Sorry to post Behringer and computer music related stuff, but all other communities on the internet are crap and I love all you guys feedbacks!
So, anyone used one of these already?
I've been scouring the internet for honest feedback on these cheap USB multiple output units but to no avail. I keep reading how crappy the preamps are, bla bla bla and that Behringer sucks ass, etc..
I'm only really looking at the amazing amount of outputs for 250€, as I won'tbe needin anything else at all.
Plug this shit on my PC, take 8 tracks out to my mixer and perform live, only live mixing and AUX effects jamming on the mixed, I'd be using this purely to output 8+ different channels.
Any thoughts?
Behringer FCA1616
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Hooded Menace
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Re: Behringer FCA1616
Skipping over the (pointless) Behringer-bashing...
If your main goal is OUTPUT and it fits the budget and you've already shopped around for alternatives... pretty sure you'd be good to go. As far as the INPUTS go... you can bypass the preamp by just going in line-level 1/4". If the input is high-impedance then you will NOT be bypassing.
People also get shit twisted when it comes to preamps. In my experience, unless you're shelling out some serious money, "prosumer" circuitry is more similar than not... meaning the quality of your sources matter MUCH MORE than most want to believe. Most preamp nazis I have had the pleasure talking to have completely overlooked their mics... FACE FUCKING PALM.
Point is:
For OUTPUT... you're solid. (maybe research digital-analogue conversion)
For INPUT... you're solid (definitely nail it AT THE SOURCE)
For LIVE USE... Behringer gear is king because they aren't special. If it breaks on tour, you can always buy the exact piece at the next mega-music-mart (which has saved me a ton of frustration)
Long reply. My bad home.
If your main goal is OUTPUT and it fits the budget and you've already shopped around for alternatives... pretty sure you'd be good to go. As far as the INPUTS go... you can bypass the preamp by just going in line-level 1/4". If the input is high-impedance then you will NOT be bypassing.
People also get shit twisted when it comes to preamps. In my experience, unless you're shelling out some serious money, "prosumer" circuitry is more similar than not... meaning the quality of your sources matter MUCH MORE than most want to believe. Most preamp nazis I have had the pleasure talking to have completely overlooked their mics... FACE FUCKING PALM.
Point is:
For OUTPUT... you're solid. (maybe research digital-analogue conversion)
For INPUT... you're solid (definitely nail it AT THE SOURCE)
For LIVE USE... Behringer gear is king because they aren't special. If it breaks on tour, you can always buy the exact piece at the next mega-music-mart (which has saved me a ton of frustration)
Long reply. My bad home.
(╯°□°）╯ ︵ [ニニニ] ＬＯＧ ＴＲＡＰ
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Hooded Menace
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Re: Behringer FCA1616
Perfect reply!
I can't seem to get over the fact they shell out 10 outputs for 200$. I keep getting bashed around with the pointless Behringer hate by dudes who gave 400$/600$ for 4 outputs and most of the hate based on the crappy preamp shit which neither of them really use that much. I've also read some reports of a slight hum on these units, which I don't think would be that much of a trouble on a fucking loud PA anyway...
One thing that still scares me though is driver support. I keep reading conflict reports and plug-and-play experiences everywhere, dunno which one of those sides to trust
I can't seem to get over the fact they shell out 10 outputs for 200$. I keep getting bashed around with the pointless Behringer hate by dudes who gave 400$/600$ for 4 outputs and most of the hate based on the crappy preamp shit which neither of them really use that much. I've also read some reports of a slight hum on these units, which I don't think would be that much of a trouble on a fucking loud PA anyway...
One thing that still scares me though is driver support. I keep reading conflict reports and plug-and-play experiences everywhere, dunno which one of those sides to trust
Re: Behringer FCA1616
Would the Focusrite 18i8 work for you?
It's got two separate headphone outs with independent volume controls for each and one set of monitor outputs with its volume knob. It's one I've been looking at... apparently, it can be used with an iOS device.
It's got two separate headphone outs with independent volume controls for each and one set of monitor outputs with its volume knob. It's one I've been looking at... apparently, it can be used with an iOS device.
Re: Behringer FCA1616
Yeeeeah man, driver crisis is never kosher. I keep my systems stable and hardly update (and when I do I try to do it manually). I have had great luck with with every interface I have hours on - on both PC and Mac. It is scary to invest and not know for sure but, unfortunately that seems to be the best method.
