, multi-Grammy winning engineer Charles Dye. His approach changed my mixing life forever.
If you haven’t yet gotten your copy of his Mix It Like A Record DVD mixing course, it’s one of the single best things you can do for yourself. Check out more info on it by clicking here (you won’t be taken away from this site by clicking the link). Even if you still decide to go out of the box to access analog hardware, you won’t be disappointed by what you’ll learn from this multi-disc set.
Do you have a question you’d like me to answer? Drop me a line!
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