Hardware Compare top rated Audio Mixer equipment for your home recording studio

You write and perform GREAT music. You've gotta record it and get it out there.

• Budget: Alesis MultiMix 8USB Professional All-In-One Mixer and Audio Interface

• Quality: Mackie ProFX12 12-Channel Non-Powered Effects Mixer with USB

• Top: Alesis MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 16-Channel Mixer

Audio mixers are what combine the sounds from multitrack recorders into a stereo track. The mixer is what gives your recording it's studio shine.

They typically come with effects processors for reverb, equalization, and compression. Digital mixers are more at home in computer studio because they do not need to convert back and forth from analog to digital. Analog mixers are best used with hardware recorders that send out the tracks as audio.

In choosing your mixer, keep an eye on the following things: of channels, number of inputs, effects and, of course, what quality digital-analog conversion it provides (24-32bit is high, 16bit is CD quality).

Here are our highly recommended and popular mixers for your home studio. Click on them to learn more. If you want to get an overview of all the mixers in our listing sorted by price, click here.

Back to top

You can:
Mix down eight channels straight to your computer with USB.
Apply digital effects with 100 presets to choose from.
Tweak each channel with three band EQ.
Use with both a Mac or a PC.
Edit in your computer with Cubase LE software.

Features:
Compact, affordable 8-channel analog mixer with USB
4 high-gain mic/line inputs with phantom power, 2 stereo balanced 1/4” line inputs
100 28-bit onboard preset effects including reverbs, delays, chorus, flanging and pitch
3-band EQ per channel
Separate 1/4” balanced main and monitor outs, headphone out
Integrated USB audio interface
Mac OS X, Windows XP (32-bit) or Vista (32-bit) compatible
Steinberg Cubase LE included
Easy to attach rackmount ears available

Summary:
Available in 8–channel and 16–channel configurations, these compact tabletop mixers feature USB connectivity, low–noise analog electronics, 100 studio–grade 28–bit digital effects, and rock–solid construction. Whether used for mobile or studio recording, MultiMix USB Mixers get the job done right.

Buy and love the Budget: Alesis MultiMix 8USB Professional All-In-One Mixer and Audio Interface from:

Buy for

The Music Zone for $Low

Back to top

Features:
Professional 12-channel compact Mixer with onboard effects and USB I/O
Six low-noise, high-headroom Mackie mic preamps with easy LED metering
32-bit RMFX processor with 16 Gig-Ready reverbs, choruses and delays
Precision seven-band graphic EQ for tuning Mains or Monitors
USB I/O for recording shows and music playback via Mac or PC

You can:
Output your mix directly to your computer with USB.
Work with 12 channels of audio.
Get exceptional sound toning with seven band graphic EQ.
Add reverb and other effects with high quality processing.

Summary:
The Mackie ProFX12 12-channel mixing console with integrated effects is the complete and simple solution for small to mid-size performance venues. 6 Mackie low-noise, high-headroom mic preamps ensure a pristine signal while LED metering and 60mm faders on each channel keep levels in check. Sweeten the mix using the mixer's 3-band active EQ and integrated RMFX 32-bit processor, which offers an arsenal of gig-ready effects. Easily tune mains and monitors with 7-band stereo graphic EQ and capture the mix or stream break music from a laptop using built-in USB I/O.

Buy and love the Quality: Mackie ProFX12 12-Channel Non-Powered Effects Mixer with USB from:

Buy for

The Music Zone for $270

Back to top

Features:
18 direct outputs to your computer for recording and 2 return inputs for monitoring
Eight High–gain mic/line (XLR and 1/4” balanced) inputs with phantom power, 2 stereo balanced 1/4”
Four stereo, balanced 1/4" inputs, aux send (to onboard or external effects), stereo aux return
Switchable 75Hz high pass filters
100 onboard 28-bit preset effects including reverbs, delays, chorus, flanging, pitch and multi–effects
3–band EQ per channel with high/low shelving and mid band pass/reject
Separate 1/4” balanced main and monitor outs, headphone out
Smooth 60mm faders
24–bit, 44.1 to 96 kHz operation with high–end A/D and D/A conversion through an integrated USB 2.0 Audio interface
Compatible with Mac OS X and Windows XP
Steinberg Cubase LE included

You can:
Record straight into your computer with high quality analog digital conversion.
Send 18 channels to your computer.
Add great effects with more than 100 reverbs, delays, choruses and so forth.
Tweak each channel with its own the band EQ.
Use with either a Mac or Windows machine.
Do all your computer sequencing and editing with the included Cubase LE.

Summary:
The Alesis MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 mixer provides USB 2.0 technology for ultra–fast, low–latency, 24–bit/44.1–96kHz (with high–end A/D and D/A conversion) multi–channel audio recording straight to your computer.
Designed with low–noise analog electronics, the MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 mixer lets users take advantage of 100 studio–grade 28–bit digital effects. Whether used for mobile or studio recording, the MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 mixer makes recording high–quality audio to your computer fast and easy.
The MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 mixer is also bundled with award–winning Cubase LE software for instant creativity right out of the box.

Buy and love the Top: Alesis MultiMix 16 USB 2.0 16-Channel Mixer from:

Buy for

The Music Zone for $Low

For a full explanation of mixer specifications and what they mean, click

Here are some opportunities to pick up musical instruments and home studio equipment at great discounts!