Behringer Studio & Home Studio

Nice tool, conceived for professionals. I have only good things to say about it. Except that I found yesterday someone who had the S16 and a X32 compact... And I noticed that my problem wasn't isolated: Male XLR connectors can get stuck in the console! It's shocking: I had never had that with any other console. The solution? I got a metal saw blade and, since it's a bit curved, I was able to saw off the male XLR until the input was free. Then think about leaving a mini connector so that nothing ever gets stuck again, and don't forget to cut the peg. And that's it. I don't even want to imagine if Behringer has to recall its 40000 consoles for such a stupid problem. UTILIZATION Great design and usability. No manual, but there's really no need for one. To access the functions, simply press view. SOUNDS Everything's great, converters, dynamics, filters, effects, soundcard, all good. OVERALL OPINION I've used it live for 6 months. It's excellent and has everything to become a standard.

4-band dual parametric EQ with tube output circuit For the rest, everything is well described in the previous review. I bought it secondhand for $100 on this site. It maybe lacks adjustable low-cut and a high-cut filters besides the 4 bands, but each of the 2 extreme bands, highs and lows, can have this role. You lose an EQ band that way, but it's not that bad. UTILIZATION I got it two weeks ago. Right now I use it at home,with my Triton Rack synth and as insert on my Mindprint TRIO USB console/audio interface for vocals and bass. I plan to use it live as an insert on the mixer, but also in the effects loop of a bass or guitar amp. Currently I have only tested it with a jack. Generally speaking, a parametric EQ is more precise and effective than a 31-band graphic EQ to correct specific sources, although for FOH or monitors it's a different story. SOUND QUALITY It's not a tube EQ, the tube only acts on the output to warm up the sound and add some brilliance. And all to a given extent only. You really have to see it as two different things: - A 4-band parametric EQ - A "sound warmer." The second function is accessory and if you don't want to use it, you simply have to set the knob to 0 ("cold" mode). The overall signal-to-noise ratio is good. There's some background noise —from the tube circuit I guess—, but nothing annoying, much less than a Presonus Tubepre. Anyway, increasing the frequencies a lot doesn't add much noise, so in that sense the signal-to-noise ratio is very good. That's a change from certain mixer EQs that when you increase from 6 to 9 dB you inevitably end up with a good dose of noise, so with 12 or 15 dB it's not worth it at all...(even if it's not common to go to such extremes, true, but this Behringer performs well all the same). The EQ is precise and effective if you fiddle with it a bit, you can get the sound you want pretty fast. Regarding the output tube, even if it's an accessory function in my head...and that I didn't expect to have an exciter and an EQ, I admit that it wasn't very excited about it. It provides some brilliance to the sound, not too exaggerated (but not uninteresting either), and not too much warmth or roundness. That was with the original tubes, which are Behringer 12ax7a, "Premium selection" supposedly (and no Sovteks 12ax7 LPS as some people say. Or at least not on my model). I replaced one of the two tubes with an Electro Harmonix 12ax7 and you can tell the change... The tube always provides brilliance, it's more "musical" than the Behringer, but it also adds roundness to the sound, especially in the low end, which really gives an impression of warmth, which, adequately used, is one of the best effects on my bass (the sound is rounder and more brilliant), vocals, tested with a Shure Beta87a (it also provides them with a nice color and brilliance) and my Triton (the sounds have more punch, they sound less "sterile" or flat), they all have more personality. It's not a "torrid" warmth, but it turns more interesting and musical with the 12ax7EH. Cranking the Warmth pot all the way up doesn't add much (or any) noise. Try the same with the Drive knob of a tube Presonus... It's that something that can give personality or color to the signal that goes through it, without altering the sound if used wisely. It actually adds roundness and definition to the sound. OVERALL OPINION I bought this unit with the hope of having a more precise and musical 4-band EQ than those I usually find on mixing consoles here and there (from Phonic, Yamaha MG to Mackie and Soundcraft), and thus process some signals more effectively. I also use it in my home studio to EQ or correct certain sources, but also to add more coloration and warmth when needed. Therefore, I'm really satisfied with my purchase. At the same time, at this price point (mid-range products), it has no competitors, besides maybe Presonus, but their 3-band EQ is mono. With the Behringer you can process two mono signals or one stereo. In short, I agree with the previous review regarding the quality of this EQ (keeping in mind it's a mid-range product), it is much better than certain mixer EQs and plug-ins It does a superb job at processing sources with precision. For those of us who can't afford to work with Midas mixers or TL audio, Avalon or SPL Qure EQs that cost $1000 minimum... You can try it, but anyway, there's no real choice!

