Stereo Aux Return Q802usb
I bought this mixer to use my Heil GM-12 mic with my Yaesu FT-857D along with using it on my computer for Skype, Ovoo and Echolink. The Behringer Xenyx Q802USB seems to have all the features I wanted in an inexpensive mixer. I like the built-in compression on the first two channels.
This allows me to turn off the Mic processor built into my FT-857D and still have a consistent audio level. The EQ works well for notching out some of the noise on the bands by running the audio out of the radio to a channel on the board and turning down the highs and boosting the mids.
(14) STEREO AUX RETURN – Q802USB only: the STEREO AUX RETURN connectors are used to bring the output of the external eff ects device (whose input is derived from the aux sends) back into the console. You can instead use these connectors as additional inputs, but any eff ects device will then have to be brought back into the console via a. British EQs and USB/Audio Interface Analog Mixers XENYX Q802USB Product Information Document 3 of 8 Small is Beautiful Weighing in at a mere 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg), the XENYX Q802USB is the portable, practical way to turn a speech or scaled-down performance into a sound to behold. Schools, meeting rooms.
The USB feature works great on Skype, Ovoo, and Echolink. The free download software from Behringer once you register the product allows me to record both ends of the QSO. I also can use the mixer to provide the audio portion of a video when I use my webcam and logitech software. Shipping from the seller was timely and it arrived in the projected delivery time. I recommend this mixer to anyone who is looking for an inexpensive solution for a Ham Radio installation as well as pod casters or anyone who uses Skype or Ovoo. My experience with the seller was also great and would recommend using them to anyone. So you CAN start podcasting with a webcam or a chat headset or a USB microphone.
And if that's all you got I highly recommend starting your podcast and concentrating on content and marketing your podcast. Make people want to listen to you for your wit or information or your entertainment value. Your sound won't matter. And I truly wish you well. Many people have successfully done this in the past. Don't feel like to HAVE to buy this mixer and associated gear to start podcasting. This is just a nicety to have, But if you have a desire to sound better this Behringer Xenxy Q802USB mixer is an excellent way to step up your sound at a low price.
Yes, it is not the best mixer possible but used in a combination of M-Audio AV40 monitors or Sennheisser HD201 headphones with a dynamic vocal cardioid microphone like the Behringer XM1800S and your choice of microphone stands (possibly a Audio-Technical AT8410A microphone shock mount as well) you can really gain performance. You won't obtain perfect sound - the mixer does have some negligible low noise to it - but as far as podcasting goes you will never be able to discern it. Basically with this mixer and the right microphone and monitors/headphones you can pick up your sound game for well under $300. Actually it amazes me the sound that can come out of this mixer. You can duplicate the same sort of sound as far as podcasting goes that you would hear in a $10,000 equipped sound studio 10 years ago.
If you are planning on using this mixer to podcast at home and you have what is basically a home computer desk like I do the small size of the mixer is a huge benefit. It takes up an incredible small amount of desk space. While you can easily place this mixer on top of a desktop computer tower, it is probably best to have it actually placed on your desk. You won't constantly be turning knobs but you WILL be turning knobs often enough that if you have the mixer within easy reach and sight you will do well. And again, this mixer is the perfect size for that. If you podcast direct to hard-drive this mixer will easily support the addition of a digital recorder to act as a record backup. In fact that will most likely be my next purchase.
All-in-all I'm really satisfied with this purchase so far. Maybe eventually I will get a Mackie or at least a bigger Behringer with additional XLR inputs but this was definitely the right mixer for me to start with.
Stereo Aux Return Q802usb Youtube
The only reason I'm giving it a 4 star review versus a 5 star review is the few cons listed below. I probably should give it 5 stars anyway since nothing is perfect but it's what I'm going with. I read some reviews about the power supply being too big. It is big but I never see it. It is behind my desk on the floor in a sea of cords so it doesn't really matter to me as a stationary podcaster. There is a 1 star review that this mixer only producers 16-bit quality sound. For a podcast through Skype?
