BEHRINGERr's 12-Channel Mixer.
4
mono + 4 stereo (8) =12 total ... But BEHRINGER claims that this is a 16 channel mixer. Simple 12 channel mixer, 2 aux sends, 2 alt outs. Hi is 12 khz, mid is 2.5 Khz, low is 60 hz. On each of the mono inputs there is a button to do a 75 hz 18 db/octave low cut. On aux send 1 you can chose pre or post fader. tape sends and returns (via rca) there is a button to have tape return join mix, but no volume control. The actual soud of the BEHRINGER MX1604A is relatiely transparent, and surprisingly clean as long as you arent amplifying a signal a lot. If you turn up trim to far, or even aux returns, this unit gets a lot of hiss. This happens even when nothing is plugged into these jacks.
Wierd Design Flaws - The alternate outputs 3/4 Are said to be used to create a monitor mix. However, sending a channel to the alt 3-4 MUTES it from the main outs, however, there is a global switch that makes alt 3/4 come back into the main mix (and have its own fader. You can use this feature for your drums, for instance, if you have 4 drum channels you want to be e.q'd and sent to the effects differently, but still have the aility to control with one fader, you merely select them all to go to alt 3/4 and then have alt 3/4 routed back into the mix. This is really limmiting, however, because you cannot have diffent settings of volume between different channels within the 4 outputs. I'll give you you an example. You are working with a band to do their live sound. The band can easily hear the drums, but is havving trouble hearing the bass and guitar (the cabss are on the ground a 100 feet away, facing the audience.) Now with a well equiped mixer, this would be no problem, you'd just create a mix and a sub mix, The house mix would be mixed so that the audience can hear each instrament clearly, and you would adjust the levels going out to the band's monitor speaker so the guitar and bass are pumped. Easy solution. Now with the 1604 you cant do that because the mix ammount for alt 3/4 is not variable. You'd have to route both the guitar and bass to 2 aux sends (the uitar to one, the bass to the other) and then have these 2 signals come back into the mixer, and have those two channels routed out to the alt 3/4. This eats up both 2 aux sends, and 2 more channels on your mixer. Not a good solution.
- There is tons of headroom on the main mixer (up to + 20db) but barely any on the inputs. Sometimes, i find you can get a cleaner signal louder if you lower the input volume, and raise the fader value. This isnt cool.
- Non parametric e.q. With all of these features, I feel that a non parametric e.q. is the greatest lacking featre. Esp. no parametric e.q for bass.
- Only the xlr outputs are balenced, the 1/4" outputs are not baleneced. Having balenced outputs is a definate plus because you can send you stereo signal to your FOH guy to e.q. and monitor with very little signal loss.
Advantages:
This is a clean mixer if used correctly, and pretty feature packed too. For the price it cant be beat. For an equivilant Mackie, you could easily spend twice as much.
MX1604A SPECS
| Total channel strips | 8 |
| Mono inputs | 4 |
| Additional stereo inputs | 4 |
| Subgroups | 2 |
| Microphone preamps | 4 |
| EQ (mono channels) | 3-band non-parametric with 75 Hz "lo cut" |
| EQ (stereo channels) | 3-band |
| Aux Sends | 2 |
| Stereo aux returns | 2 |
| Channel inserts | 0 |
| Talkback mic | 0 |
| Phantom power | +48 V |
| Width | 11 13/32" (290 mm |
| Depth | 14 1/2" (368 mm) |
| Height front | 1 11/32" (34 mm) |
| Height rear | 3" (76 mm) |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3,9 kg) |
| Manufactured under ISO9000 certified management system |
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