XENYX X1204 USB Mixer - Mic Not Getting Power

[Trevor.MacKay]

I recently purchased a XENYX X1204 mixer along with a couple of Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB microphones (these mics can connect via USB or XLR cable).

When I set everything up and plugged in the mics, I found that while the +48v light came on when the phantom power switch was turned on, the mics themselves received no power. I confirmed that the mics worked just fine when plugged in via USB (with the power light coming on instantly when connected, but not when plugged in the mixer.

I wrote to Behringer support and they said that the problem was likely with the phantom power section of the mixer and they said "the issue will more than likely be with the phantom power section of the X1204USB and it would be recommended to have the unit exchanged with your retailer as soon as possible."

So I returned the mixer to Amazon and they shipped me a replacement unit. When I hooked the new unit up I found that I ran in to the exact same problem.

I figured that the odds of both units having the same problem were pretty small, but the only other options were that both microphones had the same problem, both XLR cables had the same problem or I was doing something wrong. To help narrow things down, I purchased a Shure PG48 mic so I could try that and I ran into the exact same issue with the microphone.

It's possible I'm seeing multiple hardware failures in either the cables (the Shure mic didn't actually come with an XLR cable while the two ATR2100's did) or the mixers, but as I have no experience using a mixer, I'm also concerned that maybe I'm just doing something really foolish and that's why it's not working.

I have watched some tutorial videos on YouTube and I can't find anything obvious that I am doing wrong but maybe someone else has some suggestions? Or can give me some confidence that it actually is likely a hardware problem?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer!

 

[baz66]

I have a 802 and a pa3x. I mostly use the mic through the pa3x so I can utilise the helicon.
Some songs I hook straight into a audiobox usb and use that. Not really solving your problem I know but have you made sure that the right settings
are being used on your daw. Keep the volume low on the zynyx and increase slowly. It is highly unlikey as you said that the unit is not working.
It must be in the settings hence the low volume advice.
Baz

 

[Armistice]

It's my limited understanding of USB that phantom power can't be delivered by that means, and the microphones you're using are dynamic in any case and thus don't require phantom power anyway. Same for the PG48.

If you're not getting sound, then you have other problems, but getting "power" to microphones that don't need it is not the problem.

 

[ecc83]

It's my limited understanding of USB that phantom power can't be delivered by that means, and the microphones you're using are dynamic in any case and thus don't require phantom power anyway. Same for the PG48.

If you're not getting sound, then you have other problems, but getting "power" to microphones that don't need it is not the problem.

+1
But yet again! A problem that could have been solved in seconds by the use of a $20 digital multimeter.

My trusty Fluke 83 is like an extension of my arm. I just don't know how peeps live without one!

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

Yup. The ATR2100 is a dynamic mic so phantom power isn't part of your problem. Turn it off at the mixer and forget about it.

Dave knows that I'm also a fan of having a multimeter--even a cheap one, not just a Fluke--around but I'm not sure this is a case were a meter is the first port of call.

Let's get back to basics. When you say "no sound" what are you using to judge that? The USB input to your computer, the meters on the mixer, the headphone socket on the mixer or what? The 1204 has a few potential funnies in terms of signal routing so, depending on what you're getting, you may be a button push away from success.

So...first try. Plug your XLR mic into Input one (the XLR one) Turn the gain at the top of the channel strip up to about 3 o'clock. Push the fader on the channel up to the "0" point. Push the two master faders up to "0" as well. Make sure the mute button on the channel is NOT pushed. Talk loudly into the mic. Do the meters on the mixer flash? If so, we can move onto stage two.

If they don't we can move onto a different stage two!

 

[ecc83]

"Dave knows that I'm also a fan of having a multimeter--even a cheap one, not just a Fluke--around but I'm not sure this is a case were a meter is the first port of call."

Well! In my defence Bobbs, the OP's second sentence referred to "48 volts" and so a few seconds work with a meter would have ruled its importance in or out in a flash.
I was also not aware at first that they were dynamic USB mics!

Dave.