Mackie makes a good 8 channel mixer for $75 with phantom power. They are a long time maker of mixers and this one has a ton of input and output options as well. The Behringer Xenyx 802 is similar in functions and layout for about $60. I've used a lot of Behringer stuff with no issues in the past.

Also, f you haven't checked them out, MXR makes some great sounding condenser mics that are inexpensive. I bought one new, and found two more on Craigslist.

Edit: If you need the mixer to go into your computer, Behringer sells a DAC for $30 (or cheaper used) and the tape out from the mixer goes into that, and then the digital out from the DAC goes to the usb on the computer.

The most straightforward way to do this, IMO, would be to use a "monitoring mixer". It'd be a simple hardware mixing board in-between all your audio sources and your speaker system.

So the turntable (after a preamp to take it to line-level) stereo outs go to the monitor board. The computer-out goes to the monitor board. The synth-out goes to the monitor board. You can leave them all connected, all the time, and just move the faders up and down for however loud you want to hear things.

Something like this with enough inputs to not worry would be ~$70-100 from Mackie or Monoprice. A little less from Behringer, but I'd avoid that brand in general if possible.
Here's an example of an 8-channel Mackie for $75:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ND1KGEI/

I've used a basic setup idea like this (and another small mixer on input) ever since I got into making music, and it works really well. Very flexible.

Edit: Most of this post assumes you have a "line in" available on your computer. Most desktops have this already, not sure if laptops do if that is what you game on. Also, the Mackie Mix8 would be better if you plan to use voice chat because you can use the aux send for voice chat.

What mic you need really depends on what you're doing. Some great streamers get by with just a headset mic. Some people have $600 microphones and don't sound wonderful.

If I had $200 and was just starting streaming, I would start small, and do a lot of research. Get to know the basics like the difference between dynamic mics and condenser mics. Understand what phantom power is. Learn the difference between unidirectional, omnidirectional, and cardioid microphones.

If you want to get into pro audio, which it sounds like you do, I would recommend you should opt for a small mixer, maybe something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Mix-Mix5-5-Channel-Mixer/dp/B00ND1K8T6/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1485752991&sr=1-4&keywords=Mackie+Compact+Mixer

I would recommend a mixer rather than an interface (such as a Scarlett Solo) because a mixer ultimately gives you more options. The Scarlett Solo is a beautiful device, I have one, but it's good for one voice optionally paired with one instrument, each on mono channels. That small Mackie mixer, which is about half the price, lets you have one voice paired with two stereo channels. Right now I'm sporting a 14-channel mixer I picked up used for $125, and it has more options than I need. Interfaces are supposed to have amazing analog-to-digital converters, meaning the sound they capture is more accurate, but I feed the "main out" from the mixer into a "line in" on my PC and I notice no appreciable difference. I am not an audiophile, though. To do that you'd need a cable like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TNP-Premium-3-5mm-Audio-Cable/dp/B01CNMSRA2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1485755363&sr=1-2&keywords=6.25mm%2Bmono%2Bto%2B3.5mm%2Bstereo&th=1

Pair the mixer/interface, whichever you go with, with an XLR microphone. I'd recommend starting small. This dynamic mic sounds decent for a realllly low price:

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM48-LC-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002D0HY4

It's what I currently use. It's kind of a dumbed down SM58. I started with a Sterling Audio ST55, because GiantWaffle uses that and I think his stream sounds great. It turns out my house is super noisy, so the ST55 which is a condenser mic picked up crazy amounts of noise. All the running computers in the room, the air conditioning, pets running around, people talking across the room, people stomping around upstairs, you get the idea. GiantWaffle didn't have that problem because he uses sound dampening materials in his studio, and keeps noisy stuff far away from his microphone. I tried out the SM48, and it works better for my environment, but if I had known better a couple years ago I probably would have bought this instead of the ST55:

https://www.amazon.com/AKG-PERCEPTION-Professional-Instrumental-Microphone/dp/B00167QUWI

A friend of mine has it, and it sounds amazing. It has similar sound qualities to other condenser mics, but it doesn't pick up nearly as much room noise.

I'm sure the AT2035 is great. It's a condenser mic, so it can pick up really quiet sounds, and it likely picks up a huge range of frequencies resulting in a super full-sounding voice. Just make sure if you go with this one that you streaming in a quiet room. Also, it needs phantom power, so make sure that the mixer/interface you're using can support it.

