Behringer X1204USB Premium 12-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamps and Compressors, British EQ, 24-Bit Multi-FX Processor and USB/Audio Interface
X1204USB
Premium 12-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamps & Compressors, British EQs, 24-Bit Multi-FX Processor and USB/Audio Interface
- Premium ultra-low noise, high headroom analog mixer
- 4 state-of-the-art, phantom-powered XENYX Mic Preamps comparable to stand-alone boutique preamps
- 4 studio-grade compressors with super-easy “one-knob” functionality and control LED for professional vocal and instrumental sound
- New studio-grade FX processor with 16 editable presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter, multi-effects, Tap function and storable user parameter settings
- Clip LEDs, mute/alt 3-4, solo and PFL functions on all channels
- 2 subgroups with separate outputs for added routing flexibility
- 2 multi-functional stereo aux returns with flexible routing
- Neo-classic “British” 3-band EQs for warm and musical sound
X1204USB
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XENYX X1204USBThe compact X1204USB mixer allows you to effortlessly achieve premium-quality sound, thanks to 4 onboard studio-grade XENYX Mic Preamps and ultra-musical “British†channel EQs. And our easy-to-use “one-knob†compressors provide total dynamic control for the ultimate in punch and clarity, while respecting all the power and emotion you pack into every note. Add to this our 24-bit, dual engine Multi-FX processor with 16 editable, professional-grade presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects – and the X1204USB becomes an incredibly versatile mixer for your live performances. But the X1204USB wasn’t just designed to handle your live gigs; it also provides the state-of-the-art tools you need to make stunning, professional-quality recordings. Along with a built-in USB/audio interface, the XENYX X1204USB comes with all the recording and editing software needed to turn your computer into a complete, high-performance home recording studio. | Sonically Superior Mic PreampsAll XENYX mixers have one thing in common – great-sounding, high headroom XENYX mic preamps. These state-of-the-art mic pres represent a major step in the evolution of audio technology – and they can easily hold their own, even when compared to the most expensive stand-alone mic preamps. XENYX preamps offer a staggering 130 dB of dynamic range, with a bandwidth that extends from below 10 Hz to well above 200 kHz. Armed with these outstanding mic preamps, XENYX mixers provide such transparent, crystal-clear performance you just might think someone upgraded your mics while you weren’t looking. | One-Knob CompressionAsk professional sound engineers what their favorite piece of external processing gear is and the majority response will be virtually unanimous – dynamic compression. What is compression? We’re glad you asked. Compression essentially limits the dynamic range of a signal, lowering the level of loud sounds and turning up softer sounds, to achieve sonic balance. But applying compression is a delicate art that many novice, and even intermediate, sound techs find challenging. Our “one-knob†compression is available on all mono channels and is easy to operate, even for entry-level users. With this one knob, you can easily dial in the perfect amount of compression for instruments and vocals, creating powerful mixes with punch and clarity. This is indeed a rare feature for products in this class – but standard on the XENYX X1204USB mixer. | Sublimely Musical British EQThe British consoles of the 1960s and ‘70s changed the sound of rock and roll – without them the British Invasion might not have happened. Those legendary mixing desks soon became the envy of engineers and producers all over the world. The channel EQ on our XENYX mixers is based on that very same circuitry, allowing you to imbue signals with incredible warmth and detailed musical character. Even when applied generously, these equalizers exhibit sweet forgiveness and superb audio quality. |
X1204USB
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Built-in Digital Multi-FX ProcessorEquipped with our studio-grade 24-bit Multi-FX processor, the X1204USB gives you 16 mind-blowing digital effect presets such as delay, chorus and reverb. Time-based functions can be entered manually by pressing the Tap button in tempo with the music. Apply them to any channel, as well as to the monitors and main output. Of course, if you have treasured outboard gear you’ve grown attached to, the X1204USB lets you integrate them into the mix – bypassing the built-in FX processor. | Recording BlissThere was a time when the recording process called for lots and lots of expensive gear, which meant the average musician had to buy time at a recording studio – and that time was pricey indeed. But modern technology has put personal recording well within the reach of virtually anyone with access to a computer. How do you get all that music flying around your brain into your computer? That’s where the XENYX X1204USB comes in. Thanks to the built-in, bi-directional stereo USB audio interface, you can connect your X1204USB directly to your PC or Mac computer via a single USB cable. Now any signal source you connect to the mixer can be recorded directly to your hard drive. Which brings us to software… | Free Software Would Be Nice!Because you’ll want to take full advantage of the XENYX X1204USB’s recording and podcasting potential, we’ve included all the software you’ll need for audio recording, editing and even podcasting – all free of charge and downloadable from behringer.com. You’ll be ready to go live on your PC or Mac right out of the box! We’ve also provided a free download of more than 150 virtual instruments and FX plug-ins – turning your computer into a powerful home-based or mobile recording studio from input to output. | Amazing ValueNo matter what your audio mixing needs, the X1204USB mixer provides the performance and features that can take your talent to the next level. Professional sound quality, our legendary XENYX mic preamps and easy-to-use “one-knob†compressors, British EQs, 24-Bit Multi-FX Processor and built-in USB connectivity make the X1204USB mixer ideal for both your live gigs and recording. Try one on today – we have one available in your size! |
| Weight: | 2.61 kg |
| Size: | 12 |
| Dimensions: | 32.79 x 27 x 9.7 cm; 2.61 Kilograms |
| Model: | X1204USB |
| Origin: | China |
| Size: | 12 |
Using this interface to record band with acoustic drums into Garageband. Looking forward to trying with 1/4″ to XLR adapters so I can use up to 12 microphones. Very happy for the money spent.
