
Passive Analog Summing Mixer – Unique Custom Studio Solutions
Warm Up your Digital ITB mixes – add analog depth and vibe
You get the best custom summing mixer designed for Your studio.
Let me know 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.
8x2 Passive Summing Mixer DSUB in - TRS out
- 1U Standard Rack 19″ unit
- 8 input DSUB tascam balanced (order TRS)
- 1x Stereo out TRS balanced L/R
- Laser engraved
- Unique Name (let me know)
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)
16x2 Passive Summing Mixer DSUB in - TRS out
- 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)
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 - Vari Gain Headroom switch - TRS in TRS out
489 € +shipping
16 In / 4 Out – TRS IN / TRS OUT BALANCED (order for XLR out) “classic” design, see below the modern designs
Read more…- 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
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
32x4 Passive Summing Mixer with gain control attenuator TRS/DSUB Input
699 € +shipping
- 32 IN: 8 TRS + 24 DSUB IN Balanced
- 4 OUT: 2 TRS + 2 XLR OUT Balanced (MainRec/Monitor)
- 1U Standard Rack 19″ unit
- 32 input by TRS/DSUB :
- 1-8 input TRS balanced (8 in)
- 9-32 input DB25 Tascam Standard Balanced (24in)
- 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
8 - 12 INPUT - Custom Summing Mixer Examples
8 Input Passive Summing Mixer with 4 x Stereo to 8 Mono switch designed for Metric Halo / Focusrite
8 input Summing mixer 4x stereo to 8 mono conversion switches DSUB/TRS designed for Metric Halo and Focusrite DAW interface sound card – custom (UV Printed and Laser engraved)
8 Input Passive Summing Mixer with 2 x Stereo out - 4 x STM switch - Master Insert designed for Universal UAD Apollo x8
8 input Summing mixer custom designed for Universal UAD Apollo x8 Audio Interface with Master insert send return, variable gain switch, DIR+BYpass sum switch, –6 to -58dB Attenuator on the Monitor output and 4x stereo to 8 mono conversion switches for monos like vox, kick, bass, snare and so on.
8 in 2 out TRS Summing with Headroom, Input conversion Mono and master Mono switch
8 input – 2 output TRS balanced, PreSonus DAW with SSL bus compressor, 1xSTM, Vari gain, Master Stereo to Mono (mix mono compatibility test sw) switch designed for City Of Nine Gates Studio
8 + 2 (AUX) Input Passive Summing (10×4) TRS/DSUB designed for UAD Apollo x8 Unison Preamps – Switch Insert SND/RET for Focusrite ISA8288
8 input Summing mixer custom designed for Motu 828 and PreSonus Studio Audio Interface with four (4) stereo to 8 mono conversion switches for mono instruments like Kick, Bass, Snare and Vocal read more about…
12 input TRS Summing mixer custom designed for Focusrite and Motu Audio Interface with two (2) mono conversion switches for mono instruments like Kick, Bass, AUX Line input (additional summing mixer) 11/12 DIR input to output MONITORING switch
16 - 28 INPUT - Custom Summing Mixer Examples
16 input Summing mixer 2 x DSUB and 3 x stereo XLR output with 16 x mono, 3 x Out control with master mix mono compatibility test switch designed for Lynx Aurora / RME Babyface Pro FS Lynx E44
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 Summing mixer – 2 x Multi master insert TRS balanced, designed for Antelope Audio Orion Studio Synergy Core, Insert A – Warm Audio, Insert B – Dangerous Master, 2 x Stereo out as main and monitor, custom Logo laser engraving
16 in – 4 out – designed for Audient ASP 800 on the master insert, 2xSTM, Vari gain switch, DSUB IN, TRS Insert and 2 x Master out Main / Monitor
16 in – 4 out – designed for Motu 8pre e/s 4 x Master insert for Heritage Audio Elite Series HA-73X2 – Warm audio WA-412 – Audient ASP880
– Fredenstein F200 4 x Mono switch, -15/-25dB Vari gain switch, DSUB IN, DSUB Insert and 2 x Master out Main out and / -6 to -50dB (rel to 0dB) 21 step precision Monitor control attenuator
