... I'd had experience with Behringers UB1202 Mixer, which I used for mixing live vocals and acoustic guitars. It was ideal for outputting the mix to a PA and using the "Tape Out" to record the mix onto my laptop at the same time.
It was only when I came to purchase the same unit for my podcast, ... Read review
The series holds its own with outboard mic preamps in terms of sound quality, ... more
transparency, headroom and dynamics. The neo-classic “British-style" EQs is a return to the warmth and musicality of the legendary mixers of the ‘60s and ‘7...
The XENYX 1202FX has 12 inputs and a FX Send control for each channel. Additionally, ... more
assignable CD/tape inputs have been incorporated for routing flexibility. The new XENYX Mic Preamp matches the sound quality, transparency, headroom and even the dyna...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The XENYX 1202FX has 12 inputs and a FX Send control for each channel. Additionally, ... more
assignable CD/tape inputs have been incorporated for routing flexibility. The new XENYX Mic Preamp matches the sound quality, transparency, headroom and even the dyna...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Smart FX Processor, Small Size, Looks Great! Disadvantages: No individual channel monitoring.
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BACKGROUND
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I purchased this mixer because I wanted to produce a nice and professional podcast for my website. I'd had experience with Behringers UB1202 Mixer, which I used for mixing live vocals and acoustic guitars. It was ideal for outputting the mix to a PA and using the "Tape Out" to record the mix onto my laptop at the same time.
It was only when I ... ...I realised they'd upgraded their UB range to a XENYX range. The website proclaims "With close to one million units sold, the UB mixer series has become one of the most popular mixer series of all times that has no doubt connected musicians all over the world. Our new XENYX mixers will take you to an even higher plane". I though "Great, even better!", and purchased one right away!
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PRICE more
----------------------- BACKGROUND ----------------------- I purchased this mixer because I wanted to produce a nice and professional podcast for my website. I'd had experience with Behringers UB1202 Mixer, which I used for mixing live vocals and acoustic guitars. It was ideal for outputting the mix to a PA and using the "Tape Out" to record the mix onto my laptop at the same time.
It was only when I came to purchase the same unit for my podcast, that I realised they'd upgraded their UB range to a XENYX range. The website proclaims "With close to one million units sold, the UB mixer series has become one of the most popular mixer series of all times that has no doubt connected musicians all over the world. Our new XENYX mixers will take you to an even higher plane". I though "Great, even better!", and purchased one right away!
----------- PRICE ----------- The units price is what attracted me to Behringers series of mixers in the first place. They're not dirt cheap, but defiantly fall into the budget category of "excellent value". Prices for this particular model range from around £70 - £90 online, so if you're thinking of purchasing one, make sure you shop around and get one in the £70 range.
------------- INPUTS ------------- The unit features 4 main balanced XLR channels designed for microphone input, although there's a jack connection below each XLR also. Just below that there's a TRIM knob for inputs with a low line signal. All 4 channels feature a 3-way "British EQ" with a Low cut filter button, as well as pan and level controls for each channel. There's also the FX level control, the use of this will be discussed in more detail in the "FX Processor" section.
The other 4 line inputs consist of L/R mono input, and offer controls for the balance, FX level and output level. There is also a CD/Tape input (and output), in the form of a PHONO connection.
-------------------- FX Processor -------------------- The digital FX Processor is a real bonus, and offers great value in comparison to the price of the standard XENYX 1202 mixer. There are 99 pre-set effects, which fall into the categories of "Reverb", "ER/DEL", "Mod", "Pitch" and "Multi". To select an effect, you simply turn the FX dial which scrolls through the numbers 1-99 on the units LCD display. To set that effect, press the dial and the selection will stop flashing, and start working! Below the FX dial there's an "FX to Main" dial, which allows you to alter the amount of effects being sent to the main mix. You can add the effect to any channel, simply by adjusting the corroponding FX level.
----------------------------- OTHER FEATURES ----------------------------- The mixer also features an FX send output, for use with an external FX device, as well as headphone and control room outputs with an individual "Phones/Control Room" level control. There are three simple yet useful buttons below the FX dials, allowing you to add the CD/Tape inputs to the mix, send the CD/TAPE inputs to the control room and send the FX to the control room. To top all of this off, there's a +48v Phantom Power supply.
---------------------- CONCLUSION ---------------------- All in all I think that the XENYX 1202FX is a fantastic value mixer which offers all the functionality you need to record your own songs professionally, or perhaps create professional podcast like myself. It's also quite capable of handing the strains of being used along side a PA for live audio events. The built in digital FX processor is a huge bonus, it's reliable, it's robust, it looks nice, and for this kind of money - you can't go wrong!
