#433593 - 11/04/03 07:21 PM
Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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rblooz
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Registered: 01/31/03
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Loc: Concord, CA
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Has anyone road tested the Behringer DDX 3216 Automated Digital Mixing Console? Looking for any feedback. Thanks.
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#433595 - 11/05/03 12:47 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Albert
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Registered: 12/23/02
Posts: 163
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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That's a pretty broad statement. I'd say it's the best digital mixer under $1,200, unless you include some of the older digital mixers selling used for cheap these days. The 3216 is an entry level digital mixer for home studio use, and lacking many professional features, nothing more.
It looks good on the surface, but as soon as you start digging through it you'll find a bunch of stuff that is a bit rough. A prime example is grouping faders. Normally, you can group faders and easily adjust the relative volume between the faders by simply moving any of them. With the 3216, to change the volumes within the group you have to ungroup all the faders, make the change, then re-group them. Then repeat and repewat and repeat until you have the group mix you want. This involves going to the group menu page, really a very cumbersome process for something that should be fast and easy.
For $2,800 or less you have some much better digital mixers to choose from, including the Tascam DM-24 and the new Yamaha O1V96 ( think that's what it's called). The 3216 is just not something I'd want to spend a lot of time working with. Sorry to be so negative on it, but I wasn't impressed with it compared to many other digital mixers.
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#433596 - 11/05/03 01:30 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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rebonn
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Registered: 04/10/01
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Originally posted by Albert:
That's a pretty broad statement. I'd say it's the best digital mixer under $1,200, unless you include some of the older digital mixers selling used for cheap these days.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2569255885&category=23785&rd=1
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#433597 - 11/05/03 02:00 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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where02190
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Registered: 11/06/01
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It's a Behringer product, nuff said.
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Hope this is helpful. NP Recording Studios Analog approach to digital recording.
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#433598 - 11/05/03 04:14 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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System 8
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Registered: 11/01/02
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The DDx3216 has 4 effects per channel which Tascam only has 2 or 3.
There is built in led meters on the DDX next to each fader. The TAscam DM 24 you have to pay $900 for a meter bridge that sits in front of the XLR outputs. The 01V96 does not led meters except looking at the small green screen.
The DDX has automation while the Yamaha 01V96 does not.
The DDx also has a larger footprint than the 01V96 so there are more dedicated buttons which is important if you want to have a good work flow.
The effects, and eq for a project studio is also very good. Better than the effects in Cubase or Nuendo.
The unit also won the best digtial mixer award in Electronic Muscian. This is what they said about the DDX
It's hard to describe Behringer's new DDX3216 digital mixer without sounding like an infomercial. What if I told you that this board lists for $1,999 and has a potential 32 simultaneously available inputs, 4 internal effects processors, full dynamic and snapshot automation, and a total of 17 ALPS 100 mm motorized faders? That's not enough? Then what if I threw in a total of 6 D/A converters, 12 mic/line inputs and 4 line inputs, and parametric EQ and dynamics on every channel? What, you want more? Okay, how about 16-stage LED meters next to each fader and 17 Channel Control lighted rotary encoders?
You can get the DDX for $1,000 while the Yamaha is around $2,000 and the DM 24 with meter bridge is $2,800. However Tascam has a special right now for those in the states. If you get a mixer now, you can send in a rebate and get a meter bridge for free.
So for the price of a Mackie controller you can get all this in the DDX digital mixer. Again it it not a high end mixer, but I use my higher end mic pre's and put them into the inserts of the DDX.
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#433599 - 11/05/03 04:30 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Philter
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Registered: 09/19/01
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I have a 3216 and it's an incredible bang for the buck. I've had it for a while now and the only problem has been the fan, which makes some noise on startup.
The only digital mixer within the same price range that I like better is the Ramsa DA7, and it's discontinued. It also takes up about twice the space to do the same thing.
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#433600 - 11/05/03 04:54 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Jeebus ®
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Originally posted by where02190:
It's a Behringer product, nuff said.
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#433601 - 11/05/03 05:19 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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StoneinaPond
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Registered: 11/22/02
Posts: 2009
Loc: New York City
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Gee, THAT'S a well constructed argument. 
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Stone In A Pond
"Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on."
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#433602 - 11/05/03 06:15 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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System 8
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Registered: 11/01/02
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Behringer construction was very poor 10 years ago. Ever since they came out with their UB series mixers, all of their new products have much better quality. True a lot is assembled by machines in China, but that is just to keep the price down. The machines are very high tech
http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=DDX3216&lang=eng Check out Under Special topic on the right, inside the DDX3216. They have photos of the internal workings of the unit. Very clean sodering, all wires neatly done, and some good quality parts to boot. Yes I know, its not a high end piece of gear, but for the price, it is amazing. Plus it sounds great.
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#433603 - 11/05/03 06:21 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Jeebus ®
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crystal and akm convertors are not a bad inclusion for a board of this price
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#433605 - 11/05/03 07:02 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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zele
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Registered: 01/12/01
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roland 2480 --- 24 analog inputs -- 2 dig I/O --- 2 8 channel digital Rbus .. 8 effects per channel ---- VGA ready .... ~~~ about $2000 used
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#433606 - 11/12/03 02:31 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Albert
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Registered: 12/23/02
Posts: 163
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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The DDx3216 has 4 effects per channel which Tascam only has 2 or 3.
There is built in led meters on the DDX next to each fader. The TAscam DM 24 you have to pay $900 for a meter bridge that sits in front of the XLR outputs.
The DDX is just not as refined a piece of gear as other low budget digital mixers around. It is the cheapest though.
