Behringer UFX-1604 Available for Silly Money!

[Richard Benn]

Sorry, a bit late to this party, but I wondered if this might be any good for overdubbing away from the PC?

So if I connect a USB drive is it possible to assign WAV files on that drive that I have recorded elsewhere to the channels on the UFX1604 and then overdub on other channels? Or is it really just intended for capturing the individual channels of a live performance?

Thanks.

Richard

[Wonks]

The latter. Each recording session will create new files on the attached hard drive or USB stick. You can either record or play back in 'stand-alone' mode, but you can't do both at the same time.

You can of course connect a computer and use it as an interface to do what you want, but that's probably not what you were enquiring about.

[Richard Benn]

Thanks. I sometimes need to overdub away from the PC and I currently use a Zoom H5 for this and was thinking the Behringer might be a little more user friendly.

Richard

[Wonks]

It's basically a mixer with some useful extra recording functionality built-in, rather than a stand-alone recorder with mixing facilities built in.

You could always play a stereo mix of your main recording back through the mixer from say the H5 or a phone at the same time you record some new tracks. But there is a big risk that playing back from another source means that the speed will be very slightly different to the original and will drift apart over time.

[Wonks]

A friend of mine has just bought one and has just informed me that the mixer is a lot larger than the dimensions given on the Behringer web site. That appears to be the dimensions without side panels or knobs fitted! So don't go by them if ordering a flight case or similar for it. So definitely measure it yourself!

Apparently 530 x 450 x 110-ish, not the 'official' 530 x 398 x 89mm.

[Ronnie Wibbley]

Yes, that would be me, though please check those measurements yourself if you're looking for a case for it as they are very approximate!

Wonks is correct in that it's essentially a mixer which has 16 tracks of USB recording as a bonus feature, but for my needs it's almost perfect. I'm out every weekend with a band, and like to take live recordings whenever possible. The problem is that (a) we don't have a dedicated sound person, and (b) there's never enough time to faff around with settings before we start playing, so it's a question of rushing to plug the recording device in and crossing your fingers.

Until now I've been using the Cymatic LR-16 which I'm generally very pleased with, but even that needs a few minutes to set up, more space around the desk and cables everywhere. This seems a more elegant solution. Looking forward to giving it its first outing!

[ConcertinaChap]

Sorry, a bit late to this party, but I wondered if this might be any good for overdubbing away from the PC?

So if I connect a USB drive is it possible to assign WAV files on that drive that I have recorded elsewhere to the channels on the UFX1604 and then overdub on other channels? Or is it really just intended for capturing the individual channels of a live performance?

The Zoom Livetrak L-12 can do what you want according to the manual. It does cost more than the 1604 but still only £450.

CC

[Music Wolf]

Sorry, a bit late to this party, but I wondered if this might be any good for overdubbing away from the PC?

So if I connect a USB drive is it possible to assign WAV files on that drive that I have recorded elsewhere to the channels on the UFX1604 and then overdub on other channels? Or is it really just intended for capturing the individual channels of a live performance?

The Zoom Livetrak L-12 can do what you want according to the manual. It does cost more than the 1604 but still only £450.

CC

Yes. There is an 'over dub' button / indicator. When enabled you can playback selected tracks whilst recording on others. I haven't tried importing tracks onto the SD card yet (I've only sent data the other way from SD to PC) but, according to the manual, it is possible as long as you name the files correctly.

[Mike Stranks]

Until now I've been using the Cymatic LR-16 which I'm generally very pleased with, but even that needs a few minutes to set up, more space around the desk and cables everywhere. This seems a more elegant solution. Looking forward to giving it its first outing!

I, too, was an LR-16 person before I bought this Behringer. It will enable me to combine all my requirements for live sound and recording in one unit. I was allwet to but an L-12 before the Behringers were offered at the current bargain price. I don't need overdubbing so it does everything I need.

PS. Anyone wanna buy an LR-16 - complete with looms?

[Mike Stranks]

Double-joy...

Just discovered that the Gator MixBag that I bought in the summer for some other (about to be disposed of) kit fits the Behringer perfectly.

[Phunky]

I've just received mine. Impressive looking piece of gear considering the price-tag(311 euros).

[Ronnie Wibbley]

Hard case for mine has just turned up, so now the rest of the band can resume their airport baggage handler impressions when loading gear in and out of the car.

[Drew Stephenson]

You mean they actually help?

[Wonks]

For a certain value of 'help'.

[Albatross]

fyi, Thomann have stock in Belgium have got some in stock at €299 inc vat and delivery to the UK.

And now I see they are showing 'available immediately' on the UK site too.

https://www.thomann.de/be/behringer_xen ... bd1fc217ed

And apparently Preamps sound warm, clear and loud without self noises.

[Random Guitarist]

I ordered one from Thomann on Tuesday evening and it was dispatched yesterday, now I just have to keep pinging the UPS page . . .

[Ronnie Wibbley]

Well, after 6 months and numerous gigs I'm extremely happy with the desk, but was wondering whether anyone had tried recording with a portable SSD from the USB out?

I use it to take quick 'n' easy live multitracks of my bands playing in pubs and clubs; the beauty of it is that once the mics are up and a couple of amps and instruments have been DI'd for the front of house, there's nothing extra to wire up and you just have to press record. Set up time is always a battle so this time saving element is very important.

For the sake of simplicity I've been using USB3 flash drives but it seems very hit or miss whether they will record properly in 24 bit resolution (some days all will be fine, next time the same drive won't be fast enough). I know that I can record in 16 bit, but this is less than ideal in a live situation as setting the input level becomes more critical and there's never enough time to fiddle with this. After previous experiences recording to a portable hard drive with my old Cymatic I'm nervous of vibrations causing glitches on the recordings, hence the SSD question.

Is these any technical reason something like, for example, the WD 500 GB My Passport Go Portable wouldn't work in the same way as a portable HD?

[Mike Stranks]

Hi Ronnie

I share your enthusiasm!

.... and I use an external hard-drive all the time with the Behringer... not SSD though.

The Cymatic was quite fussy about what drive it would work with and my worst horror-story in 50 years concerns the Cymatic and a hard-drive....

There days with an unproven external drive - or USB stick - I tend to run a test-recording - at home of course - of 30-mins to an hour just to check all is well.

[Ronnie Wibbley]

Thanks Mike.

I'll invest in a load of bubblewrap for the portable HDD, find a sturdy table, tell the drummer not to bash the kick drum so hard and hope for the best...

[James Perrett]

Is these any technical reason something like, for example, the WD 500 GB My Passport Go Portable wouldn't work in the same way as a portable HD?

Do they have a list of approved drives? I know that Allen and Heath do for their Qu series and I bought a 500GB WD Elements drive specifically because it was on the list when the larger drives weren't as far as I can remember. It worked fine for the particular job that I bought it for and has worked fine for everything else I've tried since (though I've not tried it on a Behringer mixer).

[Ronnie Wibbley]

They don't even have a proper manual for it, so I doubt there's a list of approved drives. I'm sure I read somewhere that they recommended using drives with an external power source rather than USB-powered ones, but I can't find where I read it now.

[Random Guitarist]

I have used an external SSD successfully. USB sticks in general all seemed to be slow but this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07 ... UTF8&psc=1

Works every time for me. It was only £40 when I bought it and there are other USB3 SDDs for more sensible money listed as similar. So long as the listed speeds are in the ballpark should be good.

[Ronnie Wibbley]

Yes, can confirm that a cheapy 120 Gb portable SSD works fine for this.