Reddit reviews Alesis MultiMix 4 USB Four-Channel USB Mixer
We found 14 Reddit comments about Alesis MultiMix 4 USB Four-Channel USB Mixer. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Four-channel mixer with digital outputLow-noise digital 16-bit, 44.1 kHz signal on USB for easy computer interfaceTwo channels of XLR inputs with gains and switchable 48V phantom powerHigh-impedance guitar inputMain and headphone outputs with independent level controls
Per popular request:
All-righty then. It's really simple, but it took a few years to figure out.
First, I'll go over the list of gear I use for easy setup and tear down. Obviously, get a transmitter. I use the Broadcast Warehouse TX 150. 150 watts. Plenty of power for a small town. Here's the full list of ones they make:
http://www.broadcastwarehouse.com/fm-transmitters/60/cat
I use the 6th one down from the top- 150W power. They go up to 1000 watts and down to 1watt. UK based company, excellent products.
Next you need an antenna. I prefer one of two antenna's. The first one is an old pirate radio standby called a Comet. Cheap, easy to set up, easy to tune. Model number CFM95SL 5/8 wave.
http://www.progressive-concepts.com/info/item.php?id=47
I mount it using one of these tripods (the base of antenna fits directly into the tripod):
http://compare.ebay.com/like/261030527237?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar
Next, get a cheap laptop.. this is your streaming box. You'll be streaming from a remote location (i.e. your computer at home or work where you're playing DJ), or even a netbook. I like one with a reasonably big hard drive so I can store music on it that the system defaults to if I lose the internet connect (more on that in a bit).
You'll also need a small 2 channel mixer. I like USB mixers because I get the best sound signal out of a cheap laptop from USB vs. the crappy audio outs they put on sub $400 laptops. I use either the Alesis Multimix 4:
http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-MultiMix-USB-Four-Channel-Mixer/dp/B001T9O5VG/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1348455765&sr=1-1&keywords=small+usb+mixer
Or a Behringer (whatever you can get your hands one).
USB mixers are easier to set up and tear down as well.
You'll need two M/F XLR cables (3 ft.. you're going from the mixer to the transmitter sitting next to it).
And, you'll need some 50ohm coax cable. I would order it from these guys:
http://www.progressive-concepts.com/info/item.php?id=68
Depending how far you're putting your antenna away from your box of goodies.. you'll likely need 50 ft. and more likely 100 ft.
I use one of these yard storage boxes (often used for garden supplies, hoses, etc) to store the transmitter, laptop and mixer:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-Large-Deck-Box-with-Seat/20681996
3 bricks. (seriously).
Last, you'll need a power strip and a 50 or so foot power cord.
So...put the laptop, the transmitter and the mixer into a outdoor storage box (this is the kind you use for garden gear/hoses, etc.). The laptop is hooked to the internet via wi-fi (provided by the 'hosts' home or business) and controlled via logmein or VNC. The laptop also has a local library of music on it in case you lose internet. The antenna goes on an light weight tripod that sites on the roof of a house or business.
15 minute setup: The laptop, mixer and transmitter are already mounted in the box I just put them all in there on the floor of the box. The box has a large piece of tape across the front of it that says "Ham Radio Repeater" (this is for plausible deniability for the 'host' of the setup). You take the box out of your car, you find a good place in the backyard to put it. Usually against the back of the house. You run the power cable to a power outlet (outside or in the garage). You get the laptop hooked up to the local hosts internet via Wi Fi.
Next you take the Coax cable, and you connect it to the transmitter (through the precut hole in the outdoor storage box). You then hook it to the Antenna. You've PRE TUNED (message me if you need the brain dead simple formula for tuning) the antenna for your desired frequency so all you have to do is take the antenna, tripod and cable up to the roof of the house. Find a high point on the roof, and set it upright. Use 3 bricks on each leg lip of the tripods legs to hold it down in high winds.
Go back down, turn it all on. Make sure you're internet connection is working and that Logmein or VNC loaded so you can remotely connect to it. Make sure your transmitter is one and broadcasting.
Leave.
The way you get content into it is by setting up a shoutcast stream and then just log into that shoutcast stream from the laptop via logmein/VNC. Have local music in the playlist incase you drop the internet connect (it then just moves to the next song in the playlist.. I prefer old Winamp v2.91 for this).
Thats how I set it up in 15 minutes.
Tear down is: Go on roof, disconnect the antenna, take antenna/tripod down throw in the car. Pick up the box, throw it in the car. Actually, it's more like 3 minutes (we actually did this once WHILE the FCC was in front of the house, but that's another long story).
Anyway, I know it seems complex, and it sort of is, but it's sort of not as well.
Here's my blog on running a pirate radio station:
http://freemedia.blogspot.com/
Here's a wikipedia article on the station i started and ran for years:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBFR_(pirate_radio)
TL;DR: Put a transmitter, a mixer and a laptop into a box, hook it to a tripod based antenna on a roof, hook it to the internet, turn it on, run away.
Here's a copy and paste suggestion from a similar thread a while ago:
"As for a mixer, I highly recommend the Alesis MultiMix 8 USB. You just plug it into the USB of your laptop, adjust the sound settings on whatever program your recording into and you're set. You can use it to pull audio from the laptop (ie Skype call or YouTube video) into the mix.
There's also the Alesis MultiMix 4 USB. It's cheaper, has less bells and whistles but it works just as well. Though, you'll need this cord if you want to pull audio from the laptop."
For Garageband - I'd recommend this: Alesis MultiMix 4.
