An Observation

I have a Yamaha MG mixer that I use for my keyboards. Keyboards> Mixer> M-audio firewire solo. I have my headphones hooked to the M-audio.

When I put the headphones directly into the keyboards, they sound MUCH better. Clearer, better panning, better separation. The onboard effects sound much better.

Is the mixer the weak link here? I've never tried the headphones direct before. My M-audio only has 2 line inputs, which is why I use the mixer.

In my opinion - unfortunately yes. Yamaha made and makes a lot of great-sounding pieces of equipment, but I don't think the MG-series is one of them...

I have had an MG10/2 a few years ago and had to sell it - it muffled the sound.

I think I had a Firewire Solo before and plugging in direct always sounded better than with the computer in the loop.

Interesting, that's what I thought.

I really would like to go all softsynth in the future.

Anyhoo, I'm surprised. The MG is quiet for sure, I just never realized how much it muffled the sound. It's really a big difference. My MM6 sounds like a different instrument, I'v never heard it without the mixer. When I got it, the first thing I noticed was the lack of panning. Nope, it's plenty wide alone.

Thanks guys.

I'm probably no where near as serious as you are, but FWIW, Apogee Duet >>> Firewire Solo.

No contest.

It really doesn't get any usage now that I'm trying to avoid computers (along with many other computer-folks on here, it reminds me too much of work)

Yeah. Mac only, correct?

The Firewire solo has been rock solid, but I've never been that impressed with it soundwise. I would really like to get a new interface, computer, upgrade my software (I'm on Sonar 3:lol:).:cry:

It's been an eye-opening experience taking the mixer and interface out of the equation. Now I can tell how sucky they really are.

I have a Yamaha MG12 which I've been using over the years for live performance (NEVER in the studio; too noisy imo ... )

Picked up a four-channel Mackie recently for {censored}s and grins -- and $50 -- and used it once at a gig ...

Not sure why, but everything sounded MUCH better ...

I don't hate the MG ... but it's on a list of items that will be replaced eventually ...

I unhooked mine, it's really a noticable difference. It's the usual "like taking a blanket off the speakers" thang, it's much clearer now.

I would like to ditch any mixers and just get a new audio interface with more ins. Unfortunately, summers are my worst time work-wise, not a good time to spend money. For now I will just work with one keyboard for a while, the sound difference is worth it.

I use a MOTU 828 mkii in the studio and must say the sound quality is more than acceptable (oddly, recorded tracks often sound BETTER than when monitoring live )

The only thing I don't like about it are the front-panel controls/UI which I find almost unusable (but the computer soft mixer is good) and the whole unit is very responsive and comes to life very quickly and painlessly when plugging in the firewire ... no glitches, no hangups ever ...

A NOTE: if you buy one used like I did and it doesn't come with a manual, be prepared to shell out $30 or so for one from the cheap-asses at MOTU ...

I really should get one 'cause there are things about the computer mixer program I still don't get ...