The Yamaha AN1x Synthesizer mailing list

>Hi, everyone!  I've got a quick question regarding
>mixer set-up.  So, here is the list of my equipment:
>AN1x (obviously), ESQ-1, TX81Z, and an RY20.  Now, I
>want to run these through a mixer (Alesis MultiMix 6x,
>maybe), but on that specific model, it has 2 Mono
>(lines 1&2) and 2 Stereo (lines 3/4 & 5/6) inputs.
>Now, the question is, if I get this specific mixer,
>what would be the best way to hook-up my gear?  I'm
>sort of baffled as to why lines 3,4,5 & 6 don't have
>their own separate stereo inputs. Shouldn't this be
>labeled a '4 channel' instead of a '6 channel mixer',
>as it effectively has "only" 4 sets of inputs?
>Anyway, if someone would be so kind as to guide this
>newbie down the correct path, I would GREATLY
>appreciate it.  If you wish to reply off list, my main
>e-mail addy is nsbhp5@.... Obviously just
>remove the nospam from the address.  Thanks in
>advance!
>
>Sincerely,
>Scott

Scott,

Welcome to the jungle.

The Alesis mixer you've chosen will not have enough inputs to run all 
of your gear at the same time if you want to use them all in stereo. 
Each box requires two inputs and that makes a total of eight.

Mixer manufacturers can count the "number of channels" in many 
different ways; Alesis does it by counting the total number of 
signals that can be brought in on the channel inputs of the mixer (so 
a mono channel has one input and a stereo channel has two), but other 
manufacturers only count channel strips (thus possibly under-counting 
the number of inputs) or they also include effects returns (which 
over-counts the number of inputs).

Most small mixers generally offer a combination of mono and stereo 
inputs. The former are for microphones and the latter are for the 
modern line-level keyboards that run in stereo, or for stereo effects 
processors (like the Line 6 POD) for guitars. The idea behind this is 
that if you're working with a lot of stereo devices, it's much easier 
and cheaper to build stereo channels for them. You only need one set 
of electronics rather than two, and when you turn down one knob you 
lower both channels' levels at the same time without riding two 
different controls. The ideal "synth mixer" would be a gigantic 
console that only or almost only has stereo channels, but only a few 
such boards have ever been made and they're only available as custom 
devices from companies like Speck Electronics now...and such boxes 
are very, very expensive.

If what you want to record is four stereo instruments (I don't 
remember if the ESQ1 is stereo), you will require a mixer with four 
stereo channels or eight mono channels or some combination thereof to 
get you the total number of inputs you need. You will also need to 
reserve extra channels to use as effects returns if (a) your mixer 
doesn't have them and (b) you want to process your synths with 
external effects, for example a reverb box to help put all your 
synths in the same "room". If you're only going to use the internal 
effects of the Alesis mixer for now, then you needn't worry about 
that last limitation, as its internal DSP has its own returns and it 
doesn't use the ones on the mixer.

If you insist on using the 6-channel Alesis, you'll need to do one of 
two things: either run two of your synths in mono, or use the stereo 
aux return to bring back one of your stereo signals into the mix 
(thereby sacrificing the ability to add external effects later). I 
recommend that you get the 8-channel model instead, as the extra few 
bucks will pay off in flexibility. And if you plan to add more synths 
later, you might even consider buying a mixer with even more channels 
to hold in reserve.

Good luck, and if you really want to learn about this stuff upside 
down and backwards, the best investment you can make right now would 
be a subscription to a good pro audio magazine. I'd suggest
--Whoops, ball dropping. Gotta go!

mike

-- 
"My week beats your year."                                 (l. reed)
====================================================================
Mike Metlay * ATOMIC CITY * PO Box 17083 * Boulder CO 80308-0083 USA
metlay@... *                  * http://www.atomiccity.com