Eric F. Richards wrote:
I'm directing this one to Peter, because I know he has both the
professional background to answer this as well as having a solution
for this one at home. (Does that make sense?)



Yes. And I'm flattered, actually.


Anyway... I'm looking for a simple stereo mixer to handle line-ins
from all my radios. The idea would be to take the line-in, set the
pan to an appropriate "virtual" spacing in the soundstage, and output
to an amp (or powered speakers, or even directly to speakers).


If you're looking for something that fits in a standard 19" rack, the
Alesis Studio 12R or Mix 12R is a good choice. You've got 12 channels,
two Aux sends to recorders, separate main and monitor outs, a couple of
stereo channels, the rest mono, panable, with completely intuitive
operation.

Even simple shelving eq on each channel for trimming audio to your
liking.

Alesis isn't as ruggedly built as some, but it's audio performance is
overkill for what you need, and if you don't abuse your hardware, which
you clearly do not, it will outlast you.

If you're looking for a desktop mixer, Mackie does about the best at
this. Same feature sets, a little more versatile with the aux sends and
returns, and eq. Bulletproof build.


Balanced and unbalanced audio ins and outs are standard on both lines.


Mackie also fields a simpler line of toys under Greg's original TAPCO
handle.

Fewer features, lower cost, bulletproof build quality. More than
adequate audio performance. Far better than you'd need for your application.

Self noise is lower on the Mackie products than the Alesis, but
you'll not be able to tell the difference in real world settings.

Behringer is a less costly alternative to the Mackie, but I don't
endorse Behringer, since their R&D department consists of a couple of
techs that reverse engineer other companies' products. They've been in
some pretty tasty lawsuits for it, too.

Mackie you can research at Mackie.com

Alesis at alesis.com.

And the best prices for the product you want are at e-Bay. I bought a
Studio 12 R for a couple of hundred bux, and use it to tie all the audio
outputs in my office together. Radios, computers, mp3 player, dog
whistle...all of it. All through a single sound system, balanced and
trimmed to taste through the mixer.

E-bay will also have some Teac/Tascam mixers for less cost, but with
more primitive features than the Mackie and Alesis lines. They're
usually quite compact. Not quite as versatile as the others. The search
engine will come up with everything you're interested in under "Tascam
Mixer" or "Teac Mixer." Tascam is usually better build quality than
Teac. Tascam is usually better audio quality than Teac. They come out of
the same plant, and both will meet your needs.

I had a Teac model 1 here some years ago that would be good for what
you're doing. Sold it for next to nothing. You can find them for about
that, now.


All the companies field powered mixers, but they would be horrific
overkill for you. Unless you intend to hit your listening station with
about 200W/ch of NBFM comms.



Unfortunately, I haven't found appropriate products to do this. I've
found overpriced, underfeatured units targeted to hams, overpriced DJ
mixers but not simple PA quality mixers. Where should I be looking
for such a thing?


Well, there is another option....if you're going to just set the
mixer levels and not screw with them, Radio Design Labs makes modules
that may accomplish what you're trying to do. The stereo staging may
take some innovative configuration, but with a combination of modules,
you can pretty much build anything.

Similarly, I've used modules from OpAmp Labs to build mixers, preamps
and distribution systems. Cost is managable, and the builds are simple.
With many flexible options for each module.

Where you're going to run into obstacles, is the distribution of
receivers across the stereo stage. You can do it, of course, but with
roll-your-own products like Radio Design and OpAmp, you'll invest as
much in time and components as to buy a used mixer.

Start looking on e-Bay. As you find products that get close to your
needs try to find the manufacturer's website. If they've got something
close, they'll likely have something closer.

Then just keep an eye peeled for the right price.

I have the radio system on a Switchcraft system that came out of a
stereo shop. I can punch up any, all, or any combination of radios for
monitoring, diverting to a recorder, or distribution though the grounds
with the touch of a few buttons. Found a pair of those on eBay for less
than $100 a few years ago. Combined with the mixer, and stereo
amp/speaker system, it makes for virtual effortless selection of content
depending on what's happening at any given moment.







Regards,

Eric