Mackie Mix5 5-Channel Compact Mixer, Black

I am not going to cover the many uses this mixer has, nor will I regurgitate the product specs. Other reviews cover that information very well. Instead I am going to focus on why I purchased it and how I use it.My main purpose was to expand a Samson Expedition XP150 150-Watt Portable PA. I love that small PA, but it lacked phantom power, and also the XLR inputs were somewhat limited. I expanded it by running the mains out into the stereo channels 4 and 5 on the XP150 and it works perfectly.For smaller venues I sometimes use a pair of Mackie SRM150 5.25-Inch Compact Active PA Systems as mains. Those small speakers (personal monitors actually) are fairly loud, but lack FX capabilities. By fronting a pair of those with this mixer I now have yet another very portable PA that can actually fill a surprisingly large room with sound. Of course I am playing jazz and lighter music, so a dinner crowd of one hundred people can easily be served with such a set up. For a club or bar full of noisy patrons who want to rock out this configuration will fall short, but even if you play loud music this is perfect for a rehearsal space.I love the portability - I carry it in a small laptop bag - and the array of effects and features. With powered speakers you can put together a fairly respectable PA for a lot less than many turn key PA systems cost.One final note: I am using a Samson LTS50 Laptop Stand with this mixer and it is a convenient way to mount it in tight spaces.

Replaced a peavy mixer with this one, its a go between my daw and my interface and my 23 channel mixer and it does the job really well, wish I wwouldve bought this to begin with, very versatile as far as input ouput

I purchased the Mix8 along with the M-Audio BX5 d2 studio monitors, Cerwin Vega XD8 sub and Polk Audio Sub for music entertainment. I do not make, mix or do any of that stuff. I received the bx5 d2's and xd8 1st and I was pretty disappointed with them. Sound was coming from an iMac. The speakers did not get loud enough, did not fill a medium size room and they did not feel like they were receiving enough power. So I ended purchasing another sub and the mix8 and contemplated upgrading the Bx5 d2. My original intention was to have a very good set of computer monitors. So the Mix8 and the Polk sub comes in and Viola!!! Audiophile paradise. For now at least.Everything change once I connected the Mix 8Pros:1. The signal coming from the mix8 is so much stronger that the sound of all the speakers increased an insane amount.2. Sound quality improved leaps and bounds as well.3. Having a 3 band equalizer allowed me to adjust music to my likings. Typically +5-10 db's for bass and +1-2 in treble from a flat speaker.4. Another output for speakers can be connected through CR (Control Room). I used it for the subs and it also has a volume control just for CR so I can adjust subs to the type of music.5. Sturdy construction. Feels like a tank. Knobs have an individual click each turn. Mostly steel frame.6. Headphone jack so I don't have to reach behind computer to hook the headphones every time. The output for the headphones is insane as well. Felt like the sound doubled in my q40 headphones. Feels like it has been amplified significantly.7. Tons of inputs. My son is a novice guitar player so now he can plug and play.Cons:1. No power switch. Oh well no biggie.2. Sound plays on monitors when headphone is plugged in. Probably a dj thing. I just unplug the monitors.If it was not for the Mix8 I would have wrongfully dumped the entire monitor setup. I am still in awe with how much the sound quality and output improved. The 3 band eq is great! It has such a long range of adjustment it feels like you can +15 decibels. The bass feels like I can triple the output with the Mix8. Forget the Y splitter going straight to the monitors! Run it through one of these!!! Best $80 I have ever spent. Sound is almost as good as our older home audio JBL studio series that I spent 5 times more for.