The Mixer Output Guide
Courtesy of Silent Way Remote Audio Recording and Audio Equipment Rental.
Audio mixer inputs are well documented, but output specifications are buried in manuals. This guide to the poor neglected output describes direct outs, inserts, hidden mods and more.
There are two ways to do a live recording: use a mic-splitter with dedicated mic preamps, or hope that the direct outputs on the house board don't suck. House direct outs are risky if they're post-fader/EQ, inaccessible, bad mic pres etc. Whether you call it a console, mixer, board or desk, plan ahead with this list. Your contributions and corrections are encouraged.
TS/RR: tip=send, ring=return. A "first click" insert is a semi-direct out: an unbalanced 1/4" TS plug inserted half-way will send signal without interrupting it to the mix bus. Plugged all the way in, it is a direct out which interrupts.
Sort the list by clicking on a header. 79 mixers matched current criteria.
| Make | Model | Direct Out | Insert |
DO Gain Control |
Notes | Price It | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha | MC3210M | no | no | Details | |||
| Soundcraft | MH3 | 1/4" TRS | separate 1/4" send and return. Switchable pre or post. |
The following makes more sense knowing that the signal flow is Filter... |
Details | ||
| Crest | X-Eight | 1/4", post-EQ, post-fader, post-mute (ground-compensated) | Separate 1/4" send and return, TRS |
Insert send can be used as a post-HPF, pre-EQ output. A TRS plug in the... |
Details | ||
| Soundcraft | Series 2 | Use Group Outputs, XLR? |
NOTE: This 1970's model is a different model than the recent "Series... |
Details | |||
| Soundcraft | Spirit Monitor 2 | XLR "split out" (see notes), pre-EQ, pre-fader, pre-input gain | 1/4" unbalanced TS/RR, pre-EQ, pre-fader |
"Split Out" is simply a y-ed XLR jack connected directly to the XLR mic... |
Details | ||
| Midas | Venice | TRS balanced, on mono inputs only, | 1/4" on mono inputs only, TS/RR |
Direct Out is post-fader post-EQ by factory default. Internal... |
Details | ||
| Yamaha | M7CL | Stock with 16 XLR "omni outs" (M7CL-32/48) or 8 XLR "omni outs" (M7CL-48ES). | Stock with 16 XLR "omni outs" (M7CL-32/48) or 8 XLR "omni outs" (M7CL-48ES). |
Configurable with three... |
Details | ||
| Allen + Heath | GL2800M | Mic level passive splitter, XLR out | 1/4" TS/RR, post-HPF, pre-EQ | Has a built-in microphone-level passive splitter on each channel ("Y", not... |
Price It |
Details | |
| Soundcraft | Vi4 | XLR/DB25 | XLR/DB25 |
Digital console. The "Local Rack" comes stock with 16 analog outputs on... |
Details | ||
| Allen + Heath | MixWizard WZ3:16:2 | 1/4" TRS, impedance balanced, 0dBu | 1/4" TSRR |
Direct Out has internal option jumper for each channel; factory default... |
Details | ||
| Soundcraft | Delta Theater | Post-fader | Switchable pre/post EQ | Details | |||
| Crest | Century LM20 | Details | |||||
| Avid | Venue D-Show |
Formerly branded as Digidesign. This control surface has no inputs or... |
Details | ||||
| Avid | Venue Profile |
Formerly branded as Digidesign. This control surface has no inputs or... |
Details | ||||
| Roland | RSS M-400 | 8 XLR outs, presumedly selectable as direct out or insert out | 8 XLR outs, presumedly selectable as direct out or insert out |
Most inputs and outputs are via Roland's proprietary REAC (Roland... |
Details | ||
| Midas | XL-3 | See Notes | TT patchbay? |
The XL-3 has 16 mix sends on each mono channel (8 stereo sends on each... |
Details | ||
| Yamaha | PM5D | 24 "Mix" outs on XLR, +4dBu; 8 matrix outputs on XLR, +4dBu. "Direct Out" configurable via software at any point to any output patch. | Yes, on separate TRS jacks, +4dBu (PM5D only, not on the PM5D-RH). Post-HPF, configurable via software to any point after that. Note: insert on/off switch. |
Two versions: PM5D (Manual Head Amp for input sensitivity and phantom... |
Details | ||
| Yamaha | PM3000 | The INSERT OUT jack serves as a 1/4" unbalanced +4 direct out if nothing is in the IN jack. | Insert IN is balanced, insert OUT is unbalanced |
From the manual: "INSERT IN/OUT jacks are wired in a "normalled"... |
Details | ||
| Crest | HP-Eight | TRS |
"Balanced XLR outs" |
Details | |||
| Presonus | StudioLive 16.4.2 | 16 ch on DB25 pre-insert balanced | 1/4" |
Built-in FireWire for "up to 32 channels of recording and up to 18... |
Price It | Details |
