Behringer Xenyx 2442FX Pro

[jack20]

Since I am new to the product I am finding it a bit difficult understanding from the manual. The mixer has 4 subgroups with 8 outputs wired in parallel (for additional connections if needed). Each channel strip has two button switches named 1-2 and 3-4 apart from other buttons like MAIN, SOLO etc.

It says the following about channel routing switches:

"The sub-switch routes the signal to the corresponding subgroups."

But since the channel strips have only 2 switches and not 4, one for sub-group 1-2 and another for 3-4, I wonder how I will be able to route any single channel to any one subgroup of my choice, say subgroup 1? Or is it that the channel will always get assigned to two subgroups unless I pan it hard (R or L) to get it to just one subgroup buss?

Too confusing.

Any help from an expert please?

The second question is about using subgroup outs. Using the four subgroup outputs from the 2442, the two main outputs from the 2442 and two main outs from another smaller mixer (I have a Studiomaster Club 2000), I want to send 8 channels at once to an external D/A converter (ADA8000) for recording into a soundcard with a recording ADAT input.

Is it possible to assign channels in the 2442 (say 1-10) to the 4 subgroup outputs only but not assign the rest of the channels (say 11-16) to any of the subgroups, instead assign 11-16 only to the main outs separately?

This would give me 6 separate channels from the 2442 while the balance two I can take from the smaller mixer.

An early reply would be appreciated.

 

[MOFO Pro]

...Or is it that the channel will always get assigned to two subgroups unless I pan it hard (R or L) to get it to just one subgroup buss?

Too confusing.

Not too confusing for you to figure it out on your own... just like you did with that last statement... That's it exactly... The subgroups are mono. If you want to route to subgroup channel 1, select 1-2 and pan hard left, group 2 would be the same panned hard right

...Is it possible to assign channels in the 2442 (say 1-10) to the 4 subgroup outputs only but not assign the rest of the channels (say 11-16) to any of the subgroups, instead assign 11-16 only to the main outs separately?

Yes

 

[jack20]

But panning hard will destroy the stereo image position of that channel, wont it?

 

[MOFO Pro]

But panning hard will destroy the stereo image position of that channel, wont it?

Not if the track is mono... if you want to preserve a stereo channel across two tracks, group them on two busses... and then treat them as one stereo pair.

 

[gecko zzed]

Your aim, I understand, is to be able to record eight tracks into your PC simultaneously, and once within the PC, you can edit and mix these eight to your heart's content.

You can do this just using the 2442.

On the 2442 you can route any of the input channels to any of sub1-2, sub3-4 or main out. This gives you six discrete output channels if you pan the input channels hard left and right. For example, you can put bass into channel 1, hard pan left, route this to sub1-2, and it will appear only in output sub 1. You can plug a guitar into channel 2, hard pan right, route to sub1-2, and it will appear in output sub2.

To get another two channels to make up the eight you are seeking, there are a couple of options:

1 Use the two auxilliary sends (making sure they are set to pre-fade). For example, you can plug a snare mike into channel 3, set the main fader to off, and control it via the aux 1 knob. You can plug a kick mike into channel 4 and control its level via the aux 2 knob. Snare and kick will appear at the aux 1 & 2 sends respectively.

2 You can use the channel 'insert' as a direct out from the mixer, using a jack to jack to go direct from 'insert' to interface. This can be tricky, depending on how the mixer is wired internally. The safest way is to get hold of a pair of 'Y' insert cables (two separate TS plugs connected to a single TRS plug), and use whichever of the TS arms works.

If you need to record a stereo signal (e.g. a stereo output from a keyboard or a pair of drum overheads), you can do this by dedicating an output group to this. For example, left overhead goes into channel 5, panned left to taste, and routed to sub3-4, with the right overhead into channel 6, panned right to taste, and also routed to sub3-4. This stereo mix of overheads will then appear at the sub3-4 outputs.

From the above, you can see that we've managed six outputs so far:
bass sub1
guitar sub2
snare aux1
kick aux2
kit overhead left sub3
kit overhead right sub4

You still have main left and right which you can use for, say, a vocal and a keyboard.

Once these are in your PC, you can pan these wherever you like.

 

[Paj]

(1) Use the Insert sends for "dry" pre fader/eq/efx individual channel sends. This signal will only be affected by the input level knob.

(2) Use the Direct Outs for post fader/eq/efx individual channel sends. As I remember, the Behri Direct Outs are set to "post", so everything on the channel strip should affect this signal.