– USB in/out.
– Affordability.
– Post fader “ALT” stereo sub out.
– Includes Rack mount brackets.
– Decent level monitoring LED indicators.
– Low cut is set at 75hHz, high enough to cut rumble, low enough to let some natural bass to come through.
– Main, Control Room outs and Alt 3-4 outputs are on the back of the unit, diminishing cable clutter.
Cons:
– No dedicated Mute button. It’s an output toggle/re-route to Alt 3-4 sub.
– No bus inserts.
– RCA input does not have EQ, and only routed straight to main mix.
– Alt 3-4 and Control room outs are unbalanced TS. (Some newer QX models have TRS, check before you buy.)
– No “Hi-Z” / “pad”. A DI box required for hot sources.
– Monitoring headset amp is very noisy. You will have to listen trough a different solution for editing and post.
– The USB output is only 16bits.
Notes:
– On the X1204USB, it is possible to hack 4 mono channels into a DAW with it, but 2 of them will only have 16 bits depth. Use RCA for Main, on second sound card, and USB for alt 3-4
– Getting around the 16 bit limitation of the USB bus: I’m hooked via the RCA outputs, to get a native analog signal, which goes through a ground-loop isolator, and then to a USB sound card with a 24bit 96kHz converter on it. This yields more headroom for post-production in a DAW, but it is a main L+R channel-only hack, and your mileage may vary as far as eliminating potential hiss and hum is concerned.
My general experience:
This is far from a complete solution for complex recordings using a DAW and is obviously limited to modest projects and uses. That said, for weddings, public address and pod-casters, it is a very decent solution. Documentation is decent, ASIO4All drivers do work well. Well packed, and bagged with a huge silica gel pack and the power cord is substantial.
All pots and sliders have a nice resistance, yet remain fluid. Compressor circuits are well behaved and do a decent job, even if they are rudimentary and lack attack/sustain settings. The line EQs are efficient, and have a decent level of effect on the signal. The added noise floor coming in from the compressors and EQs is reasonably quiet if you are using a hot mic, but might not be quiet enough for use with low sensitivity dynamic mics like the SM7B.
The stereo inputs are balanced TRS, and yield acceptable sound fidelity in most use cases for Pod-casters and live streamers.
I wouldn’t recommend it for for musicians, though, for that, get a multi-channel interface. If you want hardware faders and pots, and multi channel, get a Mackie with sub outs (They are usually balanced TRS on Mackie gear), or a high channel count QX series Behringer with SUB outs (Check to make shure it has TRS balanced inch connectors, older models sport unbalanced TS) and a multi-channel interface capable of accommodating all your outputs.
Would I buy it again ?
I honestly don’t know. given my need for a gate, I’d probably get a XR18 digital mixer, which has gates, comps and EQs already built-in.
if i did not need a gate, perhaps I would buy a mixing board again, but it would have to have at least one stereo SUB out with a balanced connection, either XLR or TRS.
Great sound for the money. Ideal add on for my workstation.
I have been looking for a personal mixing board for my percussion set for a couple of years now, but a recent move into podcasting set me in motion to find something like this – it is only one of a couple of models out there with the USB 2.0 outlet so that mixes can be recorded and fed straight into a laptop. Only criticism is that, despite my now owning a multi-channel mixer, my laptop – any laptop – can only receive, at a maximum, two channels. So – it’s a very dynamic tool in an analog setting – but limited if I have a guest on the podcast, which is always. If I want a musical segue between topics during the podcast, I have to get creative in the post production. Which sucks. I imagined being able to have at least 3 live channels, but whatever. I also got a great price so my bitchin’ stops now.
Great bit of kit! I use this to play live as an acoustic duo and also use it for an open mic that I run. The system is easy to use and the effects are great. I use this with a Bose L1 Compact and the sound quality is superb! They really compliment each other. Highly recommended
Perfect. It does everything I need it to and more. Only complaint is that it was missing one of the pads on the bottom but thats no big deal.
So decided to update.
I tried and tried to get this new 1204USB version to connect to my Windows 10 laptop, as also two other people, and we never could get it to connect to Audacity. so sent this back… But it was one awesome mixer.
I ordered the 1202USB instead, and after hooking it up with some time and fiddling, I realized our problem with the 1204usb was just me/us.
It was a simple few settings on the computer, and also a button on the mixer i had to push down. and one tiny setting on Audacity and the 1202 connected fine. I’m certain the same procedure would have resolved out 1204 connection issue now that I understand it all. I now wish I had kept the 1204USB.
It was a very nice Mixer.
But on the flip side, as much as I liked it, and am now with the 1202USB I ordered.
i now realize this smaller unit is much more portable, with not a deal breaking loss on input/output flexibility. Simply put the 1204 is heavy and as much as I liked it, i do not want to cart it around. It is a solid and heavy unit. So I will stick with the 1202USB for that reason. But I really really liked the 1204USB the best with sliders etc… But the sound quality is no different between the two, and i saved myself $115 with tax.
I also like the power switch on the 1204… the 1202 has non.
Your call….But You will not be disappointed. It is a sold and functional unit.