Be sure to buy an XLR cable. Some microphones don't come with one.

Pop filters are cool, but aren't strictly necessary, especially if you aren't singing.

Scissor arm mounts are nice if your desk can accommodate them. Remember you get what you pay for. A normal mic stand will work alright if you have enough room for it.

I should also mention the AT2020, Blue Yeti, and even the Blue Snowball sound great. If you simply want to plug, play, and forget with no options after that, they will suit your needs. Some headsets also have pretty good microphones on them, too. Like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-350-Special-2015/dp/B015ZKJIYI/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Good luck!

also one other tid bit...if you're dead set on using a USB mixer instead, I very strongly suggest avoiding Behringer. their preamps are VERY noisy and the faders are flimsy. Mackie mixers are very close in price and have less noisy mic preamps.

Behringer has a reputation, like em or not.

Sounds like you don't want to break the bank either, so Mackie is great. Just depends how much you want to spend.

8 channel for $72 Basic but does the job for the price.

12 channel with effects and usb

16 channel w/effects, rack mount, etc

OK this all makes sense. One concern I have is that right now everyone is using mod mics because it's equipment we already had. The sound is pretty good so I'm happy with them for now. If I grab this Mackie Mix Series Mix8 do I have more spending to do or is this good? Is there cheaper options?

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Mix-Mix8-8-Channel-Mixer/dp/B00ND1KGEI

Hello!

Looking for a small mixer ( or maybe something similar ) that has only pan-able channels. For example: However with 4 mono inputs w/ pan as oppossed to 2 mono pan inputs then two stereo balance inputs.

Essentially I'm wanting to route 4+ inputs to 2 outputs where the outputs are to different signal chains not traditional left/right. So channels w/o pan are useless and desk space is at a premium.

Thanks!

Here's what I use. Not nearly the best, but it's manageable for the average Joe or group.

Current

• Streaming: OBS Studio (Win 0.14.x)
  
• Overlay: HTML/Javascript w/ StreamControl writing data to JSON and JS polling it.
  
• Capture Device: Startech USB3HDCAP + XRGB-mini Framemeister
  
• WebCams: 2x Logitech C920
  
• Audio Mixer: Mackie Mix 8
  
• Headsets: 2x Audio-Technica BPHS1
  
• Misc: Powered Composite Splitter, Behringer HA400 Headphone Amp
  
• Stream Tools: Nightbot, TwitchAlerts
  
  

  Deprecated
  

• Capture Device: Dazzle DVC 100
  
  BPHS1s are kind of the standard for accessible and reasonably priced xlr headsets.
  
  I was getting decent quality out of my old dazzle before I switched, people just need to learn how to setup their bitrate properly to reduce artifacts and how to deinterlace their capture via amarectv or using the built in obs plugins (I used yadifx4 for the longest time) which do a nice, respectable job. Would I recommend a dazzle? Eh, it produces decent video for the price (got mine on ebay for $20), but has some compatibility issues - if you do a quick search for audio issues with the dazzle you'll find a couple threads. There are workarounds, but it's finicky.
  
  Ideally though, streams should be capturing component video. It removes the need for software/external hardware deinterlacing. The issue here is that you either need a TV that supports component, or a component->composite converter, which I've seen people have performance issues with in the past.
  My current setup uses a Framemeister to upscale the composite signal and handle the deinterlacing, outputting HDMI to the USB3HDCAP. The advantage is that I get to feed straight composite signals to any plain old CRT, which is great because I've been recording out of a suitcase the last few months while I move around.
  
  I build my overlays in JavaScript and HTML; there's a layer of logic that polls a local JSON file written by StreamControl for changes and updates them on the page.
  
  Just taking off on a flight. More info later. (It's later)
  
  Sample with the Dazzle

Alto TrueSonic speakers and a small, budget mixer. Going to be closer to your $600 range though. I'm not sure you'll get much coverage for 100-200 people on a $400 system.

https://www.amazon.com/Alto-Professional-TS215-Loudspeaker-Integrated/dp/B018W4719I/ref=pd_lpo_267_tr_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=7YHCYKV3VDJ5PETE7QG9&th=1

Changed my mind on the mixer:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Mix-Mix8-8-Channel-Mixer/dp/B00ND1KGEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483728291&sr=1-1&keywords=mackie%2Bmixer&th=1