Dynamic mics to record instruments in the studio. I recommend to use them as a pair on acoustic instruments (I use them on piano). These are condenser mics. They require 48V phantom power. OVERALL OPINION I've been using them for one year and I'm quite satisfied with them. They are an excellent value for money (it's hard to find a single studio mic for the price of two C2s). Their frequency response is interesting, although not perfect. Very weak highs. These mics need some EQing. If possible, you should use them with a compressor, otherwise they sound too metallic. Avoid using them onstage: They are not completely isolated (shielded) and produce a lot of feedback, which is very hard to get rid of.

A lot of people slam Behringer gear. Most of these people don't know or comprehend the design and engineering that goes into pro audio gear. That said, the Behringer C-1 is exceptionally well designed. What happens to that design in a Chinese factory is another matter. Obviously, there are quality controls at Behringer's manufacturing facility, but occasionally you will get a lemon. Send it back. There are some really good C-1's out there. I own 3. I have Neumann's, I have Rodes, Audio Technica, and others. The C-1 is a personal favorite. I say that in part because I can use is for live performances with vocals and it sounds rich and full. Now granted, much of this is subjective and depends upon individual preferences. But I will say that I get many more compliments for vocal sound with the C-1 vs. use of my much more expensive Neumann KMS 105. This has proven to be the case time and again. The only downside I have found to the C-1 is the plastic mount. You can break it if you aren't careful and they don't sell replacements. Wish they would make it with a metal mount. Then all would be right with the world. Thanks for reading and all the best in finding your perfect sound.

Behringer Truth B1030A are powered monitor speakers with a 1 inch dome tweeter and a 5.25 Kevlar woofer. They are equipped with a balanced XLR port, 1/4 inch TRS as well as unbalanced TS and RCA connections. They have switches for adjusting the high and low frequency output of the monitors; handy for optimizing their performance based on the room you're using them in. The low frequency woofer has 50 watts of power while the high frequency has 25 watts. They are pretty solid and not too heavy at 5KG each. They're well built, with the yellow cone which looks like was copied from the KRK Rokit series. They feel good and are ideal for home studio use. I use mine in my home studio and they were actually the first pair of monitor speakers I purchased. SOUNDS Several people tried to convince me to stay away from Behringer products due to supposed issues with quality. I still went ahead and bought the Truth speakers anyway and I have to say it was not a bad decision at all because the sound on these is clear and uncoloured for the most part, which is how a good monitor should sound. I use them with my Komplete 6 and Mbox 3 Mini audio interfaces, though it's possible for you to connect them straight to your computer using the RCA connectors (a rare thing in many monitors). My main use for them is mixing hip hop, reggae and dance music though I occasionally use them for casual music playback. The bass on these is not very pronounced which may be a concern to anyone who mixes bass heavy music and uses a lot of 808s. The rest of the frequency spectrum is represented well. One other thing I noticed when I playback mixes through these speakers is that they sound lower; they are not as loud as my other 2 sets. But this isn't a major concern because I don't usually mix at very loud volumes. The RCA connection is very convenient when I want to casually play music off my MP3 player. The high frequency and low frequency controls are also great for anyone who mixes in an untreated room or in a tiny space, close to a wall. You can adjust them to get the sound just right to suit your environment. The sweet spot on these is also worth a mention. It's wide. You can move around without losing much audio info. For most mixing jobs these speakers will suffice. As with most speakers once you learn their sound you'll be able to make good mixes if you know what you're doing. No matter how good a speaker is it can't substitute skill, knowledge and experience. OVERALL OPINION Overall these speakers are great value for money. I got mine at $300 for the pair. They do what they're supposed to do which is provide clear sound for you to tweak your mix so that it translates well on other systems. I have indeed managed to make many great sounding mixes with these speakers. They were my first set of monitors and I don't really regret buying them as I was on a budget. Adding an extra $100 can get you a superior set of monitors, but the Behringers are nonetheless good. They are great for small, home studios or anyone who wants good sound at a low cost. Pros: - Balanced and flat sound. No over hyped high end or low end. - Wide sweet spot - Multiple inputs, including RCA jacks cons: - Not as loud as other speakers in the same range - Bass response not great