Behringer XENYX 1204USB Mixer – Review

by Cari Live

Here is my review of equipment in my studio and first up is the Behringer XENYX 1204USB Mixer. I had no experience and little money to get started recording and found myself in need of a simple way to connect my synthesizer to my computer and also be able to play my flute with a basic microphone. This was the perfect answer and as I know there are much more advanced and higher quality equipment out there, I have found some success in just starting small and have big plans to upgrade and expand when the time comes!

The XENYX 1204 has 12 inputs and 2 Aux Sends for each channel. Additionally, 2 multi-functional stereo Aux Returns have been incorporated for routing flexibility. The XENYX Mic Preamp matches the sound quality, transparency, headroom and even the dynamic range of boutique-style, stand-alone mic preamps. Neo-classic “British” EQ brings back the warmth and
musicality of those ’60s and ’70s mega-console desks that made music history.

My XENYX mixer came with a USB/Audio Interface for direct plug & play connectivity to my PC computer. I needed to get my audio to and from my DAW and it’s a perfect fit. Although I do use MIDI that directly connects to my computer using the software Ableton Live 8, I enjoy recording acoustically to combine a warm human sound to the cold electronica. As I experiment with sound effects and alternative techniques on my instruments, I hope to find interesting and
unusual ways to record.

This is definitely a beginner audio mixer, but for my small studio it has worked very well and is pretty easy to use. I have a Roland FP Synthesizer, old Yamaha MIDI, and microphone going through this mixer but have experimented also with EWI and electric bass. There are limitations but as a beginner myself, the basic connection and easy to use controls are great. The customer support is important to me and the few instances I needed help, the staff was able to quickly and efficiently get me on track!

Premium ultra low-noise, high headroom analog mixer 4 state-of-the-art XENYX Mic Preamps comparable to stand-alone boutique preamps Neo-classic “British” 3-band EQs for warm and musical sound USB/Audio Interface included to connect directly to your computer.

2 aux sends per channel: 1 pre fader for monitoring applications, 1 post fader for external FX devices
Peak LEDs and mute/alt 3-4 function on all channels
2 subgroups with separate outputs for added routing flexibility
2 multi-functional stereo aux returns with flexible routing
Balanced main mix outputs with gold-plated XLR connectors plus separate control room, headphones and stereo tape outputs
Control room/phones outputs with multi-input source matrix
Tape inputs assignable to main mix or control room/phones outputs

Long-wearing 60-mm logarithmic-taper faders and sealed rotary controls
Internal autorange power supply for maximum flexibility (100 – 240 V~), noise-free audio, superior transient response plus low power consumption for energy saving
Rack mount brackets included for ultimate flexibility
High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life