Podcasting With Behringer X1204USB Mixer Pt. 1 | Gain Staging Mics and More

An introduction to how I use the Behringer Xenyx X1204USB mixing board for podcasting and broadcasting.
I discuss the first four channels, how I gain stage my microphones, and the final Main Mix to my Tascam DR-05 digital audio recorder.
Here is my new lapel mic, the BOYA BY-M1 - amzn.to/2K5LH88
Help fund these videos by purchasing your equipment via my Amazon Affiliate link: bit.ly/hipamazon
OTHER EQUIPMENT:
Behringer XENYX X1204USB Mixer • amzn.to/1PWR0GP
TASCAM DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder • amzn.to/1Ss48WE
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Microphone • amzn.to/1PWQW9V
Neewer Suspension Boom Scissor Arm with Shock Mount • amzn.to/1Ss3Lvg
Neewer NB-39 Microphone Suspension Boom • amzn.to/214xZpI
Pyle PLGI35T Audio Ground Loop Isolator • amzn.to/1PWRPiM

[@iOSJailbreaksSL]

Thank you! This has been the most helpful video thus far into my journey of figuring out how the hell to podcast!

[@morsteen]

That was really educational. Never really knew about gain staging.

[@bradleylewis9523]

Awesome video champ,I just purchased my x1204 last year and i've been trying to suss it out for my broadcast studio but still having issues as I'm user to radio panels

[@tysonsaner2527]

Very helpful. Liked and Subscribed!

[@vonshango6311]

11:00 maybe demonstrate what you mean re bringing up the faders after it's dialed in with peak. are you still just monitoring the peak light?

[@humanderek]

Hey there. great video! I have a behringer xenix x1222 USB and I'm apparently challenged on how to be able to have me and my guest hear ourselves in the headphones, and have the microphones recording into garage band at the same time. Any advice or directions for a video on how to figure this out hehe thanks :)

[@ShaniaRose]

Thank you this was so helpful! I’m new to all this stuff and it pushed me back from starting my podcast almost 2 years so if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t of been able to get it up and going 🥺

[@smalltimer4370]

I'm using a mic with phantom power and the clip light appears to come on solid when I press the SOLO button on the channel master? That said, and if I depress the SOLO button, the mic no longer registered on the VU meters and appears to loose all of its gain? - that said, I'm confused as to why or how this is intended to work in this case, or am I doing something wrong with my setup?

[@YuloffCreative]

This was a really good video. Thank you for giving incredible tips.

[@timcalderwood514]

Can you provide a detailed description of how your computer is connected to the mixer? And maybe a diagram?

[@jorowi]

Thanks for sharing your setup, Michael.

[@HowIPodcast]

My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by.

[@MsUnknownabc]

I am getting an echo on my live recording? Can u please help me get rid of it? Thanks

[@kjemradio]

Do be aware that the USB is stereo and not capable of multi-track recording. Second recently I used the Q1204USB and found that using a line out to the computer (foregoing the USB) improves audio quality when streaming. The mute is NOT a true mute. It is a combination of mute and ALT 3|4 switch. So while you may think you are muted your mics can still pick up a signal. It won't kill the entire signal. Bringing the faders down on the tracks will. This is a sad limitation of the 1204 series of mixers.

[@BenjiDWJ]

An awesome walkthrough and video. 😄👍👍 Just out of curiosity, if you don’t mind my my asking what cable do you run out of the mixer into the Tascam in order to get the level/metre readings to appear on the screen? 🔌🔴🤔💭 Also, again if you don’t mind my asking how do you enable the limiter in order to ensure that your audio never clips/distorts/piques? 🗣🎙🎤🤔💭

[@ClayJarvisGuitar]

Great video and very informative. Do you know how well this mixer would work for recording in to a laptop via USB and using Ableton Lite as your DAW?

[@jbrondos]

How do the levels you set on the mixer compare with (a) the levels you set on your recorder and (b) the levels you set in DAW post-processing? If you set your mic levels @ -12 dB, do you also set the meter on your recording device @ -12 dB? And do you use compressor/limiter in post-processing (Audacity/Audition) also to run @ -12 dB before you export it to an MP3 file? Part of the reason I ask is that I want my podcast roughly to be at the average sound levels of most other podcasts out there.

[@HowIPodcast]

I set my mixer output level to my recorder - that is, I don't set the recording levels to my mixer's built in meter (though it is close). In Post I use Compression, EQ, and a limiter (two, actually). I set the limiter in order to get my final mix levels. When discussing LUFS (Loudness units relative to full scale) you will find that there is no "industry standard" yet (unless I'm just ignorant on that - and I may be). You'll read some who say that -18 LUFS is the "standard." Others will say that the standard is -24 LUFS (the same as radio). While many others will say -16 LUFS is the standard. I've read that KZbin's standard is -13 LUFS. Perhaps that has changed - I can't keep track. I tend to set my levels a little hot on my podcasts, and probably average about -13 LUFS. Just remember that Peak levels will be much higher. I set a ceiling of -1 db. Regardless of what levels you want to use, you will need a LUFS meter, as RMS levels will not give an accurate result. It is close, though. I hope that I answered your questions.

