homebuilt audio mixer desk

[dave]

I'm thinking (just thinking ) of building an analogue audio mixer desk (16
channels). The pro ones cost a fortune. As I can't actually design it I wonder
if anyone here can offer advice as to the feasibility of such a project? Is
there a design/circuit/spec available? Perhaps you've already built one
yourself?
Would appreciate the groups feedback on this.
tia

 

[Ban]

I'm thinking (just thinking ) of building an analogue audio mixer
desk (16 channels). The pro ones cost a fortune. As I can't actually
design it I wonder if anyone here can offer advice as to the
feasibility of such a project? Is there a design/circuit/spec
available? Perhaps you've already built one yourself?
Would appreciate the groups feedback on this.
tia

Actually the Behringer line of pro equipment is so low in price, you
couldn't compete with it.
I have this model and am so far contented with it:
http://www.behringer.com/MX3242X/index.cfm?lang=ENG

 

[Pooh Bear]

I'm thinking (just thinking ) of building an analogue audio mixer desk (16
channels). The pro ones cost a fortune.

You're joking surely ? The 'semi-pro' products widely available are so
competitively priced that attempting to make money by manufacturing them is
difficult.

As I can't actually design it I wonder
if anyone here can offer advice as to the feasibility of such a project?

I did this 30+ yrs ago when there really was a financial reason.

Is
there a design/circuit/spec available? Perhaps you've already built one
yourself?
Would appreciate the groups feedback on this.

If you don't understand the circuitry don't even remotely consider trying. The
stuff on sale is pretty high performing and you won't be able to make anything
comparable if you don't have many years of design expereince.

You would have trouble even sourcing some of the key components ( like ultra low
noise input transistors for the mic amps ) and would have to pay extortionate
hobbyist prices.

The commercial stuff also comes in a nicely finished tough case with decent
controls and has been tested for electrical safety.


Graham

 

[Kevin Aylward]

I'm thinking (just thinking ) of building an analogue audio mixer
desk (16 channels). The pro ones cost a fortune.

No they dont. Check out http://www.behringer.com/

As I can't actually
design it I wonder if anyone here can offer advice as to the
feasibility of such a project?

Decent mixers are quite a big project.

Is there a design/circuit/spec
available? Perhaps you've already built one yourself?

Yes. I used to design them at Studiomaster.

Look, dude, the make them in china for pennies. You will never be able
to build up a decent one cheaper than what you can buy them for.

Kevin Aylward
[email protected]
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.

 

[Joseph Casey]

Hi Dave.
You can get decent quality budget mixers for a few hundred dollars. The
components alone for a home built mixer would be more than that! Could
you use several smaller mixers?

A modest (quality and complexity) mixer would make a good project for
learning electronics and there are schematics on the net and in hobby
books. If you want 16 channels and decent quality forget about DIY
unless you are really experienced in audio electronics AND have stacks
of time. To get low noise performance, the circuit design; layout and
grounding must be right and that takes a LOT of skill. Otherwise it will
oscillate or sound like a mouldy cassette tape.

 

[Guy Macon]

I'm thinking (just thinking ) of building an analogue audio mixer desk (16
channels). The pro ones cost a fortune. As I can't actually design it I wonder
if anyone here can offer advice as to the feasibility of such a project? Is
there a design/circuit/spec available? Perhaps you've already built one
yourself?

Yes. I have.

If you think buying a mixer board is expensive, just wait until you
count up the cost of building your own!

It will cost you $700 to buy a really good 16 channel mixer
that it would take you well over 700 hours to duplicate.
http://www.carvin.com/products/mixer.php?ItemNumber=C1644
(And that's new - there are some real bargains on eBay)

If you want to do it to learn, that's well worth doing.
If you want to do it to save money, get a job a McDonald's
for two weeks and buy one.

 

[dave]

Yes. I have.

If you think buying a mixer board is expensive, just wait until you
count up the cost of building your own!

It will cost you $700 to buy a really good 16 channel mixer
that it would take you well over 700 hours to duplicate.
http://www.carvin.com/products/mixer.php?ItemNumber=C1644
(And that's new - there are some real bargains on eBay)

If you want to do it to learn, that's well worth doing.
If you want to do it to save money, get a job a McDonald's
for two weeks and buy one.

ok ok ok I get the point. It was mainly as an interesting construction project.
Thanks anyway.

 

[Mike Diack]

ok ok ok I get the point. It was mainly as an interesting construction
project. Thanks anyway.

Its interesting hearing the chorus from the nay sayers - yes it makes no
sense from a purely economic perspective to make a 16 channel mixer -
you are simply in 3 decades too late. Like many others here, I was
building such items in the '70s, and in those times, the weekly rental
from one such mixer could cover all my living expenses (rent, car &
intoxicants) for the week. These days it wouldn't fill the tank. The
skills gained in the process however were much more transferable however
(Metalwork, aluminium welding, anodising, photography, silkscreening,
PCB etching,circuit analysis and design, layout etc etc etc) {though
there's not a lot of use for competence in Bishop Graphics these
days}.The net result of this anti - DIY sentiment (or acceptance that
the Chinese are the only people who can/should build things these days)
is the extraordinary paucity of people who can fix these things when
they go wrong. Does give rise to the occasional suppressed evil chuckle
when todays swarm of "Graduates of the $$$ School of Audio Engineering"
fader jocks run round like headless chickens when the PA doesn't do what
it oughtta.
Build it and be damned.
M

 

[Spajky]

Its interesting hearing the chorus from the nay sayers - yes it makes no
sense from a purely economic perspective to make a 16 channel mixer -
you are simply in 3 decades too late.

I also agree with that !

Build it and be damned.

LOL , it happened to me a 1/4 of century ago ... & this thread
reminds me about that times ...

I actually built (my construction!) a 12-ch mono one BUT never
finished it to be usable (on the desk it worked perfectly & also made
but not finished the case). It had also a "spring type" reverberation
system ... the remains could be seen on my site under Music ...
That time parts costed me a fortune /but anyway only 1/3 of price than
a made quality factory one/ .... but not to mention how many of my
free time involved ... but it was a challenge...

Well, building it at least I learned a lot & hey, a LED-VU meter after
decades, last year finished in my 5,25" PC bay & a project on my site
under Electronics ... served few youngster modders to reproduce it ..
at least some of my effort served to someone ...

 

[Pooh Bear]

ok ok ok I get the point. It was mainly as an interesting construction project.

That it would be for sure. A long project even. You would learn plenty. Been there -
done that. Then made it ( pro-audio ) my profession. It doesn't pay especially well
though, so I've done more 'routine' stuff too.


Graham