All user reviews of 4/5 for the Behringer Composer Pro MDX2200

Mars Music (out of business now) Currently $75 at Musiciansfriend.com.

Audio Geeks relax! Of course it's just a Behringer. But for $75 it's simply amazing what you can get these days.

I record acoustic instruments and vocals in my home studio. One main problem for self-recording is focusing on good playing and singing without clipping the signal. (Staring at the meters while you're performing just kills the emotion in the music!) The MDX 2200 is two-channel, inexpensive compressor/limiter that meets the challenge nicely.

It is relatively easy to use, if you understand the basics of using an audio compressor. It's another LONG article to explain their use, but essentially, their purpose is to keep sounds from be being too loud or too soft. Used properly they canb add desirable sustain to instruments and more pleasing dynamics to a recording.

I've used Alesis and DBX products with the same features, and the DBX is aurally better, but costs double and more. If you're on a budget, don't let the Audio Geeks scare you. This unit really does the trick nicely without discoloring your music, IF you learn how to use it.

The price point is for beginners, but the manual is not. Behringer should include a primer for first-timers. Inputs and outputs are laid out a bit awkwardly. It would be easy to put the wrong plug in the wrong jack. Read Carefully!

So far, it works great and seems built well. Built in power supply (no wall wart) with a typical computer-style power cord. Rackmount case.

Excellent beginner unit. Great for experimenting and learning about Compressor/Limiter/Noise Gate effects. And, by the way, I've used the MDX 2200 on several home CDs that have sold more than enough to pay for all my recording gear (and instruments) and no customer has noticed or whined about my "cheap compression."

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

See site behringer.

transistor analog compressor, 2 channels 1 rack unit.
settings conventional threshold, ratio, atack and release.
makeup gain adjustment (adjustment of output) per channel
limiter and more output per channel
a gate or not activated first compressor with adjustable threshold (interresting)

Ultra connectors complete:
- Input / Output TRS or XLR
- Side chain

integrated power supply,

Full brief!

UTILIZATION

Who knows a compressor, the config is simple, yes.
The volume pot is a bit small and the concept "a lot of functions on a unit only" has its limits, ie it should not have too big fingers and go like a nag on pain of moving a set in refining another.

Otherwise, very good point for me, signage and LED meters.
Each switch is turned on activation, perfect for getting together on a dark scene (not gadgets at all)
LED meter and large, reactive and assignable (2 LED meter per channel, assignable to input to output, gain reduction or output signal ... Everything is possible)
Briefly, in a very noisy environment, we already made many little adjustment to the views (it paradoxical for a sound processor but really, it helps)

So very positive point for me -> leds métreq the swichq bright.
Point a bit boring -> the knobs too closely spaced, and notched (boring to refine a setting that should be really accurate)

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality directs this compressor
- To live (cif conc, groups that rotate in autoprod without letting on each date, repeat ...) it is perfect in this application.

- Home studio for a treatment that does not nessessite a huge sound quality
can range from mild to prevent a comp Converto of saturated, or you can really pump big beat loops if this is your ray ... he can do anything. (Some comp can not pump, not possessing a relatively high proportion)

- To familiarize themselves with a compressor / gate (all functions are there ... and the mastering, you'll be ready to move to the higher range, but I would not before. "Unnecessary to assign an Avalon type that does has never touched the compression)

I used to insert a long time before attacking the console Converto a sound card via the direct out of the console (not saturate), on
Battery
voice
bass

I used to live on a farm sub group (CG, CC, TOM1, TOM2, OH1, OH2)

Do not reversible, a comp to 200 euros will never do as a comp in 2000. While the features may look equivalent on paper, sound quality is different. This comp is fairly transparent in terms of tone color (no specific color)

it will make a comp or severe soft, cheap and with good quality. Not great, but good. In any case, ample for the home stud, for repeated use, caf conc, etc ...

OVERALL OPINION

I have 2 3 years.
no reliability problems, always rack ever since.

I like almost everything.
- The characteristic hyper-complete (side chain, LED meters, all possible settings, stereo utilisatoin possible for a submix)
- Compactness (I have small fingers)
- Good build quality (it's clean and nothing happens)
- Good sound quality for the ridiculous price (and the other alesis presonus 200 or 300 euros are no better after is just marketing)

Like any product, I try to APPRI on piece and not on rumors.
For me, this compressor is very much his job, especially for the price.
It does not get the moon for you, but you'll get your money (and a little more)

Compressors, rack

UTILIZATION

Super-easy!

