Audio Recording Tips

I use this mixer in my recordings for almost more than 3 years I think. This is one of the smallest mixer available for home studio recordings yet even as powerful and sounds good as a professional mixing console. Official documentation/manuals can be found in official Behringer Xenyx 502 website. You can buy Behringer 502 5-Input Mixer at Amazon.

Tip #1: Pre-amplication of weak instrument signals

Frankly, I do not use this for analog mixing as I use this as an interface for recording sound from the instruments (vocals, guitars, piano). The diagram is shown below:

Instruments –> Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer –> Sound card

Note: I mixed digitally using digital recording software like Adobe Audition.

Currently since my Creative Audigy soundcard cannot handle full amplication of analog instruments. Xenyx 502 is there to get the job done. All you have to do is to connect your analog instruments to one of the line inputs. Do not disturb the EQ (set it flat) and adjust the main mix volume, enough to get a good recording level in your digital recording software.

Sometimes there have been occasions when the analog instrument input signal to the mixer is very weak; these are common in passive instruments such as bass guitar (not the active bass guitar type). However you can always boost/adjust the signal in Xenyx 502 mixer using TRIM knob. Adjust it until you get a good recording level.

Tip #2: Use Mic for microphone input and Line in for instruments

Xenyx 502 can accept XLR microphone inputs as well as the standard male plug type. Under MIC is where you will plug any vocal microphones only. Plug other instruments in line-in jack.

Tip #3: For long life of the mixer, unplugged the power supply immediately after use

Since these are made of solid state devices, unfortunately these are subject to various stresses that affect the reliability of the electronic components in the mixer. One of these frequent stresses is electricity. If you will not unplug the mixer from the AC source, then you are allowing some electrical energy to be stored or consumed by the mixer, which speeds up the degradation of the components. This will worsen if in any even the AC line gets shorted or there are spikes, and then you have no surge protector.

Tip #4: Always set the volume to minimum when plugging the mixer to soundcard if the computer is turned on.

This will avoid damaging your speakers, in case a transient loud sound will be accidentally transmitted due to faulty wiring settings or maximum volume settings. This extends to plugging analog instruments to the mixer.

Tip #5: Always rely on your soundcard digital mixer to work along with Xenyx 502 analog mixer.

Quality recording soundcards like Audigy has a pre-included “surround digital mixer” that governs how the sound will be inputted and outputted in your computer. You need to ensure that it has been set correctly to accept Xenyx 502 sound input. For example, if you are using Line-in then set in the “recording” button to line-in. If these are not set, the digital mixer will not pickup the sound as well as your recording software.

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