Excelente producto, muy completo y satisface para lo que se comp
I’ve been a fan of Behringer for a long time, they have a great reputation, have good looking products and are both easy to use and are perfextion. This mixer is a dream and is perfect at our DJ events.
his mixer is perfect for anyone if you are an enthusiast towards music or a profetional for a small gig this is an incredibly good mixer with a great FX engine
We’ve used this to start a small studio operation and – having used mixers for many years – I was blown away with the features on this one at this price point. Everything you need in a small mixer plus with the USB audio interface, it’s just perfect for going straight into a PC. This Behringer mixer is nice and heavy, the knobs feel good (not cheap), and the sound thru it is CLEAN. I have zero complaints about this purchase, and I’d buy it again.
Really great purchase for a streamer. Multiple mics allows for some good variety for setups. Using mine had a bit of a learning curve but it’s a great product.
For the money it does everything you would ever want it to with ease and clean sound.
Build quality is good and sound coming out of the mixer is clean.
I bought this for my Grandson and he`s delighted with i
An cunado es compacta es muy potente, cubre mis espectativas, muy funcional y sobre todo la parte de los efectos muy recomendable
L’ergonomie et la facilit d’utilisation,
Les nombreuses fonctionnalits,
Les faders de gain,
La compacit du produit,
L’absence de bruit de fond.
Je n’ai pas aim :
L’absence d’une commande de niveau de l’entre USB,
Le non fonctionnement des sorties enregistrement (pas de signal en sortie).
This buz mixture came with a metal plate in the box. I believe the plate is to mount the mixer on the wall if need to But there are no mounting brackets on the mixer to bolt the plate to and mount it on the wall.
Other than that works fine
Great mixer! Used in my home studio for playing around with my instruments. The price was also very good. The only downside is that I originally received non FX model and had to ship back.
Alles wie in der Produktbeschreibung angegeben.
Leider ist nur nach und nach ein sehr nerviges pfeifen aufgetaucht was sich auch nur kurz beheben lsst mit dem rauszieren eines Klinken Steckers wenn dieser nicht eingesteckt ist kommt das pfeifen trotzdem kurz danach wieder!
Ansonsten funktioniert alles sehr gut! mfg.
So much adaptability an quality in such a little box. The phantom power and digital effects makes the slightly higher cost over other models and brands worth it.
The sound is very good but the board seems like it’s cheaply made although it looks very professional. You will need know how to work it because the instruction don’t explain everything but once you get it you will like the sound. This will definitely need extra research if you don’t know how to use it. Plugs will most certainly be a must but it has easy plug and play start up. I recommend this mixer.
I’ve been using Behringer effects pedals for a while but am a newbie when using this well built usb mixer. I’m still learning how to use it by watching you tube videos and it’s a work in progress.
Can’t fault it. very decent product. Can’t think of any spec it doesn’t have. For the price, a bargain.
Love this product after trying a local shop at getting my 2 pc stream set up working I turned to this works perfect easy to set up and does exactly what I need for a 2 pc stream set up
I think it could have better internal connections that would create less noise. I have not experience with the Mackie but for $50 more it was not worth the price. It really is a tough decision. I am happy I went with this one because unless I do professional audio I should be saving as much as I can. Also you can buy noise gates from Behringer right here on Amazon when I get some money
The mixer itself works like a charm, it has a very slight wobble on one corner but that is an easy fix.
Initially I had a bad unit – it was buzzing and chirping and had issues inside, I had that fixed and have been using the unit for some time now. I have to admit – it is a good mixer.
I got mine and went out and bought a much more expensive mixer when it had its problems, in the meantime I was upset and I left a negative review, then after a while I had the behringer replaced, when I did, I decided to compare it – sound to sound, apples to apples with a mixer that cost almost 3x as much, you know what? it sounded cleaner.
It offers a good clean USB interface – it is not easily susceptible to usb interference
The EQ works
The one knob compressor works
The effects are, well, okay?
It’s a solid tool for the money and a lot quieter than you might think. Well worth what I paid for it.
Probably the best part of behringer is the company though, they replace units or repair them w/o hesitation, they are rock solid in this respect.
Sin dudar recomiendo este producto ampliamente.
I despise… DESPISE that the phantom power switch is RIGHT NEXT TO the power switch on the back.
Why, why, WHY is this a thing? That is insanely idiotic design because you can very easily make the mistake of flicking on the phantom power switch instead of the regular system power switch. It doesn’t even warn you when you flick the PP switch that phantom power is about to pump through the system (after all, how can it? It’s an analog switch, not anything fancy with a display like a Tascam where it can warn you and ask if you’re sure you want to do that.), it just immediately pumps the power through to the lines. That very-easy-to-make mistake will then send 48 volts of electricity to ALL of the lines destroying EVERYTHING connected to the lines that don’t require phantom power.
Everything else about this mixer is perfect, so who dropped the ball on that PP switch placement?
My advice is anyone purchasing this is to immediately make a little box to put over the PP switch when you get it in the mail because that’s a potentially fatal death wish to your audio equipment should you not be extremely careful when fumbling around behind the system.
I haven’t been able to record on my PC so far. It makes my computer go crazy and I have to unplug the USB connection. Working on this.
I thought this was PnP but apparently not. It is not listed in my devices.
I wanted a lightweight simple board for small events and this model does all I need and more.
I use this mixer for small gigs. I’m part of a folk duet and sometimes build a small band around us and this mixer is working like a champ. I use a Bose tower and wanted a little more control over our mix. The built-in effects sound great for live shows. I haven’t used it for recording and have a feeling it may be a little “noisy” for recording but may give it a go anyway.
