dirt cheap behringer choices

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mwaynew
Member Since: Dec 04, 2004

ok- there've been more than many discussions about the price/quality of behringer products and I've been all over the web in search of reviews in an effort to help me decide on a preamp and an effects prossessor to add to my little home studio. I guess I'll need someone to talk me out of my altimate choices. the MIC200 and the DSP 2024P. I work with the Fostex VF160, the AT3035 condenser, two MXL 603s for my Martin, the V-AMP2 for my Strat and the Auto Com Pro (discontinued?) compresser. I also Have the Yamaha SO8 Synth, a low budget and three maxed out credit cards. I believe that the answer is in one's own ears as far as mic preamps go. I've heard great things about the DSP2024P. Chime in guys!

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mwaynew
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Oct 14, 2005 11:11 am

Or don't.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 14, 2005 11:13 am

WOW, threads don't get missed like this too often, sorry dude. I wish I had good advice, but I do almost all my recording direct, so I don't have much for advice except what you already said, it's all ears.

if you have 3 maxed out credit cards, I suggest sitting tight until some money is rightly available...debt sucks. That is honestly the best advice I can offer.

Member
Since: Aug 17, 2005


Oct 14, 2005 11:15 am

behringer makes quality stuff. i have a ton of behringer gear. i run an autocom on my kick and snare and a powerplay pro for my headphone mixes, i also run a sl2442fx pro mixer for my pre's and pre-tape eq. i say behringer is your best shot for the price. they actually got sued for copying mackie stuff a while back.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 14, 2005 11:23 am

Yeah, I could second that, I have a Behringer 1622 mixer and it's pres are decent and the onboard effects are decent as well, not tweakable, but sound decent.

The thing you need to weigh is the quality per dollar (or thats what I do). There is better gear for double the price, but if it double as good of a sound, not to my ears. Typically, it's marginally better in extreme situations.

One thing I have noticed with behringer gear is that is is often lighter in the casing, I had a Bass Vamp which I replaced with a Bass POD. While there is a difference in the sound, the most obvious difference is the housing, The Line 6 Bass POD is cased heavy, could be taken on the road and take some abuse. The Vamp was made to get racked in a home studio and not carried around, it's MUCH lighter housing. The sound of the Bass Vamp, not as good as the Bass POD, it could do the job admirably.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Oct 14, 2005 11:36 am

I've never had good experiences with Behringer... right now I just have the 8 channel headphone amp and thank god it doesn't effect the sound... it is horrendus... sooo freaking noisey. I generally have to explain to people that that is infact not the sound they're getting and plug the headphone into the Q10's headphone jack for a second so they don't freak out.

But for a headphone amp for tracking it does the job.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Oct 14, 2005 03:02 pm

I have the Behringer MIC100. I love it. If you're careful with it, it gives great results.
I love the 20 dB pad, the phantom power, and in certain situations the limiter.
Cheap! Cheerful.


www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Oct 14, 2005 05:04 pm

I only have a Behringer Powerplay Pro-XL HA4700 Headphone Amp and I am totally happy with it. It doesn't appear noisy at all to me.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 15, 2005 01:40 pm

I have had nothing but goood luck with Behringer. And I have owned lots of their stuff. I still use a MX3282A desk, Ultra curve Pro 8024, Virtualizer, Composer pro, and a few others. Not had a lick of trouble. Even dumped a Coca-Cola into my old 2442 and it didnt suffer a bit. OF course I did panic and clean it out right away.

The Eternal Student
Member
Since: Oct 08, 2005


Oct 15, 2005 01:49 pm

Coca cola is nasty stuff, did you know it'll dissolve a 16 penny nail in 3 days? lol...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 15, 2005 04:26 pm

yeah, you can clean your toilets with it, eat away rust...yep, heard 'em all...

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Oct 15, 2005 08:04 pm

Aquafina can do about the same... totally pure water is very bad for you... no dissolved nutrients so it will dissolve everything... I have a grandmother who almost died after installing a reverse osmosis filter in her home... we got her switched activated carbon though.

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Oct 15, 2005 08:16 pm

My experiences with Behringer have been good, as long as the things keep working... The gear tends to have a shorter lifespan than most of my other gear though. But because it is cheap, I get a huge amount of use out of it... while it lasts...
So, if it is the only thing you can afford. I'd say, go for it. Has worked for me.

