Choosing the very best USB mixer is an important consideration for audio engineers, whether you have a home studio or work professionally at a live music venue. Audio mixers can be as simple as a compact 2-channel box and as advanced as a 24-channel USB mixing board that has 3-band equalizers for each channel, as well as cross-faders, SPX effects, and a huge range of connectivity options.
The best USB mixer for you will depend on your purpose, your budget, and also whether you want to have the ability to record or stream, as well as mix.
Table of Contents
- View The Best USB Mixer Below
- USB Mixer Buyer’s Guide
- Channels
- Effects
- Connectivity
- Software
- Should you use a USB Mixer or Audio Interface for Recording?
- What's the Top USB Mixer for Podcasting?
- What is the Greatest USB Mixer for Recording?
- What is the Top USB Mixer for Streaming?
- Conclusion
- If you've enjoyed this review by Music Critic, please leave a positive rating:
To make sure that you find the best USB mixer, then consider this list of the top six USB mixers, as well as the buyer’s guide and breakdown that follows it.
At a glance: Our top 3 picks
Allen & Heath ZEDi-8
- Respected Manufacturer
- Reasonable Price
- Clean Pre-Amps
- Compact
- Compatible w/ Multiple OS
Allen & Heath ZED-18
- Respected Manufacturer
- Reasonable Price
- Clean Pre-Amps
- Compact
- Compatible w/ Multiple OS
Pyle-Pro PAD10MXU
- Respected Manufacturer
- Reasonable Price
- Clean Pre-Amps
- Compact
- Compatible w/ Multiple OS
View The Best USB Mixer Below
1. Allen & Heath ZEDi-8
Allen & Heath is a British company that’s been making mixers since the late 1960s. It originally gained fame due to its work with Pink Floyd. Since then, the company has constantly striven to produce cutting-edge equipment that music professionals love to work with. This USB mixer is a superb, affordable model that will suit ambitious home producers or DJs who don’t want to compromise on quality.
First, it’s a compact unit with dimensions of 9.3” by 3.5” by 9.8”. This small size combined with its 2.8lbs weight makes it a portable choice for DJs who gig or simply for placement in small studios.
Perhaps its standout feature is the cleanness of the pre-amps. It’s built to avoid any audible noise floor, which is essential for crisp recordings.
The 24-bit audio interface is another premium feature. It makes the mixer compatible with pretty much any operating software you might use.
Pros:
+ Respected Manufacturer
+ Reasonable Price
+ Clean Pre-Amps
+ Compact
+ Compatible w/ Multiple OS
Why We Liked It - It’s simply a functional, effective mixer that delivers clean audio while also being compact, portable, and sturdy.
Mapping Controls - Don't forget that you can link fader and mixer knobs to almost any effect in your digital audio workstation. You aren't just limited to reverb, delay, and volume – Play around with bpm, automation, filters, and anything else you can think of! Having a hardware control board can make experimentation a lot easier with the right mappings.
2. Allen & Heath ZED-18
The next USB mixer on our list is also by Heath & Allen. This model is more advanced than the previous one on our list. It comes with a higher price tag as a result, but if you’re a professional who wants a wealth of channels then this is the product for you.
There are 18 inputs to choose from, which are composed of 10, single, mono channels, as well as 4 stereo channels. That makes it an extensive board that could be used to record several musicians in unison. If you’re a producer who works with bands who like to record live, then this mixer will appeal.
It is loaded with lots of features. But at its heart, the key component is the sound quality. It is flawless, making it essential for professional-quality recordings. The equalizers are smooth, easy to operate, and free from noise when being used during recordings too.
Pros:
+ 18 Channels
+ USB Input
+ Flawless Sound Quality
+ Easy Operation
+ Reasonable Price
Why We Liked It - If you’re looking for a professional mixing board that can be used for recording a group of musicians performing live, then this is a solid choice.
3. Pyle-Pro PAD10MXU
This 2-channel, compact USB mixer is quite simply one of the best small mixers around. It offers easy connectivity with all computers, and also offers universal digital audio file connectivity. As a small USB mixer with dimensions of 5.9” x 1.8” x 8.7”, then it is highly portable, and that makes it ideal for use during performances.
It features an effective low-noise design and it provides you with signal output through headphones when connected to it. There are two options in terms of input, with ¼” and XLR being compatible. To ensure that it is a reliable USB mixer, it uses 18v phantom power as its source.
Pros:
+ 18v Phantom Power
+ Compact
+ Low-Noise Design
+ Easy-to-use Controls
+ Multiple Connectivity
Why We Liked It - If you’re searching for the best small USB mixer, then this is a great option, as it features a low-noise design, is easy to use, and offers a lot of connection choices.
Use Case -Before picking out your USB mixer, don't forget to determine your use case. If you plan on taking your mixer frequently from one place to another you'll certainly need a different mixer than someone planning to mount their mixer on their studio desk.
4. Numark M6 DJ
Considered as the best USB DJ mixer, it offers four channels that are perfect for scratch mixing. There is an easy-to-use crossfader which works across the four channels. Each channel also has its own 3-band equalizer, as well as its own cue control. There are faders and slope controls for each channel too.
It offers an incredible amount of options when it comes to connecting to this USB mixer, including line, mic, master RCA, booth RCA, and ¼” headphone inputs. At only 9.6lbs and featuring a sleek design, it is a portable USB mixer that DJs will love.