It won't matter. But if you are a musician that has decent equipment it might be a concern.
A musician just starting out? It might be a great pickup for you. That's my 2 cents on the issue.
Cons: So I'm going to put some cons in here. 1) I didn't buy this mixer here on Amazon because it wasn't prime ship-able to me at the time that I purchased it. But I bought it for the same $79.99 price and paid for shipping to get it within 2 days from another source.
I purchased it in November 2013 and have been using it for 3 months now. 2) I REALLY wish Behringer would put together a mixer 101 booklet or training YouTube series. I had ZERO sound engineer experience before I purchased this.
I didn't know how to properly go through a gain setting procedure, what a compensation knob did, or the difference between the control and main outputs. I still don't know what the 2-track inputs/outputs do, the Stereo Aux Return of the FX Send. But eventually I know I will and this was a great mixer to start with. 3) I know this is not the mixers fault, but if you are still running Windows Vista on your computer you will not be able to use the USB function to hear yourself as you Skype or record direct to Audacity.
It is a Windows Vista software/driver limitation. From what I've learned this issue is fixed in Windows 7 or 8. In Windows 7 I've heard that you have to go into the device settings and choose 'Listen To This Device' toggle in the Listen Tab. I've read that you can hear yourself in Windows XP as well but I do not remember if there is an option you have to toggle on or not. HOWEVER, the USB option is why I bought this mixer above others in this price range and it has performed exceptionally so far. I just have to make sure to check my levels before each podcast starts since I cannot hear myself. I small price to pay to have so much better quality sound than with a USB chat headset.
4) An On/Off Switch would be nice. Same with the M-Audio AV40 monitors too incidentally. Overall I just love the thing. But your sound is only as good as your weakest link so remember that as you are recording through Skype or when you are deciding what microphone to buy. Thanks for reading and I hope it helped you. EDITED on 3 May 2014: So in the 2 1/2 months since I wrote this review I've learned a lot. I still have to learn a lot more and I'm no sound engineering expert but I do have some additional pieces of wisdom to pass on.
1) If you are looking for a no hassle cheap way to start podcasting, you want better sound than a webcam mic or a chat headset, and you will be the only one in your studio I HIGHLY recommend you score yourself an Audio Technica ATR2100 or ATR2005 dynamic cardioid microphone. You CANNOT beat the sound quality per price. The USB option is great to start with and you can always upgrade to a mixer later via XLR with either of those mics. I also recommend to use the Sennheiser HD201 headphones.
Again, you cannot beat the sound quality and flat audio response at this price. If you do use the ATR2100 or ATR2005 and are interested in using a microphone shock mount the only one I found to do the job was a On Stage MY-420 Studio Microphone Shock Mount since the microphone body is so fat compared to other normal handheld dynamic cardioid microphones like the Shure SM-58, the Sennheiser e835 or the aforementioned Behringer XM1800S. With those microphones a Audio-Technical AT8410A microphone shock mount will still do nicely. Why do you want a shock mount? It will isolate your microphone from physical contact sounds or vibrations from the microphone stand or desk that the microphone is on. 2) I've been having an extreme amount of difficulty connecting an external digital recorder to the mixer to record while podcasting.
There is an excessive amount of noise in the signal that I have not been able to track down. The digital recorder that I'm using is a Zoom H6. Also, whenever I connect an external device to play bumps, voicemails, and other soundboard type things during the podcast(such as a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop) there is also an excessive amount of noise in the playback. Since I do not know much about sound engineering I'm sure I am doing something wrong but just so you know it may not be a simple plug and play sort of deal with this particular mixer. 3) I am now using a Sennheiser e935 microphone on a Heil PL2T desk mounted boom arm with a ATR8410a shock mount. I love the setup.
I would recommend against the PylePro PMKS15 Universal Compact Base Microphone Stand with Adjustable and Extendable Boom. The narrow base means you won't be able to fully extend the boom with a microphone on it without the setup wanting to topple over and the boom arm adjustable knob broke the first time I used it. It was replaced no charge but I will only use it in an emergency. I did purchase the K&M Stands Low Level Microphone/Boom Stand but found it too low for me.
