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Behringer Studio XL Monitor Controller

Rate this Audio Controller/Interface

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 178 93.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 6 3.2%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 2 1.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 4 2.1%

  • Total voters
    190
Nasty distortion clipping on that one. So high, so bad that you wonder why users haven't complained and why in that case Behringer hasn't done something about it? :oops:
I have only seen a handful of reviews on it. So likely not a very popular product.
 
Is there any chance that this one toggles between the two?
That seems to be a routing selection for one of the analog outputs. It won't impact what goes to USB.
 
Typical Behri the way I see it, its cheap reflects the performance.

Thanks Amir!
Apparently the few things that they got sort of right, years ago, where accidentally more or less correct.
They have been successfully trying harder to not have those type of accidents ever since then.
 
Never fails.
Both Buttons Pressed (1).png
 
It is not a spec. It is the manual. And per above, I can tell it is designed to also be used as Line input or I would be running out of negative gain.
Could be the first mistake ever in a Behringer manual, then.
If one company is deserving of the doubt of benefit (something along those lines anywho), isn't it good ol' Ulli's baby? :)
 
It is if you look at the diagram for all the connectors in the back:

The diagram doesn’t really depict the purpose of the 2 XLR/TRS inputs. The gain setting of these inputs allowed you to reduce the input signal to 0dB FS, but I’m afraid the idea is to use the interface at the 0dB level shown on its display, which seems to be at about -10dB FS. (Yellow leds = warning mode @ -15dB FS).

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In my experience, the level of (uncompremised) headroom is what often sets apart budget pro equipment from high quality equipment. Not making excuses for this Behringer interface, I know there are alternatives in the same price range that do deliver. A studio monitoring controller should be capable of doing 4V RMS at minimum.
 
I think this is just another 'professional" noise boxe for the artistic types to create here-to-fore previously unheard and hard to duplicate sounds. It has no place on an audiophile shelf.
 
The diagram doesn’t really depict the purpose of the 2 XLR/TRS inputs. The gain setting of these inputs allowed you to reduce the input signal to 0dB FS, but I’m afraid the idea is to use the interface at the 0dB level shown on its display, which seems to be at about -10dB FS. (Yellow leds = warning mode @ -15dB FS).

View attachment 440652

In my experience, the level of (uncompremised) headroom is what often sets apart budget pro equipment from high quality equipment. Not making excuses for this Behringer interface, I know there are alternatives in the same price range that do deliver. A studio monitoring controller should be capable of doing 4V RMS at minimum.
Mic/line input difference usually is that Mics input are coupled by caps, gain adjust and straight to OPAs though line input has series resistors at each leg so to adjust line voltage.
At normal voltages neither will clip or degrade.

(that's from my little experience with couple of interfaces, and messing with their insides)

I'm afraid that what we see here (very similar distortion pattern with what I have measured at pure line input as the x-over) is just a messy circuit.

Edit: sweet spot in general is -12dB, ideally blinking if led is used.
 
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Well I suppose they need to relabel it as THD generator,lol in which case its a great product, perhaps Chords latest version of the Mscaler (when its out) can iron out the problems??? ,brilliant find Amir,this is what ASR is all about.
 
What was the exact test setup in cases one would like to Reproduce this?

It’s so baldy distorted its not an degradation in audio fidelity is full on obvious clipping distortion.


@amirm What are the Volume and (ganin?) nobs position for measurements?
i have seen some Beringer products that start to clip a full scale signal over 12 o'clock
 
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So there must be a fluke in the measurement setup or some configuration error.

Errors I can think of:
  • XLR/TRS combo jack: The input behaves differently depending on whether an XLR or TRS cable is plugged in!
  • Excessive gain in the studio: Not every track is recorded at 0dB FS. It’s typical to give the operator some headroom, but too much gain could cause clipping with a 0dB FS signal.
  • What was the knob position?
  • Wrong range? Switch on the back?

@amirm What was the VU meter showing?
 
For some so called experts, SINAD has little correlation to perceive sound quality (to me, that's generalization that they should try to avoid), so, to them this thing may/can sound great.;)
 
Mic/line input difference usually is that Mics input are coupled by caps, gain adjust and straight to OPAs though line input has series resistors at each leg so to adjust line voltage.
At normal voltages neither will clip or degrade.

Indeed, that's why it would be interesting to test the TRS inputs (the XLR/TRS combo connectors as well as the dedicated line inputs). Note that for the line inputs the specs specify a nominal level of +4dB.

sweet spot in general is -12dB, ideally blinking if led is used.

On a recording interface input level somewhere around that level is very common indeed, no one drives it to full scale. It’s nice when you can of course, because you’re not always in total control.
 
For some so called experts, SINAD has little correlation to perceive sound quality (to me, that's generalization that they should try to avoid), so, to them this thing may/can sound great.;)
I hope the perception is not that far off. I'm not a SINAD above all person but less than 95 & I'll find it to be suspect. Because it won't be far lower that it becomes audible to me.
It might be 75 or 70 but there is that point.
 
That seems to be a routing selection for one of the analog outputs. It won't impact what goes to USB.

The "REC SRC SEL" (record source select) button would be for selecting between an input source. Since it toggles between "2-TR" (e.g. a two track line level out device) and "IN 1/2" (what it labels the XLR input) this is the likely culprit. Behringer stuff is not great but usually not this bad. I think it's worth testing again.
 
The XLR inputs are microphone inputs, as mentioned in the specs. They won't do + 22dB. Use the jacks for line input.
This, please.
 
@amirm What are the Volume and (ganin?) nobs position for measurements?
Did you not read the review? Playback clips at ALL volume levels at 0 dBFS. Even 10 mv will clip at full digital value.
 
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