Behringer Xenyx Q1202USB Mixer with USB

I bought this Behringer mixer to use for karaoke singing at home. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and this seemed to fit the bill. My original thinking was that I only needed two mic inputs. As it turns out I now have three mics, so the extra inputs proved useful, although not essential (yet).I find the performance to be very good. The sound is clean, with no noticeable noise. When first testing I heard a hiss coming out of the main mix, but after investigating, I realized that the hiss was actually from the computer audio out. In fact all of my computers had a noticeable hiss, but only at the highest levels. Interestingly, the microphones, a Shure SM48 and Nady dual UHF-24 wireless were all very clean even with the gain turned up to maximum. Watch out for feedback! I thought the microphones were far enough away from the speakers, but not with surround sound. A horrible squeal came out. I was afraid I had blown my amp and/or speakers, but fortunately not.It seemed I would not need the four stereo line level inputs since I wasn't planning on connecting a lot of instruments, but I found that I could connect all of my computers as well as an analog synth into the mixer using a mix of RCA, USB, and line-level inputs. Incidentally, the digital I/O eliminates the computer hiss. Right now I have four computers and a tablet hooked up to the mixer. This has the added benefit that my computers are all connected to one audio system and I can either playback or record from my choice of computer. I have the mixer's main outputs plugged into a 2x2 USB audio interface that I connect to one of the computers and to an amplifier.The downsides for me are more what the mixer can't do. It's not an audio interface, the USB notwithstanding, but it can act very similarly. It connects to a computer via USB or RCA and then sends everything out through the main mix. I would have liked if it could send each channel individually, but that requires a device for more money. The four mono pre-amp channels have gain, level, pan,and 3 band equalizers. The 4 stereo inputs have only level and stereo balance. Mute and solo switches would be convenient, but I guess I'm not paying for convenience.I read in some of the comments that a reviewer found that the mixer doesn't sit flush to his desk and rocks when pushed. My unit does the same thing. One foot seems to sit about a millimeter high. Annoying, so I put a business card underneath. That stops the rocking, but if the unit moves, the card can slip out. I ended up attaching four square vinyl bumpers onto the bottom. That not only gets rid of the rocking but also movement. One of the bumpers covers a half inch of a ventilation opening. Hopefully that doesn't cause a problem.I read that another reviewer dislikes the DIN power plug and I also hate it. The plug can slip out if the unit is lifted. It only happened once to me, but if you are gong to move the mixer around, or even re-position it, first unplug it. I also find the DIN connector difficult to attach . I rarely get it on the first try, even if I'm looking straight at the arrow. I never had this problem with DIN connectors before, so it could be my eyesight is failing. I also don't see why Behringer couldn't add an on/off power switch. Rubber feet and a switch - that might cost the company fifty cents. Their margins can't be that thin.I was able to buy the mixer for less than $75 which seems to be a bargain since the price jumped $25 immediately after the purchase. For a hundred dollars, I might not have bought it. If I were willing to spend more I would have looked at a Mackie or Yamaha or a better Behringer, If I kept at a similar price point, I would have considered the Q802 or Q1002, but value for the price drove the sale. My price was actually less than the smaller Behringer mixers. Otherwise, for a bare-bones analog mixer at a reasonable price, this unit gets the job done.

Behringer many models of mixers, so I can choose one that fits my needs. I can listen with headphones or route through my computer for Zoom sessions or for recording. Quite satisfactory.

I love that Behringer is putting 1-knob compressors on all the XLR inputs these days. I do depositions, and I hoped compressing each channel before final mixing would be better than a compressor on the output, since a loud speaker talking at the same time as a quieter one can mask the quieter one. It turns out compressing the output leads to better volume regulation, but this mixer is small and light, so for a minimal kit, I think it's a great candidate.Additionally, the compressors don't seem to bring up the background noise much. I don't know if it's because there isn't much compression to them (a limit to the max ratio the dial will bring in?), or they are noise-gated, or what, but cranking the compression up pretty high wasn't nearly as noise-inducing as I expected. I also didn't notice any "pumping" except at the very very highest compression settings, so for vocal work (interviews), the compressors seem to do a very nice transparent job at 85% and under on the knob. I have no idea what ratio that is though. It would be nice if Behringer would list the range of compression ratios available in the specs for the unit.The weight is good, and I'm glad to have tone and balance controls again (as compared to my older Shure mixer that is mono and no EQ controls).Only a few complaints about this mixer:1) AC adapter with non-standard plug. Replacements are likely to be expensive and/or hard to find?2) The LED meter isn't long enough. For good control over the audio, you need to see what it's doing. 4 LEDs including CLIP isn't really a meter, it's an activity light.3) The adapter is a heavy AC adapter, not DC. (see next paragraph)I'd really prefer that the adapter be a transformerless DC adapter. Those AC adapters with transformers in them make such a huge magnetic field, that 60hz gets into anything within a couple of feet. This means the adapter can't be pre-wired into a field kit like all the other wall warts - it has to sit on the floor several feet away to keep the hum out. A DC adapter could be bundled inside the equipment rack, tacked down, and not have to be plugged and unplugged every day.

Super compact but with all the needed features for live performances or recording that larger ones have. All channels have Pan/Balance control. I believe even the 1/4" jacks are balanced if you use a TRS plug. You can rig for fairly complex output: Stereo Main out (which has Stereo USB tied to it and probably the RCA out as well.) One note on USB that the included software can't record in stereo from USB. Use AISO and Reaper or something proper. Stereo Headphone/Control Room with independent level out. FX out with full level out for each channel. I found the FX out is useful as a Monitor out when recording. You can mute mic'd instruments on your monitor that don't need amplification, such as drums, but still have them in the main mix for recording. The EQ and Comp are solid for tweaking things a bit. Remember to keep output level at or below 0db and strive for roughly Unity (0) level output on each instrument.It does get warm underneath. I stuck a couple of large feet on the bottom to vent a little better. I'd recommend using the wall plug to power it up instead of the plug directly on the mixer to avoid spikes. Make sure the low voltage plug is fully and properly inserted.