Behringer Kenyx 802 4 channel mixer

[TechNoah3346]

So, I have a Behringer Kenyx 802 4 channel mixer. I have my computer connected to the control room out channel of this mixer, however, I am trying to figure out how to send sound from my computer, back to the mixer, but not have that sound sent back to my computer. I want the sound played from my computer to go through the main speakers, but I do not want the sound to come back to me. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could accomplish this?

[Hugh Robjohns]

The Control Room outputs are meant to feed your monitor speakers. The Main outputs should feed your computer.

The 2-track return inputs can be used for computer playback, as these can be monitored on the control room speakers without feeding back into the main outputs (although there is a button for that, should you need it).

The 802 is a very basic mixer with quite limited facilities. What exactly are you trying to achieve?

[TechNoah3346]

Thank you this helps me alot. I am just using the 802 for a simple at home sound studio. Nothing crazy.

[TechNoah3346]

The problem with Hugh's solution is that when I feed sound through the 2 Track input, the speakers are now focusing on that , so if I have say a metronome playing through there, the sound coming from the mics, keyboard, etc. can be heard, but they're faint (the 2 track input get first priority) and if I wanted to play music with the metronome, I really can't because the sound can't be heard. The computer can hear it just fine through the main out, but I cannot through the speakers.

[ef37a]

The problem with Hugh's solution is that when I feed sound through the 2 Track input, the speakers are now focusing on that , so if I have say a metronome playing through there, the sound coming from the mics, keyboard, etc. can be heard, but they're faint (the 2 track input get first priority) and if I wanted to play music with the metronome, I really can't because the sound can't be heard. The computer can hear it just fine through the main out, but I cannot through the speakers.

I am assuming that you have the basic Xenyx 802 and not the USB version (don't get one!) and you are feeding signals in and out of the computer via its 3.5mm jacks? If that is the case you will struggle to get a satisfactory working system for building tracks.
Over ten years ago my son was using a similar system, same mixer but interfacing with an M-Audio 2496 sound card with little success. The solution was a second mixer. One handled the inputs and the second monitoring. A clumsy system I do not recommend.

The solution is a proper Audio Interface, connecting via USB. But don't get rid of the mixer! Very few things are as handy to the audio bod as a small mixer.

Dave.

[TechNoah3346]

So what you're telling me is that I need to get another mixer with a usb port? If you are, that is not an option for me as they are very expensive and I cannot afford one. Is there any other possible solution?

The problem with Hugh's solution is that when I feed sound through the 2 Track input, the speakers are now focusing on that , so if I have say a metronome playing through there, the sound coming from the mics, keyboard, etc. can be heard, but they're faint (the 2 track input get first priority) and if I wanted to play music with the metronome, I really can't because the sound can't be heard. The computer can hear it just fine through the main out, but I cannot through the speakers.

I am assuming that you have the basic Xenyx 802 and not the USB version (don't get one!) and you are feeding signals in and out of the computer via its 3.5mm jacks? If that is the case you will struggle to get a satisfactory working system for building tracks.
Over ten years ago my son was using a similar system, same mixer but interfacing with an M-Audio 2496 sound card with little success. The solution was a second mixer. One handled the inputs and the second monitoring. A clumsy system I do not recommend.

The solution is a proper Audio Interface, connecting via USB. But don't get rid of the mixer! Very few things are as handy to the audio bod as a small mixer.

Dave.

[ef37a]

So what you're telling me is that I need to get another mixer with a usb port? If you are, that is not an option for me as they are very expensive and I cannot afford one. Is there any other possible solution?

The problem with Hugh's solution is that when I feed sound through the 2 Track input, the speakers are now focusing on that , so if I have say a metronome playing through there, the sound coming from the mics, keyboard, etc. can be heard, but they're faint (the 2 track input get first priority) and if I wanted to play music with the metronome, I really can't because the sound can't be heard. The computer can hear it just fine through the main out, but I cannot through the speakers.

I am assuming that you have the basic Xenyx 802 and not the USB version (don't get one!) and you are feeding signals in and out of the computer via its 3.5mm jacks? If that is the case you will struggle to get a satisfactory working system for building tracks.
Over ten years ago my son was using a similar system, same mixer but interfacing with an M-Audio 2496 sound card with little success. The solution was a second mixer. One handled the inputs and the second monitoring. A clumsy system I do not recommend.

The solution is a proper Audio Interface, connecting via USB. But don't get rid of the mixer! Very few things are as handy to the audio bod as a small mixer.

Dave.

No, definitely not. The USB mixers of the type built around small mixers such as the 802 have serious drawbacks (there are very good USB mixers but they are expensive). What you need is an audio interface such as the Behringer UMC 204HD. I would suggest something better but I understand your predicament.

What recording software are you using? Called a "Digital Audio Workstation" DAW. Many people start with the free Audacity and that will make excellent recordings but it is not designed for easy dubbing and song building.
Cockos Reaper is very good and free but they will nag you after a time. Studio One is totally free as is Band lab's Cakewalk. My son likes Cakewalk for its looping abilities.

