Behringer Eurodesk SX4882 Ultra-Low Noise Design 48/24-Input 8-Bus In-Line Mixer with Xenyx Mic Preamplifiers, British Eqs And Integrated Meterbridge Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently opened a Professional Music Recording Studio and purchased one of these mixer boards for one of the Main mixers. My Lead Engineer and I were so pleased with the performance and reflexibility of the SX4882 that I purchased another one and also a smaller version of it. Now all of my Studio is Behringer equipped with amps, effects, and All. I wouldn't even think of paying all that extra money for a Mackie when the SX4882 does everything the Mackie does and more, and even Better. Behringer is OUT-Performing all the competition, and once again on the Rise Up!

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Ultra-Low Noise Design 48/24-Input 8-Bus In-Line Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamplifiers, British EQs and Integrated Meterbridge

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M-Audio DELTA 44 24/96 PCI Digital Professional Audio Card Review

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(More customer reviews)I use this card with a Windows XP box and it works just fine. Installation was no problem, and I didn't have any pops/clicks the other reviewers noted. The is about the cheapest "professional" soundcard you can get. The sound (recording or playback) is basically perfect - no noise whatsoever. The breakout box is great since you don't have to keep going behind your PC to make connections. It also reduces the noise you'll pick up if you're doing any recording. The outputs are 1/4" TRS jacks, and you"ll need 1/4" to 3.5mm adapters if you want to connect to any regular computer speakers. I use these with Alesis M1 Active 520 monitor speakers and the sound is wonderful.

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A complete 4 in--4 out 24-bit / 96kHz full-duplex recording system for PC and Macintosh

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CAD M179 Variable-Pattern Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this microphone just or one purpose: Tom miking.
Prehistory:
After having read raving critics about the CAD - mainly from US engineers at Gearslutz - I couldn't resist any longer and wanted
to make my own picture.
Since I'm located in Germany, having done a search for shopping resources over here quickly revealed: Nothing.
No CAD M179 was available in Germany at that time, which seems to be strange because CAD produces in China.
Anyway, I finally found it on Amazon.com in the U.S.
Buying experience:
Although I've always been a bit skeptical about customs, delays and whatever else can go wrong with oversea transports, I ordered the price reduced bundle of 3 units.
To my greatest surprise, the package arrived quite fast (10 days, 2 of them in the customs), was safely packed and 100 % as described.
Import tax was very low by the way, only 2.5% of the microphone price plus shipping (tax for Germany, other countries in the EU may vary).
Packaging:
The CAD comes in a very large, cube-like package, printed with the-more-the-better zillions of colors, mainly in purple, red and blue.
One could say the carton design looks cheap, but as always, taste is a personal thing and in the end it's the content that counts, isn't it?
Although not my piece of cake, I must admit that the microphone seems to be well protected by this giant package.
Construction:
The microphone is sturdy built, with a anodized metal surface while being surprisingly heavy.
The capsule is placed safe inside the solid metal windscreen.
Part of delivery is a ring clamp plus a professional shock mount - highly recommended to reduce vibrations when miking drums.
The overall construction is very good, in my opinion even exceptional for the given price.
The CAD M179 offers a pad switch, which is a must for drum miking or the capsule could tend to distort.
Both, variable pattern wheel as well as the pad switch, are easy accessible in front of the mike.
Overall impression: No bells and whistles, but a solid workhorse, built for pro's.
Sound:
The CAD offers a warm, natural sound, that perfectly fits for Toms, but also for clean Guitars and even background vocals.
I personally wouldn't use it for Lead vocals, but what can you expect for the price.
Of course, the CAD wasn't built to be a concurrence to Neumann and other high end brands. But it does its job extremely well.
The main purpose for me was Tom-miking, so the following research is covering only my experience with Toms.
Set to cardioid, surrounding sounds from back and side are successfully suppressed, quite important when dealing with bleeding HiHats or cymbals.
The Toms immediately sounded really big, not to say huge, without messy crash sounds coming through.
Although having used Sennheiser MKH-40 for Toms before (one costs 10 times the $$ of a M179 ...), the results were doubtless significantly better then ever!
You can turn up the Tom tracks in your mix, really push them in breaks and the like, and at the same time your mix won't suffer of the typical cymbal bleeding as known from other microphones (like the MKH-40 or MD421).
Amazing.
In Short:
Pros:
* very good and sturdy crafted
* exceptional good sounding results, specially with Toms
* low price
Cons:
* heavy weight that demands for mic stands
* typical microphone clamps will place the CAD more over the center of Toms, not at side, due to it's size.
I can live with that, although your setup will be cluttered even more when using stands.
Conclusion:
I love this microphone! My dream of a perfect drum sound has become more true, day in and out.
A clear recommendation: Buy it!

