Mixer for Volca setup

Corundum · Post by **Corundum** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 2:29 pm

I'm buying a beats, bass, and keys but I'm new to groove boxes. I think I need a mixer. I plan to listen with headphones. Any recommendations on a suitable mixer ?

I have read they output in mono not stereo. Will a 4 channel behringer mixer, that has 2 stereo and 2 mono inputs work ok ? Or should I get one with at least 3 stereo inputs ? Should the Volca's headphone output split into a pair or a single plug feeding into the mixer ?

(Well reading a new thread, it looks like they output in dual mono. So I think it would be easier getting a mixer with at least 3 stereo inputs and using a headphone to L + R RCA stereo cable for each Volca.

Re-Member · Post by **Re-Member** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:13 pm

I use a Behringer Micromix MX400 for all three Volcas, plus the Monotribe. You actually don't need any weird adapters or stereo cables to plug them into a mixer, just one of these cables for each unit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006 ... UTF8&psc=1

honolulu · Post by **honolulu** » Sun Jan 12, 2014 4:32 pm

I use an Behringer XENYX 302USB

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/302USB.aspx

reactanceS · Post by **reactanceS** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:41 pm

If you don't have a mixer, you can also make do with 2 mini jack y cables. 2 Volcas into one, and that y and the third Volca into the other. Then a mini to 1/4 adapter if you need to. Not ideal but quick and cheap.

DrHoo · Post by **DrHoo** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:51 pm

There are a few cheap micro mixers out there, ebay should be cheap enough. They do add a bit of noise to the mix but it's ok for what you're describing.

chris-korg · Post by **chris-korg** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:59 pm

I use a Behringer RX 1602 - a little bit more expensive BUT works very well...

Chris

mouchon · Post by **mouchon** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:45 pm

I use a Berhringer Xenyx 1002B. It's actually overkill in terms of inputs but I've split the volca outputs to 2 channels, allowing a little bit of stereo imaging by using the EQ and panning.

The xenyx 1002B allows operation by battery (2x 9V square batteries) so you can have a full battery-powered set-up

fant0mas · Post by **fant0mas** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:55 am

I´m actually also using the Behringer 1002 B.

I use my 3x Volcas each on their own (mono) channel on the mixer, then a stereo channel for my Electribe ES-1 sampler, and I´m using a (guitar-multiFX unit) V-Amp as a Send/Return effect on the mixer, so I can send all the channels to the same reverb/delay.

Also VERY useful with this mixer: you also have a monitor-send (which you could also "abuse" as a second FX-send! ), and if you plug in your headphones into the "MON" out (or an actual monitor box), you can actually pre-listen (cue mix) to the other inputs, even if the channel fader is turned to zero!

can highly recommend it - it´s not as noisy as some people want to make you believe, and especially for <100 Euros (new!), you can´t really go wrong.

dan3gerou5 · Post by **dan3gerou5** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:13 pm

Re-Member wrote:I use a Behringer Micromix MX400 for all three Volcas, plus the Monotribe. You actually don't need any weird adapters or stereo cables to plug them into a mixer, just one of these cables for each unit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006 ... UTF8&psc=1

I also started off with this setup. I used mono to mono cables, and when I plug my earphones into the output, the sound only comes out of one can. Is there a way to fix this by using another cable? Like a stereo to mono or mono to stereo instead of mono to mono?

I do have a two chanel mixer where the inputs are L/R and I hooked up a Volca to that and the headphones work fine (using a 1/8 to stereo L/R cable).

The Micromix MX400 has 4 inputs all 1/4 and one output thats also 1/4. So i am trying to use the output on the micromix with a pair of earphones with the sound coming out of both ears, not just one. Can anyone shed a little light on this, Im not an expert on cables. Thanks in advance.

analoguekid · Post by **analoguekid** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:03 am

My old Boss BX4, four channel stereo mini mixer seems to be doing ok, I use 3 mini stereo leads into it from the Volca Keys, Nintendo and R3 headphones outs and then the L/R out of the mixer to my pedal this then mixes the two signals and then on to my PC interface. If I cut the pedal out and listen via the headphones out of the mini mixer I get the signal in both ears

Re-Member · Post by **Re-Member** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 4:20 pm

dan3gerou5 wrote:I also started off with this setup. I used mono to mono cables, and when I plug my earphones into the output, the sound only comes out of one can. Is there a way to fix this by using another cable? Like a stereo to mono or mono to stereo instead of mono to mono?

I do have a two chanel mixer where the inputs are L/R and I hooked up a Volca to that and the headphones work fine (using a 1/8 to stereo L/R cable).

The Micromix MX400 has 4 inputs all 1/4 and one output thats also 1/4. So i am trying to use the output on the micromix with a pair of earphones with the sound coming out of both ears, not just one. Can anyone shed a little light on this, Im not an expert on cables. Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately, the problem is actually the Micromix's output jack, not any of the cables. The output is a single mono signal as opposed to a double mono signal that produces sound on both the left and right channels.

Someone on Amazon mentions using either of these two adaptors on your headphones to fix the problem:

Hosa GPP-419 Female TS 1/4-Inch to Male TRS 1/4-Inch Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JY ... r_asin_lnk

Hosa GPM-103 3.5mm TRS to 1/4" TRS Adaptor
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006 ... r_asin_lnk

Nany_09 · Post by **Nany_09** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:29 am

Nice post.

dan3gerou5 · Post by **dan3gerou5** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:24 am

Re-Member, solid info man thanks for the post.

elpiulas · Post by **elpiulas** » Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:14 pm

I have the 3 volcas and my mixer is the new Yamaha MG10XU, connected to my Alesis M1 monitors. Sounds fantastic.

More info for the Mixer:

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en ... lineup.jsp

requ · Post by **requ** » Tue Jun 17, 2014 6:35 pm

Low-end solution here with 3 Volcas. The 'Belkin Rockstar', affordable, mobile, works fine

http://www.belkin.com/us/F8Z274/p/P-F8Z274/