Karaoke Forums

Anyone useing or got any feedback on this board. I'm using Yamaha powered speakers with a behringer now and I wanna lose that bord for the Mackie. Here's a link to the info: http://www.mackie.com/products/cfx12mkii/
Mackie - CFX12.mkII and here's a nice size pic:
http://www.mackie.com/home/showimage.ht ... 12mkII.jpg

Let me know what you think.

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

I use the original CFX12 (non mkii - which is just the streamlined version for more appealing look).  Hell of a board, haven't had one problem working it 7 nights since I bought it in Oct. '99.  Used a Soundcraft Spirit board before that & went through a few Behringers (never again) before the Soundcraft - before bucking up & getting a quality unit (Soundcraft was good board too).  Sound is killer & clean.  Only complaint is only 2 stereo channels.  I am going to be trading up to the 1642VLZ board soon, need more inputs.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I have both the old version and the new version.  Haven't noticed any difference.  As Lonman said, clean sound and great effects.  I don't believe you can get a better mixer for the money.  

Kelly

I am also interested in this topic.  My DFX-12 is far better than Behringer UB1622FX-PRO in every way (effects, clean sound...).  How much better of CFX to DFX?

The CFX is better in the respect of features over the DFX.  Better eq'ing on channels & mains.  More routing capabilities for recording options & live connections.  Same effects.  4 Aux sends 2 can be dedicated monitor or effects sends & the other 2 are dedicated for effects (1 internal & 1 external).  Internal effect can also be bypassed if you want to use 2 external effects as well - I think that is an option on the DFX too, only you can only use 1 external effect.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

CFX is really better all around.  The DFX has only lows and highs on the channels and a 5 band eq.  The cfx has low, mid & high on the channels and has a 9 band eq.  The effects processor is the same however.

Kelly

I own both the Original and the new MK II. Both work great and wtih the reconmendations from felow KJ's in my area along with several members here I went with them. Great product..

The CFX was my choice a few weeks ago when I thought my mixer had died....It lacked some of the features I wanted, but at the time I was going for perceived reliability.....Kinda like I do whenever I chose a wife

So I can't vouch for how well it performs or how it sounds....Several others here do have that experience however, and none of them regret chosing the Mackie CFX altho they do mention it's lack of extra features.

If you do select the CFX, I'd appreciate if you return with an honest comparision as to sound quality tween the Mackie and the Behringer....And also how you deal with some of the features you gave up when you swapped.

The only "extra" feature per se I complain about would be the lack of the extra stereo inputs, otherwise it's feature packed for a mixer of it's kind.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Myself, I was going to miss the dedicated monitor speakers slider, the CD/CD+G Slider, the voice cancel switch, the 75 vs 100 HZ low cuts, the global mute...And yeah, the biggest lack for me too was the limited # of stereo inputs.

It seems no one makes exactly what I want in a mixer except Behringer..I was willing to pay lots more for any brand, but it was the same problem with all of them....

I see the same problem with the pro level players. Numark made a halfa$$ attempt at karaoke with their CDN25+G....I rate it right up there with Mackie as far as reliability and quality, but it lacks karaoke friendy features....It is styled like a DJ rig, but it doesn't do that very well either.

As usuall, us KJ types must resort to adapting live stage gear for karaoke and no ammount of money seems to command gear designed just for us.(vocopro excepted)

I could see this one for most karaoke hosts, I prefer the Aux sends myself



Not sure what you mean by this one



Have one built into my players



I can see where one might need the 75hz cut, but for karaoke, the 100 hz actually works better - less low end feedback.



The Mackie has this.



My biggest beef with this board.

Again, to me the perfect karaoke board would be the Allen & Heath half live half dj design - but for the price tag they want, nope!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Lonman, I agree that 100 Hz low cuts are perhaps the best for live stage work, especially when you use subs and mic the kick and have a bass guy with dual 4X10's in the backline....In cases like that, subsonic feedback will eat your lunch by sucking up all your amp headroom and making the subs muddy and dull.

But for me, seeing as how I don't reinforce live bands, it's better to have a sweepable low cut, but since no board I can afford has same, I prefer 75Hz.

The 100Hz low cut proves that Mackie is designed for the live band guy, not the home recordist or KJ....Oh, you can believe it is really good at what it is designed to do cause it's Mackie....But it brings me back to my main complaint-no matter how good it is, it isn't "best" for KJ's featurewise. And it certainly ain't alone in that regard cause like i said before, we karaoke types must resort to adapting and compromising when we select our gear.

Maybe someday the MI guys will hear what we are screaming for and decide we offer a large enuff market share for them to build it.

Nope sorry, for me i'll sacrifice a couple of features that I don't really need anyway for a better sound which the Mackie does provide.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I'm all Mackie and I don't feel like I'm compromising anything.  I don't even use the stereo inputs.

Kelly

I've been to two shows and while I believe that the kj using the equipment can make ro break the show, both shows sound systems sounded like crap. must be me though as they seem to get comlpiments on the sound from people who know nothing about it.  I had a pyramid power amp and 10" Radio Shack PA speakers and had my singers sounding better than what both shows sounded.

Thanks for all the input. I think I'm gonna go with the CFX.mkII, I'm useing the Behringer UB1622FX-PRO now and 1 side is starting the fart out on me so it's time to get something that sounds better and will last. Thanks agian

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

I own Behringer UB1622FX-PRO  and Mackie DFX-12  :biggrinthumb: .  I am keeping the DFX-12, which is cleaner and has better effect IMO, until I find a replacement with rack ears.

Can anyone comment on CFX-12 or another Mackie with Lexicon effect processor?  Is the Lexicon MPX550 better than the integrated Mackie effect, and worth the buy? or MPX110 is good enough.

The CFX effects are the same as the DFX.  An outboard Lexicon will sound better than the built in on the Mackie just because Lexicon makes a great processor.  The MPX550 is a very nice processor - but honestly a little overkill when the MPX110 will sound just as nice.  The 550 has some better reverb patches in it, but not enough your going to be able to notice - it is better suited for pro-live music & studios.  The MPX110 isn't as programable is it's downside.  But it does have a tap sync so you can tap to the beat & have a perfect effect every song.
Nice thing is with the CFX & an outboard effects, you can blend both the internal & external together for a more custom effect.
If you go for something like the Mackie 1642VLZ (my next board) series, you are going to have a cleaner sounding board than the CFX/DFX series - these use the same mic pre-amps that were found on their 8 buss recording boards & the 56 channel touring boards.  Also more routing options especially if you want to record as well.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Hey mister Rob, I see you're from Montreal I'm sure the Mackie is a good board but I would choose the new Yamaha mixers, much cheaper and I read the FX are a little better, when it comes to the Mic pre-amp, all the same, low end but will do fine for live karaoke. For best performance on studio recording, get a lamp-pre-amp!

Steve music will recommend Yamaha over the Mackie at that price range btw, I've been there...

Man, I wish you didn't live so far, I would pay you to calibrate my equipment

I own a Lexicon MPX 110 & a DBX 266XL and I just can't seemed to figure out the best settings, but I honestly loved both device, the reverb on the Lexicon is simply amazing!