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Oct 15, 2005 09:10 pm

Behringer! coke resistant! <<<< new behringer ad lol

mwaynew
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Oct 15, 2005 09:33 pm

I've had my own close calls with drinks in the studio. I now have a separate table a fair distance from the gear. Anyway, I'll upgrade in time but glad to hear some possitive input. I've spent a couple grand in the last few months. It's easy to be impatient when inspiration hits. Can't put it on hold. My vocals need the help NOW! thanx people.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 16, 2005 10:24 pm

dragonorchid, when I traded in my 2442 desk it was over 8 years old. The hours on that thing were very high, I estimate it would have averaged out to at least 60 hours per week at a minimum. And it did survive the Coke a Cola experiance for another year before I traded it in. And from what I hear it is still running just fine. I guess though that just like so much differant gear, some one has to get the deffective units. I guess I have been lucky with all my Behringer gear thus far. Knock on Wood!

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Oct 16, 2005 10:31 pm

I've gone through two "voice pro units" and several pairs of headphones. The DIs and HPS 5000 headsets are still working fine though. Never had a Behringer desk mind you...

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Oct 17, 2005 12:21 am

Eurodesk 9000
I love my board! I record up to 23 channels simuntaniously with one band I record. No other board has 24 direct out's and a 'B' side for instant review of recorded material. Bottom line, I have found a board that really fits my needs....cost aside. Down-sides: I have seen Mackies thrown across a room and stomped and still work. I do not recomend this type of care for a Behringer. Unsealed pots. Do not smoke, cover it when not in use and keep it clean. Pre-amps get noise past 2 O-Clock. If your pushin that hard something is outawack with miking. Last the +/- 17V regulators are engineered at about max. Keep the power supply cool! Or have a replacement pair of regulators on hand.

1953 Tube Ultrqain. Fine sound, fine natural compression. Downsides: Can be a little finikey to tune and the meters are flaky.

Compressers and Headphone amps are fine.

I also have a virtulizer pro. Don't realy like it. Kind of a fair all in wonder kinda product.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 17, 2005 07:31 pm

I have never tried the voice pro so I guesa I cant say on that. And I agree on the headphones being a bit under par. I have heard they just dont have a good sound to them.

I still use my older Composer Pro without any glitches as well as the UltraCurve DSP 8024 digital EQ, only thing with that is the memory battery is now dying. I also switched to nothing but the Behringer Patche bays and love em. And my old Virtualizer is still going as well, not used much anymore but still runs great.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Oct 18, 2005 08:09 am

Must give Behringer big up for all the gear I own made by them...

Behringer Composer Pro MDX2200
Behringer Virtualizer Pro 1024
Behringer VAMP2
Behringer B1 Condenser MIC

Love it all..bang for buck, its unbeatable...

Good ole uncle Uli!!

Member
Since: Sep 08, 2004


Oct 18, 2005 03:12 pm

I love all my Behringer gear. I am about to buy another V-AMP (so I don't have to disconnect when I want to play live!!) and a Bass V-AMP (I tried out the POD Pro's---still like the sound of the V-AMP better!!) I really dig their mic's too. Quiet and toneful!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 18, 2005 03:13 pm

Quote:
I tried out the POD Pro's---still like the sound of the V-AMP better!!


jeezuz, never heard THAT before.

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


Oct 18, 2005 07:55 pm

Just about everything i own is behringer.

V-amp Pro
Autocom Pro XL
Ultragain Pro
UB1002 (hmmm,not pro!?)
B-1

Im picking up a few more things this week.

If Behringer started making Girlfriends i'd even consider trading mine in too.




Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 18, 2005 07:59 pm

a V-Wife would be cool...

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Oct 18, 2005 08:00 pm

Aye, indeed Bleak - good to hear from ya man.

If Behri started making fitba teams, Id recommend you tell the wife to forget aboot the fife teams and move to Uncle Uli's team! hehehe.

Cheers

Coco.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 19, 2005 08:37 pm

Quote:
a V-Wife would be cool...


That was krewl! It cost me a big bite of my samich flyin outa my mouth as I laughed out loud.

I coulda choked ya know!

