Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

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Arron Lock

Freshman
Aug 22, 2011
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I do a live internet talk radio show and we'd like to be able to pipe soundboards/music in. Here's our set up - it's very basic:

We use a Behringer Xenyx 1204USB, 3 mics and a laptop.

Everything works just fine for that. The trouble I'm having is getting music to play via iPod/PC through the mixer and output in the live broadcast. I have used a 1/8 to 1/4 cable into the Input jack on a separate track but nothing. I also noticed that the board is "reading" the music from the pc via the USB. I don't know how to make that audible though. There are several buttons, I can post a pic if need be, I hope someone can help me out.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

What type of 1/8 to 1/4 inch adapter cable are you using. If it is a straight 1/8 inch tip ring sleeve to a 1/4 inch tip ring sleeve cable that is your problem. The individual 1/4 inch input jacks on the mixer are set up for balanced inputs not a stereo input, what is happening with a straight through cable is the balanced input + / - summing is causing the signal to cancel itself out. You would need to get a 1/8 inch tip ring sleeve cable that breaks out into two lines each with a 1/4 inch tip sleeve ( mono) jack on it. Or more easily found at your local Radio Shack a 1/8 inch that breaks out to RCA connectors and just get a couple of RCA to mono 1/4 inch adapters.
 
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Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

i have one of these very bords. even thought it pains me to metion that in a public forum.
they are a nusiance.
if using the rca inputs that come with the usb interface.
-make sure the vocal canasler is off.
- use the fader that is marked cd
- if you want it on the aux send then you can not use the rca input.(probly the worst thing that i have ever seen done to a sound bord)
if useing the 1/4 inch ins one the bord.
-use the proper cable i like this cheap but effective one. http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page98.html (431 dq6ipod is the model number)
- make sure to check all of the general stupid stuff that we all over glance. ( like oh my god the right side stack is not playing back music runs around checking every thing then pluges in the half unpuged 1/8 connecter on the computer that just got moved!)
hope thats of helps and if it still does not work then your got one that came broken fromt the factory.( my old churchs has several.)
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Benjamin D. Hill said:
i have one of these very bords. even thought it pains me to metion that in a public forum.
they are a nusiance.
if using the rca inputs that come with the usb interface.
-make sure the vocal canasler is off.
- use the fader that is marked cd
- if you want it on the aux send then you can not use the rca input.(probly the worst thing that i have ever seen done to a sound bord)
if useing the 1/4 inch ins one the bord.
-use the proper cable i like this cheap but effective one. http://www.cheaplights.com/cart/page98.html (431 dq6ipod is the model number)
- make sure to check all of the general stupid stuff that we all over glance. ( like oh my god the right side stack is not playing back music runs around checking every thing then pluges in the half unpuged 1/8 connecter on the computer that just got moved!)
hope thats of helps and if it still does not work then your got one that came broken fromt the factory.( my old churchs has several.)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've seen DOA Behringers before. Not overly surprising, really.

Also, I'll agree that 1/8" TRS is probably the worst connector ever developed. Almost every phone and iPod I come across is intermittent somehow, and I'm using top-quality Neutrik 1/8" connectors.

And, I've never seen a mixer with a 2-track (RCA) input that can be routed to anything other than the L-R bus.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Thanks for the replies. I should mention that I am a complete noob at this and I only handle the audio for our show because I'm the only one willing to learn.

If you're using the 1/8" output of your PC, then don't use the USB cable, or you will have to tell the PC to use the internal sound card, not the USB one. Check out the "Sound" section of the control panel...
Click to expand...
I stopped with the 1/8 once I realized that the board was receiving the sound via USB. Assuming I drop the 1/8 completely - I still can't get the sound to come through the board and back to the recording software. The board "sees" it as I can see the level lights move when music is playing on the PC but nothing comes OUT the other end.

I have a suspicion that I may be missing the correct button configuration on the board but I can't find any guides for it.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

You probably won't be able to route incoming audio over the USB back to the computer through USB, for the simple reason that it's very likely you'll create a feedback loop and probably blow something up.

If you're intending to record the performance with the same computer you are using for playback, I'd advise using two separate sound cards (the internal computer one and the mixer itself is another card). Use the mixer input to the computer for recording and use the 1/8 cable for playback. Configure the program you use to play the music to NOT use the Windows default sound card, but instead to use the onboard soundcard.

Usually, Windows automatically makes USB or external sound cards the default, but you can change all that quite easily.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Silas Pradetto said:
You probably won't be able to route incoming audio over the USB back to the computer through USB, for the simple reason that it's very likely you'll create a feedback loop and probably blow something up.

