Great news, ty!
I still think the Korg Soundlink MW2408 isn’t a bad starting point for an in-production synth mixer, with I think 8 mono channels and 8 stereo channels.
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Not anymore.
Modular + OT - > FMR RNC - > AH Mk2
Analog Heat is now my sound interface.
No more mixers.
I do wish Behringer would quite fucking about and have Midas to make another Venice console, or just reissue it. I still think it’s one of the better mixers for live performance related stuff. Mutes/Solos switches on each channel. FX, aux, and monitor sends. Yeah, it’s a beautiful thing.
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I thought that before too. Was going to buy a pristine 32 channel Venice a while back but then read about the FireWire issues and decided against it. Surely someone could have developed an updated USB card for it 
The Venice U range has USB instead but these drivers haven’t been updated in a very long time either.
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It has no dedicated inserts and no returns, but the channel count is high enough you could have a drum buss, two stereo send/returns, a master buss (on a group + channel), and still have four stereo instrument channels. Pretty nice actually…
EDIT 1: assuming the groups don’t automatically route to the actual master buss… which they probably do… oh…
EDIT 2: actually, they look like they’re switchable in/out of the main mix. Nice.
I’ve always wondered about this so why not ask: to me this doesn’t feel like a small unfortunate thing but pretty big issue. If I’d want a mixer with built in audio interface for multitracking, I’d want it so I can record exactly what I hear from my mixer, not have it record pre-fader so in the end I’m going to have to do all levels and EQ’s in my DAW anyways… Is this not just that big of an issue to you?
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This was a writing setup I had last year that was really good and productive for me.
A4, Digitone, Syntakt and MPC going into the DB4 where I could quickly access its filters, looping and fx… that then fed into the Tascam Model 12 which was connected to my laptop/Ableton (out of shot).
I was also sending the Model 12 back into the DB4 (via its Sub out) so I could use the DB4 on the Model 12 live inputs (vocal mics, gtr/bass amp, plus anything from within Ableton I wanted to DB4).
I could easily replace the Model 12 with my Big Six in this scenario too… and, my current studio set up is similar with an Allen and Heath Mix Wizard 20:8:2 feeding into the Big Six.
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I’ve got experience with PX5, Bluebox, Xone 96 and TX-6, which all meet the requirements at various levels and the latter two of which I currently use. As controversial as it is, the TX-6 I believe actually ticks more of the boxes of the OP, especially as ‘Ultra compact’ is one of them. But it’s a really, really good mixer once you put yourself over its absurd size and Teenage Engineering-ness.
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When I had it I used it mainly for a hardware live setup so it wasn’t that big of issue no. But the times I did use it as my audio interface it was indeed a big bummer. 
Have to remember that this mixer is mainly focused on DJs. In that light it makes perfect sense they implemented it this way because you’d want to send the analog input directly to your daw, through an FX chain and back into your channel for example.
The DB4 audio interface routing capabilities were on another level. And that thing is 12 years old now. Unfortunately the interface isn’t class compliant. DB4 offered complete control over what to send over USB. Pre-channel, Pre/post fader, pre/post fx etc. But of course that’s a completely digital mixer. When it still reliably worked it served as my main audio interface for a good few years. Once you get used to that flexibility it’s hard to take a step back. So I’m glad big six more or less fills that void.
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That looks like a great mixer. I’d love one for myself, pity it will take years to find!
This. X96 is not a recording mixer, it s a performance mixer.
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Yeah okay, that’s just something I don’t know and so can’t fully imagine how that works (how the DJs use their laptop with it), but of course you’re both right.
You use an interface besides your X96, to record your final stereo mix, @dtr, or you can use the Xone main out for that via usb?
Would be super cool if at some point something came around like a new DB4 kind of DJ mixer that does let you route post-fader. In the meantime I might also try something like a second hand Wixwizard 14:4:2 and use the groups/busses to multitrack at least a few different groups separately into an audio interface.
I record the main out from the X96 to USB stick on my RME UCXII. No laptop connected (but I could, of course).
Sometimes I’ll use the X96 USB to record the individual channels too. Handy for edits after the recording ‘performance’.
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nice setup! this type of dual mixer approach is where i’ve landed as well, but I don’t really need connection to a DAW, though I suppose it would be nice.
Essentially it would be great if someone distilled this workflow into 1 box, preferably something that isn’t too huge. Of course a larger, more featured, mixer can be utilized at home but I’m after something that can be used in a live setting as well.
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It is so crazy to me how good the TX-6 is on spec but (for some) it is so small it takes itself out of the running. If it was 2x in size I’d be all over it. And it would still be darn compact!
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Was pretty enthusiastic about it at first but yeah it’s just too ridiculous in terms of size. And it also lacks the amount of hands on control of a full size mixer. From a live performance perspective that is of course. If it was twice the size I might have considered it as well though
Bluebox is another one but same problem.
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cant you control it over midi? I might be wrong… but feels like it would be an easy update. Althought not perfect, breaking out the faders and EQ to a standalone full sized midi box would open it up nicely
What about Bluebox with a PC12+MX12 to control it? That bundle compared to Xone 96 still leaves you with some cash for a couple effect boxes. And you can use Faderfox unused channels to control other stuff.
You can actually turn a Bluebox into a performance type of mixer with pots for EQ and HPF/LPF (does Bluebox support these effects anyway?).
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