SOUND QUALITY

-Effective

OVERALL OPINION

I bought 2 copies of this machine in 1999/2000.
A little over 300 euros a beast!
I have often met in racks of concert halls.
My first real compressor: all settings are there!
attack
threshold
rate
relaxation
Output Gain

There is even an expander / gate input of each channel and a limiter output.
Buttons and notched it ... it is not good ...

I would do this choice. Even at the time I broke the piggy bank for you ...
For sound, other high-end compressor are certainly better.
For this price (for the time!) Is what was best.

Compressor transistors, gate / expander, a limiter unit 19. It can operate in two independent mono channels or linked stereo. An order of side-chain channel.

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple when you know how to use a compressor, everything is clear. The buttons are small but easy to handle. Being ribbed fine adjustments are impossible, and so personally I do not have this problem (the opposite), some might take offense.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality, the nerve!
The thing to point out immediately is that the MDX2200 is not the only home studio compressor-ist demanding. Why? Simply because it is anything but transparent, it is a little colorful and is easily capable of pumping a bit like how an Alesis 3630, only better. I used it with bass, guitar and drums. On these instruments, I loved: no noise, the sound is round, balanced and rather the ability to pump the beast itself adds enough, I think, a plus. You either love or hate! To be perfectly honest, I must say that it will not necessarily suited to certain types of voice catches and he definitely prefers a more transparent compressor. But otherwise, it's been very well his job.
The side-chain is effective and complements the range of use of the effect.

OVERALL OPINION

+ Sound (Note: The creature pump easily. You like it or not)
+ The multiple uses (gate, compressor, limiter, de-esser via side-chain, etc. ...)
+ The value for money

- Lack of versatility

I do it again without hesitation that choice because it is entirely appropriate for what I did. It is found used for cheap and it would be a shame to deny, especially if you already have a compressor rather transparent and you want to slum it a bit!

A nice Swiss Army knife.

UTILIZATION

The manual is not bad after it's a matter of taste.
Me I like the number of possibilities, it is visual and efficient.

SOUND QUALITY

The eternal question ... "It will not be colored or", "it will not pump or pump," I confess that my favorite reply is "the cauliflower to 1 kg sub will never approach that sold 10 in"
Well ... I'd say it does its job with good will, I do not find him unique color and without adjustment wild not especially effective pump ...
Now it's all about school, I find in some cases and I said well in some cases better than super high end stuff.
It is obviously subjective to the time of "over-compression" everywhere and on everything ...

OVERALL OPINION

I like that one, it starts to lag behind several years that more or less together but obviously the world is too small for us both.
Whatever I do, I find it everywhere and I know why:
Not very expensive, solid (after several falls during transport and a glass of whiskey / cola spilled on him by a charming assistant, he is still alive) and relative effectiveness, what more?
A Universal Audio compensate for my old 57 sm poorly positioned in front of the ugly singer?
Nah I'm kidding ...
I'm making the same choice without hesitation.

This is a compressor, but the gate and limiter are more practical.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use, light switch practices. Note the notched Knob, which limit the sharpness of tuning (but at that price ...)

SOUND QUALITY

I did that for some time, and have not yet had the opportunity to really use it. However I tested it, and it is clear he is far from transparent.

A big worry to report: the simple act of connecting one output to the console and electrically connected sends a significant buzz in the sound! Even MDX2200 off!
This behavior is intolerable for me (ds compressor is connected to a rack and console permanently powered), I sought a solution. The outsourcing of the transformer power supply solved the problem. I do not think it's a problem but to wave interference between the sector (or ground) and output amplifiers on the MDX. The fact is that leaving the transformer to the buzz disappeared.

This buzz of power supply removed, bypassed nothing to say, but once you activate the channel, you'd almost turn an equation!
As Lenoir said in its opinion, it is not the tool's home studio demanding.
Anyway, in my case, for the price and use that I'll have (voice evening entertainment) are not killed.

OVERALL OPINION

For the price (especially used), it is a good device, with gate and practice independent limiters (minimum, but it helps out).
Live, where to bcp channel dynamics processor that can be fitted neatly enough for a small budget.
But I think his lack of transparency makes it unusable for complex signals, and also monitor instru serious impact because the color in my opinion much lower frequencies.