Headphone Volume Controlled By Control Room Out Knob
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
As a Music Production Student, I'm looking for the best "spec vs price" with a little durability lobbed in!
************************************************************* Ok, you're picky, brilliant. What inputs are available to me? *************************************************************
Well, this desk is (effectively) an 8-channel mixer with 2 subgroups. It has 2 main outs, 2 control room outs and 2 subgroup outs.
In the breakdown, this desk gives you: 4 mono instrument/mic channels, each with its own "Invisible Mic Preamp". You can plug in mic cables (XLR) or instrument cables (1/4 Jack). Each channel has it's own Gain control and "lo-cut" switch. This cuts 18db at 75Hz for those noisy, humming guitars!
The other channels are stereo, so although it's an "8 channel" mixer, the last four are stereo-d to 2 channels. This is obviously useful for plugging in components that have stereo outputs: CD players, etc. However, if you want to use mono devices, simply plugging into the left input will allow you to do so. You are restricted, though, to 1/4 jack inputs (balanced or unbalanced) with only a "level" switch instead of a gain control. In its out position signal level is +4dB, while in its in it's -10dB. Staying with the inputs, the rest of the controls are identical for each channel. This includes a basic 3 band EQ. A -15 to +15 dB pot at 12Khz, 2.5Khz and 80Hz are all you have, but as they say, something's better than nothing :) Each channel also has 2 Auxes for routing to two separate monitor mixes from the aux sends at the top right of the desk. This is very handy for live gigs, where the band needs a foldback. Simply dial in as much of each channel to whichever aux bus you want and the musicians can have customised mixes for themselves! The 2nd Aux pot is able to send to the built in FX unit as well, but more on this later. Each channel also has a pan pot, a mute switch, a solo switch and of course a fader.
**************** ...and outputs? ****************
Well, as mentioned, the unit has 2 main outs, control room outs and subgroup outs.
The main outputs are usually where you'll go out to your soundcard or out to your amplifier if your using the desk live. This is controlled by a pair of faders. The output terminals are for female XLR cables. The control room and subgroup outs are 1/4 jack ports, perfect for a pair of active monitors.
It's also important to mention here, that the unit also has Stereo Tape Ins and Outs. To save on output controls, the Tape Out, Main Out and Subgroup out are linked to one control room and headphone out knob. To select the various inputs to use simply press each one's switch. You can have one output enabled, 2 or all three. This is useful, but you only have one volume control for all the outs including the headphones. This is probably the only point where you "get what you pay for". The desk also has a nifty little "tape to main" switch. For me this is great as the outs from my soundcard come in through the tape ins get routed to the tape to main and come out through the main outs back to the soundcard.
************************************************* It's an "FX-Pro" - what does that mean for me? *************************************************
The mixer has a built in 24-bit DSP unit which is a simple but solid attempt at an all-in-one FX unit. It's reasonable for the price of the mixer, but it's nothing remotely professional. The only application I can think of it being any use, is when you're at a live gig, struggling for outboard gear and you need a quick reverb or delay to add to a channel/the mix. The unit has 99 presets in total. 70 are Reverbs, Delays, Phasers, Choruses, Flangers and Rotary Speakers and combinations of them all. The remaining 29 are insertable effects with a surprisinly wide range of processor emulators including: Guitar Amps, Vinylisers, Tube Distortions, Exciters and the list goes on. Whilst there are some genuinely quite decent sounding effects here, their usefulness becomes marred when you introduce a piece of outboard gear that does the job 10 times as well with more options. However, this desk is not aimed at the professional engineer and I'm sure would quite happily satisfy in any home studio/small live gig.
*************************************************************** You mentioned Auxillaries... what else do I need to know? ***************************************************************
As well as the aforementioned, aux sends, useful for live situations where a band needs a foldback; or in a recording situation where you need to knock up a quick headphone mix for a musician, the unit has Stereo Aux Returns. Two in fact. These are normally used in a recording situation where an external source needs to be mixed with the monitor or headphone mix. Perhaps a CD backing track or something similar. I found this particularly pleasing on a desk this small as many more advanced features like this aren't often included.