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Travel the space-tone continuum with the touch of a dial. The figure-of-eight is rich and intimate. The omni is spacious and articulate. Experience all the variations in between. We combine the large-diaphragm capsule with algebraic phasing and high-power transformerless drive to create an indispensable acoustical window. Additional features include hi-pass filter and attenuator. Swivel mount, elastic shock mount and carrying case are included. P24 (24V) or P48 (48V) phantom power is required.

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TC-Helicon VoiceTone Synth Vocal Effects Processors Review

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(More customer reviews)Great effects and easy to use. Plugging in my Microkorg and double vocoding my voice is a blast and sounds awesome. The VoiceTone Synth is deceptively deep as well. With far more profiles of sounds than you would first expect by the layout of the buttons. Highly recommend!

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VoiceTone Synth brings together a collection of exotic and current sonic mayhem including jagged HardTune effects, a MassiveBand Vocoder with voice-controlled synth and vocal distortion and megaphone effects. Now vocalists and anyone looking to add a modern edge to their live performances and studio productions can dial-in these effects instantly with the press of a footswitch.

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Behringer FCA202 F-Control Audio Interface Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this device because the hissing and the noise from my iMac makes listening to music on my Sennheiser headphones unbearable. With this device, I can turn up the volume all of the way and, with no audio playing, not hear a single hint of audio hiss. My oscilloscope confirms this.
This device is convenient; it draws all of the power it needs from the 6-pin Firewire connection. I haven't tried the 4-pin FW connection but that will require you to use the included power brick.
One important note:
When using this on OS X - you will NOT have software control of the volume. If you use the TRS audio outputs to connect to a set of studio monitors, you will want to get the Nano Patch or some other in-line audio attenuator.
There is a volume knob on the front of this device, but it is only for the headphone out.

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This ultra-compact FireWire� audio interface is an ideal companion for laptop musicians and ingeniously complements any studio. Its hot features include: Two �" connector inputs and outputs for connecting synthesizers, mixers and more; high resolution 24-bit A/D and D/A converters offer 96 kHz sampling frequency; volume-controlled headphones for discreetly working on your compositions, even on the road. Reliable Windows XP� and Mac OS� drivers guarantee low latencies. With the ultra-stable metal construction, the FCA202 easily defies the adversities of travel. And its small dimensions make it an ideal solution for laptop recording. Additional features include two 6-pin FireWire� connectors, a security port for Kensington� locks and the possibility to power the FCA202 via FireWire� or a mains adapter, which is included. The hot FCA202 package also comes with the coolest sequencing software for mobile music production: the BEHRINGER Edition of Ableton� Live Lite 4. Kristal and Audacity� are also included and will empower you to face any recording challenge.

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Exploring Sound Reinforcement: A Practical Guide to Understanding PA Systems, Applications and Operation Review

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(More customer reviews)The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement DVD is a comprehensive, easy to follow, technically sound instructional video for anyone wishing to get an overview of the basics of sound engineering, take their skills to the next level, or fill in gaps in their knowledge of sound engineering. It explains all the terms and doesn't speak over anyone's head but still goes into enough depth and has enough info about advanced topics to be beneficial to the novice as well as the intermediate sound tech. Definitely recommended for anyone serious about "running sound" or knowing what a sound engineer can do for you if you're on the other side of the soundboard.

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A complete guide to basic Sound reinforcement on DVD. 2+ hours of real world help and information

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Yamaha EMX5014C 14 Input Stereo Powered Mixer 500 Watt Per Channel Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first mixer I have ever owned. At first I wasn't all that sure about what I had bought, but it seemed to work out OK. I have now had it for almost a year and I know it was the right choice. I had managed to find a way to make this thing do anything. I got a condenser mic for a really good price and without realizing it I forgot to check to see if there is phantom power on my board. I was happily surprised to find a nice little button with a label and everything. Works perfect for audio in like a DVD player or anything like that. My friends and I were playing Xbox through a pair of 400w speakers... awesome. This mixer is very lightweight and easy to use. If you have any knowledge of mixers at all then you can use this board. It's very strait forward and has some nice features on it as well. I think it even has a separate power source for a pair of monitors which is really nice. All in all this mixer is probably the best for the money. The only reason I could see myself replacing it for something else is if I needed more power, but even this thing really packs a lot in there, producing a max of 1000w of power.

