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While DAWs have technically made analog mixing consoles obsolete, many studios still use them because running tracks through real transformers and op-amps imparts a subtle tonal coloration, even without engaging any channel EQs or bus compressors. But what if you don’t have the space or budget for a full-sized console? Enter the summing mixer: the perfect solution for getting the sound of an analog console without sacrificing the convenience and flexibility of a DAW-based workflow.
A summing mixer is essentially a console stripped of its faders, preamps, EQs, and most other bells and whistles, leaving just the line inputs and the circuitry that combines (or “sums”) them to a master output. Multitrack outputs or mix stems are sent from a DAW and combined inside the summing mixer, and the two-track output is then routed back to the DAW and recorded.
Adding a summing mixer to your studio is the perfect way to imbue your tracks with a bit of analog color without taking up precious space or slowing down your workflow like a console might. In this guide, we’ll explain the benefits of summing mixers and present a selection of top products with various features so you can find the best fit for your workflow and budget.
When all of your mix tracks or stems go through the same analog signal path, everything receives the same sonic imprint, giving the mix a sense of consistency often referred to as sonic “glue.” It’s a bit like the old idiom of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses: the world doesn’t lose its color; everything just looks a little more pleasant.
Summing mixers simply do away with the parts of a console that your DAW already handles, such as the faders, routing matrix, meter bridge, and patch bay. By eliminating everything you don’t need, all that’s left is the summing, giving you the essence of a console in a much smaller, more streamlined form factor that also happens to be a lot more affordable.
Though they’re designed mainly to do one thing, summing mixers come with a variety of features suited to different applications. Generally, these products fall into two camps: “line mixers” and “summing amps.” A line mixer allows you to adjust the level and panning of each input, while a summing amp simply combines signals with no control over the mix other than output gain.
Today, these lines are more blurred than ever, and many summing mixers include extra features such as master bus processing, inserts for outboard effects, dual stereo outputs, and headphone monitoring. Some resemble miniature rackmount consoles complete with group routing and aux sends, while others can be upgraded to double as an audio interface or connect to external faders.
Vintage King stocks a wide range of summing mixers, line mixers, and summing amps with various features and price points. Whether you’re looking to add a dose of Neve or API flavor to your tracks, saturate your mixes with tubes, or reduce a complex DAW mix to a manageable amount of stems, these products fill almost every niche you could think of.
Price: $3,195
Type: 16-channel line mixer with channel and master bus inserts
This 16-channel, 2U line mixer is derived from the summing section of API’s THE BOX console, so you already know it’s going to sound great (thanks in part to the acclaimed API 2510 op-amps on each channel). Each channel features a level and pan knob, A and B bus assignment switches, and a balanced insert for adding additional processing into the signal chain.
Price: $3,499
Type: 16-channel line mixer with channel inserts and Silk saturation
The Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite is another 16-channel, 2U line mixer derived from a console: in this case, the RND 5088. Designed around the same Class A topology and custom Marinair transformers as the 5088, the 5059 delivers Rupert Neve's signature sound in a rack-friendly size. Like the API ASM164, each channel features level and pan controls, a switchable insert, and an alternate “Stereo 2” send. Stereo 1 and Stereo 2 both feature Silk Red and Blue saturation with variable Texture and Output controls.
Price: $3,495
Type: 16-channel line mixer with optional digital output and fader expansion
The Neve 8816 is much more than a simple summing mixer: it’s got a blendable stereo insert with mid/side capability and width control, a dedicated headphone monitoring path, talkback functionality, and a USB connection for flawless digital recall. An optional digital card turns the 8816 into a mastering-grade converter that allows you to record the output at sample rates up to 192 kHz or even DSD format. And if that’s not enough, you can connect the Neve 8804 Fader Pack to mix with 16 long-throw faders.
Price: $6,499
Type: 12-channel line mixer with master EQ and stereo imaging controls
The Fat Bustard II TX is a 12-channel line mixer with a unique set of features that make it ideal for stem mixing and bus processing. Channels 1-8 are treated as four stereo channels, while 9-12 are mono channels with pan controls, and two Aux inputs are available as well. The master section features Bass Lift, Bass Cut, Top Lift, and Top Cut EQ controls for broad adjustments, plus a Stereo Spread circuit with multiple filter options and a Bass to Centre control for tightening the low-end.
