Overall User Ratings

Behringer DDX3216 Mixer Customer Review

Feature:
The dynamic automation is a sheer joy to record with. The unit will memorize all your fader, effect and equalization movements in record mode and flawlessly play them back with midi time code or external clocking. Dynamic automation and snapshots of board settings can be backed up to a PC card in the boards external card slot or to a connected PC. I love the optional ADAT cards. I have my board connected to an Alesis HD 24 via light pipes. The only thing I can think of that I would change with this unit is a future version with 96K or higher sampling frequencies. This mixer sounds incredibly good now, but I can't imagine what it would sound like with a higher sampling rate. Oh, by the way this mixer is 24 bit already.

Quality:
Construction is flawless. I did have a problem with the digital coaxial out jack and Behringer replaced the unit for free 8 months after I purchased it. I believe this unit will last many years with heavy use.

Value:
This product is beyond belief for the price. After using this product and comparing it to others I would have paid three times the price. It is a phenomenal value.

Desirability:
This mixer looks incredible in a dimmed studio.

Sound:
Superior sonic quality AD-DA converters. This unit is virtually noiseless so the dynamic range is very good. The controls are organized in a very user friendly way making it easy to use live and for recordings. The built-in effects processors equal or exceed most rack mount and pedal units. This unit has virtually eliminated the need for racks of gates, compressors, reverb, sonic enhancers, graphic and parametric eq's. All of this is built in and of excellent sonic quality.

Support:
Yes, see the above comments. I do have to say that technical support staff in the US is a little behind in their full understanding of all of the features and capabilities of this board. Otherwise warranty support is fantastic.

Overall:
The only thing I have outgrown with this product is the sampling frequency. I wish it were at least 96K at this point.

Behringer DDX3216 Mixer Customer Review

Feature:
routing is flexible. Use it with a RME9652 card and the DX3216 has 2 ADAT cards installed. RME is installed in a Win XP PC. Works good. Nothing like having your WAV files in sonar show up on the mixer faders to tweak.

Quality:
if it wasn't for the random clicks, it's built like a tank.

Sound:
99% reliable, amazingly feature packed for the price. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, the mixer led's start jumping up and down irregularly while digital clicks are heard in the speakers. Have no idea what causes it. Chorus & Reverb are cheap-sounding. My 01/V sounds better. Compressor is decent. The o1/v's pitch-shifting algorithm (used for widening my harmonies) as well as the reverb remain unmatched.

Support:
never use it

"I love this thing!!!"

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
So here is my setup, RME HDSP9652 and two Adat expansion boards for the DDX3216. Talk about power and flexibility. Using the board with Cubase SX is a breeze and the mixer interfaces with the RME card like a dream.

Quality:
No complaints here.

Value:
Man, cmon! A grand has you sitting pretty with a solid competent piece of gear. It's not for everyone, but for those of us who use computers to record and don't want to spend 5 grand for the mackie digital board, this is a no brainer.

Sound:
Sound is CLEAN. Not sterile, just clean. My first digital mixer and I honestly can't understand why everyone does not have one at this price. I do recommend having a dedicated vocal pre amp, but other than that, its fine for everything else, and in most situations would probably work great for vocals as well. Theres nothing outstanding about the preamps, but there is NOTHING wrong with them either.

Support:
The support team is pretty responsive and there is actually a few users out there that are really willing to help. I made a freind on their support staff in the US.

"all the goodies at low price"

Feature:
must say this baby is packed, I've got optical i/o ports to connect to my rme soundcard and my digi 01.Works awesome. Use external preamps though to add more air.

Quality:
exceptional value for money.

Value:
exceptional value for money.

Sound:
overall good sounding, a bit hard in the topend, but ok.

Support:
haven't used it, but the website hasen't been updated for a long time

Overall:
I hope to work my setup for at least 5 more years.

"can it get any cheaper?"

Feature:
wish ti had more analog outputs,aux & groups

Quality:
could use better knobs& switches, faders should feel "heavier"

Value:
the best value for money

Sound:
clear sound exellent quality,not so good dynamics,very good results,though.

Overall:
can't tell yet, the only reason to replace it is its constantly reduced price!

"Great. If you have the cash, buy it."