The K & M Microphone Stand w/telescopic boom arm was a perfect fit but I wanted to go with the desk mount boom arm to free up floor space. I would also recommend against using a desk stand since with a dynamic cardioid microphone you gain the best sound isolation results by speaking directly past the microphone and having to lean forward during the entire time might get stressing to your back. Oh, and use a foam cover on the microphone sound cage. It will act as a pop filter and keep your mic as clean as possible. If I run into more information I'll try to come back here and post it.
4) Again, the Q802USB is a good starting mixer. If I was buying the next step up mixer now I'd go with a Mackie VLZ4 model instead. But the Behringer has been a good starting mixer - especially for someone that knew nothing about sound engineering. I stand by my 4 star review at this time.
EDITED on 2 Apr 2015: Review Update: In July of 2014 I started to experience a low whine through the USB-out function of the mixer. I had extensively troubleshooted and isolated it to the USB function of the 802 mixer itself. Since it was within a year of purchase I was able to get service through Behringer while paying for the shipping. At the same time I had outgrown the 802 mixer's functionality.
I had wanted the option of 3 local live microphones plus a soundboard to play bumps, voicemails and intro/outro music. So while I limped along while the mixer was out of commission with an AT2005 microphone I stepped up my game and ordered a Behringer X1622USB mixer. As for the Behringer service they tested the mixer and could not replicate the issue. They did replace the USB cord and sent it back to me. However, I had moved on to the 1622 and did not look back. I never used the 802 again. However, I recently sent the 802 to a fellow podcast producer who did not have a mixer with full disclosure about the USB issue.
I will report back on how it functioned for the next person. The initial results are very promising which means that the 802 again serves as a great first mixer for podcasting. Again, the 802 was a perfect mixer for a non-audio person to start off with. It was a low cost way to enter into the technology and if I wasn't going to continue podcasting I wouldn't have wasted money on technology I ultimately didn't need. A few learning points: As commenter A. Smetana stated the direct box worked great to lift the signal to remove the line noise for both my external soundboard plugging into the mixer and using the phones-out as a line into my Zoom H6.
I ended up using two Live Wire boxes and I would recommend them for anyone that needs them. I also have fellow podcasters that use the Behringer model and achieve similar results While I still recommend the Sennheiser HD201 headphones for an inexpensive entry point I now own a set of Sony MDR-7506 studio monitoring headphones that I use for recording and editing podcasts. The sound quality is much improved over the HD201 but you do pay around 4 times as much for them. They are a great set of headphones and I do recommend them for mixing/editing but they do tend to get a little warm on my ears after extended wear (2-3 hours) so I'm looking to move over to the Audio Technica ATH-M40X the next time they go on sale.
I picked up a set of Audio Technical ATH-M50X headphones on sale for pleasure listening at work and I love them. My only concern with using the ATH-M50X for podcasting is that it is not a flat response. For instance the bass is slightly elevated. Which is fine for leisure listening but I prefer a flatter frequency response for mixing/editing and while the Sony MDR-7506 are great for that specific purpose I am equally hopeful that the ATH-M40X will give a similar result while being a tad more comfortable to wear for extended periods. As for Kenneth P Shaw's comment on Mackie mixers I would agree and have recently considered a Mackie Onyx 1620i, a Mackie 1604VLZ4 and even a ProFX16 since I want more AUX Sends for mix/minues and to isolate feed for my Zoom H6 recorder. However, the price point on Mackie mixers are definitely higher than the Behringer comparable models.
This is a case where you get what you pay for in built quality, durability and performance. However, for the price and functionality aspect I might just go with a Behringer X2442USB. Getting back to the item at hand for this review, the closest comparison with the Behringer 802USB that I found is the Mackie 802VLZ4 which is more than twice as expensive as the Behringer 802.