Pros:
+ Portable
+ Perfect for DJs
+ Lots of Connectivity Options
+ Slope Controls for Each Channel
+ Sleek Design
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5. Alesis MultiMix 8
This has to be considered as the best 8-channel mixer on the market. It isn’t simply a USB mixer, but also a computer recording interface, so it can be used as a USB mixing console for live performances or in a home studio. The on-board controls allow you to alter volume, pan, and the 3-band EQ for each channel.
There are four XLR inputs that include 48w phantom power, but you can also connect to this USB mixer via four line inputs. It has in-built DSP effects that include reverb, delay, flange, and chorus, which are all ideal for guitars and vocals.
Pros:
+ 4 x XLR Inputs & 4 x Line Inputs
+ In-Built DSP Effects
+ 3-Band EQ
+ Doubles as a Computer Recording Interface
+ Sweepable Parametric Mids
Why We Liked It - It’s a quality budget mixer for home recording that doubles up as a recording interface, and it also has excellent in-built DSP effects.
6. Akai Professional MIDImix
This budget mixer is loaded with lots of great features. It offers eight 30mm individual line faders, as well as a single master fader. There are also 24 knobs that are used for controlling the equalizer, with three knobs being responsible for each of the eight channels.
Included with this USB Midi controller is Ableton Live Lite, which works perfectly with the audio mixer, allowing you to completely customize your control over it thanks to one-to-one mapping. It is a compact size that enhances its portability but doesn’t negatively affect its usability.
Pros:
+ Includes Ableton Live Lite
+ 8 Channels
+ Easy to Use
+ Portable
+ Solid, Durable Construction
Why We Liked It - It’s a small USB mixer that is portable, easy to use, as well as durable. And it’s also very reasonably priced.
USB Mixer Buyer’s Guide
Whether you’re a professional audio engineer or a hobbyist with a home studio, finding the best USB mixer is important, both for recording or for live performances or broadcasts. To ensure that you choose the best audio mixer then consider this buyer’s guide and breakdown:
Channels
More channels mean more options. The number of channels that the USB mixer provides you with is your most important consideration. If you’re looking for a simple setup for a home studio then two or four channels might suffice, but if you’re looking for a USB mixer that will resemble a complete mixing board then you may need as many as twenty-four channels.
Of course, the price and physical size of the USB mixer will change once you start choosing a mixer with more channels and that needs to be taken into consideration, but if you have space and money then giving yourself the option of having more channels is a good choice.
Effects
Many of the best USB mixers will come with their own effects. These might include DSP effects – such as flange, reverb, chorus, and delay – or they might be more advanced SPX effects.
Connectivity
A USB mixer will connect to your computer or Mac via a USB connection, but the input options can vary from USB mixer to USB mixer. You could fine line inputs, XLR inputs, RCA inputs, and headphone inputs. Always make sure to check that your new USB mixer offers the right connections for the instruments or microphones you intend to run through it.
Software
You will often find that the very best USB mixers come with some form of software as part of their package. Check what features the software offers and if it isn’t suitable for your needs, then make sure that the USB mixer is compatible with a more suitable form of software. The best USB mixer software can be used for mixing, recording, and live performances.
Should you use a USB Mixer or Audio Interface for Recording?
Technically, an audio interface is a better option for recording than a USB mixer, as a USB mixer is designed for mixing live sound. However, most of the best USB mixers will have an audio interface integrated into them, which means that they are versatile and can be used for recording as well as a live performance. Of course, a USB mixer with an in-built audio interface will cost more than a simple audio interface or mixer but you get the best of both worlds.
What's the Top USB Mixer for Podcasting?
If you’re a podcaster, then it is important to choose a USB mixer that has enough channels for the number of speakers that you will feature in your broadcasts. If you present your podcast alone without any guests then you only need a 2-channel USB mixer, like the Pyle-Pro PAD10MXU, but if there is a group of you or intend to feature lots of guests then you need more channels, the 10-channel Yamaha MG10XU would be a good option in this case.
What is the Greatest USB Mixer for Recording?
If you want to be able to record as well as mix, then you need to choose a USB mixer that doubles up as a recording interface. The Alesis MultiMix 8 is a perfect example of a USB mixer that works perfectly for recording.
What is the Top USB Mixer for Streaming?
It depends on what type of streaming you do, how many channels you need, and if you want the ability to record too. The Pyle-Pro PAD10MXU is a good choice if you only need two channels, but if you’re looking for advanced, professional setup with a huge number of channels then go for the Allen & Heath ZED-24, which has 24 channels.
Expert Tip
Choosing a USB mixer that doubles as an audio interface is imperative if you want the ability to be able to record, as well as mix.
Did you know?
The initials USB stand for Universal Serial Bus. The USB connection was designed in January 1996 and was manufactured for the very first time a few months later in May 1996.
Conclusion
The best USB mixer for you will depend on what you intend to use it for. A compact, the low-priced 2-channel mixer is perfect for a podcast in a home studio but won’t be suitable for a live performance of a rock band, where you’ll want more channels and possibly some effects too.
The budget has to be considered too, but there are some excellent audio mixers on the market that can be found a rock bottom prices, so make sure that you only settle for the best quality.
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