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The EMX5014C is a stereo powered mixer with 14 inputs, built-in digital effects and two 500-watt amplifiers. It is housed in a sturdy, steel chassis that is optionally rack mountable. The mixer section is a 14- input stereo design that has 3 aux sends, 1 for the internal effect and 2 monitor sends, (one fixed pre-fader and the other switchable pre or post fader. Inputs 1-6 have 3-band EQ with sweepable mids. Inputs 7-14 have 3-band EQ with fixed mid frequency. Yamaha has included two exclusives features, the Feedback Channel Locator (FCL) giving instant visual indication of feedback, and 6 channels of easy to use single knob compression are also included to ease operation.The effect send is routed to the built-in DSP that provides 16 high quality effects based on Yamaha\'s popular SPX series effect processors. Assuring the EMX 5014C will grow with you, the two amplifiers can easily be switched to accept the main left and right outputs, allowing 500-watts for main speakers, or allow one of the amplifiers to run main and the other for monitors, or both channels can be used for monitors. The amplifier section uses Yamaha\'s proprietary YSP, or Yamaha Signal Processing circuitry to optimize performance with Yamaha Club Series speakers. The EMX5014C usessmall, quiet fans to keep the amplifiers cool. Numerous output jacks on the front panel allow the EMX5014C the flexibility to grow as needed

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Korg MONOTRON 16-Key Synthesizer Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great little item.
First of all, it's just a lot of fun to use. It very well might be the funnest and most carefree synth of I've ever used. Second, for the size and features, it's just a great value--the filter is awesome, and the type of sound you can get out of this little thing is very surprising.
Now, the onboard speaker output can be a bit noisy; however, it isn't bad, and it's very easy to get around that and keep a good quality sound by using aux. input and output with an audio interface (I'm using the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP), just make sure you get the proper cables and adapters and use it as a line input. The aux. input is a great feature, letting you route audio into the unit to make use of the filter--I imagine this is what many people will use this for. Also, the unit is great for circuit bending (see youtube...) and is quite an adaptable machine (and at this price, you can afford to make a mistake during a hack, although with how quickly they sell, it may be a bit before you can get a replacement...).
Now, since it is a ribbon controller, it's best suited for glissandos and fx, not really for melody--however, it can be great for a bass part. Add external fx processing (delay lines, reverb, and granular synthesis are especially fun) and you start to see what a little beast this thing is.
Get one. And then a second.

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Powered by two alkaline aaa batteries, the compact monotron can be held in one hand. although small enough to easily carry with you, the amazing monotron is packed with korg's legendary analog technology, generating thick and powerful sounds. concentrating on the most important sound parameters, the controls have been streamlined as much as possible. the panel contains only five knobs and one switch. with this level of simplicity, now anyone can easily enjoy the world of analog synthesizers.borrowing the enjoyment of performing with a simple touch from korg's wildly popular kaoss products, the monotron's ribbon controller keyboard takes this ease of use even farther. simple finger gestures can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide.the monotron's circuit is radically simple: one voltage-controlled oscillator, one voltage-controlled filter, and one low frequency oscillator. since each knob directly applies a specific change to the sound, the process of sound creation is intuitive, and instantly understandable. the monotron encourages exploration and experimentation, and provides the joy of sonic creativity that's at the heart of analog synthesis. the monotron uses the same highly acclaimed vcf circuit as korg's classic ms-10 and ms-20 semi modular synthesizers. originally released over 30 years ago, these instruments are still coveted today for their aggressive, dynamic filters. the vcf cutoff knob sets the frequency or tone of the filter; the vcf peak knob adds emphasis. a powerful filter is an essential aspect of any analog synthesizer, applying dramatic tonal changes to the sound, and projecting an intense personality that will stand out in any live performance.

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Music Maker 16 Review

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(More customer reviews)The new Music Maker 16 comes with really cool new sounds and effects. For me the guitar amplifier Vandal se is the absolute highlight on this software! Furthermore I like the new option to play the instruments via the pc keyboard, with this I can play around and try some new melodies, if there is no midi keyboard close at hand.
5* because it is easy for beginners and extensive for pros (pros should have a look at the premium version of this software)!
Cheers

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MAGIX Music Maker 16 turns making music into a real experience. Easily get started and make your own exciting songs from scratch! Use practical info videos and numerous support options to develop your own musical style right away--without any prior skills. Thousands of sounds, realistic instruments, and great effects to create explosive drums, crunchy basses, and super melodies--simply get started in the world of music production.