*********************************************** It sounds packed, but is it actually any good? ***********************************************
I've used the desk for many applications, normally it's simply as a way to control my outputs from my soundcard more intuitively. A stereo output from the card, a stereo input into the card (so I can record using the desk) and then a control room output to my reference monitors. It doesn't really test the system. However, I use the most important part of the mixer all the time. I record a lot of vocals and the preamps aren't bad. While you're never going to get absolute professional results, the home studio to semi-pro user would struggle to find the imperfections. There is a small amount of noise transferred, but with ideal gain settings this can be minimised.
Used live, the desk performs well, although you're going to struggle to engineer a band larger than 6 channels, which isn't viable for many groups these days. However, if you're working for an "acoustic night" or small piece, drum kit-less bands, this is your baby! I could see this being perfect for small schools who have budding musicians performing at school concerts. Aside from that, a larger desk would certainly be required.
Also, if your engineering a live band with a mixture or DI'd or condenser mics, you're going to struggle. While the desk supports phantom power, you're left with an "all-or-nothing" situation. You can't turn phantom power on individually per channel. It's either on for all channels or off for all channels - one of the major limitations of this desk. The only way around this live, is to try and see if you can battery power any DI boxes or condenser mics and leave phantom off. In a small recording situation this isn't a problem. For instance if you're recording vocals you'd typically only use one mic, which is one channel, which either needs phantom or doesn't; therefore it doesn't matter if phantom is on for all channels as you're not using them :D
**************************************************************** Ok, it's a useful tool in a small studio, and it's great for small bands live, is there anything else to know? ****************************************************************
Yes. The feel of a desk has always been important to me. This is especially important when I'm purchasing one. If I'm going to be using it daily, as often I do, I need to feel comfortable in front of it. It's layout needs to be logical and simple despite having feature after feature packed onto the board. The Eurorack UB1204 FX-Pro certainly provides all of this. The faders feel smooth but firm, the pots are a little awkward as they're tightly packed but I'm willing to forgive this small annoyance. There is no 'per-channel' metering, which is a shame, but can't be expected for the price. A peak level LED is supplied for each channel so you can see if you're distorting the signal. Crucially, however, there's an 8-step LED meter on the Main Output Bus. Ranging from -20dB to +5dB and then a pair of amber +10dB lights and a pair of red CLIP LEDs. Oh and also, there's an FX Footswitch 1/4 Jack input so you can cycle the effects if your hands are otherwise engaged ;)
******************************************** This all sounds great, but I'm a beginner! ********************************************
It's a great desk to learn on. It's small enough not to overwhelm, while retaining many features typically found on mixers 3 times the size and 10 times the price. You can get used to mixing desk architecture, learn to use professional features and then simply transfer these skills up and up until you're working a 52 channel superdesk!
************************** Um, does it look pretty? **************************
Absolutely! The desk is a smart silver, with black annotations and labels. The EQ pots are blue, the AUX pots red, the pan pots black and the stereo aux returns and control room out pots are white. The faders are all black, the subgroup faders are light grey and the main output faders are dark grey.
The lightshow is also pretty impressive! The power on light is a striking neon blue, the phantom power on light is red, as are the peak lights and clip lights. The mute lights are a pleasing amber! The FX unit is also a vivid red liquid crystal display.
Yes, it's pretty!
********************* Your Verdict then... *********************
Having owned this desk for 2 years now, I know it inside and out. To be honest it doesn't take long to learn, it's simple, small and logical. It's reliably produced the goods on every occasion I've needed it to perform. It's used on a daily basis in the studio and frequently for live performance, so has more than its fair share of use.
Feature-wise, the desk is loaded, considering the alluring price tag - a smidge over £100. (perhaps less from the right retailer!) It's not often that on an (officially 12) 8 channel mixer you find, a built in DSP FX engine, 2 aux sends, 2 stereo aux returns, tape in/tape out, and quality mic preamps.
If you're a beginner looking to get yourself acquainted with a mixer, a home studio owner after a simple, effective and reliable solution, or a pro on a small project looking for something straightforward that doesn't skimp on features, this is the mixer for you.
It really is an absolute gem. Offering superb value for money and complete piece of mind - I personally guarantee you will be delighted!
More details
Features
No. of channels
Portability
Price
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
