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Soundcraft Compact 4 Mixer |
The COMPACT 4 represents Soundcraft's latest desktop audio mixer design, which according to the company is "perfectly suited to many applications requiring simple mix facilities." This of course includes mixing microphones, instruments, turntables and effects, as well as recording vocals and instruments onto computer via soundcard. The "record directly to a computer" application being at the heart of the design team's aspirations for the product.
One of the great features of this mixer is the incorporation of individual record buttons or sends that allow for input channels to be routed directly to the record output. In other words, each channel may be assigned with a 'record'or monitor'function. Input sources include microphone, line, and a DI input for guitars and keyboards, as well as stereo inputs for keyboards, CD/tape, or turntable (with RIAA equalization). The DI input a must in order to correctly match input and output impedances of some equipment - a feature relevant to high-impedance sources such as bass guitars. Balanced and unbalanced record and playback connections,
2 independent headphone outputs and monitor outputs are all available. I was relieved to discover that 48V phantom power for condenser microphones had not been forgotten. Because of this very fact another great use for this mixer could well be for a live 'classical'recording session - the COMPACT 4 in conjunction with two stereo condenser mics and a DAT recorder/or computer. Two headphone outputs (one for the performer, another for the engineer) are certainly a positive. There is nothing worse than having half of the volume hijacked by a double adaptor, and the unit allowing for a separate mix between playback and record signals for the 'artist'headphone output, is a definite plus.
In an attempt to gain some insight into the audible quality of the COMPACT 4 I set up a simple comparison test against my trusted Mackie 32 x 8 x 2 8-Bus Mixing Console.
In spite of the Mackie being a 'much more'expensive product, and the danger of arriving at an unfair conclusion, it was decided that this was not such a bad idea as it is a sound I am familiar with. So I went ahead and plugged in a standard Shure SM-58 microphone - using the balanced XLR-type connector, routed via the balanced 'record out'outputs to my Sony 60ES DAT Recorder, with the channel level control knob on +00dB, the gain control on various settings between +15dB and +45dB, and the record output level knob on full (+10dB). I recorded some speech as well as vocals (keyboard-player level vocal acrobatics of course). Using the same connector, I then fed some old 'noisy'Yamaha DX7 patches. I wanted to see what results a noisy input would generate. This was then repeated with the same leads on my Mackie. I was surprised to find that with regards to audible noise, both mixers faired equally. Although I was reminded of just how noisy those old DX7s were. I suppose I should have got the Robin Whitle (Real World Interfaces) retrofit 15 years ago that allows for full MIDI volume, as well as the improved signal to noise ratio. Well, if there was a technical discrepancy that is measurable with electronic instruments or software it was something I certainly couldn't hear, because in the hiss department both mixers proved excellent performers. Although I did find the Mackie results a little crisper, which was a little disappointing for the COMPACT 4, but am sure that it's something that could have been easily compensated with some pre or post EQing. A 'better engineer'could possibly also have resolved this issue.
The specs of the Soundcraft COMPACT 4 are as follows: high quality Class A mic preamps; 2 mono mic/line inputs, with insert, gain,
3-band EQ, pan and level controls; 2 stereo line/turntable inputs, with
3-band EQ, balance and level controls; separate monitor, record and mix outputs, each with level control; zero latency monitoring; balanced and unbalanced playback inputs; dedicated Artist and Engineer headphone outputs;
8-segment LED metering; battery power option; phono-minijack & 1/4" jack-minijack adaptors supplied.
Founded in 1973, Soundcraft in no newcomer to the sonic world. It is one of the world's largest manufacturers of mixing consoles, and renown for the production of quality products. I was quite impressed with the features as well as the versatility of the 4-input COMPACT. The design of the unit is user-friendly, with a process easy to grasp. It's actually amazing that a comparatively cheap mixer can serve so many different sound production applications. The COMPACT 4 retails for $349.00 RRP, and is also available as a
10-input unit (Compact 10) for $649.00 RRP, featuring 4 mono and 6 stereo inputs with additional 1/4" jack sockets on 4 of the stereo inputs.