why digitally controlled modules are NOT for me feat. NOISE ENGINEERING XER MIXA
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- In this video, I will share a lot of personal opinions with you why digitally controlled modules are not for me. I will also show some differences between the Cosmotronic Cosmix Pro and the Noise Engineering Xer Mixa, wich is a digitally controlled mixer module.
The Cosmix Pro is 22hp wide and not 16 as I said in the video.
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Thank you for this video. It reminded me of why I didn't get Xer Mixa at first. Considering yet again how to upgrade from my Qu-Bit Mixology, my first and only eurorack main audio mixer since 2018, today I chose Boredbrain Xcelon.
For me, as someone who comes from the 'last third of the 20th century' era of standards for studio audio mixers, my ideal for a modular synth audio mixer is based on two elements: physical immediacy and CV control. That will always result in massively multiplexed physical controls and indicators.
Physical immediacy includes one-to-one mapping of functionality to hardware interface and in-place indication of state, both of which you commented on. CV control is what makes a modular synth main audio mixer... well, modular.
Qu-Bit Mixology has both of those elements, but its small size and well-spaced layout precludes it also having other features, such as multiple returns. Cosmotronic Cosmix has the first element, but lacks CV control; except for CV over its two stereo channels' panning, it has none.
Boredbrain Xcelon has it all. It even has per-channel peak indicators. The only penalty is its size. After seven years of doing more with less, I am ready to allocate more space for my audio mixer. Now I will be unstoppable. 🙂
Thanks again!
I completely agree. I've been tempted by lots of high-functionality-per-HP modules but natural selection has meant they just don't get used. Life is too short.....
Found your video that captures some of my recent thoughts. I am new to the modular scene and as I am building my kit I am facing similar design decisions. The feature packed digital modules sound appealing but you need a decoder ring on how to use them, especially when they dont even have a little screen. Also I am over 50 and honestly reading little screens in the dark is not getting any easier. I do strive to build a portable rig for events, even though i mostly use it at home. So I want to have as much capability as possible in modular form factor. SO back to what mixer should I get ? the Cosmix is an interesting alternative.
What mixer module to get, this is good question! I would say it depends on what you look for in a mixer, and at some point what your budget is.
How many channels you need, mono or stereo, if you want to integrate FX modules for reverb, delay and so on,
if you want to control certain functions with a CV signal, the size of the module, …
This can be quite overwhelming, I know.
The Cosmix Pro is a rather simple mixer, but does the job for me. The faders could be better tuned. A small change in the upper range can make quite a difference in volume.
The After Later Audio Bartender might also be an interesting alternative. And on top it offers a headphone out which the Cosmix Pro doesn't. But I just have my Comix Pro connected to a Befaco output module, which gives me Line level outs as well as a headphone out.
A mixer module I would like to try, but is just a bit out of my price range, is the Xcelon from Boredbrain Music.
Yeah, totally agree. I’ve just picked up a boredbrain excelon. The menu diving on the NE mixer was a bit of a turn off for me. Not going to lie, the excelon hurt my bank balance a little this month, and arguably it’s less featured than the xer mixer, however the simplicity of the design just gives me a little bit more confidence.
And don’t talk to me about firmware updates either. You can have a module that is perfect, apart from one bug. Update the firmware to fix the bug, and the behaviour of the good stuff suddenly is less good. Annoys me no end!
Disagree with you on the compressor though. I’ve just bought a third one haha. I’m not using a daw, so that’s probably why!
One thing I am lacking is some EQ though. I’ve just been making do with filters as a poor man’s EQ, but would love to add a proper EQ over a couple of channels though. That’s a problem for my future bank balance to solve right now! Hahah
What I think? Love to hear an honest point of view! Stay as you are and focus on your work & videos - each human is different and has different needs anyway... I'm making long experimental drone pieces (which means minimum 20' per track), have small hands and need a rack as well for the studio as for a live configuration. So... small modules are not a problem for me (I love them and don't find them 'cramped') and a lots of advices from RUclips & modular forums just didn't fit for me.
best comment so far.
Great video. I thought I was a neophyte for shunning digital modules. I do own 2: Quadrax digital function gen; Noise Engineering BIA (new version). I refuse to menu dive - I lived thru the 90s.
I am going with the 1010Music Bluebox within the rack. Thing is sweet and has built in recording (with audio interface), eq, compression, delay, reverb and 12 in 8 out. Only thing is that it is not as nice as my Hexmix\Expander when it comes to hands on control. So I am planning on getting a midi controller outside of the rack.
i thought the 1010 bluebox was sd card only? when you say interface im thinking it can hook up to pc. if you can correct me if im wrong. i will be getting one if i can di to pc with it
Nice video. Ive been very tempted by xer mixa since i love NE, however I dont think the work flow is for me either.
Yes, NE make great modules. Own a few 😊
Personally Xer Mixa is perfect for me because I have a lot of tabletop hardware including sidechain compressors which have different volume relationships per song which I need to recall in a live setting.
That sounds interesting! What tabletop hardware do you use?
