tube mixers

blixton · Post by **blixton** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:02 pm

What are some really good ones? Old and new. Seems there are some duds out there. Maybe it would be a better idea to buy a cheap line mixer and just buy some good pres like a Tab 78, etc..

emrr · Post by **emrr** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 11:13 am

define 'dud' and give names(?).

A-Barr · Post by **A-Barr** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:44 am

There are a lot of PA mixers that will have something like a 2x6L6 output amp and maybe 4 or 5 channels in, not really what you want for a home recording console...

Tubes kind of stopped being used by most companies in the late sixties/early seventies, stereo came into popular use in the earlyish sixties, so that leaves a very small window for stereo tube mixers.

The other ones that pop up a lot are old Altecs, I haven't tried them but they usually aren't very suitable for recording either, typically mono with 4 or 6 channels or something and no direct outs on each mic pre, plus they are ridiculously expensive on the bay now...

Occasionally you will see an old Gates tube broadcasting console pop up but they are also usually mono and much too heavy to ship practically...

So there are a lot out there that don't really suit the home recordist's needs and very few and far between really good ones that are floating around but they will cost a fortune to ship, take up a lot of real estate in your home and, because you can only find them on ebay, are guaranteed to either need hundreds to thousands of dollars work from a good tech or just won't work at all (re: "sold as-is untested")

Just my experience anyway after watching for these for a couple years...

BUT I did once see a modular Telefunken tube console (V76 et al) that supposedly belonged to Eric Clapton rise from the depths of human refuse on ebay, looked pretty sweet for the modest price of a new beamer.

emrr · Post by **emrr** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:10 am

that's the number one thing: no stereo with panning available in any stock vintage tube mixer. And as pointed out, 'mixer' runs the gamut from mini-PA gear to pro recording studio gear. Even the early 70's pro Altec studio consoles lack panning, and they are several years into SS. There are dual mono and L/C/R tube consoles, but none with panning. There are lots of good ones, but you'd have to do lot of mods to get modern functionality.

dsw · Post by **dsw** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 12:46 pm

Manley Labs makes one that is stellar. It's not cheap. Around $8k.

calaverasgrandes · Post by **calaverasgrandes** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:15 am

doesnt TLA make a tube mixer?
http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/tlaudio/docs/p ... /m1.shtml
they do, but I think its more of the transistor front end, tube output stuff. Though the adat toslink output is enticing. [/url]

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tube mixers

tube mixers

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