Newest features to make your own sound
Sound archive with about 1,500 Sounds & Loops The new sound package features new loops and samples from every musical genre, e.g. rock, pop, dance, hip hop, disco house, techno, chillout, ambient, film music, minimal electro, and many more! Over 1,500 professional sounds provide the ideal basis for your sound experiments.
All sound building blocks can be combined without any problems and adjust automatically to the current song tempo--this ensures that you'll always be on the beat to let you concentrate completely on making your own sound.
Vandal SE: Top-quality guitar sounds With Vandal SE, the authentic guitar and bass amplifier, making music becomes a real experience.
Thanks to unbelievable sound fidelity and plenty of effects, your own songs become real hits with fantastic vintage sounds--that makes discovering new sounds a blast.
Helpful learning tools Music programs often seem so technical and complicated that the fun of making music is usually left out. With MAGIX Musik Maker 16, it's a different story: To ensure a seamless start, you may request support starting from the very first step!
The useful Infobox and the new interactive training course help you get to know everything about the program in the shortest space of time. Simply switch it on by clicking it and learn even more about making music during the process!
Get professional audio effects With the new essential FX effects series, any sound can be changed quickly and easily. Effects like chorus or flanger make exciting tones and real sound design a reality. Get the sound of the pros on your own PC--without any prior skills or technical knowledge.
Play any instrument right away with your PC keyboard Get started right away with the new version--play and record all instruments directly via your PC keyboard. Recording your own melodies, basses, or drums and mixing them into your own songs is even easier now!
Practical tools To make your own recordings easier to edit and perfect for your own music projects, every loop and sound can now be cut sample-exactly and positioned perfectly in the song with the object microscope. The object inspector also enables all settings and adjustments to be made directly in the Media Pool, which makes working with sound objects easier than ever before.
Simplified export dialog Exporting a finished song or video is even easier now, since the new export dialog provides a clearly laid-out list of the most important export options!
Transfer your own songs to your MP3 player, cell phone, or post them online on MySpace, YouTube and even on your own website in minutes!
Easy-to-use music composition software
Create your own music: It's easy
1. Select soundsPreview and select sounds in the Media Pool--or import your favorite songs from CD or MP3 and use them in your own song project.
2. Combine themAll sounds and loops can be easily cut, edited, copied, and arranged into your own song.
3. Mix themEasily add effects, vocals, and adjust volume with the new mixer.
4. Publish itExport the songs you create as MP3s, burn them to CD, or publish them on the web.

