Behringer X1204USB Mixer Review

Behringer X1204USB Mixer review

I bought this mainly to record presentations (voice over). I had no problem with getting it set up and working with my computers, mics, etc., but their are some things that seem strange to me, probably simple misunderstanding on my part. However, I thought I would come where the experts hang out to see if they can be clarified for me.

I will put the stuff in this paragraphy that applies to everything. Mic's stage type cardioid dynamics, or omnidirectional condenser mics, battery or phantom powered. Computers: PC Workstation (noisy), or older Thinkpad note book (quite). I connected my workstation's monitor speakers (cheap) to the mixer console outputs, and that is working fine, or headphones.

First, the mic gain seems low, I need to turn it up all the way to get a base -20db recording level that seems about right for narration. That is with the channel fader and the main mix faders set at zero. The really funny part is the mic pre's seem to be getting more sensitive as I use the mixer a bit. But, to get the signal level well above the noise floor it seems like I would have to add external preamplifiers. Strangely when I connect my mic's to the line in I get about the same signal level. The manual says to run the gain knob up until the clip light blinks a bit, to do that I have to swallow the mic and shout. Am I missing something?

The one knob compressors work, but... When you turn them up until the light comes on like the manual says the sound gets all choppy, if you more intelligently turn it up to that point and back it off just until the light no longer comes on at all it seems to work better. The compressor does bring the level up a few db's, but it also brings the noise floor up with it. Is that a problem with these one knob things, or anything else?

The USB port brings up some other questions. Tech support and the manual says 16bit 48kc, but preferences in Audacity go up to 24bit 96kc, is that a "feature" of Audacity, or is the manual wrong?
Behringer says that they mixer uses ASIO, but ASIOALL does not show up as an option anywhere, I did think that Audacity was ASIO aware, but I could be mistaken.

There does not seem to be anyway to choose between the monitors and the headphones, is that right or did I miss something?

I bought this mixer because I felt the build in USB interface and the compressors would be very useful to my purposes, which are to record music and narration to Power Point slide shows for the local photography club, to plug into and amp and speakers for PA use, and to use with my tape recorders (which will peg the needles with the recording level set about 1/2 way up with any of my mic's, and they have simple one transister preamps). My needs are fairly simple, and the 1204USB seems to more than cover them if I can get it all figured out.

In case anyone is interested the reports that the cases on these are warped is apparently true, it keep it from wobbling I had to put a credit card thick pad under one foot. The mute button on the channel strips also deverts the signal to the Alt 3-4 bus. There are no Solo buttons to switch the channels to the VU meter for setting gain, you have to go to the Behringer X1204USB to get those.

The one thing that continues to bother me is the lack of mic gain on this console. With my ATM10a mic's on the old Superscope portable stereo recorders, I can pick up a quiet whisper from 20 feet away without turning the gain all the way up. With the Behringer X1204USB, I can pick up a whisper if my lips are touching the mic and every gain control is turned up all the way. Folks close mic'ing the the guitar cabinet, and screaming into the mic's will have not problem. At conversational levels from six inches you have a hard time getting above the noise floor. Maybe, the intent is to sell mixers, AND additional microphone preamp's?

 Other than that I have no real problem with the mixer, it seems to work as intended in other respects. I have not yet used the sends, returns, 2-track/usb (recorder) in/out.

Simply using it as a USB stereo audio interface, it works well. I get cleaner sound out than with the internal sound card.

The upgrade from the Behringer Xenyx 1204 USB, note the space between the 4 and the U that is the difference in the model names, is the built in USB interface rather than the separate one, the addition of the one-knob compressors on the mono channels. There may be some others but I am not knowledgable enough about the old one to notice them. There actually is not a lot of info on the web about this newer version which has been out for almost a year now. The amazon.com listing that I bought it from actually still has the photos and main description for the old model, but the title and small description correctly identifies it as the newer model. Selling price seems to be between $119 and $164.99, it looks like to get the same features in other brands you would have to pay over $200. It certainly seems more than adequate, except for that lack of mic gain, for low-budget home recording.