That's what I use with Garageband and Ableton and love it. I like having physical knobs in front of me, as well as mic, guitar, and line inputs. I don't have mics at the moment but will be getting 2 soon so this mini mixer is perfect for the hobbylist/lite recorder.
Definitely understand being new to the game, took me a while to figure out what I needed for live use.
Here's my 2 cents:
I haven't used this mixer, but I've had good luck with Alesis mixers in the past. Using these interfaces would require you to run cables from the outs of the interface to the ins of the PA's mixing board.
If you've got the money to spend, a better-than-lowest-rung USB interface might be a good investment. I bought the Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 for home recording a year or so ago and LOVE it . . . you can find smaller/cheaper interfaces in that range and they're all great - it just depends on the number of ins/outs you need: http://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo-Compact-Interface/dp/B00MTXU2DG/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1421427916&sr=1-4&keywords=usb+interface&pebp=1421427921645&peasin=B00MTXU2DG
You could check out AudioTool: http://www.audiotool.com/
It's a browser-based music studio with bass synths, key synths, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, etc. I believe it'll let you connect an outside MIDI controller keyboard and play the synth modules.
Hope this helps!
Well that optical adapter just translates between ethernet on fiber and ethernet on copper CAT cable. I've used them a bunch in a facility that oddly has lots of installed dual-mode fiber on SC connectors, but no installed networking infrastructure...
So your toslink digital audio fiber won't even fit in the fiber port, let alone do anything useful.
But that does remind me that there is a 5th way to get audio into a retina Macbook -- if you have a (multi-thousand-dollar) digital console using DANTE or similar digital snake system, you can add a computer to the CAT5 loop. Useful for multitrack recording of gigs, but the latency is awful.
You seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel, when for less money you could get a [Behringer 302USB USB](), Alesis Multimic, or Lexicon Alpha that just do what you want, and provide zero-latency monitoring of your recording input. Each of these has decent descriptions of how to set them up and do what you want, and each has lots of people here who use them and can offer advice.
I don't have any experience with it personally, but my friends all recommended http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-MultiMix-USB-Four-Channel-Mixer/dp/B001T9O5VG for me when I was asking around.
> MidiMan multi mix
I'm guessing those aren't made any more? Google'd and just found old hits from Ebay, etc.
I found this on Amazon - looks like maybe the modern version of it? It definitely is the closest thing I've found so far...but still way overkill. This will be my backup if I can't find it exactly. :-) Thanks!
I looked at reviews for your mixer, seems like some models have the fuzz sound that you usually get for low quality mixers. Try this out and see if it helps you.
If you listened to raw vocals of famous artists, your current setup won't come close to it. Try to do as trees said and either change some settings, or find a better environment (one with less echo). Hang up some sheets if you need to. Anyway, your question is answered (no), and I told you things that go into making high quality raw vocals, so it's up to you to search or ask away I guess.
I found this one a few months ago. I am saving up for it to start recording family history and I might podcast it. I don't know yet.
Pretty cheap and I think it might work.
>What is your ultimate goal. What do you want to do?
It's a podcast talking about geek stuff. Two other guys are interested in doing it with me, so I want to make sure that I can have three mics going at once.
Would this particular mixer allow me to do that? As far as I understand, 4-channel means I can have four different inputs, it could handle three microphones.
Well after you sent the first response, i went and dived straight into PA systems and shit and let me tell you its a headache starting off, but still. I have been looking to upgrade all recording equipment and shit when it came down to it (mixes and things of that sort). all of this was rEEEEAAAALLLLLY helpful man thanks so much!!!! But can i ask just one more small favor, i have a mixer in mind i'm looking to purchase in a few weeks and need to know if i need anything else for this and if this set up will work technical wise. I took all of that above into consideration whilst still learning tones of shit
I have a [Alesis MultiMix 4 USB Four-Channel] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T9O5VG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3N06IE5A4RNGV&coliid=I3R1C8ZWOCH4ET) i had in mind. i think all i could use is a 4 channel being quite honest. Do you think it is going to be of use to my situation? im buying XLR mics along with this with all the cables i think i need.
What do you think? This seems to work in my head but i lack the experience to know if it will all work so i can get 2 channels separately recording. and overall just work with audacity (or anything for that matter)
Thanks so so much again!
if you want more control you need a audio interface board, i use a Alesis 4 channel mixer and i can control bass, treble and other things. http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-MultiMix-USB-Four-Channel-Mixer/dp/B001T9O5VG you might be able to find it cheaper but thats what im using atm and i love it
The way I see it, USB mics simply aren't as versatile as XLR. I'd rather have an external mixer or pre-amp any day. That way, you can swap mics, try new ones, and mess around with different setups a lot easier. If you're really just looking for a no frills, no noise way to connect to your computer, check out the Alesis MultiMix 4. Best I've found for under $100. That, along with a decent condenser or even a basic Shure SM58 in a good room will give you a really solid sound well under your budget.
I just wanted to say I have a blue snowball and while it is good mic I do not recommend it. They went with using generic mic drivers on it instead of making their own and this has caused the mic to be very finicky. It seems to draw more power from USB than multiple ports on many pcs and often will not recognize as a device from reboot to reboot. I gave used two mics on two different pcs with the same result. If you do get it the most sure fire way to make it recognize is to plug it in after you finish boot up. Also it seems more stable on USB 3 plugs.
If you can save up for an XLR and a usb mixer (2 links) go with that because you can expand it later and you can get easy monitoring of your recording. If you go Snowball if you want to upgrade later you have to start all over because it is locked into USB output.