The No-Input Mixing Board: Creating Stable Oscillators

Stable oscillators provide one of the fundamental building blocks for how I approach the no-input mixing board. This video demonstrates several approaches for constructing these pitch-stable subloops as well as several techniques that become available on the mixing board using this approach to feedback patching.
This is a follow-up to my overview of the no-input mixing board as a standalone instrument. You can watch all the videos in this series here:
• The No-Input Mixing Bo...
As is always the case with feedback instruments, please be careful to protect your ears and equipment if you're going to try experimenting with the NIMB. Don't plug your headphones or speakers directly into the mixing board, and it's best to use something like a limiter in order to set a maximum possible loudness for the output.
0:00 Introduction
0:24 Channel Inserts
1:44 Pre-Fader Aux Sends
3:07 Panning as Level Control
3:54 Unison Effect
5:01 Chords
6:15 Sub-Audio Pulses and Rhythms
Several times throughout the video, I say "insert channels" when I mean "channel inserts". Talking is hard.
I'm currently finishing up an album of experimental improvisations with the no-input mixing board, as well as selecting sounds for a NIMB sample pack. Both of these will be on my Bandcamp page:
phonets.bandca...

[@igor-mamaev]

this exactly what i needed

[@RobFlaxMusic]

Awesome tutorial. Love those sub audio pulses!

[@roygalaasen]

Great mixer for the price! I bought the exact same one 20 years ago. Not much seems to have changed on the surface of it, except some of the colours on the knobs.

[@kilo_llama]

They seem to be built to last. I just checked the manufacturing date/code on my mixing board, and I think next month it will be turning 26 years old!

[@McDoinky]

What exact model is this?

[@roygalaasen]

@@McDoinky Mackie 1202-VLZ is what it says on the front. I wonder what is the difference between pro and non pro. Phantom power or something?
Edit: found this quote of a quote:
The VLZpro have updated preamps.
from the mackie forum:
"The main difference is with the 1604 vlz PRO came the addition of XDR(TM)(extended dynamic range)mic preamps.You can use the XDR mic preamps at the end of extremely long cheap mic cables and not hear interference. It accepts a wider range of impedences without compromising frequency response."
Most likely, they simply raised the input impedence. I've used both, and really never noticed a difference.
By the way, the regular VLZ is just as capable using +4db balanced connections as the VLZpro.

[@McDoinky]

@@roygalaasen Awesome. Any more recommendations for mixers like that?

[@roygalaasen]

@@McDoinky I am no expert on mixers really, just TH-cam randomly recommended this video plus that I happened to have this one at some point and I was very happy with how it sounded for the price. I think I had the pro version myself, not that I think it makes much difference really. The only thing I was missing sometimes was faders instead of knobs, but it wouldn’t then be so compact as it is.

[@nonsuch]

Make a patch cord with a diode and you'll be able to make the oscillators modulate each other.

[@kilo_llama]

Sounds like a cool idea!

[@guyclegg]

Yay

[@whollenbeck8]

Can this damage the mixer? It seems some of my channels are not working anymore. I have a Mackie Pro FX.

[@kilo_llama]

As far as I'm aware, people generally say that mixers are able to handle their own levels well enough. I haven't damaged anything with it. But I hope you're able to get those channels figured out!

[@Minisauro]

You can not, you will never be able to generate more power than the mixer internal supply. Watch your speakers those can go, specially tweeters.

[@640amthemix]

Very New to this analog no computer music making and came across no input. Where do u recommend getting the patch cables ? Are they stereo 1/4 plugs?

[@kilo_llama]

A cheap multi-pack of cables from somewhere like Amazon has worked fine for me. I like multicolor packs so I can keep track of the cables more easily.
For the no-input techniques that I use, I would recommend tip-sleeve (TS) cables instead of tip-ring-sleeve (TRS, aka stereo) because the channel insert trick needs TS cables.

[@640amthemix]

@@kilo_llama Thank you for the feedback. On my channel I’ve been making music via laptop but recently picked up a Donner B1 synth to try my hand at analog and then I picked up a Mackie 8 channel to start connecting a mic, a recording device etc then I came across the no input while researching and it has caught my attention. So thanks again.

[@thegoldenfox283]

A legend is born

[@davismccoy77]

somebody get Hainbach in here!

[@Analoque444]

5:30 That's not a diminished chord. It's an augmented chord, namely a G major augmented. More or less xD Best regards.

[@kilo_llama]

Ahh, haha, you're totally right. I even proceed to lower the fifth right after I say that. Thanks for the kind correction!

[@Analoque444]

@@kilo_llama Cool video. I search for raw sounds for my own presets and samplebanks. Mostly raw osc-sounds from old synths. This trick is cool and produces a lot of harmonics. Love it. Maybe I will use my cheap Behringer-mixer to recreate this to take those sounds for my samplers. Thank you very much.

[@matiasalvarezfranks6935]

Not really, it's actually closer to an E flat major chord in first inversion (G, B flat, E flat).