Easy mode If you want, only the most important areas will be shown to make it immediately clear to you so that you won't have to wait too long to make your first songs!
PLUS! Practical help videos that help you make music like the pros in the shortest time possible.
Over 1,500 Sound loops and samples
Sound archive The new sound package features new loops and samples from every musical genre, e.g. rock, pop, dance, hip hop, disco house, techno, chillout, ambient, film music, minimal electro, and many more! Over 1,500 professional sounds provide the ideal basis for your sound experiments.
All sound building blocks can be combined without any problems and adjust automatically to the current song tempo--this ensures that you'll always be on the beat to let you concentrate completely on making your own sound.
What are loops? Loops are audio building blocks that are edited so that they play over and over without interruption. Melodies or drums are often played in loops to repeat multiple bars.
With an audio program like MAGIX Music Maker 16, slightly different loops can be combined to create your own songs. That's how you can make your own hits in record time.
Virtual instruments: Drums, Keyboards, Strings and More
Virtual Instruments MAGIX Music Maker 16 offers ultra-realistic simulations of real instruments like acoustic guitars, electric guitars, electric basses, bass, drums, grand pianos, electric pianos, power chords, synth bass, and much more
Thanks to the professional sound engine from Yellow Tools, making music with real sounds becomes an acoustic experience!
Get into the details when you want to The practical MIDI editor enables melodies to be simply drawn in and changed! You'll also receive more exciting synthesizers like LiViD, the first-class virtual drummer.
NEW! Play any instrument right away with your PC keyboard
Music Mixing and Sound effect solution
Mixing & effects Use the integrated studio-quality effects to get the most out of your smash hits!
Mix your music like a pro: All of the tracks can be adjusted to suit each other with the integrated mixer, and a click adds enriching real effects--that's how to make your sound brilliant, pumping, and crystal clear! TIP! Thanks to numerous effects and templates, which have been provided especially by pros, it's easy for everyone to find their own perfect sound.
Vintage Effects Suite Vintage effects provide even more possibilities for your own sound!
Make music with a personal touch--thanks to typical effects for any musical style. Numerous professional effects templates make using the Vintage Effects Suite child's play, and exciting results are produced quickly.
Sound effects and custom guitar sounds
Top-quality guitar sounds With Vandal SE, the authentic guitar and bass amplifier, making music becomes a real experience.
Thanks to unbelievable sound fidelity and plenty of effects, your own songs become real hits with fantastic vintage sounds--that makes discovering new sounds a blast.
Audio effects: essential FX With the new essential FX effects series, any sound can be changed quickly and easily. Effects like chorus or flanger make exciting tones and real sound design a reality.
Get the sound of the pros on your own PC--without any prior skills or technical knowledge.
Great all purpose sound editing solution
Music for videos, photos, websites, and much more MAGIX Music Maker lets everyone add their own unique polish to their work, without prior skill and without long learning period. You'll create perfect slideshows, video clips, and much more.
Who wouldn't like it? Hollywood-style cinematic sound, made by you and perfectly tailored to all of your needs. The songs you make will turn your own videos and slideshows into a unique experience.
TIP! Anyone who is already familiar with MAGIX photo and video software will be able to get started with MAGIX Music Maker quickly and easily.
Export your sounds and music to any source
Export and publish Find new listeners quickly--who doesn't want that? Publish songs directly on the web, transfer them to an MP3 player, and create your own demo or album CDs. Everything is possible with one click.
Feature your own songs online on video portals like YouTube or NEW! MySpace--directly from within the program.
Online extras Catooh--the Online Content Library is the online sound archive. Whatever you're looking for--drum loops, instruments, vocals, or sound effects. Direct connection to this massive sound library supports every song idea with the right material. Special tips about audio software are available at magix.info.
magix.info--the Multimedia Knowledge Community: Quick and direct answers to all of your questions about producing music: Simply write the question into the text window and submit it online--you won't have to wait long for the answer!
Fully compatible with Windows 7 MAGIX Music Maker 16 has been tested for operational conformity and functional security in Windows 7.
The advantage: If you switch to the new Windows operating system, you will be able to continue to use this product as usual.

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Mackie RM1402-VLZ Rackmount Brackets for 1402-VLZ Pro & VLZ3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These rack ears by Raxxess are extremely heavy duty. That's not all good news if you have to carry your rack around, because you'll be cursing the extra weight. If you buy these for a Mackie 1402VLZ3, as I did, you better plan to spend some extra time and money finding and purchasing at least four screws and/or hardware to replace the chassis screws on the VLZ3 for mounting these brackets, as the existing screws won't even reach the threads through the thick metal of these rack ears. To me, the failure of Raxxess to provide necessary hardware to make the ears work out of the box is horrible customer service and support for the product. It appears when I'm done, the system will work in a standard 19" rack (unlike the other reviewer's comment), but I'm off to find the hardware, cuz' I can't install the VLZ3 in my rack until I do.

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Mount your 1402 VLZ3 or VLZ Pro Mixer into your studio or live rack with this rackmount kit. Keep your mixer safe from the rigors of the road and give your setup that polished look that shows your're a true professional. AmericanMusical.com is an authorized dealer of Mackie products.

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M-Audio US41750 Audiophile 192 Hi-def Aud Card Review

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(More customer reviews)After suffering through a variety of products I discovered the M-Audio 192; (I was partial to the brand because of happy experience with their Micro field recorder). After a reasonably painless installation on a PC with Windows XP, I ran the "Wave Profiler" in SONAR Producer to profile the new card. The result: What was formerly an annoying half-second MIDI latency dropped down to instant response!! Better yet, immediately after installation I turned all volume levels to MAX on my outboard mixer: Dead Silence! I wondered if the card was actually installed. Then turning the volumes down I played some music: Astounding presence and clarity. How much is absolute silence worth? A LOT! This card is worth triple the price.