Price: $6,715
Type: Console-style line mixer with 20 stereo channels, 8 groups, and 4 aux sends/returns
Dense with knobs and buttons, the Speck Xtramix X6 is essentially a console without faders or EQ. It’s got 20 stereo input channels complete with level and pan controls, as well as eight group channels and four aux sends. The stereo aux returns feature their own set of mixer controls, and each group has an insert point for adding effects. The master section features dual 2-track outputs, dual monitor outputs, a headphone jack, and another insert for the master output.
Price: $2,790
Type: 16-channel stereo line mixer
The Speck X.Sum is a relatively simple line mixer with premium electronics and an included Breakout Box that gives it a bit more flexibility than similar units. The front panel provides level and pan knobs, a mono switch, and a mix assign button for 16 stereo pairs, plus a master output control and dedicated headphone output. The Breakout Box connects via an analog RJ-45 connection, providing two sets of alternate pre-fader outputs.
Price: $1,999
Type: 16-channel summing amp with Silk saturation
If all you need is a summing amp to give your mix stems a little analog flavor, the RND 5057 Orbit is an excellent choice. This streamlined summing box lacks any mix controls, so you’ll have to do all your mixing in your DAW and sum all your tracks down to 16 stems. Those inputs then get combined via Rupert Neve’s legendary Class A analog summing, with optional Silk Red or Blue saturation to add different flavors of harmonic excitement. There’s also a Trim control and an alternate -6 dB output to make this high-voltage unit play nicely with vintage and modern gear.
Price: $1,739
Type: 40-channel tube summing amp
The Tegeler Audio Tube Summing Mixer is perfect for those who just want to run their mix through a set of tubes for a bit of analog “glue” and saturation. With 40 input channels, this unit is ideal for processing an entire multitrack mix from a console or DAW. The only control is an output trim, which allows you to back off the level if your mix is hitting the tubes too hot. Two warmly lit analog VU meters and a big red power light make this streamlined unit an attractive addition to your rack.
Price: $3,199
Type: 16-channel summing amp with master bus processing
This 16-channel summing mixer gives you multiple ways to enhance and sculpt the sound of your mix bus with just a few simple controls. The Harmonics knob lets you easily dial in an edgier tone, while the Paralimit knob blends in an aggressive parallel limiter to make your mixes hit harder. The order of these stages can be flipped, and a final X-Former circuit lets you control how much saturation you want on the output. There’s also an external insert for adding additional processors and an output trim for final adjustments.
Type: 16-channel summing amp with output blendable transformer
The Dangerous 2-BUS XT is essentially a stripped-down version of the 2-BUS+ that eschews the Harmonics and Paralimit controls while keeping the X-Former circuit and adding a “Coherence” control that allows users to “blend harmonically elevated signals in a parallel configuration with source mixes.” It also sacrifices the insert option from the 2-BUS+ to keep the size and cost down.
Price: $3,299
This 16-channel summing mixer offers individual inserts for each channel, optional stereo linking, and a handy suite of master bus processing features to enhance and polish your two-track mix. The Master Insert allows you to add additional processors, the Stereo Expander lets you widen the entire mix, and the Peak Limiter helps you achieve your desired level of punchiness with an adjustable Threshold control.
Price: $1,599
Type: 16-channel summing amp with expansion inputs
This simple but versatile summing amp offers 16 channels of analog summing with a few basic controls and an expansion output that allows you to link two units for 32-channel summing. Its front-panel controls are pretty straightforward: four buttons on the left allow you to toggle the first eight inputs between mono and stereo, while four buttons on the right toggle -18 dB pads on channels 9-16. The Variable Output button engages the central gain control, and the Expansion Input switch allows signal from a second unit to feed into the first.
Price: $2,605.50
Type: 32-channel summing amp with switchable output transformers
With 32 mono inputs and two sets of stereo outputs, the B32 Vancouver is a simple summing amp powered by mastering-grade electronics for ultra-pure and consistent sound. The left and right channels each feature a button to toggle a BX5 output transformer, adding a bit more weight and color to the output. An honorable mention goes to the Burl B80 and B16 Mothership platforms, which can be configured as summing mixers, among many other things.
Whether you need a simple 16x2 summing amp to add a little analog magic to your mix stems or a powerful rackmount mixer with bus processing, we’ve got options to fit the needs of just about any studio. Get in touch with a VK Audio Consultant to help you make the right choice, or schedule a demo at one of our world-class showrooms to hear some of these products for yourself!
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