Behringer DDX3216 Digital Mixer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Berlingj
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That's worth knowing. I suppose appropriate planning could help you minimise the number of bank shifts you had to do? You're right on that last point though ... just about every piece of complex gear has something you need to get over and work around, and mixers more than most. I actually find Behringer's analogue mixers extremely easy to find my way around, and Yamaha's much less so, but I have no idea whether I would find it similar with their digital ones!
 
noisedude said:
That's worth knowing. I suppose appropriate planning could help you minimise the number of bank shifts you had to do!
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That, plus if you knew when things were going to change, you could make your banks shifts while the program or applause was loud enough to cover it, or whatever. That disable motor thing might be pretty handy.
 
easychair said:
That, plus if you knew when things were going to change, you could make your banks shifts while the program or applause was loud enough to cover it, or whatever. That disable motor thing might be pretty handy.
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Yeah, except then when you start making adjusments the levels could jump suddenly as the fader picks up where it physically is rather than where it is internally. It wouldn't be as much of an issue in a theatrical setup but there could be issues with live music.
 
I use a DDX3216 at home and my dad uses one live at church everyweek. They are really easy to use, once you know how. I mixed on it for a while in my studio, but I wouldn't advise you doing that. I don't know if it makes any sense, but I think the mix bus in Sonar sounds better. Most of the freatures are pretty usable. The EQ seems fairly colored, and i'm not a big fan. The effects are pretty top notch. I think the pre's are the best berry makes. They are pretty quiet up until the higher range of the gain knobs. The convertors are also pretty good. I've seen numorous places that it uses the same convertor as that alesis box, which sets you back a couple hundred for just 8 channels of convertors.

"Things like grouping faders is a real pain on the DDX3216, if you want to change the relative volume within the grouping, you have to ungroup them all, change the volumes, then regroup the faders. Clunky."
Right next to the "Group" button is the "isolate" button. you hit isolate, and move one member of the group, hit isolate again. It's that easy.

About the faders. They are really quiet. If anything remotely loud is coming out the FOH you won't hear them even standing right at the desk.
 
prestomation said:
"Things like grouping faders is a real pain on the DDX3216, if you want to change the relative volume within the grouping, you have to ungroup them all, change the volumes, then regroup the faders. Clunky."
Right next to the "Group" button is the "isolate" button. you hit isolate, and move one member of the group, hit isolate again. It's that easy.
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This is better, but I still prefer the more standard setup where one fader acts as the group master and the rest of the grouped faders are slaves. That's what I find odd about how they designed the DDX3216 groups: all the faders function as masters. Something like an "isolate" button is unnecessary if there is a group master, as all you need to do to change the relative volumes between channels is simply adjust the faders--no extra button presses required.

What if you want to change more than one fader in the group, do you have to go through the "isolate" button press process for every fader, one at a time? Or can you hit "isolate", adjust several faders, and then hit "isolate" again? Just curious.
 
SonicAlbert said:
What if you want to change more than one fader in the group, do you have to go through the "isolate" button press process for every fader, one at a time? Or can you hit "isolate", adjust several faders, and then hit "isolate" again? Just curious.
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It's the latter. When you hit isolate, all of the members of all of the group become indepedant until you hit isolate again.

I'n not sure why they did group like that. I guess to save on physical faders?
 
prestomation said:
It's the latter. When you hit isolate, all of the members of all of the group become indepedant until you hit isolate again.

I'n not sure why they did group like that. I guess to save on physical faders?
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Well, that's not so bad then. They might have designed it this way because they knew that for a lot of potential customers the DDX3216 would be their first digital mixer, and doing groups this way is a bit more idiot proof. I think it would also be easier for them to design groups this way, as far as the time it took them to develop the mixer.
 
noisedude said:
Yeah, except then when you start making adjusments the levels could jump suddenly as the fader picks up where it physically is rather than where it is internally. It wouldn't be as much of an issue in a theatrical setup but there could be issues with live music.
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I would hope that if a fader didn't move when I changed banks, it wouldn't affect the level of a channel until it was moved to where it's internal setting is on the new bank. So if it was at unity on one bank, and stayed there when I changed, but that channel on the new bank was at -10, the fader wouldn't do anything till I brought it to -10. I'm just poking in the dark here, I'm not very digital console savvy, but that's the way I would want it, if I used this option. I seem to remember a Roland VS recorder that worked like that.

I think it would give me an aneurysm in a live show, in any case. :p
 
You also have an option to change the speed at which the moving faders "fly" this can be many seconds to instant . You can really only hear any sound from them when they are set to instant, and then it is very minor.
For a very fair review of the mixer read the SOS article.

Tony
 
wilkee said:
You also have an option to change the speed at which the moving faders "fly" this can be many seconds to instant . You can really only hear any sound from them when they are set to instant, and then it is very minor.
For a very fair review of the mixer read the SOS article.

Tony
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Aahh...I was wondering about that as I was falling asleep.