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#433607 - 11/12/03 02:59 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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zele
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The Roland has a Meter bridge accessory---but the VGA out to a 19in LCD works great (with the ASCII key/mouse attached).......8 effects per channel (internal or external) with EQ, comp , etc. on each automated channel. With 24 analog inputs + a added RBus system with 16 digital or analog available ...Spdif + Optical, also...plenty of balanced outputs (phones,monitor, etc) ...SCSI (we use the removable caddy system) Still about $2-1500 used...~~~~ANd for fun, you can even record with this one!!
A very informative/helpful site >>>> http://www.vsplanet.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?category=1
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#433608 - 11/12/03 04:48 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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AEW
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Registered: 06/04/01
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Loc: Sydney,,AUSTRALIA
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Ok, the Behringer is cheap, but are the preamps, eq usable for recording and what about noise levels?
Nick
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#433609 - 11/12/03 05:34 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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System 8
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Registered: 11/01/02
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You can get the DDX3216 for $700, just buy it, you can't go wrong for that price!
The mic pre's are very quiet unless you crank them up all the way. EQ is better than whats in Cubase, reverb is better than Cubase as well as the compression, gate, and chorus. I would use the mic pre's only for a keyboard, as they are not high end mic pre's. Better to use an outboard unit and put the output into the insert of the DDx which bypasses the pre in the unit.
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#433610 - 11/12/03 05:35 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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dougsthang'
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Registered: 05/04/01
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Keep in mind Behringer does not have a secret source for quality parts that other manufacturers don't. In other words, you get what you pay for. There's a reason they can bring it in at such a low price, they're cutting out costs that aren't apparent when all the pretty lights are flashing...
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overheard street personality on Venice Beach "Man, that Bullshit is Bulllshhittt...."
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#433611 - 11/12/03 05:47 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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zeronyne
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Originally posted by System 8:
You can get the DDX3216 for $700, just buy it, you can't go wrong for that price!
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#433612 - 11/12/03 06:38 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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System 8
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Registered: 11/01/02
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Guitar Center!  The DDX has corners cut. The buss outs (which have no EQ, dynamics or aux sends) normally feed the expansion I/O slots, though they can also be assigned to any of the four Multi outputs. I would have liked to have been able to select the digital input as a two-track return for patching in my DAT recorder. Also there are no effect in and outs like the DM 24, though you can use the inserts on a channel. By not having this feature they did not have to include more A/D, D/A Converters. I can live with these short cuts. 
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#433613 - 11/13/03 07:26 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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dougtune
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Registered: 04/16/02
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Loc: Chicago
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DDX3216 has been my board for one year. At the store, I compared it at length with the Tascam DM24. I ran a CD player into them and into the same monitors and headphones. My main concerns were 1.sound quality and 2.ease of use. The Behringer's EQ's and reverbs always sounded better. Even at extreme settings, the DDX sounds like MUSIC. The Tascam's compressors might be bigger sounding, more analog-like, but it was close; the DDX's compressors are still excellent. In my year with the DDX, I've never heard a digital artifact, like flat, un-dimensional, harsh or gritty sound. It's always clear and sweet. I think that means the convertors are good and that complex operations are handled internally without wrecking the sound. The mic pre's are what you want on a board; clean and transparent. They don't have the great character of a good outboard preamp, but it's not a Neve, remember.
The DDX is very easy and logical to use. The DM24 and Yamahas I've tried are puzzles.
My DDX just died one day, and they sent me another one. Anything like this can just die, but at $1,000 each, you can have a spare! (I really am amazed at its price.)
The ONE thing I don't like about the DDX was easily changed: the fan noise (DM24 has no fan.).
The noise was from turbulence where the air tries to get past the metal cage cut into the mixer's case. By skeletonizing (or even removing) the metal over the fan hole, the noise is MUCH quieter. (Don't get filings into the unit!)
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#433614 - 11/14/03 02:09 AM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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Dugan
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Registered: 10/01/03
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Loc: New York Philly Boston
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i ditched a yamaha 01v for a ddx3216, which i am now in the process of getting to know. i am very happy - i was thinking about expanding to 2 01v's to handle more inputs and allow 16 channels of adat i/o for tracking and mixing... but the problem i kept having with the 01v's was that the input convertors sucked - the signal clips too easily. the ddx gives much more headroom and with the expansion slots and an 8 channel convertor i can have 24 distinct analog ins, and 24 channels of adat i/o for interfacing with my computer. all in a compact parcel. next step is to decide between motu 2408mk3 and rme digiface. but thats another post in itself.
but so far the ddx gets my seal of approval.
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#433615 - 11/17/03 09:36 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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DobbS
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Registered: 09/24/03
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Loc: Orlando, FL
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Ok so the pro's and cons of the Behringer DDX seem to weigh out. My biggest complaint is the Signal to noise ratio at 95 dB. I am the type of person who definatly wants the most bang for the buck. Even though CD is at 90dB most people would say who cares (which is the case with a Digi 001).
I am intrested in knowing how much noise floor this puppy puts out. Just the fact that it is 24 bit and has a 95dB SNR just worries me. It would be nice if all i had to do was replace the fan to get a lil more out of it, but I am not sure this is going to be a solution or not.
I have been looking at the o1v and DDX for awhile and I just hope the DDX doesn't pan out like the 001 (Crappy in my opinion when held up against my Maudio Delta omni 24/96). I mean I don't even touch the 001 because of it's SNR and crappy pre's. Anyways any insight to the noise floor on the DDX would be nice!
Thanx
Dobbs
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#433616 - 11/17/03 11:33 PM
Re: Behringer Digital Mixing Console
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tkingen
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Registered: 09/07/03
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Loc: Bellevue, WA
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In my experience with Behringer (not a whole lot) every piece of gear that I've tried from them has added an upper harmonic somewhere that resulted in an artificial brightness to the signal. I've chosen not to tolerate that.
Terry
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