I have been frustrated with my Behringer XENYX X1832USB mixer for nearly two years. Finally sold it yesterday. The FX are too complicated. I’ve been having trouble getting Audacity to run perfectly and consistently. Sunday I was performing, and couldn’t get the FX to turn off. The FX knob over the microphone slider was acting like a volume control. A sound guy there, who owns a Behringer, was baffled. So…starting over. Does anyone have a suggestion for a mixer that works well with Audacity? I sing with a mike, and accompany with my Mac and sometimes guitar. I need FX, USB, a graphic EQ would be nice (but not necessary), and only a few channels. I need simplicity! FX on one knob, or two. Looking at the Yamaha MG10XU and MG12XU. Had two Mackies years ago, but both hummed in one channel. Returned 'em, & finally the salesman said yeah, those models do that. One more thing: Yamahas come with Cubase. Salesman said it’s like Audacity. Which is better? Thanks. Tom in Texas
I don’t have a recommendation for you…
What kind of “FX”? Reverb? The effects from different hardware (or different software) will always sound different so that could be a big consideration.
Most mixers will have some limited EQ (bass & treble or 3-band) on every channel. Since you’re using it live, you’ll probably want dedicated EQ controls. Some “fancy digital” mixers have multi-function controls where you have to scroll-through menus, etc., and you want to minimize that kind of thing as much as possible.
Cubase is a [u]Digital Audio Workstation application[/u] which is more powerful than a simple audio editor like Audacity. It can do more, but it’s got a bigger learning curve and you may not need any additional features. (And, I’m sure you are getting a “lite” version.)
Please don’t double post. A forum elf has to read your posting before it appears. If you multiple post, an elf has to go around and mop up all the copies.
I need FX, USB, a graphic EQ would be nice (but not necessary), and only a few channels.
I don’t agree. Simple EQ is available on most mixers from tiny ones on up, but FX is usually limited to a knob which sends sound out to an external effects generator which then sends the affected sound back for mixing in the show. If you’re performing live for capture, the last thing you want is to be able to permanently damage your show before it even gets to the recorder. We can’t take echo, flanging and many other effects out of a performance, so it’s highly recommended that you Export a WAV file of the performance Clean with no processing. Once you have the protection copy, then go nuts.
Post production, yes. you might want some effects as part of the mastering process, but nobody I know would agree on the effects list and the mixer config at the same time. That’s why they’re available as separate boxes.
I don’t have a Behringer Mixer, but I have other stuff from them and I know people very happy with their mixers.
Behringer Xenyx 502-USB and Behringer Xenyx 802-USB sound like what you’re after. The 502-USB is simple and it only has one “grownup” microphone. The 802-USB can handle two performance microphones and has all the usual bells and whistles (most of which I routinely turn off) and simple three-point Eq. Most important in the USB models (you Must specify the USB model) is the ability to listen to a backing track while you’re performing live. That’s needed for overdubbing and sound-on-sound.
My 2¢
Koz
I sing with a mike, and accompany with my Mac and sometimes guitar.
Just reading that again.
How are you recording?
Are you capturing a live club performance? Is the mixer part of the audience mix? That complicates things…
Koz
There was a little voice.
Forget the 502. That’s the odd duck with 15 volt phantom power rather than the more standard 48 Volt. Run away.
Koz
What kind of “FX”? Reverb?
Yes. Moderate reverb for performance–singing in small churches and halls where the acoustics are flat. I record dry, then add Audacity’s FX.
“Most mixers will have some limited EQ (bass & treble or 3-band) on every channel.”
I like the more selective, slider EQ, than the three-knob treble, midrange and bass. I like low lows and high highs, and don’t like midrange. Like a smiley face on the EQ sliders. Three-knob outfits don’t distinguish low from very low. But I don’t have to have that.
“Export a WAV file of the performance Clean with no processing.”
I have been exporting clean mpgs. What is the difference in an mpg and a wav?
“Most important in the USB models (you Must specify the USB model) is the ability to listen to a backing track while you’re performing live. That’s needed for overdubbing and sound-on-sound.”
I struggled with my Behringer 1832 for a long time, trying to make a simple recording of my uploaded stereo accompaniment track, and my voice on a separate mono track. It would work before lunch, and then I’d come back from lunch and it wouldn’t work. On some attempts I could hear the accompaniment faintly in the background of my vocal track, and it wasn’t on speakers, playing in the background. Got on here for awhile, and never got a definitive answer. That’s why I need a mixer with fewer buttons to push. I’m a simple guy.
“How are you recording?”
In my office, with a Shure handheld mike, headphones, no speakers, and an upload mpg of accompaniment that I created on Sibelius. Not recording live.
Thanks. --TnT