If you're intending to record the performance with the same computer you are using for playback, I'd advise using two separate sound cards (the internal computer one and the mixer itself is another card). Use the mixer input to the computer for recording and use the 1/8 cable for playback. Configure the program you use to play the music to NOT use the Windows default sound card, but instead to use the onboard soundcard.

Usually, Windows automatically makes USB or external sound cards the default, but you can change all that quite easily.
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can make that work... thanks

although it was my understanding that the usb in/out was a possibility.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

I've included a diagram of our set up. Maybe that will help us figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Mixer USB to laptop> recording app
Mixer > microphone x3
Laptop 1/8" to RCA on mixer*
*this is the part I am having trouble with.

I'm thinking that it's a matter of laptop configuration and button configuration on the mixer. I don't know what to set. The board recognized the music playing from the laptop (the level lights move) but I'm having trouble getting the music to come back out via the USB with the other sound.

audiosetup.jpg
 
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Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Use Line In 5-6 for the laptop audio input. You will have to buy 1/4 to RCA adapters.

It looks like the 2-track input/output is somehow tied to the USB interface. No idea how that works, and there seems to be no buttons to assign it. Just use the regular channel strips and you'll be fine.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Silas Pradetto said:
Use Line In 5-6 for the laptop audio input. You will have to buy 1/4 to RCA adapters.

It looks like the 2-track input/output is somehow tied to the USB interface. No idea how that works, and there seems to be no buttons to assign it. Just use the regular channel strips and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks. Here's my question though. I the laptop only has 1/8" out and it looks like the 5-6 is 1/4". Where does the RCA come into play. Would I use 1/8 to 1/4 instead?
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Arron Lock said:
OK, thanks. Here's my question though. I the laptop only has 1/8" out and it looks like the 5-6 is 1/4". Where does the RCA come into play. Would I use 1/8 to 1/4 instead?
Click to expand...

Yeah, use whatever cable gets you from the 1/8" stereo to dual 1/4" connectors. You probably already have the 1/8" to RCA cable, so get a couple barrel adapters for a few bucks and you're good to go.

COR206.jpg
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

yeah I have a 1/8 with an adapter like the one above. That should work right? I assume it will be mono but that's ok for now. If you think that's the ticket I will try it in about an hour and let you know. Thank you.

*Edit - duh, I see what you're saying. 1/8" to RCA with 2 1/4" adapters right?
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

It depends how your cable is wired. It should end up with two RCAs, not one. If it's 1/8" to one RCA, then post a picture and we can figure out what's going on. All the cables I've seen go 1/8" to dual RCA and those are stereo.

PS - channel 5/6 of that mixer uses only one fader but it will remain stereo if you use both the 1/4" inputs.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

OK, I picked up 2 RCA to 1/4" adapters. I will try it out when I get home in a couple hours. Thank you so much for your help. I have spent almost 2 months on this.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

OK, I got the cable and RCA to 1/4 adapters. I pressed a bunch of buttons on the mixer until I heard SOMETHING. All I get is static with a rythmic sound (like an MRI if you've ever had one). The fader controled the volume so I guess that's progress. Here's a rundown of software.

I'm using Ustream Producer to broadcast/record. It doesn't have a lot of options but it allows me to select the mixer as the input which is what I want (I think)
To play music I'd like to use Winamp/iTunes/WMP whatever is gonna work.

Simple set up.

I currently have the 1/8" to RCA (with 1/4" adapters) going from the computer to the board on line 5/6.
I have my mixer set as default recording with the internal card as default playback. I set Ustream to use the mixer (that's the only option I get). I am getting quite frustrated.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

Or your laptop may be creating ground looping, try unplugging the power adapter and see if the thumping and static go away... Thumping may persist but, I'm fairly certain the noise you are getting is from the laptops power supply. What OS are you running, because you may need to dedicate certain audio ports (USB out to your Winamp/iTunes/WMP, and the Mic/line in to Ustream Producer.
 
Re: Help with Behringer Xenyx 1204USB

A quick search online suggests that neither the USB or 2-TR inputs can be routed to the USB output. You can apparently monitor the audio from the computer via the Control Room outputs and send the mix, minus the audio from the computer, to the computer by selecting the 2-TR/USB to Control Room red button and also deselect the 2-TR/USB To Main red button. Using the analog output of the computer and the stereo inputs on the mixer may get around this but as Mike noted, that may also create a feedback loop.

The stereo inputs also have no gain controls, just the faders, and are balanced inputs, so that means you may have to watch the levels coming in and try to get reasonable incoming levels by adjusting the source (computer, CD, etc.) output levels.
 
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