I own a small sound company, and always keep a few small frame analog mixers in my inventory for small events that do not require specific mixers, or digitial mixers. I typically used Mackie mixers for this role... But during Covid I kept purchasing them online from two of my usual suppliers, only to get notices after the purchase that they were on backorder (Covid supply chain issues). I eventually decided to buy the Alto 1604, as it was actually in stock. It has more than paid for itself, over the last 2 1/2 or 3 years. Its a great return on investment, and works really well, in a variety of settings. Ive used it for small band gigs, corporate gigs, as a keyboard rig sub-mixer, etc... and Im quite satisfied with its abilities. With the built in compressors, effects, and a bit of graphic eq available... I have been able to use this console with very little to no outboard processing gear. Its nice to be able to eliminate a rack of outbaord gear sometimes, one less thing to load and unload. And I am able to get good results. Ofren times a band will not have the budget to warrant me slinging a bunch of gear in and out of a gig... But I can offer them a small system on a budget, thats easy for me to transport, and gives them more than their money's worth. Im not so sold on its durability, I make sure to pack it up separately from my other gear. I usually put in a case in the passenger seat of my truck, instead of loading it with the rest of the gear. But with a little care, it should last quite a long time. The preamps are pretty good for a mixer on this level, the eq is nice enough to get a good mix built, and the effects are basically the equivalent of an Alesis Nanoverb...which I quite like. The graphic is only 10 bands, and can be switched from a main eq to a monitor eq. Its not much, but its not terrible for what it is. For novice audio users, this console may be a bit intimidating...it does have quite a number of features. But if you spend a little time with it, you will figure it out. One odd thing about it, is that it is just a hair too large to be rack mounted. Normally mixers of this sort have optional rack mount kits that mount to the sides of the mixer, so that you can put it in a slant top rack with your other gear... But this mixer is just about an inch or so too wide for that to work. So it has to be used as a table top mixer. The equivalent Mackie, Behringer, Harbinger, etc. products all have the rack mounting option.
HI! Thank you for one of the best Tutorial about Alto Professional Live 1604 that I have been seing. I fallowed all instruction in the Manuel. But the output is not working on the computer. What should I do, please?
If i press a Group Button is the Mono Signal send to Group 1 and 2, or can i chose to which group it gets send? It wasnt clear in the video if the Group 1-2 Button has 3 different positions (off, 1, 2).
I'm working with one of the older alto mixers, (zmx 164),very similar to this 1604, and to my understanding, if you press the button - group 1-2, it will send signal to both group 1 and 2, same for 3-4. Mine is just 2 positions, off and then that 1-2. From the sub section at he right, there's 2 buttons wich will give you an option to send to left or right main output (2 seperate buttons so you cab also do both). It will also send via the 4 sub outputs on the back, independent of the buttons. I personally selected all the buttons on all channels (1-2) and pluged in an external speaker (in another room) and just use that 1st slider to control that speaker (not selecting either of the 2 buttons on top of that slider, so that it doesn't get added to the mains). Another useful way is if you say for example select 3-4 on all the vocal channels, and both of the buttons on top of the main sub slider, that slider will add all those vocals to the main mix, so basically it increases the volume of all the selected channels at the same time. Hope i answered your question? Let me know.
