Suitable Mixer for Phatty Polyphony?

The Moog Forum Little Phatty & Slim Phatty Forum
1

Hi,

I currently have a LP + an SP, but am gearing up for four voices eventually. I’m trying to source a mixer so that I can mix down to mono before going into my Moogerfoogers. What are the downsides of using a passive mixer? I’m looking at these two choices (both by Rolls) but if there’s an advantage to going with the active mixer, I’ll splash out the extra $$$:

MX41b: http://www.rolls.com/product.php?pid=MX41b (Passive)
MX122: http://www.rolls.com/product.php?pid=MX122 (Active)

Thanks,
Joe

2

Well, passive mixers don’t need power, and at least in theory, should output a “cleaner” sound. Downside to using a passive mixer is that you can’t increase the volume, you can only lower it.. If all you really want to do is to “sum” the outs of the phattys, I’d go for the passive mixer. Active mixer is only useful for more “flexible” scenarios, where you want to be able to ampily signals as well..

3

With a passive mixer won’t you get a change in volume as voices are added and removed?

If you are playing 1 key and then add a couple more the volume on the 1st key will drop.

If you are holding 4 keys and release one, the volume of the others will increase.

I think this is the case. Please, someone correct me if I am wrong.

Edit: I am not sure of the noise floor, but for $20 you couldn’t build it yourself
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-MM141-4Channel-Mini-Mixer?sku=630433&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26047664

4

I dont’ know if you want to go this route, but I am having extremely great results mixing my Moogs with the Peavey 14 USB. I think its about 300 bucks, and of corse has all of the usages of a regular mixer. They also make a 10 channel (6 channels + 2 stereo channels) that is USB capable and is also able to be fitted with rack ears.

I never tried to use that as a Mono out to run into a Fooger, because usually the mixer acts as my interface, but I can personally attest that Peavey quality is top notch. They also make smaller mixers sans usb that might be more to your needs and are less expensive.

Eric

5

Thanks for the replies, guys. I went with the Active Rolls mixer…I wish I would have seen that Nady before I ordered though!

I’m curious about this as well, and wasn’t sure either…

6

Can anyone definitively answer the question in the post above? I opted for a Rolls active mixer for my solution, but it’s a little noisy for my taste. It’s really apparent after playing through it for a while and then going back to a monophonic setup with headphones straight from the Phatty…

I should understand the passive/active concepts, but I’m not clear on this one. All I’ll be wanting to do is hook up multiple Phattys in Poly mode (now that Amos has worked his magic on OS 3.1) and sum their output with each voice having equal weighting in the output. Possible via an active mixer? Impedance issues?

Thanks…