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Passive Analog Summing Mixer solution without compromises

Warm Up your Digital ITB mixes – add analog depth and vibe 

You get the best electronically fitted summing mixer designed for Your studio (DAW Interface) working range! (let me know about your DAW interface soundcard type / brand)

  • Customer feedback: “Really cool passive analog mix bus summing box. Really well made. Noiseless, infinite headroom and no power required. The best way to mix outside the computer, enjoy clip free summing and then use the mic pres of your choice to send your mix back to your DAW recording and mixing”.. read more…
  • Paul makes some amazing high quality summing mixers.  I’ve owned the Dangerous 2 Buss and the Roll Folcrom, and this easily holds its own with those units.

The real deal maker is that you can get a custom built one that suits your exact needs. The international shipping was very fast to the West Coast USA, and the build time was within a week for my specific custom needs.  I’m so glad I came across Paul’s stuff. Definitely a great choice!! Mike Castonguay – www.imaginationsurplus.com

16x2 Passive Summing Mixer

429 € +shipping (basic setup)

Basic Version D-Sub In – TRS Out (-15dB reduction)
  • 1U Standard Rack 19″ unit
  • 16 input by TRS or D-sub tascam balanced
  • 1x Stereo out TRS balanced L/R 
  • 2 x Stereo to 4 Mono conversion switch
  • Laser engraved 
  • Unique Name (let me know)
For TRS Input add 50 € extra 
For XLR Out add 25 € extra
 
Full balanced dual stereo discrete signal path from input to output!

You can order different sum bus gain reduction mixer (let me know about your DAW mic preamp gain range)

Select Reduction: -6,5dB / -10dB / -15dB / -20dB / -25dB (free order)

 
 
 

16x4 Passive Summing Mixer with variable headroom switch TRS in TRS out

489 € +shipping 

  • 1U Standard Rack 19″ unit
  • 16 input TRS 1/4″ balanced (8 Stereo)
  • 2x Stereo out TRS balanced L/R (Main/Monitor)
  • 2 x Stereo to 4 Mono conversion switch
  • -15dB/-25dB variable headroom switch
  • Laser engraved 
For XLR Out add 25 € extra
 
Full balanced dual stereo discrete signal path from input to output!

You can freely order different variable gain – headroom switch as:

  • -6,5dB/-16,5dB
  • -10/-20dB
  • -15/-25dB
  • -25/-35dB

*please let me know before you make an order

 
 
 

You can order different gain reduction mixers as: -10dB, -15dB, -20dB, -25dB or more, or Variable gain switch like -10/-20dB or -15/-25dB and so on (let me know about your DAW mic preamp gain range)

More about Passive Summing Mixer – FAQ

32x4 Passive Summing Mixer with gain control

699 € +shipping 

 

  • 1U Standard Rack 19″ unit
  • 32 input by TRS/DSUB :
  • 1-8 input TRS balanced
  • 9-32 input DB25 Tascam Standard Balanced
  • 2x Stereo output by TRS/XLR balanced L/R (Main/Monitor)
  • 4xStereo conversion to Mono by 2xSwitch = 8 mono 
  • 2xSTM ST1/ST2 (1-4 TRS IN)
  • 2xSTM ST5/ST6 (9-12 DSUB IN)
  • Master Stereo to Mono (mix mono compatibility test)
  • Stereo input 1 L/R to Master outputs – Direct Monitoring purposes
  • 21 step precision Attenuator range – 20dB 
  • -10dB base raduction (+) -20dB atten range = -30dB
  • Laser engraved 
  • DESCRIPTION
melbourne pughouse studios summing mixer

YOUTUBE

What is a Passive Summing Mixer? Custom designed studio gears by Vintage Maker – since 2010
https://youtu.be/-UGx_kLHo7c

How to connect a summing mixer to DAW? Basic Analog Routing Audio interface – example – VintageMaker
https://youtu.be/KBP0PoOaCDs

Can I use my DAW interface “stock” mic preamps or line input’s for gain makeup?