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The Audiophile 192 continues the legacy of M-Audio's industry-standard Delta audio card line. Building on their Audiophile 2496--one of the world's most popular audio cards--the Audiophile 192 features high-definition 192kHz sampling rate, digital I/O, balanced analog I/O and an amazing signal-to-noise ratio. The Audiophile 192 represents a new benchmark in audio performance that's as good as it gets for music production, mastering and critical listening. As with all Delta cards, you get rock-solid drivers and seamless integration with your favorite Mac and PC applications--and even the ability to combine multiple Delta cards in one system. And since M-Audio is always ahead of the pack, this world-class card is also compliant with PCI 2.2 and 64-bit audio drivers so you're ready to take advantage of next-generation platforms and software.

2 x 2 Analog I/O Accepts and sends audio on 1/4-inch TRS jacks, with direct hardware input monitoring.
24-bit/192kHz Fidelity The Audiophile 192 features converters to deliver up to 24-bit/192kHz audio.
S/PDIF Digital I/O with 2-channel PCM Get CD-quality sound from devices with S/PDIF outputs using the two coaxial RCA connectors.
SCMS copy protection control Allows a recording device to successfully record the audio data.
AC-3 and DTS Pass-Through The S/PDIF digital I/O supports surround-encoded audio, for sending surround sound to your home theater.
16-Channel MIDI I/O The break-out cable features 1 x 1 (16-channel) MIDI operation.
Routing Options Take advantage of software routing of your inputs/outputs--the digital I/O can also be routed to or from external effects.
Wide Compatibility The 192 delivers ASIO, WDM, GSIF 2 and Core Audio driver support for compatibility with most applications, along with 64-bit driver support for Windows and PCI 2.2 compatibility.
Ableton Live Lite Included Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live--the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments--as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences--together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use.
What's in the Box Audiophile 192 PCI card, Breakout Cable, Users Manual, Ableton Live Lite Software, Drivers

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Mackie 1642-VLZ3 16-Ch. Compact Recording/SR Mixer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm not a professional engineer but I have a passion for recording music. I've been recording demos for my own bands and friends' bands on a shoestring budget for over 15 years, on and off. I've been using the smaller Mackie VLZ Pro 1202 since about 2003 mainly for recording to and monitoring Cubase for PC but it has been useful for other applications as well. (It's a dinky but rugged little mixer that squeezes into a backpack, takes some knocking about and still sounds absolutely amazing.)
Lately however I have been doing more live recording, location recording and I am upgrading my home recording setup from spare bedroom to big serious garage conversion and really needed more channels. I needed a mixer that was going to sound really neutral and noise-free with at least 10 respectable mic pre-amps, aux outs for foldback, group channels for drum pre-mixes and 8 direct outputs for recording to my 8-buss Delta soundcard or my Alesis ADAT 8-track recorder (it may be obsolete but it's still brilliant) and which could take any source that I plugged into it. I did my homework (I always spend weeks reading reviews and product specs before I lay out this sort of cash on anything) and found that the 1642 VLZ3 fitted the bill perfectly. Mackie again. (And I managed to find a ex-display bargain!)
When it arrived a few weeks ago I didn't have time to read the manual before my first live location recording job came up. It was no trouble at all to use, very intuitive and I was able to provide foldback and playback to the musicians as well as using the direct outputs to record the 8 individual mic inputs to tape. One thing that I was impressed by was the red overload light on each strip that lets you know if you're driving things too hard. When that red light comes on you better not ignore it!
Again, it is very rugged and despite being heavy it is easy to carry - the light aluminium rim at the front of the desk is actually a hollow metal handle.
I could bang on and on about the sound quality. The low noise floor and the expansive headroom. I cannot fault this mixer at all. My old Mackie VLZ Pro has already lasted over 6 years (including some international flights, a festival, some gigs) and still sounds perfect. Now Mackie say that the VLZ3 series is a major improvement on the VLZ Pro series for all sorts of reasons. I can't recommend this highly enough. This is a serious professional quality mixer for a few hundred bucks. Obviously different people are going to have different criteria and different budgets when it comes to choosing mixers, but I suspect you'd have lay out a hell of a lot more money to get even a small improvement on this sort of quality. It's absolutely perfect for me anyway, I'm a happy bunny.

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New from the people who created the world?s best-selling compact mixer line, the Mackie 1642-VLZ3 Premium 16-Channel/4-Bus Compact Mixer with premium XDR2? mic preamps and a rich feature set. It?s ideal for live sound or project and recording studios.

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