Tip for cheaply increasing inputs on amps

[Voltor07]

Say you're like me. You like synths. You have a two-channel keyboard amp, which is fine for your LP and Taurus, or Voyager and Taurus. But then you want an SEM, Nord, Prophet08, dot com modular, or something else. You can't afford another amp, nor do you want to have to plug a mixer into yet ANOTHER powerstrip, because you already have two powerstrips for your 'Foogers. What do you do? Well, Rolls makes affordable four input mixers that do not require a power source. Like you, I was skeptical of how well they worked. Would it hurt the audio quality? Would it affect the volume to unusably quiet levels? The answer is: NO! This cheap $50 mixer works great for expanding the number of channels on your amp! If you need more channels for incoming gear, don't want to spend a lot of money, get one of these! I bought mine from www.parts-express.com, but I have also seen them for $39 at Music-Go-Round, and most music stores list them on their websites. This thing, for the price, is AMAZING!

[Portamental]

Nice little bidule. I like to build stuff and mixing audio signal is not that hard, couple of resistors, plugs, jacks.

But you almost can not built a similar unit for a lower cost than this unit. If I could pick one over the counter, I would, in a flash.

Problem with passive is that it weakens the signal to some degree. Enough juice out of this one? Processed signal much lower than direct signal?

[Voltor07]

Portamental, I have not noticed any changes in volume output at all with this little guy. I was surprised, myself. It's very sturdy, housed in a metal case, and has four sliders for independant control over each channel.

Here's the specs: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=245-042

[Portamental]

Thanks for the feedback and the link (though I searched Rolls mixer on the PA site yesterday and seen it). Seen it again just now. It looks even better on second look and I feel some kind of need on the rise.

[Voltor07]

Thanks for the feedback and the link (though I searched Rolls mixer on the PA site yesterday and seen it). Seen it again just now. It looks even better on second look and I feel some kind of need on the rise.

It seems to be the industry's best-kept secret. Plus it's made in America. For 50 bucks, you get a fully functional four channel mixer with stereo capability (as long as TRS cables are used throughout) and no noticable loss. How can you go wrong?

[bradley103082]

Great find. Voltor, I remembered seeing this post of yours from months ago. I recently ordered one of these. Who'd have thought that there are still affordable electronic devices made in the USA. That's impressive in itself. I've been using mine to feed multiple signals into a glamour box. http://skychord.com/glamour-box.html For any who are curious. Combine 4 audio sources with the glamour box and its cacophony. I do notice some volume loss but you can easily compensate on either end. It also works as a splitter when ran in reverse.

[Voltor07]

Bradley, thanks for your input on this. I'm sure there are a multitude of uses for this great mixer, I just haven't thought of them all yet. I wonder if it would work as a CV mixer or oscillator mixer, as well?

[Kenneth]

Voltor, thanks for the link. I'm going to order one. This is incredibly helpful.
Bradley: thank YOU for the link to Skychord. Next paycheck is going to get ravaged on their gear. You have opened a door for me, and for that I am grateful.

[Voltor07]

Voltor, thanks for the link. I'm going to order one. This is incredibly helpful.
Bradley: thank YOU for the link to Skychord. Next paycheck is going to get ravaged on their gear. You have opened a door for me, and for that I am grateful.

Yeah, Skychord stuff seems really cool. A bit out of my price range at the moment, but I may buy another MX-41b just to play around with.

[bradley103082]

You're welcome Kenneth. As a longtime lurker on this forum, it's good to finally contribute something useful to it. Skychord is pretty awesome. I've got their glamour box and utopia synth. I'd like the sleepdrone 5 sooner or later but there's also a laundry list of other gadgets I'm interested in. Check out Zn'shn. http://www.youtube.com/user/znshn I discovered Skychord when I came across one of their videos some time ago. It's really great glitch noise. They also use a healthy amount of moogerfooger.

Voltor, have you used your mixer for CV yet?

[Kenneth]

You're welcome Kenneth. As a longtime lurker on this forum, it's good to finally contribute something useful to it. Skychord is pretty awesome. I've got their glamour box and utopia synth. I'd like the sleepdrone 5 sooner or later but there's also a laundry list of other gadgets I'm interested in. Check out Zn'shn. http://www.youtube.com/user/znshn I discovered Skychord when I came across one of their videos some time ago. It's really great glitch noise. They also use a healthy amount of moogerfooger.

Thanks for that link too, I'm watching some of their vids now. Really interesting stuff they're doing, right down my alley at the moment. I'm really interested in doing ambient drone pieces for movie soundtracks, so this is great to see. I'm going t check out some of Skychord's product demos too. This is really exciting.

[Voltor07]

Voltor, have you used your mixer for CV yet?

Not yet. Will keep you posted when I do. The studio's in the process of being modified...