how many channels do mixers actually have, please help.

[tojo]

Hello,

I am currently very confused about how many channels a mixer can have.
I have a behringer mixer that supposedly has "12 channels"

here is a link to see what it looks like.http://www.behringer.com/MX1604A/index.cfm?lang=ENG

Now it has 4 xlr inputs and 4 1/4 inch inputs under each xlr input. Then there are a bunch of 1/4 inputs to the right or these xlr inputs. there are 8 channel sliders So how can it have "12 channels" when there are only 8 sliders? can you plugin in an xlr input and 1/4 inch into the same channel? Or is say there are 12 channels because the other ones are stereo, and a stereo tracks counts as two tracks?

Can someone please explain this to me, I'm sorry for seeming like a nube, but I wanted to clear this up.

Thanks a lot

[M10K]

4 mono channels, 4 stereo channels (which is "8" mono channels) = 12 channels...don't you love marketing!

[tojo]

wait, so does that mean you can use the 4 stereo tracks as 8 mono tracks instead? I haven't tried....

[M10K]

No...unfortunately.

[tojo]

so basically they're lieing?

its not a 12 channel mixer its an 8 channel mixer.

[M10K]

Like I said...Don't you love marketing!!!

[RAMI]

It's not a fully functional 12 channel mixer...but it's a little more than an 8 channel mixer, too.

Nowhere is it written that you have to have one stereo instrument on both "mono" tracks in a "stereo" track. You can have a different instrument on each track....or a stereo mix of drums, for example. Your limitation will be that one slider controls both those tracks.

[Justus Johnston]

You think that's bad? Years ago, when I was still just beginning, I bought a mixer to use at home that claimed to have "24 inputs", thinking I was going to get 24 usable mic inputs with pre-amps. It ended up only having 8 (yes EIGHT) mic pre's, 4 stereo input channels with one fader apiece, and 4 stereo returns. Yup, mine even counted the RETURN CHANNELS!

Let the buyer beware.

[talontsiawd]

I don't know if i've seen a mixer not marketed this way. And for some people, it's really advantagous to have stereo tracks. Infact, my ideal mixer would be say a 20 channel mixer with two mono channels and 8 stereo channels as all my outboard stuff is basically stereo (outside mics-which i never use more than one at a time).