(3) Use the aux sends (up to four if you sacrifice the internal efx) for pre/post (selectable) level submixes. Post, like the Direct Outs, but with multiple channels, each mixed in with its own level.

(4) Use the subgroups for, well, subgroupings of the main mix. Everything in the subgroup mix is completely dependent on the channel strip-to-main output settings. The overall output level and which channels appear at the subgroup outputs are adjustable/selectable.

(5) The main mix sets everything for the subgroups. This means eq, efx, input and fader levels---but not which channels actually go to the subgroup and the overall (submaster) level of the subgroup. It's important to note that a channel cannot appear in any subgroup unless it appears in the main mix. They are subgoups, nor separate groups.

All in all, the 2442 has unbeatable connectivity for its price.

Paj
8^)

 

[gecko zzed]

(1) Use the Insert sends for "dry" pre fader/eq/efx individual channel sends. This signal will only be affected by the input level knob.

(2) Use the Direct Outs for post fader/eq/efx individual channel sends. As I remember, the Behri Direct Outs are set to "post", so everything on the channel strip should affect this signal.

(3) Use the aux sends (up to four if you sacrifice the internal efx) for pre/post (selectable) level submixes. Post, like the Direct Outs, but with multiple channels, each mixed in with its own level.

(4) Use the subgroups for, well, subgroupings of the main mix. Everything in the subgroup mix is completely dependent on the channel strip-to-main output settings. The overall output level and which channels appear at the subgroup outputs are adjustable/selectable.

(5) The main mix sets everything for the subgroups. This means eq, efx, input and fader levels---but not which channels actually go to the subgroup and the overall (submaster) level of the subgroup. It's important to note that a channel cannot appear in any subgroup unless it appears in the main mix. They are subgoups, nor separate groups.

All in all, the 2442 has unbeatable connectivity for its price.

Paj
8^)

Re point 5: In fact, the subgroups are separate groups and have their own outputs. They can be fed into the main mix via their own master assigns, but don't need to be if you don't want them to be.

But your last sentence is still spot on.

 

[gecko zzed]

except the xenyx might be different to the non-xenyx version of 2442

 

[Paj]

Semantics. The channel settings in subgroups are not INDEPENDENT from the main mix---if a channel does not appear in the main mix, it cannot be assigned to a subgroup. Try it! Take a channel out of the main mix with the channel assign button and listen it disappear from your subgroup(s). Yes, the subgroups have their own outputs, but everything, except the channels that are assigned to a subgroup, are controlled by the main mix settings.

I had a UB2442FX and own a Xenyx2442FX and, for the life of me, can't tell the difference between the two except for coloration and that fruity little external USB interface (which can yield a surprisingly good sound if you spend some time with it).

Paj
8^)

 

[gecko zzed]

Semantics. The channel settings in subgroups are not INDEPENDENT from the main mix---if a channel does not appear in the main mix, it cannot be assigned to a subgroup. Try it! Take a channel out of the main mix with the channel assign button and listen it disappear from your subgroup(s). Yes, the subgroups have their own outputs, but everything, except the channels that are assigned to a subgroup, are controlled by the main mix settings.

I had a UB2442FX and own a Xenyx2442FX and, for the life of me, can't tell the difference between the two except for coloration and that fruity little external USB interface (which can yield a surprisingly good sound if you spend some time with it).

Paj
8^)

I will have to take your word on that. I see the SL2442FX (which I have experience with) is configured differently to either the UB or the Xenyx, now that I have done a bit of searching on them. I note that the XENYX subgroup masters do not have any of their own assigns, whereas the SL subs have left & right assigns, which means you can choose whether they appear in the mains or not.

It is not clear, from the info I can gather, how exactly the Xenyx subgroups are configured. What you describe seems like a very idosyncratic way of internal configuring, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why it would be organised like that.

 

[Paj]

I guess it's the difference between a "Buss" assignment and a subgroup assignment. The subgroup is a way to tap a channel or group of channels from the main mix and a buss provides a way of completely separating and individualizing outputs, like having separate but coordinated mixers in one housing. It's been a while since I had my Mackie VLZ gear, but I seem to remember that the subgroup assigns worked differently than in the Behringer---but I also seem to recall they referred to it as "buss assignment." Maybe someone could jump in and clarify the Mackie subgroup operations.

Considering all the connectivity that's already there in the 2442, especially at the price, I guess it's just human nature to want more than there is, I guess. In any event, good luck with your mixes!

Paj
8^)