BehringerMICROMIX MX400 Ultra Low-Noise 4-Channel Line Mixer, Black

A minimal powered four-channel mono mixer, including power supply, for under £20 - what's there not to like?Obviously such a stripped-down piece of hardware is going have its limitations but if you can work within those constraints it will serve you well.The main creature comforts it's missing are a master output level, pan controls and a stereo output. The fixed master output level isn't a deal-breaker at the price and simply requires a little more care when balancing the input levels. If stereo output is a requirement then this isn't for you unless you're willing to adopt a hardcore dual-mono approach and buy two of them. It's also not quite as portable as it could be given its dependence on the supplied PSU so you're unlikely to be jamming off-grid, but for something you can throw in a bag, set up anywhere where there's mains power available and not worry if it doesn't make it back alive, you'll struggle to find anything better for the money. Mono output isn't that much of an issue for live use as many PA systems will mix down to a mono output anyway, and while home users may miss having a stereo signal path for recording purposes a mono signal path is perfectly fine for performance purposes.I bought one as a semi-disposabe and extremely portable mixer to go with my Korg Volca modules for casual jamming with friends and its minimalist limitations haven't got in the way of creativity at all.The one thing that's not been mentioned so far is sound quality. "Good enough" is the bottom line. I found no obvious issues with noise and interference and the output sound lacked any obvious colouration. We're not looking at audiophile/reference grade at this price point but regardless I found nothing to complain about. Things have come a long way for budget equipment. A long time ago I bought a Technics SL-1200 bundle which came with a Soundlab DSM-15 mixer, an equally budget-conscious design like the Behringer but with truly dreadful sound quality and essentially unusable for performance work.Behringer have proven time after time that it's possible to have decent quality audio at a modest price tag, and the MX400 doesn't disappoint.

This is very impressive indeed, especially at the price, but quite a few people seem to be having problems simply because they don't know quite what they're buying, so here's a quick introduction to mixer technology......Firstly of course, it's clearly sold as a "4 Channel Mono Line Mixer", so I really don't understand why so many are complaining that it isn't stereo :~)A line mixer is a specific thing, it's function is to provide a sub-mix of line level signals, in this case mono signals, and to output a single line level signal. The output has to go to a device that will take a line level signal (amplifier, main mixer, some effects pedals, etc....) It won't directly drive a speaker. You might get a quiet or distorted sound out of a pair of headphones, but extended use will probably damage the unit as, because of the impedance mismatch, the circuitry will be drawing far too much currentAll audio equipment, no matter how good or expensive, generates some background noise, this is known as the noise floor. Although they don't give any figures, I've measured it and the noise floor is ridiculously low, and running at the levels it's designed for any noise is, for practical purposes, non-existent. Although not designed for it, the unit is versatile enough to work with much lower level signals from guitars and even some microphones, but in that case you have to be careful with levels otherwise some background noise can become audible. Any background noises you get other than a hiss are down to dodgy output stages on whatever you've got plugged in (Phones, tablets and cheap laptops are notoriously bad!). At the other end, if the signals going in are too high it will eventually distort. If so , you just have to turn everything down!I originally got mine for general studio duties - temporary hook-ups of odd bits of equipment, but within an hour it found a permanent home attached to a Behringer RD-8 which has separate outputs for each drum sound. I can now route some of them out for effects processing, recombine them, and either back into the return socket on the RD-8 or to a second main mixer channel. Looks like I'll have to buy another one...... ;~)

The mixer looks good but can't be used as the power supply is a European two pin. I would have to buy another adapter when it should work out of the box!It's the slide in type so it should have included the three pin 13A version as well.Another annoying thing was there's no way to contact Beringer to ask for a correct mains adapter. The only option given me is to return it! Or join MusicTribe handling their support and it’s only through Support Tickets and asked lots of intrusive marketing questions which I don't want to answer!Really sad as this used to be a good company to deal with.

The problem I've had is two or three instruments and one pedal board. I used small (mini pedal sized) A/B switcher for a while, but it had no level controls and I had to remember to switch inputs when I changed over and it was one input short. When I acquired a new mandolin with a Fishman pickup that was a) very hot and b) had no controls, I knew I had to find some way of managing wildly different inputs. I looked at the Boss LS-1, but it was bulky and complicated. Then, this came along. It's small, a little larger than a mini pedal, but low profile and light. It has 4 inputs (one more than I need) and level controls. A bit of velcro and it sits nicely in one corner of the board.Two gripes. A shame they couldn't have squeezed in an overall level control so that I could balance and then control the output signal with one knob. More importantly, although 12v, it does not take a standard boss type tip (the size is subtly different and the polarity is the wrong way round. I had to find a suitable polarity switcher (rockboard had one that did the trick).