For someone looking to elevate their podcast’s sound, it’s worth considering if it’s time for you to invest in a high-quality audio mixer.
While it might be possible for your podcast to have a good enough sound with a simplified microphone and laptop setup, introducing an audio mixer is a great way to really help improve the quality of your audio, as well as provide your setup with greater versatility too.
There is a wide range of benefits for introducing an audio mixer into your setup, which includes being able to feature multiple guests or co-hosts!
Choosing a good quality mixer that is both suitable for your setup whilst remaining affordable can be a difficult task, but one of the mixers you’ll see mentioned and recommended frequently is the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB, so just how good is this mixer?
If you want to find out more about this mixer, its features, and whether or not it’s worth buying, then read on, as we give you the rundown of everything you need to know!
Overview
Founded in Germany back in 1989, Behringer has become one of the most well-known and reputable producers of audio equipment in the world, all whilst remaining affordable and accessible to the average consumer, which means that everyone can use their products to produce a high-quality sound throughout a variety of different applications.
The Behringer Xenyx Q502 USB is the perfect embodiment of this ethos and is packed full of features that when combined with its affordable cost, make it easily one of the most popular mixers on the market.
So it’s no surprise that it gets recommended so regularly for people who are looking to make that initial purchase to begin upgrading their audio setup.
As a podcaster, it’s important to make sure you choose the equipment that is going to be right for you, and there’s no doubt whether you’re an experienced podcaster or just getting started, that the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB is a great choice when it comes to audio mixers.
Initial glances might make you underestimate what the Behringer Xenyx Q592USB is actually capable of due to its lightweight and compact design, however, when you really delve into the capabilities and features that this little box holds, you’ll soon be taking back what you said about it in the first place!
It might not have as many features or as much versatility as some of the other options on the market, however, at this price point, there’s no denying that the Behringer Xenyx Q592USB is easily one of the best mixers on the market for those looking for something that will provide an instant upgrade in sound from their old setup.
So, if you want to learn a little more about exactly what this little mixer has to offer, keep reading onwards!
Features
As we’ve mentioned, the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB has a load of features, which is why it’s so revered in the podcasting community. So let’s take a closer look at what these features are.
Preamps
Starting off with the mic preamps, the Xenyx Q502USB is known for its high headroom preamps, which provide you with a 130dB dynamic range, as well as a bandwidth that reaches from under 10 Hz and can easily exceed 200kHz.
This is why the Xenyx Q502USB is able to provide its users with clear and transparent audio, without having to upgrade their current microphones at all.
Dynamic Compression
Dynamic compression, for those who don’t know, is what allows you to limit the range of a signal and helps to reduce louder sounds, all whilst increasing softer sounds, which helps you to reach a good sonic balance.
For those who are new to using a mixer, fiddling with the compression on a more complex mixer can be intimidating, and is incredibly easy to get wrong.
However, with the Xenyx Q502USB, it’s extremely easy to do, which is down to the “One-Knob” compression, which allows you to make the necessary adjustments to ensure fantastic sound quality with no hassle.
British EQs
Another great feature of the Xenyx Q502USB is the British EQ channel, which takes inspiration from the iconic mixing desks found in Britain throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s which helped birth the iconic rock and roll sound.
As a podcaster, this might not mean much, but they actually help to embellish your audio with warming and pleasant sounds, which in turn helps to contribute to great audio quality.
Compatibility
The Xenyx Q502 features 2-bus and 5 inputs and is able to be used with either a dynamic or a condenser microphone, as well as allowing you to easily record your audio and export it to an outboard recording device, which makes the recording process of your podcast extremely easy with no effort at all.
Behringer Xenyx Q802 USB Review
The Xenyx Q502USB is also compatible with both PC and Mac, so there’s no need to worry about whether or not it’ll work with your choice of O.S!
Size
The small size of the Xenyx Q502USB is part of what makes it such a great choice of audio mixer, weighing in at 1.3 pounds, this little device is able to easily find its home in your podcasting setup without taking up too much space or being too heavy to move around on a regular basis.
USB Convenience
In the past, having a recording setup would have involved the use of various different pieces of equipment that would take up a lot of space, energy, and effort to use, and whilst it’s completely possible to broadcast your podcast to the world simply using a microphone and a laptop, making use of an audio mixer is a great way to help step up the quality of your podcast with ease.
Behringer Xenyx Q1202 USB Review
Thanks to the bi-directional USB audio interface found on the Xenyx Q502USB, then connecting it to your Mac or PC is as easy as using a single USB cable, which allows the mixer to place the audio files for your podcast directly into your hard drive without much effort at all.
Software Included
To truly unlock the potential of the Xenyx Q502USB or any audio mixer for that matter, good quality audio software is needed, which is exactly why Behringer includes their own software alongside their products for no extra cost.
This will allow you to record and edit your audio with ease, and will make the process of producing your podcast effortless, whilst also helping you to achieve that professional sound quality that most podcasters crave!
The software is available for both Mac and PC, and also features a load of different FX plugins and even the ability to use instruments too, which is great for a podcaster looking to create their own theme tune too.
It’s truly the best way to turn your laptop from a mundane recording and uploading device, into a powerhouse built for podcasting.
Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD Review
What Are The Customers Saying?
Across the board, customers applaud the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB for its versatility for its price point, which many people appreciate for their first venture into using an audio mixer and properly meddling and recording audio for the first time.
However, customers did raise concerns about the build quality and the quality of some of the components used within the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB, especially the power supply, which seems to be a recurring issue for those who have had their mixer for a couple of years.
There also seems to be an issue when the mixer is used in conjunction with particularly large speakers, as the typically low-level noise produced by the mixer turns into a larger buzz, which can prove to be a problem when trying to run audio through a larger speaker.
For podcasters, this shouldn’t prove to be an issue you’ll encounter, so it’s not something worth worrying about when it comes to deciding whether or not you’ll purchase this mixer.
Conclusion
So, is the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB worth buying?
For the beginner or even average podcaster who is looking to make their first steps in upgrading their audio setup? Absolutely.
The features it provides, as well as the inclusion of free editing software, will lead to a massive improvement in audio quality, which is the key to the production of quality, and successful, podcasts.
When it comes to the concerns over build quality and compatibility, the reality is that you get what you pay for with the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB, and with this mixer coming in at under 100$ on Amazon, then it’s not going to be perfect.
Overall then, the Behringer Xenyx Q502USB is a good option for those who are just getting started in the world of podcasting, but for those who are trying to find the ultimate audio mixer, it’s probably worth giving this one a miss. Thank you for reading!
