Free Mackie DFX12 Live Sound MixerI am going to discuss what makes certain mixers better than others so that the beginners can have a decent understanding of why to choose one mixer over another. First of all, a good mixer usually has a pretty strong brand name to stand by it, so that you know you are getting a mixer of good quality that will last through years of abuse. The brands that are universally recognized as having high quality mixers are the following: Rane, Vestax, Stanton, Urei, Allen & Heath, Pioneer, Mackie, Ecler, and Audio Innovative.
However, this is not always the case as some lesser-quality brands sometimes surprise us with a good product such as the American Audio QD5-MK2, Numark DXM-Pro Series Mixers, Gemini UMX series Mixers, ; and other times great brands put out bad products…but overall the list is pretty accurate.
If you are looking to purchase a mixer, then the first thing you need to know is how many channels you want to mix simultaneously. Usually a two-channel mixer will suit your needs with two Phono (vinyl) inputs and two line (CD) inputs. Next, you want to look for a good, high-quality crossfader that will last through use. A good crossfader is one that will work for a long time without losing its sound integrity.
If a fader starts going bad, it will bleed, pop, and break up the sound pretty bad. Most of the mixers in that list above will have a crossfader to suite your needs. The most reliable and durable styles of crossfaders are Penny & Giles Faders, Pro-X-Faders, Magnetic Faders (used in Rane TTM-56 and Ecler Hak-380), Optical faders and VCA faders. The Magnetic Faders and Optical Faders (e.g. focus fader) use no type of contacts and only light to transmit signals; so these faders may out-last the mixer itself!!! The P&G, Pro-X-Fader, and VCA (Vestax style).
The next item to look at when purchasing a mixer is the Line Switches, EQ controls, and Cue (headphone) controls. The line-phone switch at the top of each channel should be replaceable and durable. For the scratch junkies out there, you will also want those switches to be 8-way adjustable so that you can have the switch move in a way that is comfortable to you. Make sure the feel of the EQ control is just right for your style of spinning.
Some people like EQ knobs and others like the sliders. Some mixers are accused of having small space between each EQ knob making it difficult to fine-tune the mix. Some mixers, such as the Urei series have also been accused of having an EQ delay, meaning that the sound doesn’t alter as soon as the knob is moved. To avoid issues like this, it is best to go and try out every mixer on your list of hopefuls at your local DJ store (Guitar Center or Sam Ash).
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