Trying to understand additional subgroups on mixer
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Posted on Dec 27, 2011 01:20 pm
Rocker Road
Member Since: Dec 27, 2011
Greetings all - this is my first post here. I have used Behringer 2442FX mixers for the past few years in the studio and to mix bands on stage. These are great units. I have a point of confusion when it comes to using the subgroups and I hope someone can help me thru this...
These boards have 4 subgroup faders immediately adjacent to the main mix fader. The subgroups are marked: 1/5, 2/6, 3/7 and 4/8. Each input channel on the mixer has the ability to route a mono signal to any one of these four subgroups, or stereo signals to multiple subs (I am only talking about the mono signals for this post). So far so good. On the back of the board there are sub-outs. Here one might expect to find outputs for sub-1, 2, 3 and 4. And those are there. But along with those are sub 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Here's the layout (the O's are 1/4" outputs):
O-O-O-O (1-4)
O-O-O-O (5-8) - these are directly below 1-4.
(I would link to an image, but as this is my first post here - I don't want it to be seen as spam)
Channel 1 is also channel 5, Channel 2 = channel 6, 3 = 7, and 4 = 8. To get the most out of this board (i.e. to use four separate subgroups).
My question is this -- What is the purpose of 5-8? I need to run 8 groups to my Presonus Firestudio sound card and am wondering if I indeed have 8 outputs, or just 4 with multiple outs for each?
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I have posted similar questions to other forums over the years and seriously hope you Mackie fans don't jump in just to say how great Mackie boards are and what junk Behringer boards are. Not helpful at all...
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Thanks in advance!
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Dec 27, 2011 01:23 pm Subgroups kick ***.
Think about it this way...you get all the drums mixed to your personal taste...but then, need to bring down the level of the drums as a whole...instead of bringing down all the channels of the drums individually, you can lower the subgroup and bring down the entire kit, with one fader, rather than each channel.
Make sense?
Dec 27, 2011 01:28 pm Yes - I totally get that part of subgroups. It's the additional channels numbered 5-8 that are throwing me. Any idea what purpose they serve? They share subgroup faders with 1-4, but have their own 1/4" output on the back of the mixer. I just want to make the most of this mixer and cannot find an explanation anywhere for the existence of subgroups 5-8 (sorry if that wasn't clear).
Tim NUh, at least one more time . . .Member
Since: Feb 07, 2007
Dec 27, 2011 08:45 pm Those outputs are actually redundant (I have this mixer, and I don't have them hooked up to anything). The manual suggests using a Y-cable to hook them up to an 8-track recorder, and use two passes to record 8 separate tracks. Not really practicable; it seems like more of a throwback to the 8-track tape days. I use the submix buses to route two stereo pairs from a drum machine. You have two stereo pairs, or four mono signals. You can use the direct outs on each channel (they are post-EQ and post-fader) There's eight right there. Or you can send 8 signals by using the subgroups (4), the main mix (2) and AUX sends or direct outs to round things out. You can also use a patchbay (you should have one anyway) and use the insert points to send signals out (and in). That's a more typical set-up. Just put it all, or most of it, on a patchbay.
There isn't much sniping here about Behringer and Mackie, actually.
Dec 28, 2011 12:26 pm Thank you Tim - that does clear up the fog in my brain. Not so sure I need a patchbay for my application. My mixer is top-mounted on a mobile rack and all points of connection are unobstructed. I do like the idea of it though :)
