Are you thinking of starting a podcast?
And wondering if you need a mixer for your podcast?
Want to add a podcast as a way to reach more of your audience? And you want something that is of high quality?
Yeah i get you
You definitely need a good mixer to go with your other equipment.
Why?
This is because a mixer will help you regulate your audio and also increase the quality of your audio.
Also when podcasting and using a mixer, there are a lot of options that a mixer can give you.
Things such as the number of channels that you have, the inline enhancements (reverb and delay) that you can play with and also the reliability of a mixer as a backup are things that would make getting a mixer a great choice.
There are a lot of things which you need to consider before getting a mixer or even thinking about the best mixer for podcasting.
We will look at some of those things later, but you need to know that when choosing a product you need something that will increase the quality of your audio and also give you the added options.
Top 4 Best mixer for podcasting
- Yamaha MG10 10-Input Stereo Mixer
- Mackie 402VLZ4, 4-channel Ultra Compact Mixer
- Behringer Xenyx 1204USB Premium 12-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer
- Mackie PROFX8V2 8-Channel Compact Mixer
What to look for before you purchase a podcasting mixer
Before you buy a mixer for your podcast, there are somethings you need to look out for.
1. The number of channels
This is very important.
You want to go for a mixer that has at least 6 channels.
Why?
So you are not limited by what you can do with it.
So for example you might have your microphone in one channel, your co hosts mic on another channel, then some music and fx on another one and so one
Basically you want at least 6 channels to be one the safe side.
2. The type of controls
Here you want to check if the controls are faders or knobs
This is because most high quality mixers are faders and a fader just works well especially when you are trying to make quick adjustments.
3. The type of inline processing features it has
A good quality mixer should have some added processing features.
This is because you want to have a fine quality sound and also reduce the amount of time you spend on post production.
So you definitely want to make sure that it comes with an EQ (equalisation) knob, a gain control and possibly a low cut filter.
The Best Mixer for Podcasting
1. Yamaha MG10 10-Input Stereo Mixer
The Yamaha MG 10 mixer is one of the cheapest and best mixer you can get.
It has 10 inputs which means that you have more than enough channels to play with.
It has a very easy to use interface and comes with studio quality pre-amps, powerful digital processing and a rugged and reliable construction.
Its extensive lineup of compact mixing consoles and the wide range of consoles will make sure that you are not limited.
It comes with a unique 1 knob compressor that gives you the ability to add some effects to your vocals as it passes through the mixer.
It comes with a switchable phantom power that makes it very easy for you to work with condenser mics and not have issues with them.
It’s D-PRE amps is awesome when it comes to delivering high quality and clear vocals
With it’s metal chassis, this is one product that is built to last and very durable.
2. Mackie 402VLZ4, 4-channel Ultra Compact Mixer
This is another very good and high quality mixer that you can get.
The only disadvantage is that it does not have as much channels as the one above.
It is ideal if you are just getting started and you need something that is not too complicated.
It is designed with Mackie signature which means that is has high headroom and low noise.
This is very useful because you do not want to spend so much time during post production trying to reduce background noise.
It’s quality Onyx mic preamps are of very good quality and make sure that your vocal are very clear.
With it’s sleek black powder coatings and cockpit inspired controls this is one machine that is very portable and also of high quality.
3. Behringer Xenyx 1204USB Premium 12-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer
With this mixer you can be sure that you have something really good
Agreed it is a little higher priced than the other but it more than makes up for that with the added features.
For one this is a 12 channel podcast mixer. This means that you have more than enough when it comes to the number of inputs you can use.
With this mixer in your podcasting equipments, you can have as many hosts on your podcast show as you need.
This is a premium low noise and high headroom mixer. This means that you can be sure of the quality of the audio that comes out
Its 4 phantom powered pre-amps will ensure that you have no issues when using this with any condenser mic.
It comes with 4 studio grade compressors that helps you easily make any adjustments to your vocals as they pass through the mixer.
It’s EQ knobs are also some of the highest quality in the market.
It comes with built in USB/ Audio interface that makes it very easy for you to connect to your PC.
It’s 24 bit dual engine FX processors that include reverbs, chorus, flanger and delays make it obe of the best choice for you.
4. Mackie PROFX8V2 8-Channel Compact Mixer
This is a professional piece of equipment.
If you are looking for the best quality then you need to get this.
It is much more expensive and takes some fiddling to get used to but it delivers the goods and you can be sure of it quality.
It has 4 low noise pre-amps that spices up your vocals and gives it clarity
It comes with it Ready FX engine that is packed with useful effects such as reverb and delay. This is very useful if you will like to do some of your post production effects right there are you record.
It comes with a 3 band Equalization knob for easy processing cutting off unwanted frequencies.
If you are looking to step up your game and go for quality, then this is the best product for you.
Conclusion
Choosing a mixer for your podcasting needs should not be confusing.
All you need to do is to go through the buying guide above and figure out the features that you really need.
If you are just starting out then you can get away with a small amount of channels but for the more experienced guys then you can check out the ones with a higher number of channels.
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