Phantom Power ?

[WK154]

Mic combiners such as the AT8681 at $60 would take care of the problem and provide a limited balance control. There are probably less expensive units out there. These pass phantom power.

[RoadRanger]

Mic combiners such as the AT8681 at $60 would take care of the problem [...]

What problem?

[WK154]

Tying active outputs together. Having some balance control! Not introducing any more noise than necessary. Of course -50dBu is probably considered quiet in your live venues.

[RoadRanger]

Tying active outputs together.

As I said it is perfectly OK with the type of output a typical phantom powered mic has:

[WK154]

Really Ron!!
This circuit isn't even close to the cheapest I'm aware of. I'm not here to argue design points or much of anything else. My experience and mainstream audio design believes otherwise. Once again most companies in the MI business would not produce a product that had no functionality (except for the cable industry). If you want to save a few pennies and cobble together a makeshift solution more power to you. Times have changed and this business has learned a few things over the years (especially from the computer industry (Creative Labs send them into a price tailspin)). Since 30% of the population is hearing impaired (House Ear Institute ) add a few beers or mohito's for the rest and who cares anyway! I totally get your point!!!! Technically no EE. Some of the most informative information I have found for general use is Bill Witlocks Pres. at Jensen Transformers. He is a recognized authority on noise subject's      http://www.jensen-transformers.com/an/generic%20seminar.pdf    and Bob Katz has a new iPad audio book worth reading (google it). Both worth reading. Even non tech types will walk away with some simple basic rules that will remove the Myths and mysteries of this opinionated profession or as Einstein put it "it's all relative".

[RoadRanger]

dpdan says he's happy with the results of "Y"ing together condenser mics and I've had no issues with doing it for dynamic mics over the last 35 years. Dunno why you're having a cow over it . We have no problem if you want to do it differently . With only 16 channels this is a common issue users of the DL1608 face. My EV drum mic kit has 10 mics - two kicks, snare, high hat, two rack toms, two floor toms, and two overheads. IMO it's up to the operator how he wants to do it - I was just reorganizing my stuff today and have four of each "gender" of "Y" cord (MMF & FFM) .

[WK154]

I did say "I totally get it !!!!" in case you missed it. I just offered a more flexible alternative which meets" best practices" and I don't see why your having a cow about it! I never go to a gig with minimum gear. I know beforehand what my requirements are. I leave at least 2-4 inputs available for Murphy.  I may be in a better position to match gear to gig (6 roadworthy mixers out of 27 (I was informed by the boss to lighten the load! for move day). I have over 50yrs in this business but I am now having some fun and being picky.

[WK154]

Thinking about that drummer and his requirements, let him have his own mixer 8 (12 if you insist) should be plenty and let him mix. Not much more than the mic combiner. Then the overall mix won't be drowned out  by drums since you have one input from him and control the rest of the sound. Sounds fair to everyone except possibly the drummer.

[RoadRanger]

I leave at least 2-4 inputs available for Murphy. I may be in a better position to match gear to gig (6 roadworthy mixers out of 27

Here we're mostly talking about living within the DL1608's channel count - and most of us won't have a bigger mixer available or don't want to hump around a 24 channel board and snake and racks of outboard. That's why most of us bought the DL1608 .

[WK154]

I hear you so give the drummer which uses 10 out of you 16 inputs his own mixer and be done with it! You'll even have some spares in case one of the inputs dies. Small analog and you won't even notice it with all the other gear, short cables and he can adjust to his hearts content.

[RoadRanger]

I hear you so give the drummer which uses 10 out of you 16 inputs his own mixer and be done with it! You'll even have some spares in case one of the inputs dies. Small analog and you won't even notice it with all the other gear, short cables and he can adjust to his hearts content.

Dunno how it is where you are but we don't let the drummer (or anybody else on-stage) mix their own FOH sound . And I've yet to have a drummer I needed 10 mics on. I just have them in case they are needed - along with my "Y" cords .

[WK154]

Did I say FOH NO his own mix ONLY and he would know better than you as to how he want's to sound or you better have a chat. You are on stage and control FOH so do you need to get off stage? The 10 mics was your own headcount. "My EV drum mic kit has 10 mics - two kicks, snare, high hat, two rack toms, two floor toms, and two overheads."  Your info is clearly lacking on details of your band as I picture it.

[RoadRanger]

I never said I was mixing from the stage nor that it was my band or one band in particular. I'd probably choose a StudioLive for that - in fact one band I played in had one of those (16 channel version) and a splitter snake so we could run our own IEM's when using  a house PA. Otherwise we had a guy to push faders for us. I play bass and in that band didn't use an amp. I rehearsed or jammed with four different groups over the weekend - and provided sound for another band .