Behringer DDX3216 Questions.....

[anfernee]

Does anybody here use one ?

And if they do what do they think of it. Also would it be worth investing a bit more and getting the Yamaha 01V96 ?

Some opinion/experiences would be useful.

Thanks

A

 

[Marik]

Dunno, but I am sure Kurt has something to say about it...

 

[tripnek]

I'm not familiar with this model, but I would sear clear of Behringer. I bought several different peices of Behringer gear when I first started recording and have regretted buying all of them. They are far from pro gear and have very little resale value.

 

[AudioGaff]

Originally posted by anfernee:
Also would it be worth investing a bit more and getting the Yamaha 01V96 ?

Yes it would. But why only those two choices? I think you need to decide first if you need or want the sound and features of analog or digital as a format, then decide which mixer best suits your needs and budget.

 

[Doublehelix]

I have been a life-long card-carrying member of the "Behringer Basher Union", and have avoided buying anything with an eye and a triangle on it.

That being said, I have owned a DDX3216 for the last 6 months, and must admit that I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase.

Hate Behringer or not, the DDX has equal or better sound vs. the 01v96, although it only goes to 48K. It has much better features (including individual meters).

I personally do not pass any signal through the mixer that gets sent to tape. I use outboard mic pres that go directly to tape, and use the DDX for monitoring, headphone mixes (4 total), and as a control surface for Cubase SX.

If I had a Yammy 01v96, I would not pass any signal through that either!!!

The Behringer has much better specs, sounds better, has better effects, much better ergonomics, etc.

YMMV obviously, but I will state that the hardest part about buying the DDX was getting over the Behringer name.

They have been making better products as of late. The reviews of the DDX have all been surprisingly positive, including comments in most of the reviews that they reviewer was surprised at the quality of the sound.

Everybody that I know that have tried the DDX (I know of at least 15 others) are all thrilled, and surprised that this product was made by Behringer.

Rant over!

 

[AudioGaff]

Well the boys at B didn't likely create the DDX3216 without copying it from someone else? Find out who they copied it from and buy that product.

 

[white swan]

Usually that's true, but I'm not sure always. I've never seen another company with a mic quite like those inexpensive 8000 omnis that Behringer makes.

This is not to be interpreted as a Behringer endorsement.

 

[anfernee]

People !!!

Thanks for the repiles. Maybe if I tell you what I sm going to use it for I can get some more opinions ?

I wanted to use it not only as a Digital Mixer but as a control surface for Logic aswell.

I read that Doublehelix uses his for Cubase SX how do you find it as control surface ? How did you hook it up to your computer, did you the ADAT options ?

AudioGaff: I haven't found anything that sit's in between these two mixers in price and specs, do you know of any ? The only other option I have found in the TASCAM


A

 

[AudioGaff]

AudioGaff: I haven't found anything that sit's in between these two mixers in price and specs, do you know of any ? The only other option I have found in the TASCAM

I can only think of the Tascam as well. I'm not really up on the digial mixers. I guess I would eyeball an older used 02R as I would expect it to have higher quality and flexability than the newer cheaper stuff. Just a thought...

 

[Dave Nyberg]

Have to agree there. There is a big difference in wanting to use something for the name that is on it then wanting to use it because you really like the sound coming out of it. I think Behringer is getting bashed a bit too much on this site. It might not be the best gear out there but not everybody has a truckload of cash to buy an 02R for his monitoring purposes. For ppl who have producing music as a hobby mainly and don't want to spend thousands of dollars on it Behringer really is a nice thing. They offer gear that works and has acceptable results even if they aren't in the range of the very expensive gear out there.

The Behringer Composer compressors for example are used by some of the top dance producers from Europe and they all like it very much. It has actually become a standard. I wouldn't go as far as saying that Behringer gear is any good for mastering or for the producer in a big studio but for the hobby producer and musician these products really provide some nice options.

And ofcourse it's also a very personal choice what you like and what you like to pay for it...

 

[Kurt Foster]

Originally posted by Marik:
Dunno, but I am sure Kurt has something to say about it...

Yep! I do ...

My main problem with Behringer in whole, is their labor practices. They are suspected of using forced prison labor in China. No one is allowed in the production facilities and any one who tries to ask questions about what goes on in them, is treated as if they were trying to obtain (as George Dubya would say) "Nucyaleer" secrets. So in light of this, I really don't care if they come up with a product that can be a Neve, SSL, and a MCI all in the same box, doesn't spontaneously combust in the rack, fall apart after a year and actually had some resale value. I still wouldn't buy it, or recommend it to anyone.

The whole cheeping out of the audio manufacturing industry only serves to cloud the water (exactly what the bottomfeeding manufactures of cheap gear want) and eventually, in the long run, because no one will have a good job, who will be able to afford these products other than the rich? It's an approach of devouring ones self for short term gain. As consumers, we should be conscious of the ramifications of the purchasing decisions we make. If we don't support the companies that provide good paying jobs under acceptable working conditions these companies will not be able to compete in the marketplace. So I spend a little more to purchase gear from companies with a bit of social consciousness. I think when the whole picture is viewed, the actual costs of such an approach are much less.

