What are your needs? Are you looking for hardware or a software solution?
Not much to go on there and "best" really depends on what you plan to do with it. Do you need power for mics? High level inputs for electric instruments? How many channels?
Permalink | Report

Again, not sure what your needs are, but I absolutely love my Alesis Multimix16 Firewire if you need to do digital recording. It has:

8 mono channels
4 stereo channels
XLR and 1/4" balanced ins and phantom power on mono channels
Balanced 1/4" ins, aux send and stereo aux return on stereo channels
3-band EQ per channel with high/low shelving and mid bandpass/reject
Separate 1/4" balanced main and monitor outs
24-bit, 44.1/48kHz A/D/A conversion

Alesis isn't making them anymore, but they can be found online in the neighborhood of $500.
Permalink | Report

I would go with the The Numark 5000FX at a little over $400

The Numark 5000FX is a 5-channel tabletop DJ mixer with integrated sampling, scratching, and effects. There are 3 phono, 9 line (3 switchable to phono), and 2 mic inputs -- including a top-mounted Neutrik jack. Outputs include XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced master, zone, booth, record, and S/PDIF digital. Additional features include dual BPM meters, fader start, and a replaceable crossfader with adjustable slope.

A great unit
-joe
Permalink | Report

It depends on what you are going to use it for. I use a Mackie 1604VLZ Pro and it's an excellent mixer for live and home recording uses. Mackie also make smaller mixers like the 802-VLZ3 or 1202-VLZ3 which should meet your needs in an analog mixer - again depending on what you want to do with it.
Source(s):
Personal experience and check
http://www.sweetwater.com/c21--Mackie--Studio_Mixers/low2high

Permalink | Report