In the 90s I used a Tascam M1600 mixer. As studio life went ITB (in the box) most of the large mixer sat unused. After I while I got sick of cleaning the dust off it and switched to a Presonus Central Station to handle my monitor controlling. It’s passive which means my audio doesn’t take a trip through DSP chips. The “passive” bit was the selling point for me and why I recommend it over a Mackie Big Knob. It’s nice but the Avocet from Crane Song is the Lamborghini of monitor controllers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc1Z6BIoGk0

“If you’ve been following Gearwire’s visit to Boiler Room Mastering, you know that Collin Jordan doesn’t have any lousy gear anywhere near his mastering suite. Here, he shows us his jewel from Crane Song, the Avocet Class A Studio Controller.” – Gearwire

The Avocet is $2800. For more info: www.cranesong.com