I’m still searching so no hurry but by far the only ones I can see worth getting for my needs are 1642 or 1604 VLZ4.
Seen this Alto 1602 but it has FxX I don’t need and some Behringer X2444 or something
Actually I would say that in 2020 a Behringer is better than a Mackie.
Back in the old days, Behringer was actually copying all the Mackies product line and with the production in China they could afford to have a much lower price compared to Mackie
Today I think Behringer mixers have really good quality and are offered at a good market price.
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My 1642 was for sale for a while, … very little interest and I forgot about it while it was still on Reverb. a few weeks ago I was tired of the screen again so I’ve put my audio interface, mac mini and screen back in a closet and took the mixer out of storage. Just 2 track recording jams to an H5 is my thing a lot more.
During corona crisis I removed the mixer from Reverb because more than a few wanted it… I was not selling anymore 
I know the interface will be back, multitracking (to an ipad) probably, when I am done jamming and know what I want to develop further.
Hey I just thought that you should look into the Midas mixer
Have a look/ they do 12 and 16 channels version- 2 steps above Mackie and good price
Well all morning here Iv’e been looking at my hardware synths etc and I thought to myself this is just overkill. How the f@@k am I gonna actually use all of these things in reality so I decided I want to base my setup around the following for space and ease of use.
- Akai MPCX
- ASM Hydra Desktop
- Circuit Mono Station
- Roland MC-707
- Behringer TD3 x2 (Actually have 5 of these which is really overkill)
- Behringer MS-1
That’s 7 hardware synths I’d like to use with a good mixer, fact is I still need at least 3 sends/returns on the mixer as like I said I’m an FX guy.
My other hardware synths will have to go as no space left for anything else.
I still have the Mackie 1642VLZ4 … on storage 
I bought it mainly as a studio mixing desk, and to be able to connect different machines and record via direct out or just sum some tracks to a bus and record the bus or … and I thinkt the Mackie does have stereo returns! The amount of things you can do with this Mackie is totally ace! And I also played live shows with it on a big PA and it sounded great (I would say). The channel LEDs help alot when its dark on stage / in the club. Running a chord into a channel, turning the freq of the mids boosted by around 10 db and send it to delay / reverb … instant (Dub) Techno and fun.
But I did some recording test. Running Moog DFAM through the Mackie and directly into RME fireface and even with all eqs "0"ed … the Mackie took away the topend sparkle and clearnes / clarity. On top there was an audible bleeding from the next channel. So it ended up in the storage for the moment, waiting to get back out for a live set, some day, somehow.
for live: bang for the bug
for studio: maybe, maybe not
@rob_lee
I use a Mackie 1402 (From 1999, US made) with 4 Volcas, MicroFreak, MiniNova and Deepmind 12.
I have 2 send return (one of which has a dedicated stereo channel return for feedback loop).
In this case you are “only” missing 1 send. Though you could use the AltOut 3/4 on the Mackie as another effect. Would be feeding directly into the effect though.
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Thanks mate Iv’e seen the Mackie 1402 here it’s not expensive
Yes but it this is not the US version
The faders are really not good on this new version
Why don’t you just plug certain synths directly into various fx units/pedals?
I think the OP wanted to have the flexibility to use the FX via aux busses so as to avoid plugging and unplugging regularly.
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I’ve got the 1642 vlz4, sounds quite neutral to my ears and it has anything I needed
maybe the EQs, but hey they are not built to compete with an Elysia or anything else on the 500-format market
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Yep…sorry. Should have read a bit more.
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There’s someone on reverb selling a Mackie 32:8 with two 24 ch extenders… it’s mahoosive!
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Lol I only have limited space left here 
Iv’e been trying the pedals out with synths individually and they sound fab but I wanna plug them in to the sends and not have to piss about swapping stuff out that’s all. Got the DD500 hooked up to the MC-707 now it has x1 stereo send and x1 stereo return was thinking I could keep 1 pedal connected to that as I can just switch what tracks I want that on if I can only find a mixer with 2 sends/returns.
Like I say so far it’s best of 3 here I’m looking at.
1604/1642/1402
The 1604 may be overkill for me tho if I scale my hardware down then again the 1642 seems not to have 8 outs on the back as I planned to feed to the audio interface and adat.
Tough choices but determined to buy the right one
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Just having a laugh about the massive Mackie… an example of someone taking to another level!
If you’ll let me be as bold as to say you do chop and change your rig a fair bit so if you’ve got the space I’d ignore the overkill. You don’t want to get 6 months down the line and you’ve rearranged/got new gear etc and find you’re out of channels.
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Yeah but I keep my favs lol sample the rest in to the Akai then flog them on hehe
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Has the 1642 got inserts per channel? If so you can use them as direct outs but bear in mind it’ll be pre fader/eq etc.
Will have to google, think I see 6 inserts round the back