16 in Dual Sum Bus mixer with select out switc per channel similar like Neve 5059
I am looking for a product that works like the Neve 5059 summing mixer
Read more…I am coming out of a Motu 24ao
– 8 outs of the Motu 24ao will go to a Burl B32
– the other 16 outs will go into this new box you make
– It will have 2 separate stereo outs
– Each input channel can select whether you want to go to stereo outs A or Stereo outs B
16 in 3 x Mix Bus summing in the box designed by the customer
18 input Summing mixer custom designed for PreSonus Studio 192 Audio Interface with four (4) Master insert Send Seturns (chained ABCD) variable gain switch and 2 x stereo to 4 mono conversion switches for mono instruments like kick bass snare vox. Direct Monitoring switch with summing Bypass (comparison / monitoring) read more about…
28 input Summing TRS I/O designed for Avid HD I/O 16x16 and Access Virus C, Virus TI2, Moog Sub and Korg Elecribe, Uad Apollo Twin
28 input Summing mixer – 1 x Stereo to 2 mono, -15/-25dB vari gain switch, Stereo master insert, direct input with total bypass designed for Avid HD I/O 16×16 and Access Virus C, Virus TI2, Moog Sub and Korg Elecribe then record via Uad Apollo Unison preamp emulations, custom studio name engraving
32 INPUT - Mixbus - Multibus - Group Sum - Dual - Quad mixers
32 input Passive Summing Mixer 24xDSUB 8xTRS in - 2xStereo XLR out designed for Antelope Orion 32+ | Gen 3
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 (monitoring) designed for Antelope Orion 32+ | Gen 3 and 2 x Stereo XLR balanced out for Main Rec and Monitor
32x4 Passive Summing Mixer with INSERT -DSUB/TRS in TRS/XLR out designed for Focusrite 56 + 2 x ADA8200
32 input – Mixed DSUB / TRS Summing mixer 24 In DSUB, 25-32 in TRS, Master insert send return, variable gain switch, master stereo to mono out, 4 x stereo to 8 mono input conversion switches, custom Name engraving. Designed for Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56 (master) —>driven 2X ADA8000 and ADA8200 via ADAT Optical resulting in a total 28 analog outputs from DAW.
32 input DSUB - with unique Master insert/return designed for API 512c - AMS Neve 33609 Limiter / Compressor
32 input DSUB – with unique Master insert/return via DSUB – designed for API Audio 512c Mic Pre – AMS Neve 33609 Limiter / Compressor 8 stereo to 16mono switches, Direct monitor switch on input 31-32, Vari gain switch -15/-25dB, Main outputs 1/2 (processed), 3/4 SND, 5/6 RTN, 7/8 (pre insert)
32 in 4 x Insert Bus 4x8 sections designed for Apogee - Cranesong - JoeMeek, RND
32 in 4 x Insert BUS – 8 ch sections (A: 1/8, B:9/16 C:17/24 D:25/32) Sub groups: 4 x 8, Vari gain -10/-20dB Switch on A/B/C/D sub groups, source 2 Apogee DA16X – feeding Cranesong Syren, JoeMeek Brick or RND 511 read more about Multibus Group Send with fixed inputs
32 in QUAD (4x8) - four summing in the box sections designed for DAW - Synth - Keyboard analog mixing process
“THE QUAD” 32 in/8 out, 4×8 Input DSUB Tascam (4Group) as ABCD, 4×2 = 8 output XLR Balanced ABCD, 4xSTM ABCD (first stereo on each group), -25dB fixed gain reduction sum bus.
2U Rack 16 - 64 INPUT - Mixbus - Multibus - Group Sum - Quad - Matrix mixers
16 input DSUB/TRS in XLR/TRS out - 3 x Stereo Master insert TRS/XLR
16 input 2 Space 19″ Inch (2U) Rack Summing mixer, 8xTRS + 8xDSUB In, 2xStereo to 8 Mono, -15/-25dB vari gain switch, 3 x Stereo Master insert TRS/XLR, AUX input designed for Ampex 601 Tube amp, Neve style Mic Pre for the make up gain, Compressor /EQ Avalon 747 and Reverb unit Roland SRV2000
16 input MixBus MultiBus Matrix Passive Summing Mixer
Mix Bus Matrix mixer designed for Neve and Avalon preamps this Passive summing box is a 16 channel analog summing mixer with four Matrix group send A B C D 4×8 = 32/ 16 stereo channels, stereo to mono input conversion, four 4 x master inserts in chain. The active amplification is performed externally by legendary Neve 1073 Mic Preamp/EQ – and Avalon VT-737SP and Neumann TLM 103.