  • Yes, you can. By prior consultation the mixer will be designed for your DAW mic preamp working range, so you can use your DAW interface mic preamp without any compromises.
  • To make the best, just let me know the total gain of your DAW mic preamp or external preamp in dB (like +20dB /+30dB/+55dB/+65dB or more)

CUSTOM PASSIVE SUMMING RANGE

19-inch 1U / 2U rack from 8 to 64 Input channel mixers

no price indicated unique audio - ask for price

summing mixers monitor controllers
summing mixers monitor controllers

Custom 2U Rack 64 ch passive summing mixer with 32 x stereo to 64 mono and variable -15/-25dB gain switch

Custom 2U Rack 24 ch passive summing mixer with 4x multi insert send return balanced stereo 6 x stereo to 12 mono variable -15/-25dB gain switch A/B out control direct monitoring switch on input 1/2

Custom 2U Rack 40 channel passive summing mixer with 3 x multi insert send return (INSERT A all time connected to preamp) 8x stereo to 16 mono variable -15/-25dB gain switch, 5 x 8 input ON/OFF control (per dsub)

These days the analog mixing technique has shifted mostly to the passive summing part.

Let me explain. It’s more easy and more convenient to switch between different external amplifiers like Neve, Lawo, Avalon, API, ssl mixing consoles, Focusrite and so on, besides of internal (built inside) summing amplifiers. Therefore you are NOT forced to use always one type of amp what you have inside of your summing mixer, finally you know – different amp = as a result for different sound colour and character.

Mixed 32 input Summing mixer 24 In DSUB, 25-32 in TRS, Master insert send return, variable gain switch, master mono 4 and stereo to 8 mono input conversion switches

UV Printed and Laser engraved

16input Summing mixer 4x stereo to 8 mono conversion switches DSUB/TRS

8 input Summing mixer 4x stereo to 8 mono conversion switches DSUB/TRS

16 input Summing mixer custom designed for PreSonus Studio 192 Audio Interface with four (4) Master insert send returns, variable gain switch and stereo to mono conversion switches

8 input Summing mixer custom designed for Universal UAD Apollo x8 Audio Interface with Master insert send return, variable gain switch, DIR+BYpass sum, -58dB Attenuator on Monitor output and 4x stereo to 8 mono conversion switches

Coloring or not coloring amp that is the question

Well, you can use a really warm tube amp for sound colour, or a really transparent non coloring amp for clean sounding, that’s your choice, and depend of your audio material. IMHO my customers really don’t like to change their mix character. On the other side the nice and pleasant harmonics can make the magic on your music.

btw — add an EQ for coloring / adding tone can massively redefine the tone of mix, and sounds really cool..:)

So no problem at all If you do not have expensive microphone preamplifiers, You can use for gain make up Your existing DAW Mic Preamps or instrument line inputs with GREAT success because you will get a custom built passive summing mixer designed for your preamps work range.

32 input Summing mixer 3 x DSUB 1-24 input, 8 x TRS input 25-32 with 4 x Stereo to 8 mono, -10/-20dB vari gain switch, direct switch on 1/2 input

16 input Summing mixer 2 x DSUB and 3 x stereo output with 3 x Stereo to 6 mono, -15/-25dB vari gain switch, direct bypass sum switch on 1/2 input and 4 x Multi master insert dsub balanced designed for Lynx Aurora / Chandler Limited EMI TG / 2400 Imperium / UTA MPDI-4, CAPI

16 input 2U Summing mixer, 8 in TRS, 8 in DSUB, 2 x Stereo to 8 mono, -15/-25dB vari gain switch, 3 x Stereo master insert, direct input

passive summing with mono sum
variabile gain
2U studio mixer
passivmix
Multi Insert chain
2U Passive Summing Mixer
studio mixer xlr trs db25
passive summing box 2U
direct input XLR balanced
TRS D-SUB input balanced
TRS XLR out mixer
TRS XLR Insert send return
Stereo Balanced Studio Mixer
Passive Summing Mixer

Why Passive Summing gain reduction?

As all analog mixers as well the passive summing network need to have summing resistors placed on channel inputs,due to those

(Vishay Dale) resistors  provides load isolation and improves channel to channel isolation.