 

[Dave Nyberg]

These accusations aren't really grounded as nobody enters these facility's or is there hard evidence that they are doing that? I mean isn't it so that one is innocent before proved otherwise

If it is true i will ofcourse burn my tube composer right away! hehe

 

[daif]

Hee! Hee!
What a surprise you turned up Kurt.
Regards,
Tom
PSwhisper)...I can lend you some black jammies,
ski-mask,boltcutters & an infrared camera.
Then you can get the real cop on the Behringer factory hey?

:

 

[Kurt Foster]

Well they (B word) are cutting corners somewhere. It has to be labor cause it sure isn't in the design department. They are copying even Studio Projects stuff and selling it at half the price. Studio Projects manufactures in China also albit at 797 whos doors, are esentially open. Bword must have something to hide behind all the secrecy and once again it sure isn't their designs. Treena says she has seen some stuff on the web about this. I will see if she can dig it up and post a link.

Tom, Thanks for the nice words! I am glad you and 'da fambly liked it! TMP 8 for the drums, Neve 9098 on the overheads, U87 on the lead vox and SP C3 in omni on the bg vox, both through the JLM TMP 8. Keys and guitars through the Sebatron vmp 4000e. Bass through a Millennia STT-1 DI in the tube setting and the eq and compressor in the tube mode also. Basic tracks for 2 songs 5 hours, including set ups. Another 5 hours in overdubs and mix.. Good gear makes it a breeze! I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to hear that you liked it! Kurt

[ October 24, 2003, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: Kurt Foster ]

 

[anfernee]

Blimey !!!

I didn't think I would be getting a lesson in Music equipment industry ethics into the bargain !!!!


But thanks again for more opinions, I think I will go and check all three out (Yamaha, Behringer and Tascam) They all offer what I am after so I'll have a play with each of them.

If anybody could think of any other options I would be greatful.


A

 

[Dave Nyberg]

Well they (B word) are cutting corners somewhere. It has to be labor

Or maybe the other company's are making these corners a bit too wide maybe heheh

 

[Kurt Foster]

Originally posted by DmDreams:

Well they (B word) are cutting corners somewhere. It has to be labor

Or maybe the other company's are making these corners a bit too wide maybe heheh

I'm sorry but I don't think that is it. I am actually amazed at how good the SP stuff can sound when compared to its German counterparts. I know for a fact that Alan Hyatt is trying to keep the costs as low as possible. Bword cuts corners by not spending money on designs, choosing to steal them from pre exsisting products that use well established designs. This is a well known fact! Why is it so unfathomable to you that they wouldn't also engage in unethical labor practices up to and including the use of forced prison workers? It is obvious that they are not concerned with how they are percived in the marketplace. They have been engaging in this type of behavior since the release of their first products when they were sued by Mackie. All Bword is interested in is putting out products at the lowest possible price point, for people who simply don't know any better or who are so self centered they don't care. I gotta admit, some of the stuff with all the meters and lights and switches and pots looks pretty cool. To bad they don't sound like they look.. I have a feeling, Behringer would have gotton along just fine in Nazi Germany.. BTW, is it Uli or Uri Behringer? I have seen it both ways... ???

 

[MisterBlue]

afernee,

I'm so tempted to jump right into the "stolen intellectual property and dumped for next to nothing" vs. "slightly modified and now overpriced by a factor of 5" but I guess I won't .

Just food for thought,

MisterBlue.

 

[Dave Nyberg]

Why is it so unfathomable to you that they wouldn't also engage in unethical labor practices up to and including the use of forced prison workers?

Because there is absolutely no proof of that what so ever. If you show it to me i will believe it Kurt. I'm absolutely with you on the fact that Behringer is far from high quality signal processing but if you have read my former posts on this you know that i like Behringer because they make it possible for all the ppl who don't have truckloads of money to have producing music as a hobby. Please don't tell me that Behringer is the only unethical company around. Mackie just stole the digidesign MBox design. It happens all over the place. Look at software sequencers. They all have similar features. If we should boycot a brand because it's products use designs which already exsist then i don't think we are thinking straight.

There are a lot of company's all over the world which are very, very inethical and kill ppl for profit. These company's make products which we all use every single day of our lives. This world works that way. I don't like it at all but there's no escape from it and this will get worse even. (hehe i could go and walk around with a sign that says "The world is gonna end" :s: )

 

[Kurt Foster]

Dreams,
I am searching and looking for some facts to back this up. It is a bit difficult as Mackie and Samson have just settled their differences, and since this has happened Mackie has closed down the links to much of this info. There is a very interesting thread on this topic at Talk Bass .. you might check that out. [="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65147"] Talk Bass Behringer thread[/]

I actually do boycott many companies that do things I feel are unethical. I don't use products from Dow Chemical, Farber, Benz Dalimer, BMW etc. because they were supporters of the Nazis and I stay away from many other companies for the other reasons. I questioned Alan Hyatt about his labor practices also. I am not singleing out Behringer in this quest. I think that by nature of the rumor, there is something to be concerned about, where there is smoke, there is fire and I personally would rather err on the side of caution rather than attempt to gain from such a situation until it is proven. Once again, why is Behringer so secretive on this subject? They must be hiding something...