Cracking product – does exactly what it says it does.
A great bit of kit, and way more than meets the eye, you’ll love it!
It’s a good mixer a lot of equipment and good value
Great for the price. I don’t have a background in music or audio or whatever background you need to use one of these things but I watched some youtube videos and read a few articles and was able to set it up with 3 condenser mics a laptop for skype and a smartphone for music and sound effects, all of which record on to my pc using the USB port. It works great for my podcast set up.
Very nice mixer for the price effects are very broad!
Bargain price and does everything I would expect from an analogue desk with the addition of some FX 🙂
I use it with Pro-Tools, Garage Band, a Mac computer and Yamaha keyboard
This product is GREAT!!! I use it to do podcast with and it works great! Very easy to take on the go and set up! For the price it is a great unit, it all depends what you want to do with it! For me, I dont really use the FX effect, but it seems to be a great feature if you were going to use it. I would highly recommend this product and would buy it again if i needed it!
Looks a lot more complicated than it is – once you understand how to use it. Results are very good however, one does need a number of patch leads to get the best out of it.
Equipo en buen estado y nuevo, llego en tiempo y forma. Volvera a compra con ellos, me dio confianza. El equipo funciona muy bie
With mixers your either buy nice or buy twice, and this one is a great first purchase for buying twice.
USB OUTPUT was available. I did not expected but really good to have.
Sounds perfect even with my cheap condenser mikes. No thing more, No thing less for home recording / Karaoke / headphone amp.
Perfect amusement company beside my iMac.
I have been using Sennheiser H HDVD800 and HD800. Now, I am using X1204USB for the convenience and voluptuous sound.
Great product. Nothing to complain.
I am hoping that he will be able to begin to do some live mixing as well as studio work to earn a few extra rupees for himself. He loves music, and this equipment could be a way for him to enter the industry, at some level. India is depressed economically, and youth are often locked into marginal employment. This fellow is bright, articulate, soulful, and deserves a chance at life.
Excellent item and no problems at all
Works great and in use every weekend
This is a great bit of kit. I am very happy with the quality of my recordings I can get with my condenser mic. Solid build, phantom power, plenty of inputs, decent built in effects – perfect for a home music studio.
For the price, it’s quite a nice unit. The knobs and sliders work nice and smooth. The effects are actually quite realistic and impressive for this price range. The only downside I see is the preamps get a bit hissy when turned up to accommodate my passive bass guitar, but I was expecting that to happen from a unit at this price point. Overall, I’m happy with it.
Excellent matriel pour le prix, de nombreuses possibilits pour un petit studio perso, ou petits concerts. Je l’utilise pour relier 2 micros en XLR + 2 guitares acoustiques sur les 2 autres entres micro (XLR) via des boites de direct + une guitare lectrique via des pdales d’effet/jack + un enregistreur/BAR Boss BR600 sur les RCA. La Xenyx tant relie en stro une enceinte 400 watts. Top !!
Attention l’interrupteur d’alim fantme derrire la table, que je trouve mal situ, prs de l’interrupteur gnral. Sinon, rien redire.
looks good value for money… was a bit over kill for my requirements so returned to Amazon … no quibble good service.
Good mixer deck. Still trying to get to grips with all its functionality. Works well
Partner thrilled to bits. Having a complicated time with the cable though and getting the right ones!
Replacement board made no difference for the Level Meters, but I’ve been using the board a good bit for a few months now, and I really like it. I would give it 5 stars if the meters worked, but they’re useless.
I go out of the board into a Zoom H4N, so I use the meters on that to monitor. It’s less convenient and pointless, but it works fine. I’m very happy with my audio, and the pre-amps are so far everything I need (read some people saying they needed better pre-amps.) If I used the USB cable and recorded with Garage Band or whatever, I guess I could monitor my levels from there. I haven’t done that, I’m fine with using my H4N.
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Original:
I just ordered a replacement board, I’m sure this review will go way up once I get the new one. On the first board, the level meter was almost completely unresponsive, I’ll detail it here in case it helps someone:
– XLR mic into channel 1, turned up to 0 (phantom on, not muted, EQ’s at 12 o’clock)
– Main mix turned up to 0
– Talking into the mic loudly would vaguely register at -20
– Cranking the gain up to 3 o’clock or full blast will finally let the meters show me that it’s going up to 0 or higher, but then it is horribly distorted.
Tested mostly using a Sennheiser MKH416 two inches from my mouth, multiple XLR’s tried. Spent a couple hours making sure I didn’t have a stupid button mix up or whatever. But monitoring the audio, it sounded good even though it said it was -20, it just wasn’t registering on the meter. This video made me confident it should be working the way I expected: https://youtu.be/PDQ697QjOMU?t=21m58s
Went to Behringer.com and worked with their support which was very brief but they were nice enough. Their first response was just “it sounds like your gain is turned all the way up” which isn’t helpful, but when I explained in more detail he agreed that it sounded like a problem with an internal connection. That’s as specific as it got, but I also found a 5 year old thread of a guy experiencing the exact same problem and everything was fixed for him when he got a new unit.
Other than that, it feels really well made, looks great, I couldn’t be happier with the presentation. Wish I could record separate tracks on my computer, but whatever. Getting one quality stereo output will be good enough for now, and for the price it’s great.
I’ll update when the new board comes.
Behringer products have my endorsement as I have bought several other pieces of their equipment over the years.
