Reddit reviews Behringer Xenyx 1204USB Premium 12-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer

[USB MIXER](BEHRINGER XENYX 1204USB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00871VO5Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_I9krybYAHTPXN)

As I said, if sound quality isn't really the issue and you're just using voip, the gear he has is fine. Also that's a pretty nice audio interface that'll last op for quite a while.

Alternative with better value and slightly better specs Second xlr/1/4 in, and it comes with studio one and midi input/output. Pretty good bang for the buck.

I have this and it's really nice. Also I've filled up all the inputs and outputs so ¯\ (ツ) /¯

A Higher quality and well recommended mic would be the AT2020

I have an sm58, used, these can be found in the 50-100$ range, and they tend to live very long and kick a lot of ass. There are stories of these mics falling out of moving vehicles on tour and then (once picked up) continuing the tour working just fine.

I have a pair of ath m50xs but the m40s are also a great pair of headphones, and a real budget would be the m20s if you're looking for headphones.

I know you asked for budget, but op did a pretty good job already so if you don't really care about recording then get what OP got.

With a $500 to $700 budget I might suggest the following. Steer clear of the "packaged podcast stuff". And others will have their own opinions and thoughts but here are mine.

Recorder: Zoom H4nPro $230. Portable, flexible, will accept up to 4 inputs. Records on a SD Card.

Software: Audacity. It is free and allows you to manipulate and put together a cohesive product.

Mics: 2 of the ATR 2100 USB $150. Again, flexible and a decent beginner mic.

Accessories needed. 2 wind screen/pop filters for mics ($20), 2 mic stands ($20), 2 XLR cables for mics ($25)

Headphones: Sony MDR7560 $80 2 might be nice, but 1 required.

That is about $550 to $600 at this point.

If you wanted a studio mic, a decent starter mic is the MXL 990 at $100/ea. But beware that this is a condenser mic and it will pick up a ton of ambient sound especially in a non-treated room.

You may want to add a mixer into the mix at some point. I have a Behringer Xenyx 1204USB $139, but wish I had known more when I bought it and I would have bought the Behringer UFX1204 with the difference being that the one I have sends out a single stereo track to the recorder, but the latter has the ability to send separate tracks. Woudl be very handy if your guest is VERY soft spoken, there is a lot of talk over one another, etc.

I use this Behringer mixer. We have 3 different mics with pop filters, then a laptop recording with Audacity.

The Heil mic is by far the best. Plenty of review videos out there for microphone comparison, too, just Google "X vs Y mic compare" (maybe throw in the word podcast)

Correct! I mainly use it for audio from my computer or my record player to the Rokits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6uQtnWafL4

or the one that's a step above that one https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-1204USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B00871VO5Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1504338946&sr=8-4&keywords=behringer+usb+mixer

You need a mixer with a USB-interface, for example the Behringer Xenyx 1024USB

I've had an old mixer hooked up for years. I don't record much anymore but I just can't give up having a physical volume knob. Also handy for sending music to multiple stereos at the same time.

Either find a compressor with phantom power to make your life easy, or use the Aux Sends/Returns on that mixer, so you'll send the audio out of the mixer to the compressor then back through the compressor out the USB which I believe is the same as the main audio out of that mixer.


*edit- Wait is this the mixer?? https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-1204USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B00871VO5Y it says it has a built in compressor.....

I have a Behringer 1204 USB myself for this purpose, but this one only has 1/4" and XLR stereo outs. I'm not aware of any interfaces that have a 3.5mm stereo out for standard computer speakers though.

No problem, if you want to go the "Mixer" route, and only need 2 microphones...I'd recommend this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Q802USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B008O517IC/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1501093834&sr=1-3&keywords=usb+mixer

Remember, You'll need to buy XLR microphones and a couple XLR cables for the microphones as well. You're looking at about 20 bucks per microphone and depending on the length of the cable, 5-15 bucks each for those as well. Microphone stands are also something you'd want unless you buy XLR body microphones but those are pretty pricey. Decent to good stands range from 15-25 bucks depending on shipping.

The nice thing about the XLR route is that in the long run, you can mix match and replace equipment on an individual level. XLR microphones can sound just as good as high quality USB microphones and are much cheaper (when only buying the mic). The Mixer itself gives you more control over your sound too.

If you want more specific recommendations on the other pieces of equipment just let me know. Generally I just go with what's rated well and priced right at Amazon, but I got 3/4 of my mic stands from monoprice.


The one I use is:
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-1204USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B00871VO5Y/ref=sr_1_9?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1501093834&sr=1-9&keywords=usb+mixer

I got lucky like I said and was able to grab an open box one for 67 bucks instead of 150.

Feel free to ask any questions, I've been dealing with my setup for about 6-9 months so far.

You could do most of this with a mixer. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Xenyx-1204USB-Premium-12-Input/dp/B00871VO5Y/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=behringer+mixer&qid=1564543072&s=gateway&sr=8-6

would allow you to do everything except 3 pretty easily.

Connect your L and R channels to inputs 1 & 2 on the mixer.

1. Pan pots on the channel strips.
   
2. Faders on the channel strips
   
3. You'd need a separate box for this. Did a bit of hunting on summing bass to mono but didn't find any dedicated hardware.
   
4. EQ on the channel strips.
   
5. On most mixers with mute function, when you mute a channel it's redirected to another set of outputs labelled 'Alt 3-4'. If you connect the Alt 3-4 output to one of the Stereo Aux Returns - making sure to swap L/R on one end of the cable - then muting channels 1 & 2 will give you your stereo swap. Looks like you'll have to go to 6 or 8 channels to get channel mutes though, which is overkill for what you're doing. On the plus side, it would allow you this control from multiple sources.

Hi, thanks for responding :)

I figure that a couple of these would be my best bet if I don't want to use a online voice chat right?

Also, with something like this would I be able to route inputs to the headphones/control room (not 100% what ctrl room is either) but not to the output and vice versa?

Thanks again :)

Microphone (vocals and/or guitar amp) and analog keyboard need a way into the DAW.

Along with the fact that those other to-USB converters are so damn expensive for just a single slot, that you might as well get a mixer.

A Blue Icicle is $50. 1 XLR->USB, no options besides gain, mandatory phantom power (which ruins certain types of microphones!)

A decent ass analog (USB capable) mixer is ~$120 - https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-1204USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B00871VO5Y

4 XLR slots, plus TONS of instrument cable slots. Analog effects: 3-band EQ, compression, gain, option of phantom power or not, plus the ability to wet/dry mix through an effects loop (all my guitar pedal-heads know whats up).



TL;DR If you have a for love analog sound and real instruments, plenty of reasons to get a mixer. If you do everything "in the box" and don't care about using anything non-digital, then no reason for a mixer.