What Does Alt 3-4 Do? | Behringer Xenyx Audio Mixer Setup

Ever wondered what Alt 3-4 does on your Behringer Xenyx audio mixer? In this video, we'll show you how the Alt 3-4 output works.
PRICING FOR EQUIPMENT FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:
► Behringer Xenyx Q1204: currentprice.i...
► Rode NTH-100 Headphones: currentprice.i...
► XLR Cable: currentprice.i...
► TRS Cable: currentprice.i...
► Mic Stand: currentprice.i...
► Rode PSA1+ Boom Arm: currentprice.io...
► Quality Acoustic Treatment Panels: currentprice.io...
These are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission from Amazon (and others) on qualifying purchases.
BLOG POST WITH MORE INFORMATION:
►
XLR CABLE BUYER'S GUIDE: kettnercreativ...
BEST SETUP FOR 4 PERSON PODCAST: kettnercreativ...
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
0:11 - Why Use Alt 3-4?
0:40 - How Does Alt 3-4 Work?
1:49 - Why Use Alt 3-4?
3:55 - A Better Way?
4:35 - Final Thoughts
STUDIO EQUIPMENT:
Editing Computer: currentprice.i...
Camera: currentprice.i...
Lens: currentprice.i...
Headphones: currentprice.i...
Studio Monitors: currentprice.i...
Video Recorder: currentprice.i...
Key Light: currentprice.i...
Fill Light: currentprice.i...
Uplight: currentprice.i...
Truss: currentprice.i...
SOFTWARE & TOOLS:
Davinci Resolve
MotionVFX Plugins: geni.us/5SFH6w
Affinity Photo: geni.us/86RLOhZ
Epidemic Sound: geni.us/eiPf1G
Envato Elements: geni.us/ENFErA
Tubebuddy: geni.us/Md6v
VidIQ: geni.us/dqUyD
Riverside FM Podcast Software: currentprice.i...
GeniusLink: geni.us/vss0P
Website: kettnercreativ...
Instagram: / kettnercreative
Facebook: / kettnercreative
Threads: www.threads.ne...
Disclosure: If you purchase an item or service from an outbound link, we may receive a referral fee, which helps to support Kettner Creative.
All information is provided using our experience and research to the best of our ability. Links, videos, and other content are shared for information and discussion only.
Copyright: 2024 Kettner Creative Inc., All Rights Reserved.

[@VinceFilby]

I use it for a non-standard recording setup. I have an oddly similar Mackie 1202 and I have the Alt 3-4 wired to an extra stereo input on a computer (that is configured to not pass through to the outputs automatically) and I have the computer outputs looped back to one of the channels on the mixer. I do this when recording with outboard equipment so that I can send a signal to the computer without it going directly to the monitors, yet I can still monitor the processed signal through the monitors (connected via the control room outs). Having both a mute button and a 3-4 bus button would be nice, but not a deal breaker for me. For example I can plug an electric guitar into the mixer and set it to the 3-4 bus, I can have recording software/GuitarRigth/etc pick up only the guitar signal from the 3-4 bus and output back to the main which is Line In 11/12 on my mixer.

[@paulfragemann3333]

One thing i could imagine this being useful for would be to run the alt 3/4 to external processing hardware and then back into the console, essentially being able to have insert effects without actually having insert points (also with the ability to mix multiple things together before sending them to processing. Still grasping at straws i'd say, since a mixer that has AUX outputs or a group can accomplish the same thing. (I was recently running a theatre play for a school using a Yamaha MG 16XU, were we used an outboard graphic EQ for the 6 stage overhead mics to remove room resonances and feedback but at the same time not running the GEQ for the music playback and the wireless mics we had (since they weren't on stage but instead at FOH for a teacher to do announcements, running them throught the GEQ would've sounded weird since they didn't have the same problematic resonance of the stage). How i ended up running it was routing the GEQ over GRP 1/2 and then back into the console on channel 13/24. The Mute to send to GEQ could've been used instead of normal group sends here i guess, but every cicumstance i can think of, this is just less powerful group routing, as you loose the ability to send something to both master and the group and the ability to actually mute a channel fully, whilst preserving the fader level.

[@AnilKumar-zo2eu]

Thank you so much sir for your packaged information.

[@johnheiser2604]

I've been pondering that myself for many years on the same mixer.

[@willemcbothavideos]

If the alt could route to the mains it would be usefull as a sub mix but have the same mixer for 11years now and cant figure out how to use it. We do productions but the coms system will be flooded with noise if you route that to coms.

[@WWeiss-nv5vz]

How do the preamps on this mixer compare to the Yamaha MG series in this price range? Enjoying your videos!

[@kettnercreative]

Yamaha preamps are still better.

[@donm1547]

Maybe if they had labeled the mute button as Mute/Alt 3,4 it would make more sense, single button send to alternate outputs. Probably a real estate vs price-point decision?

[@LiveSportsOdds-uo5xu]

Personally I use the ALT 3/4 everyday. I have multiple devices I want to listen too. I have 3 PCs, TV, etc and I use the "Main Mix" to listen to all these sources through my headphones. Then I have an XLR mic connected and I have that output to "ALT 3-4". Obviously I dont want my audio mixing with my mic input. Maybe this is overkill for what I need. Im running into an issue because I have more devices and I ran out of inputs.

[@kettnercreative]

Thanks for the comments!