Perfect!
it has done everything I wanted it to do. I’m without a criticism
Big fan of Behringer boards and bang for the buck this is a tough one to beat. We use it for video production work and processing on the onset audio at remote locations.
I have three of these and they are very durable, simple to use, have many built in features that don’t come with boards twice the price like built in compressors and audio processing. You can connect to USB for digital processing. Great, great, versatile board.
I used to have an older version of this sound desk which was just silver and I LOVED it.
I was a little sad to see that the on-board mixer’s FX part has lost most of it’s old 99 sound FX settings, but it still has some in. The USB part does require quite a lot of setting up, to the point, I’ve not done it because I don’t have the time to… i’m either gigging or away from the equipment.
It is however, over-all, a much better looking version of the mixer, lovely to operate from start to finish and still packed with LOADS of extra’s…
I’ve used a smaller Behringer board before (the XENYX 1202FX). I bought that one for mixing karaoke and for DJ and PA applications at work. When I couldn’t borrow the 1202 any longer I decided to get my own. This is a MUCH better board than the 1202. I love it and have never regretted the purchase. Great features and it doesn’t break the bank.
Pros:
No transformer brick or flimsy power connector – uses standard removable AC cord.
Nice FX features without being overwhelming.
Compression!
USB! Easy to connect to computer for recording.
Cons:
Nothing from my point of view – it’s perfect for home karaoke or small band setups.
I wouldn’t buy it for the USB interface part however, as the driver supplied will only work on obsolete platforms ie. WIN XP, Vista and 2000. I can’t believe they get away with selling a product that will not work with Win 8.1, which by now has been out for quite a while and it is impossible to buy a Windows based computer with anything else.
I have asked their customer support folk for help with issues on using it with one of my old XP systems and they still have not provided any help after a two week wait.
If you are only going to use the analog parts of the board and forget trying to interface it thru USB it is one the best deals out there.
LATER INFORMATION>>> I did finally find a 64 bit driver on their website that will work with WIN8. With this I can up my rate to four stars. It would be five if the company had a website that was easier to find the information and better customer service.
un mixer dotato di phantom 48v, fx e fader per ogni canale, uscite per casse monitor e scheda audio usb integrata.
In complesso, a questo prezzo, stato un ottimo acquisto, con un ottimo rapporto qualit prezzo.
Ovviamente questo mixer non minimamente paragonabile a mixer quali Allen&heat, soundcraft etc..
Aggiornamento dicembre 2018
Il mixer ha avuto dei problemi con i potenziometri fader del main (master)
Pertanto ho buttato il mixer.
Costa poco, ma qualit corrispondente a quanto spese. Non so se lo ricomprerei di nuovo.
7 Year Update
Everything on this board still functions perfectly, and I keep it powered on basically 24/7 (mostly because I can’t ever remember to turn it off).
Some of the faders crackle as they are being used and some of the the mute/unmute buttons will keep a channel (left/right) muted until you bump it – BUT this is because I haven’t cleaned and lubed it. this happens to ALL mixers, look up “fader cleaner” if you want to go down that rabbit hole. I haven’t cleaned it because it works flawlessly for my needs which is currently just using it as an XLR to USB interface for conference calls. (and also because I’m lazy)
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This mixing board is really great, and the price is right too. It boggles my mind that someone spend nearly the same amount on a USB interface as this entire mixing board which also interfaces via USB.
Regardless, the reason for my review is actually a warning
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WARNING: DO NOT INSTALL THE BEHRINGER DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS 7
Reason: While troubleshooting a hissing sound in my audio (turned out to be a capture card… still isolating the issue, but not related to drivers) I decided to install the “official” Behringer drivers per the recommendation of a random person on Google. TERRIBLE idea. Immediately, I noticed a huge reduction in the number of recording and playback modes over USB, but after some time I realized my system had become wildly unstable. I disabled my onboard sound in the BIOS thinking there was some type of conflict with my onboard sound, but then found out the issue was related to the drivers I had installed (mind you, the “default” Windows 7 drivers worked PERFECTLY FINE). After numerous blue screens and audio cutting in and out, I began using the inputs/outputs to my sound card bypassing USB all together. Seemed a little silly as a huge selling point was the USB interface. Even though I uninstalled the drivers and uninstalled everything I could find related to the drivers, I could not get the drivers completely off of my PC. I did get to a point where the device wouldn’t install at all, but it still recognised it as “BEHRINGER blah blah”. This told me that somehow Windows in its infinite wisdom was still identifying the device differently than it used to (the default Windows driver that’s assigned labels the device as “2- USB Audio CODEC”).
Finally, I searched my entire hard drive, and registry, for “behringer” “busb2902” and “busbwdm” (with the sound board uninstalled and unplugged). I deleted literally every reference I could (warning: this is very wreckless, but I was prepared to reformat my PC anyway because I intend to sometime soon). I then rebooted into safe mode and did it again to verify I did not miss anything. Once I booted back up, finally success! I am back on the default “2- USB Audio CODEC” drivers and am not experiencing any of the problems I was as a result of the erroneous drivers.
Now, you may be thinking that others have not had the same problems with the drivers. This may be true, but I stick by my advice to stick to the default drivers for 2 key points:
1) The default drivers work absolutely fine, so there is no need to install the ones from Behringer, so why take the risk?
2) The default drivers offer numerous more configuration options and recording modes than the ones supplied by Behringer, oddly enough.
