NEWBEE Seeks Advice on Xenyx 1204
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Posted on Jul 04, 2008 09:46 pm
DebAnn
Member Since: Jul 04, 2008
I have just unpacked the Behringer mixer, downloaded the firmware for the USB interface, and was ready to get started. NOTHING! What can be the difficulty. I get NO sound output from headphones or to powered speakers. Could it be cable problems or a faulty NEW unit?
Please advise.
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 04, 2008 09:55 pm Welcome to HRC.
When you install the device it should be in this order.
1: Install the firmware
2: Plug the unit in as it is plug and play if it is the little 2 channel unit they normally send.
3: Follow the windows driver install carefully.
If you have already done all this then it could be you have not specified which audio driver to use for your audio output.
If you are trying to simply play something from Windows Media player or the like then you need to go into the windows audio control panel and choose the USB Audio codec device and that should be the little UCA 200 unit or whatever Behrigner is calling it now.
Hope that helps some, let us know.
DebAnnMember
Since: Jul 04, 2008
Jul 04, 2008 10:28 pm Okay, so I'm thoroughly new. I was merely using the mixer unit to check if the input from the microphones and keyboard going into the mixer could be heard thru headphones/then powered Behringer speakers. I go no output, but I didn't have the unit running through the USB port into/out of computer. Could this be the reason? I thought I only needed the USB port for recording--not mixing.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 04, 2008 11:07 pm OK, I see. The details are important.
Well it sounds as if you have it all plugged in correctly but I'll run through it.
Mic and keyboard into separate mixer channels. Speakers plugged into the line outputs or main outputs.
Now you will need to make sure the gain or trim pots are turned up slightly for each channel. To do this you can use either the speakers or headphones, I recommend speakers as if you get it too high it will blow out an ear drum with headphones on.
Simply set the channel slider up to unity gain or to the 0 mark on the slider about 3/4 of the way up. Now start to turn the trim or gain pot up slightly until you get an audible signal and the meter tops out around 0 at the loudest you are going to sing or talk.
Now repeat the procedure with the keyboard.
To use the headphones there should be a headphone level knob and possibly a button to select whether it is listening to the aux sends or the main channels.
also make sure you have the main output sliders turned up to unity as well, again that would be 0 on the markings.
And yep, USB audio interface is only for recording.
DebAnnMember
Since: Jul 04, 2008
Jul 05, 2008 09:52 pm Back again! Well, thank you so much. Purchased new XLR cables and the mixer is doing its job. HOWEVER, I am experiencing the same HISSING/NOISE problem when recording to the laptop. Tried both Audacity and Sony Acid. Very undesirable. My purpose was to IMPROVE the recordings I made at worship service to create CDs for shut-ins and those who miss services. I was just using a Gemini Digital recorder with USB and tiny attached mic. Single speaker came out well; music muddy. So I thought this was the way to go. However, piano/singing input worse with HISS. Also, noted that the icons on laptop changed appearance after using the controller. Any assistance or suggestions?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 05, 2008 09:58 pm OK, it sounds like now you may have a gain set too high somewhere in the chain. I would suggest trying this first off. Set the input level sliders or knobs in the software control to about 3/4 of the way up or higher. Then with the application armed for recording slowly bring your faders up on the mixer until you get a good signal level in the software.
It simply sounds like you may have the channel gain set extremely high on the mixer and that is causing the noise floor to be very loud.
DebAnnMember
Since: Jul 04, 2008
Jul 05, 2008 10:25 pm Ok, I will try this. Actually the playback of the track is really "low" so my husband/non-techie assistant had increased the gain. Instead of audible recording of music, we gained a bit of volume in the recroding on playback with the addition of a hiss. After trying the UCA200 to laptop,we tried to record from mixer using the RCA connections on the TAPE out to RCA line in on a Gemini i-Key plus portable USB recorder, hoping this was alternative to small T-mic included with the portable recorder. But when we took the USB to the computer the wave files were visible with times, but would not play. I'll keep trying, but if there are any suggestions about firmware, alternate computer interface equipment, I would appreciate it. I am a great teacher of computer software applications - but I am at a loss here.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 06, 2008 12:14 am Well, following a normal gain staging procedure you would do the following.
For each channel that you have something plugged into the mixer set it up as follows. Some of this I covered above.
1: With the gain or trim knob set to its lowest setting, set your channel slider to unity gain, which is the 0 mark or approx. 3/4 of the way up. Now slowly turn the gain/trim pot up until you get a reading on the mixers meter's around the 0 mark. It can slightly bounce into the yellow a bit above the 0 at the loudest peaks you will be singing into the mic.
Do the same for each channel of the keyboard if it is stereo and is going into 2 channels on the mixer.
Follow this for anything else going into the mixer.
You main output sliders should be set approx. 0 as well. You may need to adjust them slightly for all the channels adding up to a level that is adequate going out of the mixer.
2: If the UCA200 has a software control panel open that and set it so you can see the meter's doing about the same thing as on you mixer. If it does not have a control panel then open your recording software and with a track active for recording play and sing as you would normally. Watch the track meters in Acid or whichever app you are going to use. Set the level of these so they as well do not go into the red. A slight hit into the yellow or a bit above 0 is OK, but nothing sustained that loudly.
This set up should give you a fairly hiss free recording.
If not I can recommend a couple of low dollar interfaces that will work well for you.
I assume USB is your preferred method of having the interface connect to the laptop?
