Mixers

Though digital technology has transformed the nature of synths, effects, and even multitracks, project studio mixers have largely remained steadfastly analogue, breaking the chain which, if complete, would allow your music to remain in the digital domain from sequencer to master.Korg's 168RC forms the heart of a system designed to all but eliminate the analogue signal path, and Paul Wiffen wonders where it's been all his life...

Employing the same surface mount technology and 100 millimetre faders featured on the larger Folio SX, the stylish new F1 Continues the progressive Folio tradition of offering more features for the same price or less. Man of taste Paul Hedges decides whether he likes the cut of the F1's jib...

We've all heard of a modular mixing desks - &mdash but perhaps not where all the modules are rackmounting and can be mixed and matched to form a custom console, or used alone. Hugh Robjohns makes all the right connections.

Yet another ultra-compact mixer emerges from R&D, to fierce competition from similar models by other manufacturers. David Mellor does a spot of channel-hopping...

After months of curiosity-arousing, X-Files-style advertising, Soundcraft's Ghost is here, offering the project studio owner automated 8-buss mixing at a highly competitive price. David Mellor deliberately avoids all jokes about EQ and haunting sound quality.

After finally discovering this little mixer almost lost amongst its own packaging, Paul White puts it to work.

Tascam are known for the quality and reliability of their larger consoles: now they've turned their hands to a super-mini mixer, which will have to slug it out with similar models already on the market. Paul White assesses its chances.

Mackie's enormously successful 1604 and 1202 mixers have inspired a fleet of imitations, all keen to get a slice of the action. Sound Engineer Steve Brodie checks out Peavey's take on the compact mixer concept...

As Mackie's new 1402 VLZ goes a long way to bridging the gap between their original 1202 and 1604, it comes as no surprise that the new 1604 VLZ has evolved a whole new range of features. Paul White checks out the update of this steel-clad classic...

First observed by the SOS team at the bottom of an aquarium at this year's Frankfurt Musikmesse, Spirit by Soundcraft's new Folio SX mixer has now arrived. Paul White dries it off and removes the goldfish droppings from the insert points.

Prefer a Mackie compact mixer with faders? then the 1402VLZ could be just what you're looking for. Paul White checks it out.

Inquisitor-General Paul White puts Samson on the rack, but finds few guilty secrets.

Studiomaster's new desk joins the long list of other contenders in the crowded 8-buss mixer market. Unlike many of its competitors, however, the Classic 8 is a split console, and includes MIDI muting and a meter bridge as standard. Is this enough to encourage musicians to settle for Studiomaster? Paul White finds out.

What can you do if you've been tempted by the automation facilities offered by digital desks like Yamaha's 02R, but your finances just won't stretch that far? In the first of two reviews of affordable automation systems in this issue, Paul White considers the Soundtracs option for those who already own an IBM-compatible PC...

Although aimed primarily at Mackie owners, Ultramix is an automation system that will run on other desks too with the aid of a modestly-equipped Mac — promising the home studio everything but the motorised faders. Bernhard Speyer investigates...

The tiny and cost-effective line mixer could improve invaluable in all sorts studio, live and multimedia situation. Derek Johnson thinks small...

The home and project studio mixer market is currently dominated by British and American manufacturers. With the release of the RM800 desk, Yamaha are clearly hoping that some of the success of their top-end digital mixers will percolate down to the middle market. Derek Johnson finds out whether the RM800 has what it takes.

Following the success of their first mixer, the 8-buss Eurodesk, Behringer have scaled down the concept to take on the crowded 4-buss market. Paul White checks it out.

The construction might be solid steel, but you don't need the strength of Samson to lift this little mixer, as Paul White discovers.

Paul White puts Mackie's new 1202 VLZ next to his original 1202 and discovers more changes than you might expect.

Paul White experiences the delights of this all-digital, automated mixing environment where unwieldy cable harnesses and tiered patchbays are the thing of the past.