Focusrite stuff has been solid (Saffire 40) even after years of abuse. Mine has good number of outputs but the inputs might be overkill for your needs right meow.
Good to hear you're not instantly biting at the reviews.
Kinda hit or miss.. mostly just a dropped bat.
Focusrite stuff has been solid (Saffire 40) even after years of abuse. Mine has good number of outputs but the inputs might be overkill for your needs right meow.
Good to hear you're not instantly biting at the reviews.
Kinda hit or miss.. mostly just a dropped bat.
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Re: Behringer FCA1616
That's a sick idea, HM, reads like you could do some live dub mixes on the kind of rig you're describing. But not quite sure if I get what you're after with the Behringer:
A, Are you planning on running the audio out of a laptop to the Behringer thing to other gear that leads to an analogue mixing desk?
B, Are you after a set up that allows you to control audio from a laptop to a PA?
The simplest path (B) would probably be best in the long run and could skip the Behringer. Even if skipping the FCA1616 means more expensive alternatives, consider ease of use and set up/take down at a gig. Do you really want to plug in/out all those cables?
If I haven't missed the point, a USB controller like the Akai MPD32 & a decent sound card to run audio out of you lap top could get some great results. For the sake of SP loyalty, look into the SP-555 as a soundcard (maybe even the 606, but that's 2nd to the 555 for live). That's assuming you're also cool with midi-controlling DAWs like Ableton, Cubase, Reason or Logic.
Also I'm not sure if the Behringer's designed to operate in quite the way you're after, it seems like it's intended more for recording inputs (the sends are for FX loops) rather than outputs for easy jamming. Where would you route audio after sending it from the Behringer? It wouldn't be suitable for live dub-mixing at all.
Otherwise if you can find a decent & cheap USB audio (digital) mixer you can do all that with 1 USB connection. Try a 2nd hand USB Yamaha if you can, I've used 2 MG series mixers- the build quality is great & the sound's super clean. Only catch is what I've used were both analogue. Also got a small Soundcraft mixer but that feels cheap & nasty compared to the Yamahas. Got no experience with USB mixers to be honest.
Presumably a decent digital mixer can AD/DA convert so you can hook it up to a PA.
Another thing to consider is if you're going to use external effects with a hardware set up. If so, avoid using guitar pedals. They'll audibly raise the noise floor and to get them sounding OK you'll probably end up compromising the the mix in other places (too much noise gate/ EQ etc). Rack mountable FX is the right stuff because of balanced line levels or something that's a bit more technical than I can easily explain. Just saying 'cause I had this discussion last weekend when shopping for a nice reverb unit... Ordered a Lexicon MX300, stoked. After that I went home, fired up the MG mixer & tried running a couple of pedals like the Boss DD-6, GEB-7 & a mini EHX chorus through a send-return group for comparison to my other rack gear in a different send-return group. Admittedly it's chalk & cheese (the rack stuff's a BBE maximiser & a DBX compressor), but I could definitely hear extra artifacts through the pedals that aren't nice while the rack stuff's polished like glass.
Hope all that makes sense.
Don't be afraid to ask around in some music shops as well, the good pro-audio guys will know understand you're after & will know the right bits of kit with a bit of a chat.
A, Are you planning on running the audio out of a laptop to the Behringer thing to other gear that leads to an analogue mixing desk?
B, Are you after a set up that allows you to control audio from a laptop to a PA?
The simplest path (B) would probably be best in the long run and could skip the Behringer. Even if skipping the FCA1616 means more expensive alternatives, consider ease of use and set up/take down at a gig. Do you really want to plug in/out all those cables?
If I haven't missed the point, a USB controller like the Akai MPD32 & a decent sound card to run audio out of you lap top could get some great results. For the sake of SP loyalty, look into the SP-555 as a soundcard (maybe even the 606, but that's 2nd to the 555 for live). That's assuming you're also cool with midi-controlling DAWs like Ableton, Cubase, Reason or Logic.
Also I'm not sure if the Behringer's designed to operate in quite the way you're after, it seems like it's intended more for recording inputs (the sends are for FX loops) rather than outputs for easy jamming. Where would you route audio after sending it from the Behringer? It wouldn't be suitable for live dub-mixing at all.