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
Up to 32 channels in and out. Amazing. Being a live sound engineer, the save and recall function is amazing. It helps for shows with changing effects, and helps a lot when having multiple bands. Plenty of effect and you can use 4 at a time. The compressors, gates, delay, and phase switching all make a sound tech's job much easier.

Quality:
Great quality. I had one that was perfect, but then an electrical surge fried it (I learned my lesson, get a Furman or Monster power conditioner). The second was fine also except the little preset LCD. It doesn't bother me though, cause it also shows up on the main screen, so I kept it.

Value:
Great for the money! Price should be higher in my opinion.

Desirability:
Looks good, but I wish is was setup wider than being so deep.

Sound:
The sound is perfect for live. I do not recommend using the mic preamps in a professional studio though. They are kinda noisy at high gain, but not noticable in live sound use.

Support:
Behringer support is pretty good. But service is outsourced to another company which is quite a pain.

"A Wolf in Sheeps Clothing"

Feature:
On paper this thing is great. I purchased the DX3216 predominately because of price/features and mostly because of the ADAT out, and routing capabilty for easily interfacing to the computer domain. After a short learning curve, I did grow to like the user interface, the robust effects, and the endless routing possibilites of this thing. I never had any trouble utilizing any features when the system was actually working. That said, my mixer has been to the shop twice. Once for an simple chip replacement (op amp I think ) and I once for a major board malfunction. In neither case did I ever abuse or misuse the board in any fashion. The features are great, but unfrotunately the mixer quality is not. I would not recomend buying this mixer.

Quality:
It sure looks fancy and is built like a tank. Every visible piece on this thing is tight. Unforntuatley, its the stuff on the inside thats not so good. I've had mine in the shop twice. Both for internal electronic failures. In the 2nd case, its out of warranty and I've been waiting 4 months for parts on back order. Again, I would not buy this mixer....even with the prices that are now half of what I paid.

Value:
On paper, there is no better mixer for the money. In reality, a dead mixer is nothing but a giant paper weight.

Desirability:
On paper, this thing rocks. In person, its an amazing, beautiful even, piece of equipment. Just don't actually turn it on, and expect it to work.

Sound:
Sounds great...when it works. Mine is currently in the shop ( for the 2nd time) getting fixed. Its been in for 4 months waiting on Behringer parts that are back ordered.

Support:
My mixer has died twice. The first time, under warranty, I got a work number from Behrhinger, sent it out to an affiliated shop at my cost, and it was sent back fixed. It was a fairly painless experience. It is currently still in the shop for the 2nd failure. It has been in there for 4 months waiting on Behringer back order parts. Unfortunately, its out of warranty, and i have not pushed the issue (yet) with Behringer.

Overall:
Overall, my DX3216 experience has been quite disappointing. I bought it fairly early at $1300 American. WHen it worked, its a joy, when it didn't, ( *and it still doesn;t) your dead in the water. The proimse with this one, is too good to be true. With great regret, I highly recommend staying away from this Mixer..

"returned 3 non-functional units before cancelling order. Big waste of my time."

This reviewer purchased this item from Same Day Music.

Feature:
I was quite excited...

Quality:
I have never had such problems with anew piece of equipment. The first was DOA, the 2nd crashed every 2 min, then when I tried updating the firmware, it crashed during flash erasure(!). The 3rd unit soloved that problem by not letting me update the OS at all! I still have the same budget and need for a unit like this, but thrice bitten, once shy.

Value:
To me, no. For those lucky gamblers who get a unit that actually works (I'm doubtful that they really exist, but I see some high reviews sometimes) then congrats. Just be aware that you should try to update to the latest OS immediately, and if it fails, return the unit.

Desirability:
I would love one that actually worked

Sound:
After returning the 3rd unit as non-functional, I gave up. Truthfully I cannot comment on the sound because the non-audio aspects of the device were so buggy.

Support:
I have had good dealings with Behringer support in the past (the repair center), but their email support team offered NOTHING in the way of explanation or apology or asurance that they could indeed EVER provide me with a unit that they could pre-inspect so that I didn't have to waste any more hours with a piece of worthless junk.

Overall:
poorest quality assurance I have ever encountered in over 20 years of buying music gear. And this is a product that has been on the market for over a year already. Yikes.