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Regarding the unit itself, I do like it but there are some things to keep in mind.
Comments on the USB interface:
The USB input is strange, and it’s not easy to control. The only thing you can do is bus it into your headphone monitoring, and you can bus it back out to the master, but that’s it. No volume controls, no EQ, and you can’t use fx/aux on it either. If you’re using ALT 3-4 as a submix, you also have no option of sending it to that submix. It’s quite frustrating and difficult to use. With regard to USB out, with Behringer’s drivers you just have an option for 44.1K or 48K output and it’s based on the main bus. Again, no volume option what so ever. This can be a real pain if you need to actually use the main mix out to something, and simultaneously use the USB output as well – this basically makes it impossible to mix it so that they are both at optimal volume. You’ll inevidibly be stuck with mixing one correctly, then the other one you will have to deal with it being too loud or too quiet – and on that note, it does seem to go in a little hot. You can control the recording volume within windows, but this isn’t optimal and riding levels isn’t going to be an option. Would it have been so hard to make a button to pipe the USB into channel 7/8 so that we could have some control over it? Finally, this is a prosumer device… why can’t it support 96khz on the USB bus? would that be asking too much?
Comments on the board itself:
The preamps in this board are better than expected. As with most preamps, they do tend to get some pretty gnarly noise in the last 10-20db of boost, but you shouldn’t be pushing them that far. Even for my naturally quiet shotgun mic, the preamps offer me plenty of headroom that I don’t need to boost that high on gain to attain unity gain. I will warn though, the preamps in this board seem to color the audio add a lot of warmth to the audio (typical of tube-style preamps). I like it a lot, but if it isn’t what you were expecting be warned (again, this is typical of tube style preamps, so you wont notice a think if that is what you typically use).
The built in compressors worked exactly like i thought they would – decent, and wonderful for live events, but best to leave them off for recordings as you can do more controlled and precise compression in post processing. Still, this feature is absolutely outstanding and works well! The EQ is decent and what I would expect from a board of this price. Sure I would have preferred a mid-sweep or more EQ positions, but I don’t know that I would have been willing to pay the price for those features.
The AUX channel is wonderful, but I was disappointed to find that it is attached to the master mix. For example, if something is turned down on the master mix or muted on the master mix, having it turned up in the aux channel will not send any audio through (even with the pre selector enabled, which I was sure would rectify the problem). For this reason, I couldn’t use the AUX channel the way I was hoping and has kinda been a real bummer because I am now needing a solution for said problem. I do find it a bit odd that it’s mono out stereo in, but I guess that makes sense when used in the context of external sound processing.
The FX channel is also wonderful, and the on board sound effects are all quite good. What I would expect to find on any sound board I’ve used in my day really, from many reverb settings to a pitch shifter your basic FX are all there. I thought they did above and beyond on this for such a cheap board, I found myself impressed (but the FX I really don’t have a need for unfortunately). I believe the FX channel does not behave like the AUX channel and sends regardless of which mix it’s in (pre-fader, one might say). I haven’t confirmed this yet, but am in process of exploring this as an alternative to using AUX as I don’t need the digital FX anyway, as nice as they are.
Panning is well… panning. However, I am glad that it exists on this basic sound board. The phones mix has an amazing amount of power, and I typically keep it below 25%. I was glad, because this is a shortcoming of some boards. Nothing more annoying than mixing for a band/concert and not being able to hear your monitoring headphones over the mains. Doubt that will ever be an issue with this board, it’s got quite a bit of volume. Granted I wont be needing the board for this type of use, but if you did decide to use it in that fashion, I’m sure it would perform admirably. I am annoyed by the double sliders for the main mix and alt 3-4 as I always am, but I guess I see why it’s separated that way (couldn’t we have a panner knob for the main and alt 3-4 rather than individual sliders?). I have seen this in so many sound boards I’ve used that I can’t really fault them for it though. Surely there is a practical reason for this in the world somewhere – but I have never ran into it in my experience.
One of the major selling points to this board was the ability to mute and use pre-fader listen to set my levels correctly. This might be the cheapest board out that has those features. Finally, I would have liked an option for 1/4″ output on the mains. Granted it’s typical to use XLR for mains on boards, I would have really liked that
Final Conclusion:
For the price, this board is outstanding! The features are really quite good, and while I do have my gripes with the board, so far all of them have been minor. The USB interface is an obvious selling point, and while I was hoping for a lot more out of it, it does do the job. The amount of features on this board is truly amazing from single knob compressors, to EQ’s for each channel, and AUX/FX sends with a decent on board FX processor… I am very satisfied at this price point. Had I paid over $300 for this board though, I would have expected more and not been satisfied. This does truly make me wonder why people pay so much for USB preamps etc when you can have this entire board with way more than a simple preamp for marginally more money.
UPDATE:
Quality seems to be fine once you get the right drivers loaded. I also got the 2-TRACK RCA input working with help from Behringer support. Behringer support was quick and responsive so I’ve updated from 2 stars to 4 stars. I still get a hum when USB from laptop is connected, but I’m going to try a power conditioner for the laptop and/or mixer.
Original review:
I bought the Behringer X1204USB for our company. The USB input and output is very problematic. The first set of drivers I downloaded were labeled X1204USB and they never installed properly. Then I downloaded the 2902_X64_2.8.40 drivers from Behringer and got USB recording working. But if I output audio to the Behringer ASIO USB drivers, I no longer get any audio input from the Behringer USB interface.
