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CPM Reviews: Yamaha – MG206c-USB Mixing Console
In the recent past we were introduced to the notion of mixers that connect directly to the computer via USB, and it’s definitely an idea whose time has come. A few manufacturers have ventured into the domain of consoles that function just like any other console you’ve ever used, but also feature an integrated USB interface by which to move your signals to the computer. And this is powerful, because it not only eliminates a stage from the previous “sources–mixer–interface–computer” chain, but it also facilitates blending all your signals together and then passing them along to the computer. In the church environment, this is powerful–opening the door to exciting possibilities like podcasting (full disclosure–as the chief cook and bottle washer for Avalon Podcasting, the notion of podcasting definitely excites me).
We’re clearly on a trajectory toward every church across the fruited plain podcasting their Sunday message, and this is the kind of technology that will make it happen. Oh yeah–and even if you don’t podcast, you can use a USB mixer to mix your services and record them for burning to disk or any other purpose.
MG206c-USB Stats
The MG206c-USB (MSRP $799) appears just like any other mixer you’ve ever seen–12 mono channels and four stereo channels represented by 16 short-throw faders. There are also two group faders, each with a switch to assign them to the stereo bus, and one “stereo out” master fader as well. Alongside each input fader are three pushbuttons, facilitating assignment of that channel’s signal to the “1-2” bus, the “3-4” bus, or the stereo bus. A pre-fader listen (PFL) and channel on switch are also found above each input fader. A scribble strip separates the section I’ve just described from the mixer’s panning, aux sends, and equalization segments. There are four auxiliary sends–aux one and four are permanently fixed in pre-fader and post-fader modes, respectively, and aux two and three can be switched to either mode. Each input channel also sports three bands of ±15dB equalization–low shelving fixed at 100 Hz, high shelving fixed at 10 kHz, and peaking in the mids. The mid EQs of the mono inputs are sweepable from 250 Hz to 5,000 Hz, and those of the stereo inputs are fixed at 2.5 kHz. An LED to indicate signal peaking is located at the top of the EQ segment of the channel strip. All of the input faders have a corresponding gain knob and switchable high pass filter fixed at 80 Hz with a 12dB/octave slope.
The mixer’s master section controls are located above the group and master faders, and comprise a global phantom power switch, a power-on LED, a 12-segment LED VU meter, auxiliary return and auxiliary master send knobs, a “monitor” knob and switches that determine what signal is fed to the monitor output, headphones and VU meter, and its level. Finally, there is a very clever knob/switch pair that nicely facilitates overdubbing. In “monitor” mode, signals arriving via the mixer’s two-track input or USB interface from your computer are fed to the monitor out jacks, phones jack, and VU meter.
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John McJunkin is the CEO of Avalon Podcasting in Chandler, Arizona, which offers high quality podcast production and consultation services to a broad range of clients. He’s also the host of the Podcast Pro Tech & Tips Podcast at www.avalonpodcasting.com.
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