:(

Yes, that is pathetic.
 
wilkee said:
You also have an option to change the speed at which the moving faders "fly" this can be many seconds to instant . You can really only hear any sound from them when they are set to instant, and then it is very minor.
For a very fair review of the mixer read the SOS article.

Tony
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You can even change the speed on a preset by preset basis. It's pretty cool
 
DDX 3216 user

I bought my DDX about 4 years ago. I was using an Allen & Heath Mix Wizard going to 16 tracks of ADAT using a snake from the inserts to the ADAT ins and returns. Mic pres fed the recorder and the faders are my monitor mix. I Initially got the DDX for automated mixdown. It did very well. After about 2 years I had a problem where some of the faders started to move on their own when in write mode or would cause some in update mode go into write when I didn't move the fader. I found an authorized service center near by. They re-crimped the ribbon connectors, checked it out and I have had no problems since. I now have an Alesis HD 24XR and have taken the DDX on location big band jazz sessions or concerts when I need 24 tracks or even in rare cases up to 32 tracks. I have two ADAT light pipe modules in the console but It still basically functions as a monitor mixer bringing the signals back via light pipe. To feed the recorder(s) (HD24 and one 8 track ADAT if needed) I use the DDX inserts for tracks 1 through 12, a 4 channes Hardy M-1 for tracks 13 through 16, an 8 channel M-Audio Octane with light pipe out for tracks 17 through 24, and if needed an ADA 8000 via analog out to the old 8 track ADAT (light pipe jumper required to do this) I suggest that if you monitor with head phones, tie off the cord to a near by rack handle so that you dont trip over the cord and damage the monitor jack at its PC connections (like I did) The automated mixdown advantage for me has been great for me and I would never go back to manual mixing. I used to work on automated SSL consoles but I didn't have to buy them.
Joe
 
I have used the 32DDX for over a year now and I have not had any problems with it. I used it with the Alesis HD24 (and for SONAR projects, the MOTU 2408). I have never been a fan of the Behringer effects, so I use the AUX sends to go my Rack Gear FX units. But it is nice to know that the internal FX units are there if I am ever in a pinch for them. I also use a pair of external compressors for the main vocal tracks. I will use the internal compressors for minor tracks. I don't mind the eq's; they are all parametric, so it is just a matter of finding the combinations.

Unfortunately I have to use the Mic-pre's that it comes with, but I plan on buying at least a set of eight to replace them along with a different AD/DA converter.

Joe Hostetter - How are the John Hardy pres working for you? I have had my eyes on the M-2.

With the internal routing this board is very flexible, and with the digital I/O, there are alot less cords to deal with. I have read the posts about the grouping. I had always thought that was to be used for pairing channels... like if you had a keyboard part that was left and right. that way when you adjusted one you could keep them balanced. I could be wrong because I really have not looked deep into it, but I think you can do some routing to the busses to accomplish what someone might do with the sub groups on an analogue board.

The key to making this board work well for you is having great monitors so that you know what you are really hearing and can make adjustments to compensate for the sounds you don't want to hear... but that goes to say with ANY studio setup.

For the price, this board has way more Positives than Negatives.
 
I've had my DDX3216 for over three years now. I can't really add much to what has already been said except that I am for this unit rather than against. I'm not a power user by any means and at the time I bought this mixer I was looking for something to replace my spirit foliolite which was running out of space. I remember looking at the 01V too but plummed for the DDX3216 based on the amount of bang you appeared to get for you buck (effects for one).

I still find the routing options absolutely mind boggling and I've only just recently got on to this subject. At the moment I guess my £1000 mixer is a little underused as I've just added an ADAT module and I'm just passing the digital 16 track signal straight to Sonar via my Hammerfall Light sound card therefore bypassing all the effects and EQ etc...

And as far as I can make out this mixer has NOT been discontinued.


andy
 
SonicAlbert said:
It's gone, although there may be dealers that still have some supply left over and Behringer still has it listed on their web site. Check out these links:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live/Sound/Mixers?sku=631225

http://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU--41337/

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHDDX3216
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Very Interesting. Of all the equipment I have bought and sold, I doubt I will ever sell my DDX3216. If I ever upgrade me mixer for my HD24, I will keep this mixer for my Sonar system.
 
SonicAlbert said:
It's gone, although there may be dealers that still have some supply left over and Behringer still has it listed on their web site. Check out these links:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Live/Sound/Mixers?sku=631225

http://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU--41337/

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHDDX3216
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hmmm... scary

some places in the UK are still advertising it:-

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/?keyword=ddx3216&page=shop/search_results&manufacturer_id=0
 
Behringer DDX3216

Hi, this is my first post. So, if someone can help me. The question is: is it posible to work with pro tools le with a behringer DDX3216? How can I connect it? Thanks
 
SonicAlbert said:
It's gone, although there may be dealers that still have some supply left over and Behringer still has it listed on their web site. Check out these links:

Hi, this is my first post. So, if someone can help me. The question is: is it posible to work with pro tools le with a behringer DDX3216? How can I connect it? Thanks
Click to expand...
 
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