However, I would opt for the V-Wife as well. When yer done you simply flip off the switch and no more yackin. And think of all the settings and modifications they might add on later!

mwaynew
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2004


Oct 19, 2005 09:55 pm

V-Wife - Good one.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Oct 20, 2005 12:25 am

Over all behringer has been good, I've had 4 mixers over the past few years (non-have broken, I've just upgraded or needed seprate mixers). My luck with them has been about 80/20 , I had a V-amp for about a year and it took a big dive,( i bought a PODxt and a Tonelab) ,the headphone amp is noisy and a little colored, and my old ulta voice can be a bit touchy. all my compressors, tube pre's, DI boxes (they rock) and what ever else I've got in the past has been top notch. There is a lot better gear out there but expect to pay for it , for quality to cost behriger gear fit the bill.

Member
Since: Sep 08, 2004


Oct 21, 2005 04:41 pm

Yeah Db -

I think I like the V-AMP more because it tends to have better tones for metal than the POD. At least to my (and the rest of my bands) ears. I even tried the Metal add-on pack for the POD, but returned it anyway and got the V-AMP and a nice mic (and still had money left!!!) For other tones I am sure the POD smokes...just not for metal.


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 21, 2005 04:43 pm

interesting.

I guess everybody has their thing, actually, I liked the metal tones from GuitarPort, surpringly for the price, some of it's dirty guitars were nasty, a very good nasty. I liked the POD distortion and metal sounds (especially the addons), but, the subject of "metal tones" is pretty wide, so, well, whatever works for ya man! Rock on.

My POD is fully packed with the addons and such, man, I can dial up anything.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Oct 21, 2005 10:01 pm

I saw these pics on another board and I thought it would be pretty appropriate in this thread.

Here's a pic of the glowing tube in a Behri Ultragain:


http://www.passingafternoon.com/tadpui/ultragain-tube.jpg



And here's the same unit, disassembled, looking at the glowing tube from the other side:


http://www.passingafternoon.com/tadpui/tube-glow.jpg



Now, tubes glow when they heat up due to the current being pushed thru them. If the UltraGain doesn't pass enough current thru the tube to even heat it up, how much do you think that it actually uses that tube's characteristics to shape its sound?

That tube is basically just a decoration. But I think that rings true for just about any budget "tube" preamp. I have an ART tube pre and I wouldn't doubt if it uses the same lame trick. I think its just an excuse to be able to have a relatively high amount of distortion in your preamp.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 23, 2005 07:18 pm

I guess a lot of people just want to plug it in and play with the patches that are supplied with whatever the unit is. I know I dont have any trouble getting killer metal tones out of my POD Xt at all. But then again I dont use any of the factory settings either so that may have something to do with it. I tried the V-amp as well and just thought it sounded thin compared to my XT. Not all the sounds on the V-amp were thin mind you but it just didnt get it for me. But like dB I have my XT fully loaded and like I said, I never use a factory patch at all.

Tad, ya that is a pity that so many companies out there have to market with some gimick like that. I suppose the tube does maybe function to a certain point, but I would bet many never drive the thing to the point at which the tube is actually doing more then just sitting there with the little lites glowing behind it. But then again anyone with a bit of knowlegde on how tube work would be looking for the internal parts to light up, not just a glow around the tube.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Oct 23, 2005 08:05 pm

wow tad, LED's, haha, thats really bad....

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Oct 23, 2005 09:26 pm

i got my TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC100 open out on the desk here, and i powered it up and a lil while i saw like 2 lil metal beams or conductors or what ever inside the tube lighting up like its getting heated u know like how hot metal looks and i touched the tube and it was very warm....it had no leds arround or inside it...and then when i took it off, it look like how metal looks when its cooling like the glow disappearing.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 23, 2005 10:15 pm

Well then, I guess we dont really know what that picture was all about do we now? Maybe they were making them that way to begin with and decided it wasnt such a good idea. because it sure looks as if the cirquit card in the picture was designed with slots just for those 3 LED's.

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Oct 24, 2005 01:39 am

thats a different pre amp he got there tho. remember mine is "TUBE ULTRAGAIN MIC100".

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 26, 2005 07:10 pm

Ah, I see.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Oct 26, 2005 08:07 pm

I don't know anything about those pictures, nor the circumstances under which they were taken. And first-hand info from an actual Ultragain user makes me wonder about the pictures' authenticity.

But I still wouldn't buy a Behri preamp :)

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