Even if I’m not trying to record and output to USB at the same time, I can never get any audio to show up on the X1204USB mixer. I can see audio being sent on the Behringer USB interface under “Playback Devices” in Windows 7 and the signal meter is bouncing up and down, but none of the lights on the X1204USB light up. No matter what source buttons I push (like the 2-TR/USB), I never get any audio going into the PHONES monitor.
I can’t get the 2-TRACK input to work either. If I take an MP3 player or Smartphone and send line level audio to the 2-TRACK RCA input, none of the audio shows up in the PHONES monitor and none of the lights light up. It also doesn’t matter what source buttons I push and all the levels are set to neutral.
Nur mit dem USB das hatt bei mir nicht so ganz geklappt, bin dann einfach ber den Cinch Output mit einem (Cinch mono zu Klinke Stereo) in den Mikrofon eingang meines PC gegangen. Klingt super wenn man ein dickers bzw besser geschirmtes Kabel benutzt (knnte sonst rauschen) Der 3 Band British EQ bringt warme und saubere Klnge in die Tracks.
Bin super zufrieden mit dem Mixe
In terms of sound quality, this mixer is great, with the ability to record at 320kbps through the built in USB audio interface and through the main output to an external recording device.
In terms of build quality, it is very sturdy, and mostly metal. Even the faders and knobs are sturdy, being plastic. I have actually encountered a problem with one of the faders, where it makes an unbearable amount of noise with the gain turned down. I will be sending it back, but getting another one as it’s only a bad solder.
A few things to clear up:
1. The built in effects are digital so you are able to record them through USB audio.
2. You CANNOT multitrack with this particular mixer.
3. There are 6 channels, (4 mono XLR/6.5mm inputs, 2 stereo 6.5mm inputs) not 12. The rest are made up by outputs, aux sends and returns.
This misleading statement of channels is presented by all mixer companies. It is just the format in which they name the mixer. Luckily I know a thing or two about mixers, but as this mixer is aimed at amatuers and first-time home producers/small bands, I thought I’d mention it.
I was overly pleased with this mixer as I purchased it to replace my old one, that I used for my radio show, for more inputs and lower noise.
All the features are great on this mixer, working EXACTLY how they are advertised. Do not be mislead by the price or by other bad reviews. As, no offence, but some people are using this mixer in the entirely wrong situation and/or for the wrong job and reviewing it bad because of lack of research/knowledge.
I would reccomend this mixer to the following people:
*First time home studio use
*Podcasting/radio presenters
*Small bands
*Advanced home studio artists
*Mobile recording artists (it’s tiny)
For larger, live performances, I would go for the Xenyx X2222FX. DON’T go for any other mixer besides the Behringer mixers at these prices. Bang for buck = 10/10
A great mixing desk. has all the fx you could need for live engineering. not many channels but i only use it for acoustic gigs – the compression is a great addition to i
We looked around at many desks and this one stood out from the rest around the same price with built in effects, and we have a behringer desk that we have had for about 8 years in our main function room with no problems
“Thanks to the built-in, bi-directional stereo USB audio interface, you can connect any of these mixers directly to your PC or Mac computer via a single USB cable. Now any signal source you connect to the mixer can be recorded directly to your hard drive….”
Granted, I am a bit of a newbie, but I can typically resolve technical issues on my own, given time. Not this time. So I’m currently giving this a 2-star rating because it’s not meeting my core requirement (ability to record sounds from the PC into the Main Mix). It’s not a configuration issue with the Windows 7 Sounds settings; those have all been set up properly (you’ll just have to trust me; I won’t go into it here.) And the issue doesn’t appear to be clarified in any way on the Behringer support site.
So, here’s the information I sent to Behringer support:
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I have a Behringer XENYX X1204 USB. I have looked online everywhere and read the behringer support forums but I don’t see how to resolve this problem:
I am trying to get normal PC system sounds (anything that comes from my PC speakers) into the Main Mix.
I’ve tried using a simple R/L stereo cable from the PC to the 2-track/usb RCA inputs on the board, and although doing that allows me to hear the sounds from the PC, I cannot get those sounds into the Main Mix–they are simply not going to Audacity. I have tried all button configurations for 2-TR/USB on the board; still no sound from the PC speakers is going back to Audacity. (otherwise, vocals from the mics are going to Audacity just fine.)
Alternatively I tried outputting sound from an iPad to the 2-Track/USB using the headphone cable from the iPad with RCA jacks plugged in the board via the 2-track/usb input, and I get the same thing—sound from the iPad is audible from the headphone jack on the board, but sound from the iPad also doesn’t make it into the Main Mix.
Do I need to get an adapter to route sound from the PC speakers into the 1/4″ Line In 5/6 or 7/8 jacks in order for this to work? There seems to be many people online asking this same question, but no solid answers from Behringer. Please respond.
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If the answer from Behringer is satisfactory, I’ll modify the rating and the review.
Regardless, I think the product description about the “USB bi-directionality” of the unit, and the implied simplicity of its interface, is overstated. I am finding that aspect of the board is frustrating, especially for a newbie.
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UPDATE 2/18/14
After several months using the Xenyx X1204USB, I would still consider the marketing claims about this unit to be misleading. However, I’ve also learned quite a bit about sound/recording systems in general since my initial purchase, and I’m using the 1204 frequently without any problems. The purchase of a UCA202 adapter helped a lot with my setup (mix -1) for podcast recording with Skype/Google Voice guests; in retrospect, I think I was just asking too much from this unit in terms of simplicy/ease of use for a newbie. It’s not really newbie equipment; more of a mid-level/enthusiast piece of hardware.