Otherwise if you can find a decent & cheap USB audio (digital) mixer you can do all that with 1 USB connection. Try a 2nd hand USB Yamaha if you can, I've used 2 MG series mixers- the build quality is great & the sound's super clean. Only catch is what I've used were both analogue. Also got a small Soundcraft mixer but that feels cheap & nasty compared to the Yamahas. Got no experience with USB mixers to be honest.
Presumably a decent digital mixer can AD/DA convert so you can hook it up to a PA.
Another thing to consider is if you're going to use external effects with a hardware set up. If so, avoid using guitar pedals. They'll audibly raise the noise floor and to get them sounding OK you'll probably end up compromising the the mix in other places (too much noise gate/ EQ etc). Rack mountable FX is the right stuff because of balanced line levels or something that's a bit more technical than I can easily explain. Just saying 'cause I had this discussion last weekend when shopping for a nice reverb unit... Ordered a Lexicon MX300, stoked. After that I went home, fired up the MG mixer & tried running a couple of pedals like the Boss DD-6, GEB-7 & a mini EHX chorus through a send-return group for comparison to my other rack gear in a different send-return group. Admittedly it's chalk & cheese (the rack stuff's a BBE maximiser & a DBX compressor), but I could definitely hear extra artifacts through the pedals that aren't nice while the rack stuff's polished like glass.
Hope all that makes sense.
Don't be afraid to ask around in some music shops as well, the good pro-audio guys will know understand you're after & will know the right bits of kit with a bit of a chat.
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Hooded Menace
- Member
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- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:07 pm
Re: Behringer FCA1616
Cheers for your input Unfolding!
My planned setup was to have a laptop outputting tracks divided for live dub as such:
Kick
Snare
Bass
Synth
Then input each one of them into a different mixer track, so I can not only live mix but also have independent control over each one (EQ, auxiliar effects, etc.). This is going to be joined by live synth so everything is connected to the mixer and I basicaly only dub everything live at will. The music is not dub per se, but it's structured like dub and my goal is to play live dubs of the songs structured over a timeline or even arranged in loops.
This post kinda follows my previous one, where I was looking for something kinda like the Octatrack, where I could have a piece of hardware sequencing loops on tempo but from the feedback I got on that post, I started to think going laptop and rearrange everything so I can live dub instead of live sequencing loops, which gives me less song structure freedom but gives me more mixing and effect wizardry abilities, which appeal far more to me.
I really have to check if I can use the outputs of the Behringer mapped to different tracks from my DAW, unfortunately all the techs on my local stores understand this stuff even less than I do
My planned setup was to have a laptop outputting tracks divided for live dub as such:
Kick
Snare
Bass
Synth
Then input each one of them into a different mixer track, so I can not only live mix but also have independent control over each one (EQ, auxiliar effects, etc.). This is going to be joined by live synth so everything is connected to the mixer and I basicaly only dub everything live at will. The music is not dub per se, but it's structured like dub and my goal is to play live dubs of the songs structured over a timeline or even arranged in loops.
This post kinda follows my previous one, where I was looking for something kinda like the Octatrack, where I could have a piece of hardware sequencing loops on tempo but from the feedback I got on that post, I started to think going laptop and rearrange everything so I can live dub instead of live sequencing loops, which gives me less song structure freedom but gives me more mixing and effect wizardry abilities, which appeal far more to me.
I really have to check if I can use the outputs of the Behringer mapped to different tracks from my DAW, unfortunately all the techs on my local stores understand this stuff even less than I do
Re: Behringer FCA1616
for live use a 4 or 8 tracks tape recorder to do mad live dub a la lee perry-king tubby??? just to say eh...tape+mix in one...
anyway, not to destroy beheringer, but i had very bad experience with some of their cheap preamp...noisy as hell, also with low setttings...maybe for live this is not a great issue, but...
anyway, not to destroy beheringer, but i had very bad experience with some of their cheap preamp...noisy as hell, also with low setttings...maybe for live this is not a great issue, but...
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Hooded Menace
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- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:07 pm
Re: Behringer FCA1616
Funny that you mention that, I just refurbished this week a 4 track Fostex but I was aiming to use it for live looping voice loops! Let's see where that goes!
Re: Behringer FCA1616
Yeah to be honest the digital route in-the-box is probably going to work the best, but don't understimate that tape deck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxi7RwFSKEg.
