Pedalboard mixers: what are they and what are they used for

Introduction

A pedalboard mixer is any kind of audio mixer that is used in a pedalboard or as a separate unit on the floor. Although you can place it somewhere else, the practicality of having it in front of you is second to none.

Some of these devices work as a typical mixer, but some are specially designed to help musicians in a way that they normally couldn’t. 

In essence, a pedalboard mixer is any small-footprint device that handles more than one input.

Many of us do not even know pedalboard-size mixers exist until we come to a point where you need a mixer that is incorporated conveniently into your pedalboard.

We will discuss the various applications of such mixers with overviews of some of the best small floor mixers available.

After reading this article, anyone who has started research on these types of mixers will know what type is for their specific needs 

In the end, everyone wants their musical instrument rig to be as practical as possible. Having to deal with multiple instruments and amps is not that easy without a separate unit. Or maybe you just want the convenience of having all your preamps, effects, and mixer in your pedalboard.

Why use a mixer in your pedalboard

It can make your playing experience seamless. Changing instruments between songs, tweaking EQ and effects can be made very fast without taking a hike to the main soundboard.

Having your own sound and being independent from the main mixer can seem an impossible task. For musicians looking for a way to achieve this, a pedalboard mixer can be the solution.

No need for technicians to mute your guitar or bass while you change instruments or amplifiers. Doing this with a mixer in your pedalboard is just a stomp away.

Keyboard players who play more than one instrument have always been using a personal mixer. Another way of saying “a pedalboard mixer” can be “a personal mixer”.

Types of pedalboard mixers

1. Specialized classic mixers

These mixers are designed to be placed on a pedalboard. Actually, there are not too many products on the market. With further development of digital products and minimalistic rigs being more popular than ever, I expect manufacturers to make many new interesting pedal-sized mixers in the near future.

The Red Panda Mixer 3 is a good example of a small mixer designed to live on a pedalboard. Because of the various applications we can use it for it can also be placed in other categories such as pedalboard mixers for parallel effects that is listed further in this article.

Sure, mixers are becoming an OEM (on every model) thing with more and more products. Active speakers are becoming complete PA systems with several independent channels and digital effects built into them. Bose, Turbosound, Db Technologies, and many more all have column speaker systems with mixers either in the column or the sub.

Small mobile units like acoustic amplifiers come with two channels. These channels have effects, volume, and EQ just like a channel strip on a mixer.

That is great, all those products are extremely useful for solo or duo acts. But some musicians need the modularity of separate small mixers. Also, having a complete rig in your pedalboard can be very useful when you are playing through the venue’s PA. This way, all of your sound, except the PA, is completely independent of the venue.

These two mixers are specially designed for keyboard players:

2. Mixers for changing instruments and amps (for players who play multiple instruments)

Technically, these mixers are switchers, but they still do the same job as a normal mixer.

When you play a concert where there is a sound technician and a PA, if you play an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar, what happens? The technician does the same thing. Each guitar goes into its own channel and gets EQ’d.

But still, these types of mixers are different.

First, you get to be the sound tech, and second, the channels’ preamps and EQs are tailored specifically to your needs. 

Some of these units have the ability to switch amps or cabs while you play the same guitar. The Lehle Dual SGOS is made for that purpose.

If you play 2 or 3 instruments the Lehle 3AT1 SGOS will do the job.

3. Pedalboard mixers for parallel effects

A pedalboard parallel mixer is becoming a new thing. Guitar players love to experiment with effects and having some effects set in a parallel mode is a new sonic world. Shoegazers are using this configuration to get those unusual sounds you could never get using effects in a series.

What is a parallel mixer used for? When effects are connected in serial like they usually are in a pedalboard this is going on. The guitar signal enters the first pedal i.e. a distortion pedal. The signal gets distorted. That distorted signal then enters another pedal that applies its effect on the already distorted sound and so on.

With effects running in parallel, each effect receives a clean signal, and then those effects that are treated only with one effect are combined. The sound we get with this method is very customizable and cleaner than when running effects in series. In other words, the clarity of the original signal is preserved much more than usual.

4. Players who sing and play an instrument

Special units that have everything that a singing guitarist needs are not a new thing. Solo performers have been using devices like the Play Acoustic by TC Helicon for 10 years. These units have everything a solo acoustic guitar/singer performer needs to put on a great show. 

These units are all of these:

• Mixer
• Multi-effects unit
• Backing vocals
• Looper
• Preamp
• Tuner

TC Helicon also has a unit for electric guitar players, the VoiceLive Play. The most advanced model is the VoiceLive Extreme 3 which has some cool features like:

• Multiple backing vocals
• Looper w/three separate phrases
• Stereo recording

Some more devices to consider

• Boss VE-22 Vocal Performer
• Boss VE-8 Acoustic Singer

5. Just plain small mixers

You guess what these are about; ordinary mixers that just happen to be small enough to be fitted on a pedalboard.

These mixers are generally a bit larger than the majority of mixers we have been talking about. So, these are for those who have a decent-sized pedalboard and want something really simple to be done or just don’t want to invest in something else because they have a small mixer already.

This option is best for those who simply want their normal mixer placed in the pedalboard instead of somewhere else.

More mixers suitable for pedalboards:

• Behringer MX400
• Alto TrueMix 500
• Behringer Xenyx 802S

Conclusion

As you see, in this article, our focus was not on reviewing products labeled as pedalboard mixers. Our main focus was to inform musicians about all the types and purposes of these specialty mixers. Here and there you may find a small mixer-type product, but you can’t see the big picture.

Many guitarists have never heard of the possibility of setting their pedals in parallel mode. When playing two guitars we usually just unplug one and plug the other guitar in. And most times without even muting anything. 

Maybe you just didn’t realize that you actually can have a small mixer placed on your pedalboard. Whatever your needs for this type of mixer may be, I am sure, that now, with this additional information, your gigs will become easier to navigate through.