If you really cannot afford any new gear you can work with the mixer but just not very efficiently. Don't be afraid by the way to experiment with varies hook ups and signal routings. Rig things 'cold' then make sure volume to speakers is hard off. Power up and advance volume slowly. Might hum, might feedback but it won't smoke! If no nasty noises, proceed.

Dave.

Edited to fix quotes - JP

[Hugh Robjohns]

The problem with Hugh's solution is that when I feed sound through the 2 Track input, the speakers are now focusing on that , so if I have say a metronome playing through there, the sound coming from the mics, keyboard, etc. can be heard, but they're faint (the 2 track input get first priority) and if I wanted to play music with the metronome, I really can't because the sound can't be heard. The computer can hear it just fine through the main out, but I cannot through the speakers.

Yes... as I said, it's a really basic mixer with major limitations. But there is a work-around.

Your mics and keyboard go through the 802 mixer into the computer program (DAW) you're using to record and playback the metronome and any previous recorded tracks or backing tracks.

Every DAW has a 'virtual mixer' facility that allows you to balance the levels of both incoming (recording) tracks and playback tracks (and metronome clicks) and feed that full mix-in-progress to the output which you are listening to via the two track return into the 802 mixer feeding the monitor speakers.

So all you need to do is adjust your DAW mixer to hear the mix balance you need. Simples.

The drawback of working this way is that you're hearing your Live sources (mics and keys) after they've been through the computer, and that path acquires a short delay (often called latency) because of the analogue/ digital/ analogue conversion and the computer's internal data wrangling. Hopefully, the delay is only a few milliseconds (it depends on the quality of the sound card drivers and the buffer size settings), but some find it off-putting, especially if singing.

The better solution is called 'latency-free monitoring' and it's a facility included on many USB interfaces and more capable mixers... but obviously you'd need to change your equipment to gain that benefit.

[ef37a]

Hugh, I have found out via a PM that he is using Audacity. I have looked at it and it seems to me that the mixer is not as other DAWs? In my version at least it is greyed out in record mode and can only be used in playback to balance tracks.
Now I am far from an expert with Audacity and it may be that the mixer can be 'switched on' as a record monitor? I really only use it to record 'off screen' a facility Ms took away in Win 10.

If Noah (?) really cannot afford even a basic AI then he needs I think to use another DAW, someone here familiar with either Reaper or Studio One can perhaps help him set those up? I am pretty slick with Samplitude but been a long time since I messed with Reaper. Paid for mind!

Dave.

[Mike Stranks]

I really like Audacity for basic two-track work... but I wouldn't classify it as a DAW as its multitrack facilities are very limited.

I can't comment on free DAWs, but I endorse what Dave is saying - including the comment about keeping a small mixer about the place... I rarely use mine, but it's invaluable for some specific situations...

[Arpangel]

As Dave said, a small interface by Behringer the UMC202 £64
And Reaper, it’s so easy to set-up, takes a few seconds, if he gets this far myself among others here can guide him through it, the great thing about the 202 is that you have a mix knob to hear your mixer, turn it the other way to hear your software and recorded tracks, or a mixture of the two.

[ef37a]

As Dave said, a small interface by Behringer the UMC202 £64
And Reaper, it’s so easy to set-up, takes a few seconds, if he gets this far myself among others here can guide him through it, the great thing about the 202 is that you have a mix knob to hear your mixer, turn it the other way to hear your software and recorded tracks, or a mixture of the two.

Hi Tony, I chose the 204HD for my son as it seemed to be the cheapest model that had ASIO drivers. I don't know about the 202 but the mic pres on the 204 are very good for the money, easily good enough for VO work with an SM58 without swallowing the mic!

One other drawback to Audacity is that it saves to its own, unique format and you have to 'export as' to get tracks out as .wav.

Dave.

[TechNoah3346]

Ok, so can anyone tell me how to accomplish this? No one seems to be able to give a a direct answer on how to fix it. I am not entirely sure how to do this with a DAW. I don't really understand it.

I just need a way to send audio from my mixer to my computer, from my computer to my mixer, but not have that sent back again. I would prefer to do this via some sort of cable routing with the mixer, but since I have a limited Mixer, I don't seem to be able to do that as Hugh said. I do not want to buy any other gear to get this to work at the moment. I would like to try and make it work.

I should say that in the future I plan on getting a goXLR. to plug the main out on my mixer into the line in on the GOXLR. (the reason why is complicated. I won't get into it) So, I am fully up for a solution regarding the goXLR if anyone knows one.

I should also say that if a solution uses a DAW. (preferably cakewalk or audacity) I may need a step by step solution, so please post that in your solution too.

[Drew Stephenson]

It would help me if you could explain exactly what's plugged into the mixer, and what cables in what sockets, instruments and speakers / headphones.
And then also how you're connecting the mixer to your computer - again, what cables in what sockets.

