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I ordered this to replace the Pyle PMXU63BT (which I returned due to its low quality and high noise). I am setting up a podcast and doing other recording using Audacity on a Linux laptop and needed to be able to bring audio into my recording from at least two mics as well as other sources. I initially ordered the Pyle mixer and was pleased with how well it made that task possible, but the end result of my recordings was unacceptable.
I returned it and ordered this in an effort to try again.
I unpacked the XENYX 1202FX, plugged it in, hooked it up to my mics and computer, and did a test recording. When I compared that recording to one I had just made with the Pyle, the difference was like night and day -- the noise was gone, the audio is richer and fuller, and the overall quality was much better. I am very pleased with this board.
Check out the pics and video featuring a recording made with this mixer, the Neewer NW-700 microphone, and Audacity on my Linux laptop.
Here is what I like about this mixer:
• The four XLR jacks are powered by Phantom Power
• Below each XLR jack is an unpowered Line In jack for instruments or mics that don’t require power
• Each of the XLR/Line In jacks has controls for GAIN, EQ, LOW CUT (to eliminate too much bass coming in), FX (more about FX later in this review), PAN (more about Pan later in this review), and LEVEL.
• All of the other jacks (5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 11/12) can be used as stereo or mono and have controls for FX, BALANCE, LEVEL and Input Sensitivity.
• The RCA In and Out make it easy to connect peripherals such as a CD or Tape player/recorder. In my case, I used the RCA In to capture sound from my laptop so that I can listen to recordings in Audacity during my post-production editing.
• The build quality is better than I expected at this price. This board is really well-made and solid as a rock!
• The quality of the sound is superb. I have much less to do in post-production and the results are impressive.
Features I really like:
• PAN and BALANCE on all jacks:
◦ This is one feature that was missing from the Pyle mixer that I returned.
◦ This allows me to pan one XLR mic all the way to the right and another all the way to the left and then record in stereo on Audacity. After that, I can separate those tracks and edit each one independently. This way, I can have a guest on my podcast and do post-production editing of my voice without messing with his and vice versa.
◦ BALANCE control of jacks 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, and 11/12 allows them to be treated as true stereo in the recording. It is even possible to treat each one (for example 5/6) as individual jacks and use entirely different sources with each of them.
• The MAIN OUT jacks are true stereo:
◦ This means that whatever I pan or balance left or right is recorded that way.
◦ This is also true for the CONTROL ROOM OUT jacks.
◦ This is also true for the PHONES jack, meaning I can monitor what’s going on and adjust as needed.
• The EQ is excellent (though somewhat limited):
◦ It has the “British” style three-band (High, Mid, Low) EQ knobs for all four XLR/Line In jacks (1,2,3,4).
◦ The EQ is deep, wide, rich, and full – the adjustments are perfect for me.
• The FX are really good:
◦ There are 100 of them (numbered 0-99) and they are fully adjustable.
◦ Some people have complained that the manual does not include a list of these FX, and that is true. But a quick Internet search found a PDF of the list and it includes many FX that really make recordings sound more professional.
◦ If you prefer to use an external FX processor, there is an FX SEND jack for that. The FX send also allows a simple "mix minus" setup.
The biggest complaint I find in other reviews I read here is that the mixer does not have a power button. While it is true that this means either that you will need to plug into a power strip or unplug the unit to turn it off (and plug ot back in to turn it back on), I don’t really see that as a big deal at all. Instead of it taking me one second to turn it on before I start, it takes 5 seconds.
The bottom line is that I am more pleased with this mixer than I thought I would be at this price. My expectations were reasonably high, but this mixer is amazing. It has all of the features I knew I needed and some I didn’t realize I would need. It works perfectly and produces professional, quality sound. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a simple, basic mixer with a few extra features.
