A mixing desk is an essential piece of equipment for a variety of different professions and hobbies that revolve around sound.
If you’re a DJ or an Audio Engineer, you’re going to want something robust and reliable. But here’s the thing—selecting the right mixer can feel like an impossible task.
There are a lot of established brands out there, all of which promise to be the best choice.
One of these brands is Behringer, and their Xenyx 1204USB Mixer is an example of some of the best they have to offer.
It is an audio mixer that has been designed to try and recreate the classic ‘British invasion’ sound of the 60s, 70s, and earlier 80s.
So let’s say you’re taking a look at this mixer, and you’re wondering if it’s a good choice to go for. If this sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’re going to take you through everything you’ll want to know about this mixer—what it does well, the options it gives you for mixing, and the type of person that it suits.
We’ve also made sure to include a short Frequently Asked Questions section to help explain any questions you may have left over at the end.
So let’s get right into it and take a look at the Behringer Xenyx 1204!
Behringer Xenyx 1204 Overview
So let’s start off by explaining that the Behringer Xenyx 1204 (see also: Behringer Xenyx Q502 USB) is considered a good starter mixer for people to pick up.
It’s good for a range of different uses (we’ll get to those later) and offers the consumer a good start to learning the basics of audio mixing before they move on to more elaborate setups.
The first thing to explain here is that this is an analog mixer, meaning it doesn’t use digital signals.
Analog mixers are generally considered to be the easier type of mixer to start with, but they do suffer a little with the number of features and things you’ll be able to do with them.
However, we would like to elaborate on this to explain how the Behringer Xenys 1204 gives you a lot of options.
Another thing to mention is that the mixer comes with a USB/Audio interface that allows you to connect it directly to your Desktop PC or Laptop.
It has compatibility with Windows or Apple computers, so whichever you like to work on will fit with no problem.
This is great if you’re a producer or musician who likes to work with Digital Audio Workstations like Ableton or Logic.
The Behringer Xenyx 1204 offers an impressive 12 inputs for you to mess around with. Each channel comes accompanied by 2 aux sends.
You’ll also find 2-multi functional stereo aux returns that have been included to give you some extra options. It also comes with 4 studio-quality compressors that you can control with a singular knob.
This makes it a good choice for recording industry-standard vocal or instrumental recordings.
The last thing we’d like to mention in terms of the main features is the FX processor.
This gives you 16 customizable presets that allow you to give your recording instant chorus, flanger, pitch shifting, reverb, and delay.
The Xenyx also gives you the option to store your own presets that you can switch between.
A Closer Look
So that was a simple overview of what you can expect from the Behringer Xenyx 1204, but it’s important to take a closer look at all the features of this audio mixer.
We’ve broken this down into a few simple sections for you to consider.
Mic Preamps
One thing that the Xenyx series of mixers have been designed to do is give you impressive mic preamps.
This is something that in the past you would have had to pay top dollar for, but now is much easier to find.
We found the mic preamps on this mixer to be very impressive, offering 130 dB of dynamic range, which means you can easily smooth out any mic recordings to an industry-standard level.
EQ
The Behringer Xenyx has been created to channel the sound of classic ‘British invasion’ rock and roll mixers.
This means Behringer has taken much inspiration from old-school British consoles that transformed the face of rock and roll.
If you’re looking to get a warm, vintage rock sound, then this is a great mixer for you to consider. Expect amazing audio quality with subtle and sweet tones.
Built-in Digital Multi-FX Processor
Although it’s an analog audio mixer, Behringer has included a processor to help you capture specific effect presets.
To go a little deeper into this system, you can also include time-based functions in a manual way by making use of the Tap button in relation to your music.
You’re able to apply these to any channel, which gives you a lot of flexibility.
Included Software
Even though this is a mixer that has been designed to evoke the experience of older, classic rock mixers, Behringer have made sure to give you everything you’ll need to create music in the modern world.
They have included a package of audio editing software that you can download from behringer.com.
This will work on your PC or MAC right away, and you can also download a package of virtual instruments and plugins so you can experiment with all the aspects of music production.
Although more experienced musicians or producers might prefer their own software, this is a great starting point for someone new to the craft.
Who Is The Behringer Xenyx 1204 Good For?
You’ll be able to get ahold of this mixer at a low price point, so it’s a perfect entry point for audio mixing.
We would recommend the Behringer for somebody who is looking to create classic rock music mixes, as this is what it has been designed for.
However, it works just as well for other musicians working with classical instruments, or those looking to easily create crisp audio recordings for podcasting or audiobooks.
In short, Behringer gives you a lot of options considering its price point. We would also heavily recommend it to anyone who is looking to get started with an audio mixer.
The Behringer Xenyx 1204 is a great balance between versatile and simplistic. It will allow you to learn all the basics of audio mixing, without being too overwhelming.
This is probably not the best audio mixer for anyone who works within electronic dance music.
We would recommend other more specialized audio mixers for producing modern, electronic music, as the sound profiles you’re able to achieve with the Xenyx are too soft and not suitable.
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Final Thoughts
So in conclusion, this is a great audio mixer for a lot of people, and it’s widely considered a great option for a starter audio mixer.
At its low price point, you won’t be able to find too much else that will offer you the options that the Xenyx gives you, and you’ll most likely be happy with the purchase.
Another thing to note before we finish is that Behringer is an industry-standard brand for a reason, and you will be able to keep this audio mixer for a long time before it wears out and/or stops working.
We hope that this review has given you a good overview of this audio mixer and that you’re now more confident about whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
If you still have some questions, keep reading for our Frequently Asked Questions section below!
We wish you the best of luck in your musical or audio journey and hope you find the best audio mixer for whatever you’re looking to create!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does EQ Mean In Music?
‘EQ’ is an abbreviation for ‘Equalization. This is a common plugin that you’ll find used to help manipulate the content of any recording you make.
This can be particularly important when recording different instruments to get them to harmonize sonically and create a balanced sound for the listener.
What Is A DAW?
DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. These are pieces of software that install on your computer and allow you to create music.
In the past, musicians would have to record tracks separately and mix them together, but now you can do this in a more intuitive way by making use of digital software.
The three most popular DAWs you’ll be able to find are Ableton, FL Studio, and Logic.
What Are Mic Preamps?
A preamp (or pre-amplifier) is a kind of amplifier that helps to convert electrical signals into strong signals.
This can be very important to cut out distortion or excessive audio noise. Many audio workstations have mic preamps built into them to help amplify their signal and create much clearer sounds.
