Samson MDR10 User Manual download pdf (Page 2)

The mic preamps in this console use the

latest Behringer Xenyx circuitry, which is

claimed to be an improvement over its

predecessor, the Invisible-series preamp,

while the EQ is now designed to recreate the

vintage British EQ sound, by which I assume

they mean things like the old Trident

consoles from the 1970s. The overall

frequency response of the mixer circuitry

has been further extended, and is now

within an impressive ±1dB from 10Hz up to

150kHz, and is only 3dB down at 200kHz.

The mixer still adheres to the 19-inch

format, with included rack ears that can be

bolted to the sides of the chassis if you need

them. Also included in the box is the USB

interface, which has a captive USB cable and

four unbalanced phono connectors (two-in,

two-out). The layout of the mixer comprises

eight mono mic/line input channels, two

stereo input channels that can also

double up as mono mic

channels, and two line-only

stereo input channels.

This means that

the maximum

number of

microphones that

can be connected is

10, although that

should be enough for most

small band gigging

situations, and certainly

sufficient for the majority of

home recording applications. All

eight mono channels have insert

points and direct outputs, the latter

being particularly useful for recording

when you need more simultaneous

feeds than the four buss outputs can

provide. Each channel has routing buttons to

send it to the main Left/Right mix buss and

to the four groups, but if you want to record

directly from a channel output without

sending it anywhere else, you can achieve

this simply by not routing the channel to

either the busses or the main outputs.

Conforming to the usual wedge-shaped

profile, the mixer layout is absolutely

identical to that of the UB2442FX, with the

mic and line inputs, insert points and two-

track phonos on the top panel, along with

two headphone outlets and a 12V BNC

connector for lighting power. To avoid

overcrowding the top panel, the main and

buss outs, the aux inputs and outputs, the

direct outs and other connectors are on the

rear panel. Both balanced jack and XLR

versions of the main outputs are provided.

Note that the four group outputs are

doubled up onto eight output jacks so that

you can leave an eight-track recorder or

audio interface permanently connected;

buss 1 feeds both sockets 1 and 5, 2 feeds 2

and 6, and so on, with the recorder then

used to determine where the signal is

actually recorded. A stereo TRS jack carries

the output from the internal effects section

and there’s an effects bypass footswitch jack

for use with an optional latching footswitch.

Global 48 Volt phantom power can be

applied across all the mic inputs via a rocker

switch on the rear panel next to the power

switch, and the PSU is internal so there are

no wall-warts to tread on or to lose. The

integral switched-mode power supply

automatically adapts to any mains supply

from 100 to 240V, at 50 or 60 Hz, without

the need to switch voltages.

Maximum Effectiveness

The Xenyx 2442FX also incorporates a 24-bit

digital effects processor, which I assume is

based on their Virtualizer rack effects box,

as it seems identical in architecture to the

one used in the earlier incarnation of this

console. It does come loaded with a

different set of presets, however, which

looks a bit more promising, as the original

version had, in my opinion, too many effects

that you’d never normally use and not

enough sensible, bread-and-butter delays

and reverbs.

The effects section still offers just

presets, with the 99 options covering

reverbs, ambience, delay, modulation, pitch-

shift and many useful combination effects

based on delay plus one other effect. The

delay has no tap-tempo button, which I find

rather limiting, but you have to keep in

mind that this is a very inexpensive mixing

console and it still offers a lot more

functionality than some of its more costly

competitors.

The integral effects are fed from Aux 3

and come back into the mix via the Aux 3

return, but these send and return points are

also available on the rear panel, if you wish

to connect something else. There’s also a

stereo feed available from the effects

processor output if you need it. In all, there

are four sends: two switchable as a pair

▲

june 2006 • www.soundonsound.com

Behringer Xenyx 2442FX £289

pros

• Good sound quality with smooth-sounding EQ.

• Inexpensive

• Flexible for recording or live sound.

• Improved effects presets.

• Included USB audio interface.

cons

• Short faders.

• Effects have no tap-tempo function for

setting delay times.

summary

Given its attractive price, the Behringer Xenyx

2442FX mixer has a lot to offer the small studio

operator and the included USB interface is a

bonus if you only need to record two channels

at once.

1 2 3 4 5

Comments to this Manuals

No comments

Samson MDR10 User Manual Page 2

Comments to this Manuals

Related products and manuals for Mixers Samson MDR10