Upgraded to 4 stars now that I have a better idea of how to actually use this thing. 🙂
I’m not a musical genius, but this mixer is fantastic thus far. I’ve only had it a few days. We purchased it for our church’s sound system to upgrade from a Behringer Eurorack 1202 for the USB connectivity. What a difference it made in our livestream application as well b/c everything now is being routed from the mixer to the computer. Haven’t used the record setting yet, but I expect it to be second to none. It’s worth the money. The instructions to hook it up could be a little more clearer, but other than that, it’s a great mixer thus far.
Great value, has more noise in it that I would like, but can’t complain at this price point. Only beef I have with this board is why did they not make the ALT 3-4 a subgroup instead? The larger 16 channel version of this board does indeed use a subgroup instead of ALT output. If you need a subgroup, this isn’t for you. Signals are sent from a channel to ALT 3-4 by muting them.
My son chose this to do his mixing and it is the same as the one they use in college!!
Useful, does exactly what is described with no issues or problems. Tech spec is as other reviewers have outlined and all in all a very useful, flexible mixer.
This is a perfect mixer for the “small act” live musician. I play/sing guitar with vocals with up to two accompanying musicians. This mixer allows me to play an acoustic guitar with pickup to go directly through the mixer with wonderful effects – or – I can mic my amp for my Tele. I can run multiple mics for drums, bass or vocals. I also have the ability to record live. This works wonderfully with my Alto 15″ 2 way powered speakers for either indoor or outdoor events. It is really easy to program and set up. If one has questions concerning its operation – and we all do – a call to Behringer’s customer service takes care of the unknowns in a flash! Their technicians are friendly, knowledgeable and “spot on” for solving/answering any concerns you may have. I couldn’t be more pleased!
I have several Behringer mixers and not one has failed me in over ten years of use though a small one I bought secondhand a few years ago did develop noisy rotary pots. I prefer linear faders now anyway.
Works very well with only one issue (thus only 4 stars) – there is a regular beep sound over USB connection to computer. I have come across this problem with other USB interfaces so I guess it is a common issue with USB/Audio.
As a pure auidio mixer it works very well with low noise and is excellent value for money.
Key items:
USB connectivity – The sound quality that comes across from the USB connection is superb. I’m not sure why so many reviews talk about having a hard time setting this up (I do admit that I ignored the drivers that came with the mixer and got the latest drivers from the Behringer website). There is a button controlling the USB feed into the main mix (the buttons controlling the USB signal flow are the red ones on the right, below the effects generator). In my ‘I don’t want to read the manual haste’, all I did was plug in the mixer, hooked up a guitar and the USB, once it connected to the PC, started playing the guitar and flipping switches until I got signal to come out on the PC. If you want to hear playback from the PC back to the mixer while you are playing, make sure you select that signal feed in the monitor group (you have 3 options, Main Mix, Aux 3+4, and 2TR/USB).
Effects Generator: good quality, I see this being used mostly for live performances in my case as you can layer in the same or better effects with you DAW and might as well record a clean signal so you can ‘futz’ with it later. Even so, the reverb and chorus sound pretty solid.
Documentation: This is one of the main reasons this didn’t get 5 stars… The documentation provided is lacking, but there is a comprehensive manual on the website.
Included Software: Second reason this didn’t get 5 stars. The energyXT2.5 Compact Behringer Edition DAW that comes with the mixer is relatively useless. By ‘compact’, they mean ‘we will show you about 5% of what this can do, but continually recommend you drop the cash for the full version’. If you aren’t ready to drop for a high end DAW like Pro Tools, then stick with the open source Audacity (also included) and use the VST plug ins that come with the CD.
All in all, I am very pleased with this purchase. Amazon had it for about $40 cheaper that Guitar Center (and Prime eligible, which was key). I 100% recommend a beginner using this item as their entry into digital recording, as well as a solid choice for any small group that wants to perform at the local bar.
This unit is packed with features, the built in fx are superb. The unit is well built, with really smooth faders.
The included rack ears makes this easy to fit into a standard 19″ rack or flightcase.
Brilliant purchase and well worth the money.
It was so easy to set up and begin working with. I exchange aif files with my clients and other musiles from around the world, that I work with, and everyone has mentioned they are loving the vocal sounds. I think it’s the Mic Pres! The mix between studio applications and live possibilities are awesome, too. The portability gives one a lot of options. I received it in perfect timing for me to complete my session work that was in lockdown from my previous equipment breakdown. I ordered from the dealer, they shipped in in my desired timeframe, I had it hooked up and I was on a phone patch studio session on schedule! AWESOME!
I recommend it. You can hear some of the new material on my website, […] , as I begin to upload it, soon!!
I gave it 4 stars instead of five not because of the issues getting USB audio to work, but because once you do there seems to be some missing functionality. There are no mixer controls available on the USB audio channel. Every other channel, you have all the mixing controls and functions, but on the USB audio channel, there is nothing. It is straight audio and you can’t do anything with it. If you want to get control over the audio from the PC, you have to revert to taking audio out from the line out jack and into one of the mixing channels, which then introduces the noise that is typical when interfacing in this manner.
It is a shame they don’t treat the USB channels as any other audio channel and give you full control over those channels to shape the sound as you desire.