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I'm in the market for a field mixer that is build good for two mics.

Nothing cheap and anyone give me some ideas ?

Thanks Scott

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RemyRAD Sun, 01/13/2013 - 02:44

SHURE makes some very popular field mixers. They can both be battery powered or from AC. They also feature phantom power. And the meter. Everything you need for a good network quality broadcast style recording purpose. These are simple and rugged, designed to take a beating like the rest of their products. They would not however be classified as something of an esoteric like quality such as the SONAX or whatever the heck those other high-end units are that you are finding in some multi-microphone movie capture events. AZDEN I think makes a budget oriented mixer for field use that as a low-cost imitation of the SHURE mixers. Not bad for average field use. Doesn't see as much network TV use like the SHURE. Local stations and cable operations, sure, no problem.

If you want a high-end field mixer, Neve made a couple that you occasionally can still find on eBay. Worth every penny. A great investment. Holds its value. Nothing can touch it sonically. You probably won't get it for less than $10,000? You might be able to find an old emptied Neve Melbourne frame and stock it with a couple of modules for yourself that you can also find on eBay. And you'll have a choice of numerous different modules all incredible sounding. All averaging between $1200-$3800 each channel with EQ. Talk about rugged and heavy metal LOL! It's the epitome of that. And it will weigh over 100 pounds. So take that into consideration of how much the shipping will cost. But that's going a little bit beyond your request.

So your question is a bit vague and nondescript. What are your applications? Why would you need a field mixer at all for just two microphone inputs? Inputs into what in the field? I mean all you need is a ZOOM H 4 n and nothing else except a couple of additional outboard microphones if you should so desire. And those could be lapel or shotgun microphones, dynamics, condensers, ribbons. And it allows up to four simultaneous tracks of recording to a memory chip in high definition 24-bit, 96 kHz audio. All from the size of a cigarette pack. It's got built in mixing and effects and the ability to do overdubs. It functions as a high quality computer USB audio interface device also.

Would you mind clarifying a bit?
Mx. Remy Ann David

ElChupaNibre Thu, 01/24/2013 - 04:27

I can recommend each and any product made by Sound Devices. I LOVE the 744t. Such a versatile tool. But it is also not cheap and may be a lot more capable than you actually need.

Another product which I love, which sits at the other end of the complexity scale, is the SQN3 field mixer. It basically has about three knobs and buttons (understating it a bit ;) ) but it is SO fast and easy to use. Also, it sounds fairly decent and you could drive a tank over it and your take would still be solid. The larger SQN mixers get a bit more complex and add stereo options etc. but they are still great tools.