Pity about those techs not knowing about the interfaces and how they could be used to dub live. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like common sense to know about rediculous send/return/aux set ups
.
Hope these are inspiring: a Sound On Sound intro to setting up dub, a demo of mixing desk mastery by The Scientist, and how to flex the KP3 Jon Hopkins style.
Also ignore what I was saying back there about guitar pedals & mixing desks. If it sounds good to you, that's the main thing. I just like to record in hi-fi & sometimes forget that lo-fi's an art unto itself. Chances are nobody cares either way at a gig if the music's good.
*edit* while checking out other live dub videos, found this gem. Mad Professor is SP fam!
Pity about those techs not knowing about the interfaces and how they could be used to dub live. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like common sense to know about rediculous send/return/aux set ups
. Hope these are inspiring: a Sound On Sound intro to setting up dub, a demo of mixing desk mastery by The Scientist, and how to flex the KP3 Jon Hopkins style.
Also ignore what I was saying back there about guitar pedals & mixing desks. If it sounds good to you, that's the main thing. I just like to record in hi-fi & sometimes forget that lo-fi's an art unto itself. Chances are nobody cares either way at a gig if the music's good.
*edit* while checking out other live dub videos, found this gem. Mad Professor is SP fam!
Re: Behringer FCA1616
@Hooded - Using outputs is as easy as assigning them in your DAW. You could even make a mix group (IE all drum tracks summed to a single fader) and assign that group an output all the same.
Usually the outputs are found on-track where your solo/mute buttons and fader is at. By default you listen to the master buss in your DAW so just find your output menu and you're good to go.
This sounds fun, homie!
Usually the outputs are found on-track where your solo/mute buttons and fader is at. By default you listen to the master buss in your DAW so just find your output menu and you're good to go.
This sounds fun, homie!
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Re: Behringer FCA1616
i'm addicted from months to this channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjdnZ626ppk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STOhuTFl9o4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvIeacjzgE
@Unfolding
great video, this was inspiring, that why i still keep with me the yamaha mt120 and the mtx4, i also taking from dust the midiman smartsync to do mad sincing with the midi machines...i also try that man's 4 track fostex method with the mighty mc909 (16 mad hell simultanous tracks as a big fake drone recorder)...i think this could be cool with an sp808 also...LIF ,where are you man?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjdnZ626ppk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STOhuTFl9o4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcvIeacjzgE
@Unfolding
great video, this was inspiring, that why i still keep with me the yamaha mt120 and the mtx4, i also taking from dust the midiman smartsync to do mad sincing with the midi machines...i also try that man's 4 track fostex method with the mighty mc909 (16 mad hell simultanous tracks as a big fake drone recorder)...i think this could be cool with an sp808 also...LIF ,where are you man?
Re: Behringer FCA1616
This music is on point.
Always wondered how de dub was dun. Makes too much sense now that I see it in action.
Jah mon!
Always wondered how de dub was dun. Makes too much sense now that I see it in action.
Jah mon!
(╯°□°）╯ ︵ [ニニニ] ＬＯＧ ＴＲＡＰ
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Hooded Menace
- Member
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- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 10:07 pm
Re: Behringer FCA1616
ACE LINKS GUYS!!
Here's some I found while digging for live dub setups and the RE-20 <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDxcoCkCc-4 (best RE-20 test video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFlsBtX-VBk (simple live dub setup, just switch the Yamaha for whatever sound source you may prefer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vM2iPs9LOw (fuck yeah??)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1VcSdwMwUo (fuck yeah!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH-Do0qpYRc (jahtari!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1NqSPTNs18
Here's some I found while digging for live dub setups and the RE-20 <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDxcoCkCc-4 (best RE-20 test video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFlsBtX-VBk (simple live dub setup, just switch the Yamaha for whatever sound source you may prefer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vM2iPs9LOw (fuck yeah??)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1VcSdwMwUo (fuck yeah!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH-Do0qpYRc (jahtari!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1NqSPTNs18
Re: Behringer FCA1616
cool...
brothers, don't forget the originators...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y651C7aNXRc
+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQD4J6a1CEA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMOl5eqJ-lc
+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HPgcmHtiwA
dub jah!
brothers, don't forget the originators...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y651C7aNXRc
+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQD4J6a1CEA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMOl5eqJ-lc
+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HPgcmHtiwA
dub jah!