The point is, it couldn’t be summed different instruments without resistor (gain loss) isolation, if you try to do without resistors as result you get over 0dB, furthermore you get clipping above 0db actually cause worse audio quality…

The gain make-up amplifier like an External amp — your DAW mic preamp or line amp or Internal transformer based amps like Lawo or Filtek or Neumann which follows the buss (master stereo L/R out) compensate the gain loss of passive summing mixer.

Can I use my DAW “stock” mic preamps or line input’s for summing?

Yes, you can. The mixer will be designed for your DAW mic preamp working range, so you can use your DAW interface mic preamp without any compromises. You can customize your desired summing setup on: https://vintagemaker.net/contact/#customorder

The Quad - 36 input Quad 4 x Group Summing Mixer

36 input quad mixer
36 input quad mixer
stereo to mono switch
stereo to mono switch
unique name
unique name
Group A to D out switch
Group A to D out switch
4 x group
4 x group
trs balanced mixer
trs balanced mixer
quad mixer with trs in out
quad mixer with trs in out

Gain loss — Gain make up

It is important to note that the gain range (eg. you have +30dB gain up relative to 0dB) of your DAW Interface (preamp, line inputs) will determine the passive summing resistor values, therefore You need to tell me (furthermore I need to know) your external gear gain make up range.

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages and so on…. so due to those resistors we have gain loss on the summing bus.

Behind the former example: 

-15dB gain loss summing with +30dB to +40dB preamp = perfect “middle way” ratio

The other passive mixers on the market come with huge  -35dB to -40dB gain loss, which requires +50 to +60dB gain make up, which in my humble opinion is meaningless, and it requires expensive preamplifiers, but if you have them, you are a lucky man:)
For example customers with -25dB gain loss summing use +50 dB to+60 dB  range gears like Neve 1073, Avalon etc. with great success based on  customer feedback since 2010′.

 

16 in passive mixer
passivmix
vari gain + dual master insert
master insert
unique logo
bypass sum direct input + 2 x stereo to 4 mono
dsub db25 input studio mixer
dual insert TRS balanced
dsub in trs out mixer
warm audio summing in the studio
warm audio wa273 eq

Hi Paul,
After a few days of tweaking and tweaking the entire system, the summing is sounding beautiful and my mixes are crisp and full-bodied like never before! Stereo is wide and mono puts a lot of body and punch to the songs. Thank you very, very much. Alexandre Ciaglia

Front Panel Connection

Customer Reviews

I have been working with Bob Katz doing the mastering.

I want to share this quote from Bob.

“Things are a lot sweeter! Compared to the previous mixes this overall sound, including the vocal, is like milk and honey! Overall with better balance and natural tonality. The sound has very nice dynamics and impact. It’s a total transformation. Good clarity, instrumental balance, stereo image…
Feel free to use the +18 setting or even a hair higher if available as your peak level does not exceed -5.6 dB.”  Bob Katz 

This is to the Dr Flouride Mix 24 summing mixer you made thank you. It’s letting me do world class work in a very remote environment. Cr Jeffrey McLaughlin

My REVIEW: Clarity and Glue.

It clearly sounds better than in the box summing, but you all knew that would be the case. It also sounds better than the AMEK console that I had been using for summing mixes. I had sold the console and this was one of the replacement parts. I am Very Happy. I would highly recommend Paul Taylor’s custom built products. he was easy to deal with, great communication and ultimately a great sounding box that let me interface the preamps I already have as the 2 buss. A serious upgrade for a box that is reasonably priced for what it does. I would love to hear the other active summing mixers that he makes, but for now, I am a happy studio owner with the box he sent me. Herb Belofsky  Drummer · Austin, Texas gearpace (gearslutz)

Passive Summing 10x4 TRS/DSUB designed for UAD Apollo Unison Preamps Insert Focusrite ISA828

Gearspace summing review (gearslutz)

I have been mixing for about 15 years now and all my mixes have been done in the box.  I work hard to get the harsh digital sound out of each track.  Using plugins like Oeksound’s Soothe, UAD Studer Tape, Oxford Inflator and others to bring some analog beauty to my mixes.