[@olegorekhov1465]

Does it record clean signal only or the external effects and EQ settings are recorded as well? Thanks!

[@gbengajosephp]

Thanks for the tutorial sir. What do you think about x1622usb behringer mixer? can you help to do tutorial on that too?

[@jbrondos]

Do you record from X1204USB directly into computer -- Adobe Audition via USB AND the digital audio recorder (e.g. Zoom H4n) via XLR jacks?

[@HowIPodcast]

I record only into my TASCAM DR-05 via RCA out of my mixing board to the 3.5mm mic jack on the recorder.

[@girlinagale]

What is the stereo aux return #1 -> to aux send1 (knob to right of return level knob) for?

[@jondee442]

If I needed to add a DJ mixer to this, how would I go about doing that?

[@las-beat7637]

Please how can I set it up with processor and equalizer please also to receive live call please help me

[@comocantaremingles]

Hi - great video!!! How you edit your audio? :D Thanks

[@th33network19]

HOWDY. Do this mixer have a software interface like voice meter ?

[@richiedee9580]

I am using the shure SM58 and in this case the dynamic mic is very sensitive to noise. I am setting up my podcast in my store and the shure is picking up talking from through the walls more than ten feet away. The other store is a church and its empty today. I had to send back the AT2035 condenser mic because that was really picking up the talking from next door. Just to make the point, I can not hear any talking otherwise only when at my mixer is on wearing the headphones. I was trying to record on audacity but no luck so far as the sound wave is very small. I then edit to normalize and the sound wave increases but still no sound. I am not sure if my computer is recognizing the USB audio CODEC microphone and speakers selection of the behringer mixer. I had a sweetwater tech download the Behringer drivers but the program asio 4 all that I downloaded at the time with audacity the tech wanted to use but my PC did not give him the option to do so. So that's why the USB audio CODEC option was used. The other two options to select in audacity were the standard microsoft PC choices for microphone and speakers. in case you need to know I am using the MME selection as well. Super crazy question about the effects, do you have to go through the effects to use the mic, if so what's the normal voice number setting on the behringer 1204 USB that I should tune into? Michael thank you for being very generous with your time. sincerely Richard P.S. that 20.00 mic sounds good

[@HowIPodcast]

Ok. As I'm trying to understand exactly what's going on (it's hard to communicate and diagnose this stuff via text) I realized that I did not address your FX question. Remember: all the orange knobs are part of the FX sends; one on each channel strip, the main AUX send (above the source buttons), and one AUX return (which mixed the signal back into your main signal). Make sure that the button next to the AUX return is depressed (up position) so that you will hear the FX in the Main Mix. While you're at it, make sure the Main Mix button in the Source section is depressed (up). See if that helps with your microphone problem.

Mr, thanks for your explanation ! It's very simple, but you don't say nothing about the UBS cable back on the mixer. That's my problem. I got this USB cable connected back on the mixer to my lap top. It seems it dont do nothing. Can you give some explanation, what is useful to ? Please, explain me how to use my UBS cable !

[@franksmit9725]

You can find software and drivers on the Behringer website: www.behringer.com/Categories/Behringer/Mixers/Analog/X1204USB/p/P0A0H/Downloads

[@connectedevolution]

How do I get the effects to work? I am trying to add reverb to line 1 for a mic and it isn't doing anything.

[@andrewdarlin5231]

I have the same issue, did you find a resolution?

[@richiedee9580]

Hey Michael, Only using the 1st channel for the microphone. I am having a problem getting the effects to work and truthfully I don't get why. But now as I watch your video the only time the red clip light never flickers but. It stays a constant red when I press down the solo button on the channel. Other than that, no red clipping light when adjusting the gain by the1st channel slider, any suggestions, and the effects don't seem to work. Sincerely Richie

[@HowIPodcast]

That's a good question. What microphone are you using?

[@corbin630]

Why do you not use the Level Set and Solo buttons for setting gain?

[@HowIPodcast]

Primarily because the PFL/Level Set function is for setting levels to the board's VU meter. I set my levels to my digital audio recorder. I'll explain all that in a future video.

[@WallStreet749]

Can you use a USB mic with a non USB mixing board?

[@kjemradio]

No. These boards require the traditional XLR mics. USB mics are in my view garbage due to high latency issues.

[@thomasorta4297]

what kind of microphone is compatible with this device?

[@HowIPodcast]

Any XLR mic.

[@DeeKayBrewery]

@@HowIPodcast did you use the lav mic you mentioned at the start of the video into the mixer or was that recording elsewhere? I would like to be able to use such a mic with behringer mixer, what is the method?

[@not-bot]

Наболтал дядька целую кучу слов но про мониторинг в несколько наушников ни слова 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@not-bot]

Если видите мужика в кепке - знайте, он прячет лысину.