I understand your opinion but kind of expected that you tried a module before saying you dont like it? Really doesn’t make sense to put a product down you haven’t used. I came here to watch this because i expected that you had hands on experience with this module.
Hey there, I totally get your point. My video is more about my own opinion of why I am not a huge fan of digitally controlled modules, or modules with excessive menu diving. I actually was looking at the xer mixa if it is something for me, watched many videos, read the whole manual, to then find out this is exactly what I don't like. And out of this came the idea for this video, where I thought instead of just talking about digitally controlled modules, I had a good example of it with the two mixers. I don't think I put the product down in general, or at least I hope so. I normally mention that if a product is not for me, it still may be exactly what others are searching for. But of course I do understand if you where coming for a review of the module, this is not the video you where looking for. Have a great day!
@@SundayAfternoonModular everybody is entitled to their opinion true. but saying you dont like something when you haven’t tried it out is like saying i don’t like chicken but ive never tried it before. Just because you don’t like the mixer you have because its digitally controlled doesn’t mean other digitally controlled mixers are going to be the same. If xer mixa had an expander for multi-tracking it could probably be the best eurorack mixer out aside from wmd pm mkii coming out but is double the price almost with its expanders.
I would say first try things out before giving reasons you don’t like something because at least for me I’m not going to warrant someone’s opinions if they haven’t. Honestly it’s clickbait as well putting a picture of something on your video that you have no personal experience with. Xer mixa at its price point if you don’t need multi tracking is the best mixer out right now.
@@joeymc5272why do people think everyone is entitled to their own opinion? Is that something Jesus said?
i have the first cosmix and find it more than adequate for mixing duties
There are 2 things about the cosmix pro that I would have preferred. The first half of the faders don't do anything for me but maybe that's because I have not used it on a big sound system system yet. The second thing is that when the fader is at the top the sound is just 1:1. I would have preferred a little boost. When boosted before with a Erica drive or DPW L-2 then the cosmix has great headroom and sounds nice. I also don't like big mixers so my next submixer is probably going to be from DPW or another Bastl Buddy. Those aux of the cosmix are juicy. Because I run mono in my studio I use the aux2 as 2 separate outs and that gets me 3 aux in total. My favorite digital module is a five12 qv-l and my favorite digital module with a difficult ui to memorize is the u-he cvilization ;-) And unlike you I looove the z5000 but maybe that's because I don't change programs. Have a great afternoon tomorrow 🙂
The exclusion of a headphone Jack is a huge oversight
Synthesizer Mixer Module, I also prefer direct access, even if LG wrongly says that the 16:9/4:3 switching does not have to be quickly accessible for every YT video.🙄
I've not regretted my WMD-PM. Menu diving isn't for me either. For those that missed, there is going to be a PM2 soon, as WMD are back in biz again.
i use the wmd performance mixer mk1 as my main mixer and love it. couldn't ask for a better mixer. sometimes i wish i had more stereo channels and those expanders are impossible to get. there are some great digital and some analog modules. make noise morphagene which is fully digital i responsible for my heavy eurorack addiction. i even love the the disting ex which most ppl hate.its unbelievable what that module has become. i would say my system is 50/50 analog/digital. to me sitting on the modular is like sitting in class room. i really enjoy the learning of it, which is literaly endless.
"THERE IS A LOT OF TALKING FROM HERE ON"
In general I agree, but there are a few butts.
Pamela's new workout. Yes only one encoder and a button, and the screen sucks (too low contrast), but 8 modulation, gate and or trigger outputs, very easy to use, small.
Mordax Data: Indispensable IMO for understanding envelopes and also has a tuner.
Bitbox vs Erica Synths Sample Drum: I had sample drum for a long time, fast and easy to use, i don't use presets live, it's that fast and easy. No manual needed.
I'm not sure Bitbox is that much better, but I've only had it for a few days and played on it for only a few hours so can't really tell. Seems to me that the not so high quality reverb and delays are better in the Erica sampler and Erica has a better menu system.
E 352: The menu is so shallow that I don't think the screen is that useful, just makes the module too big.
Klavis Quadigy. Even with an oscilloscope attached, it is virtually impossible to make the envelopes you want. To complex, unintuitive and loads of to me meaningless functions, but it can't polarize the envelopes. Klavis makes some other great modules though, like their little inexpensive mixer that can be used as a sequential switch.
I think that some complex modules I've tried would benefit from a screen though.
I got the prerunner of that Cosmix, but it's to big for my livecase and also needs an output module. I use a 4ms 12hp Listen module instead.
Hi Jonas, thanks for your detailed reply! I've thought a lot about getting Pamela's new workout. Heard from many that it's a pretty cool module. I don't have a Mordax Data but an O'Tool and a Korg NTS 2, and I definitely agree that is helps a lot to understand what is happening in a modular system. Have a great day/night!
@@SundayAfternoonModularMordax Data is a bit overkill Hp and all. Today I would probably get that Korg NTS2.
I also got that Pam's expander for clocking through midi for jams with others : )
For me its a hybrid utility: digital, sound: analog