I have heard about analog summing for years.  Fab Dupont highly recommended it on one of his Puremix tutorials.  But I have heard other mix engineers like Andrew Scheps say he doesn’t use any analog gear when mixing.  So I was skeptical of spending my hard earned money on something that “MIGHT” work.  So I never did.  Until just recently when I came across a few Vintage Maker videos.

Actually it was the price that drew me in.  I thought that it would be worth the risk.  I mean I spent thousands of dollars on plugins that I thought would make my mixes more Analog in nature.  So what the heck.

I contacted Paul at Vintage Maker and told him my setup.  I have a UAD Apollo Quad.  He sent me all the info I needed.  He even made me my own personal visual direction sheet and custom made me a unit that would fit my needs.  I don’t know how many emails we sent back and forth but a lot.

Anyway, when I got it and plugged it all up-  I was stunned.  It’s like I got a whole new system.  My mixes went from trying to fix all the harsh tones to almost having to brighten some of the tracks up which is a good problem to have for me LOL.
I wish I had done it a long time ago.

It’s not a mind game thing.  It really changed what I can present to my customers and to myself. 

The 3d Stereo Imaging that I’ve heard people talk about is true (especially on the effects). The sweet warm sound makes me want to listen instead of running away from the piercing darts of a sharp lead guitar solo or female vocal. 
The customer service and the absolute transformation of my mixes is well worth the $500 I spent.  I am a believer.  Thank You Paul and Vintage Makers!!!

https://www.gearspace.com/

Special dsub output passive summing mixer

1U Standard Rack unit
32 input DSUB Tascam Analog Balanced
2 x Stereo (4) out DSUB (7/8 and 9/10) Balanced
Master insert/return DSUB (SND1/2, RET 3/4)
8 stereo to 16mono switches
Direct monitor switch on input 31-32
Vari gain switch -15/-25dB
Main outputs 1/2 (processed) as
3/4 SND
5/6 RTN
7/8 (pre insert)

4 x Subgroup Passive Summing Mixer

1U Standard Rack Unit
32 input DSUB Tascam Standard balanced:
A: 1/8, B:9/16 C:17/24 D:25/32
Routing Switches A/B/C/D (down) = A/or/B/or/C/or D routed to DSUB OUT:
A: 1/2, B:3/4 C:5/6 D:7/8
Routing Switches A/B/C/D (UP) = A/or/B/or/C/D out routed to Master sum out : XLR
Vari gain Sub groups:  4 x -10/-20dB Switch on A/B/C/D
Vari gain Master (base reduction -6.5dB): -6/-16dB switch (-10dB)
*Base reduction from input -10dB + (-6.5dB) 

**Vari gain sw +(-10dB sub) + (-10dB master)
4 x STM switches for ch 1-2, 9-10, 17-18, 25-26.

Gain make up requirements – let me know before you make an order

*Basic Setup -15dB by default please let me know if you need different gain structure before you make an order.

  • MINIMAL:  -6,5 dB or -10dB relative to 0dB

  • LOW:  -15dB gain up  ideal for entry level preamps or DAW mic pre or instrument input

  • MID:   -20dB gain up  ideal for mid range preamps or DAW mic pre or instrument input

  • HIGH: -25dB (or more) gain up  ideal for high range preamps like Neve, Api, Avalon or DAW mic pre

Flexibile solution:

Variable gain switch: -10/-20dB, -15/-25dB or -25/-35dB read more….

Dual Stereo Balanced Summing Network from input to output

  • In/Out:Balanced, floating to ground
  • Insertion input resistance: -15dB / -20dB / -25dB or more  (order)
  • Output impedance 600-1k ohms balanced 
  • Output level: -15 dB nominal (basic setup)
  • Frequency response: 0-500Khz
  • Crosstalk 1Khz: -95dB
  • In/Out:   Balanced, floating to ground
  • Signal/ Noise rate: -110dB (RME HDSP tested, no DAW inputs connected)
  • TRS wiring: (Tip:HOT/,Ring:COLD/Sleeve:GROUND)
  • Pure hand made! Hand wired and tested point-to-point!
  • Selected VISHAY DALE military metal-film resistors!
  • Laser engraved massive aluminium alloy box!