[TechNoah3346]

Well, as of right now, I am actually in the process of getting everything together.
I brought this topic up before everything was done so that once I get everything together, I can accomplish what I am trying to accomplish.

I have channels 1 and 2 of my mixer microphones. Channel 3/4 is a simple tabletop drum set. Channel 5/6 is a Korg Synthesizer. Plugged into my FX send, Is a lexicon mx200 reverb sound processer. Plugged into my headphone port is a headphone preamp which allows me to plug in up to 4 headphones instead of 1. My monitor speakers are plugged into the control room out and my main out will be going to my computer once we get this figured out. My 2 track output is plugged into a TASCAM DR-40 which I use for backup recording. And I currently do not have anything plugged into the 2 track input.

Everything is kind of a mess right now since I am trying to get this to work, but everything will be final once we get this figured out.

I should mention that I made a mistake. It is technically a 6 channel mixer not a 4 channel.

It would help me if you could explain exactly what's plugged into the mixer, and what cables in what sockets, instruments and speakers / headphones.
And then also how you're connecting the mixer to your computer - again, what cables in what sockets.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Ok, so can anyone tell me how to accomplish this?

I did! You need to arrange your monitoring via the DAW. It is your only workable option that I can see.

However, if you're using Audacity it seems that can't do it, but I'm sure Cakewalk can, and Reaper most definitely can.

Monitoring through the DAW is not a perfect solution for the reasons I stated previously, but it is better than your current situation, and the only viable solution given your current circumstances.

Investing in a competent USB interface would be better still -- a basic Behringer 204, for example, won't break the bank and will provide latency-free monitoring.

[TechNoah3346]

Investing in a competent USB interface would be better.

Ok. So, a USB interface is different from a mixer with a USB port I am assuming. (Still fairly new to this, so I don't know all the proper terms and everything, sorry) Do you know how I can do this using the DAW cakewalk? Or do i have to do that research on my own?

[James Perrett]

Most budget mixers with USB have an audio interface that doesn't perform up to the standard you would need for proper recording. The sound quality of the interface is fine for casual use or for playing backing tracks but you will notice delays if you try to play through the interface due to poor drivers. The features that you need are a dedicated ASIO driver and a way of monitoring the input directly.

The cheapest audio interface that has proper drivers is the M-Audio M-Track Duo but you should also look at the slightly more expensive Behringer UMC0202HD. Anything cheaper will give you the same problems as you would get with a USB mixer.

[TechNoah3346]

Ok thank you. I cannot afford an expesnive one so I'll take a look at some of those cheaper ones.

Also, Just to make sure I am understanding how to connect this properly to my computer, instead of using a dual TRS to aux cord, I would use a Dual trs to trs cable to connect the main out on my mixer to the in port on the usb interface then connect the usb interface to the computer via usb?

[James Perrett]

Yes, you would go from the main outputs of your mixer to the line inputs on the interface and use a USB cable between the interface and computer. You would connect your monitors to the line outputs of the interface and, if you use headphones, connect them to the headphone socket on the interface.

[ef37a]

NB. The 202 only gives switched monitoring, either you listen to the source or the output of the DAW. The 204HD has a mix control allowing the proportions of the two sources to be balanced to taste.

Sorry but at this level with AIs you get what you pay for. Past about £200 there is very little to chose between them except obviously you get ever increasing inputs and outputs.

Dave.

[James Perrett]

NB. The 202 only gives switched monitoring, either you listen to the source or the output of the DAW. The 204HD has a mix control allowing the proportions of the two sources to be balanced to taste.

Ah - I hadn't twigged that it was an either/or situation with monitoring on that one. In which case, it looks like the M-Audio M-Track Duo is going to be the better alternative on a tight budget.

[TechNoah3346]

(Replying mainly to James Perrett, but others can answer)

So, with the that the audio interface connects to my computer via a USB in mind, I assume I won't be able to connect it through my GoXLR like I had originally planned? (you can look by at previous posts for more info on that)

[ef37a]

(Replying mainly to James Perrett, but others can answer)

So, with the that the audio interface connects to my computer via a USB in mind, I assume I won't be able to connect it through my GoXLR like I had originally planned? (you can look by at previous posts for more info on that)

No, you would not be able to connect the Duo "through my GoXLR" because you can normally only run one USB interface in Windows. But why would you want to? I can see that you might want to 'gather' more sources to record than a 2 input interface can but you can do that with the mixer (2 mic and 2 stereo line sources IIRC?)

Note also that even the M-A Duo does not have a full monitor balance control but instead a 3 way switch, one position giving a mix. The interface is also limited to 16 bit operation but since your ultimate goal seems to be podcasting I doubt that will be a problem.

Dave.

[TechNoah3346]

When I say it I was referring the main out on my mixer. Sorry I didnt clarify that. I would want to connect it to my goXLR because I already have a mic on a boom arm set up on my desk and I am going to get a goXLR for it. To make things a bit easier, I was just going to run the main out into the line in on the goXLR. But, with the audio interface, I obviously wont need to do that.