For that money the Behringer X1622 USB made more sense for me. But again, the price difference might be worth it for you for one of the reasons I mentioned above.
The Behringer Q802USB 8-channel mixer utilizes the XENYX preamps and compression for a powerful small format mixer.Premium 8-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamps & Compressors, British EQs and USB/Audio Interface:The ultra-compact XENYX Q802USB mixer's 8 Inputs (2 mic, 2 stereo) allow you to effortlessly achieve premium-quality sound, thanks to 2 onboard studio-grade XENYX Mic Preamp and ultra-musical 'British' channel EQ. And our easy-to-use “one-knob” compressors provide total dynamic control for the ultimate in punch and clarity, while respecting all the power and emotion you pack into every note. Add to this, the sweet forgiveness of our British-style EQ and superb ease of use – and the Behringer Q802USB becomes an incredibly versatile mixer for your live performances.
But the XENYX Q802USB isn’t just designed to handle your live gigs; it also provides the state-of-the-art tools you need to make stunning, professional-quality recordings. Along with its built-in USB/audio interface, the Q802USB mixer comes with all the recording and editing software needed to turn your computer system into your own personal high-performance home recording studio.Sonically Superior Mic PreampsThe XENYX Q802USB gets its name from our legendary, high headroom XENYX mic preamps, which have been praised by audio engineers all over the world. These state-of-the-art mic pres represent a major step in the evolution of audio technology – and they can easily hold their own, even when compared to the most expensive stand-alone mic preamps. XENYX preamps offer a staggering 130 dB of dynamic range, with a bandwidth that extends from below 10 Hz to well above 200 kHz. Armed with these outstanding mic preamps, the XENYX Q802USB provides such transparent, crystal- clear performance you just might think someone upgraded your mics while you weren’t looking.One-Knob CompressionAsk professional sound engineers what their favorite piece of external processing gear is and the majority response will be virtually unanimous – dynamic compression. What is compression?
We’re glad you asked. Compression essentially limits the dynamic range of a signal, lowering the level of loud sounds and turning up softer sounds, to achieve sonic balance. But applying compression is a delicate art that many novice, and even intermediate, sound techs find challenging. Our “one-knob” compression is available on all mono channels and is easy to operate, even for entry-level users.
With this one knob, you can easily dial in the perfect amount of compression for instruments and vocals, creating powerful mixes with punch and clarity. This is indeed a rare feature for products in this class – but standard on the XENYX Q802USB mixer.Sublimely Musical British EQThe British consoles of the 1960s and ‘70s changed the sound of rock and roll – without them the British Invasion might not have happened.
Those legendary mixing desks soon became the envy of engineers and producers all over the world. The channel EQ on your XENYX Q802USB mixer is based on that very same circuitry, allowing you to imbue signals with incredible warmth and detailed musical character. Even when applied generously, these equalizers exhibit sweet forgiveness and superb audio quality.The Ins and OutsThe 8-input, 2-bus XENYX Q802USB can accommodate either a dynamic or condenser microphone, thanks to available Phantom Power. The 3-band British EQ is famous for its warm, musical sound. Play music between sets via the 2-Track Inputs (main mix or control room/phones assignable) and record your performance to an outboard recording device via the RCA outputs.
Premium ultra-low noise, high headroom analog mixer. 2 state-of-the-art XENYX Mic Preamps comparable to stand-alone boutique preamps. Studio-grade compressors with super-easy 'one-knob' functionality and control LED for professional vocal and instrumental sound. Built-in stereo USB/Audio Interface to connect directly to your computer. Free audio recording, editing and podcasting software plus 150 instrument/effect plug-ins downloadable at behringer.com. Neo-classic 'British' 3-band EQs for warm and musical sound.
1 post fader FX send per channel for external FX devices. 1 stereo aux return for FX applications or as separate stereo input. Main mix outputs plus separate control room, phones and 2-Track outputs.
2-Track inputs assignable to main mix or control room/phones outputs. 3-Year Warranty Program. Conceived and designed by BEHRINGER Germany.