24 ch in with 4x multi insert send return TRS/XLR
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, AUX expansion XLR input, direct monitoring switch on input 1/2, dual XLR out main monitor.
36 input ch - 8 output - QUAD - Studio Summing Mixer TRS/TRS
Custom 2U Rack 36 in 8 out, QUAD (4xsumming), 16 x Stereo mute switch, 8 out (4xStereo L/R) TRS balanced main ABCD, 16 x Stereo to 32 Mono switch, 4 x Stereo Group SUM Busses as: A 1-8, B 9-16, C 17-24, D 25-36, 4 x Stereo (8) TRS OUT ABCD
40 input ch - 6 output - 5 x 8 input mute - Unique designed DSUB Insert with Outputs
Custom 2U Rack 40 channel passive summing mixer with 3 x multi insert send return (INSERT A all time connected to preamp) multi purpose DSUB – 3 x Insert + 2 x Master out, 8x stereo to 16 mono, variable -15/-25dB headroom gain switch, 5 x 8 input ON/OFF control (per dsub)
64 input ch passive summing mixer with 32 x stereo to 64 mono conversion input switch
2U Rack 64 ch input DSUB/DB25 Tascam Balanced, XLR out passive summing mixer with 32 x stereo to 64 mono and variable -15/-25dB gain switch
Sub Group passive summing for Multi–Bus Compression technique
SEE DETAILED SETUP AND DESCRIPTION
Customer studio setup:
MPC 2500 *OR* UAD Apollo 8
RSE LTM-8 (Line to Mic level Converter)
x2 Hairball Audio Lola
x2 AML 1073
x2 RSE PC502
x2 Cranborne Camden 500
x4 SSL style Preamps
x2 Capi v26
A/B SEND (possible options):
DBX 160x Compressor (stereo pair)
Neve 542 Tape Simulator (stereo pair)
Thermionic Culture Culture Vulture
SP303 (Stereo Effects Processor)
Kush Audio Electra (Stereo EQ)
Master Inserts (possible options):
Louder Than Liftoff Silver Bullet (Stereo Preamp)
Hendyamps Michelangelo (Stereo Tube EQ)
Hendyamps Pollock (Stereo Optical Compressor)
Neve 542 Stereo Tape Simulator
TK Audio TK-Lizer (Stereo EQ)
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK - 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
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
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
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)
Gearspace summing review (see on 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.
Read more…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 & Vintage Maker!!!
Frequently Asked Questions - Passive Summing - FAQ
- YouTube What is a Passive Summing Mixer?
https://youtu.be/-UGx_kLHo7c - YouTube How to connect a summing mixer to DAW?
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 gear for you, just let me know your interface type, gain range of your DAW mic preamp or external preamp (like +20dB /+30dB/+55dB/+65dB or more relative to 0dB)
You can order different gain reduction mixers as:
- -6dB,
- -10dB,
- -15dB,
- -20dB,
- -25dB or more
Variable gain switch like:
- -6/-16dB,
- -10/-20dB
- 15/-25dB or more
Mic Pre (max gain) / Summing reduction ratios example:
30dB Mic Pre = -15dB Summing reduction
60dB Mix Pre = -25dB Summing reduction
- plus minus 5dB
Based on customer feedback, these values provide the best SNR and Headroom
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′.
Why Passive Summing gain reduction?
- Gives Analog Headroom
- Provides load isolation
- Channel to channel isolation
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.
Headroom is how much room has your audio signal has before it starts to get compressed and distorted.
Headroom – It provides buffer zone for harmonics, transients or loud sounds without risking clipping, which result a more dynamic open and wide, depth 3D sound. Also it provides space for Gentle Harmonics Distortion.
In digital and analog audio, headroom refers to the amount by which the signal-handling capabilities of an audio system exceed a designated nominal level.[1]Headroom can be thought of as a safety zone allowing transient audio peaks to exceed the nominal level without damaging the system or the audio signal, e.g., via clipping. Standards bodies differ in their recommendations for nominal level and headroom. (wikipedia)
Driving the PASSIVE SIDE will add harmonics to help ‘image’ sounds.
By proper gain staging can achieve the Analog Harmonics Sweet Spot
How to hit analog harmonic distortion ?
Simply boost up your DAW output Level (master fader) – and you get some “nice” distortion because you’re pushing the summing quite a bit over its nominal level
Coloring or non 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.