Behringer Composer PRO-XL MDX2600 Review (AUDIO TEST)

This is the Behringer Composer PRO-XL MDX2600. Most of the reviews on YouTube of the Behringer Composer don't show you how it sounds so I figured I would mix it up and give you some audio samples.

0:00 - About & Intro
0:23 - Unboxing
0:41 - Why You Want This
1:47 - Dry Sound Test
2:10 - Pro XL MDX2600 On
2:45 - Tube & Enhance Buttons
3:24 - Compressor & Limiter
4:02 - Noise Gate
4:56 - My Settings & Final Thoughts

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Buy it on Sweetwater (USA)

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#behringer #podcastingtips #techreviews

[GeekyNerdyTechy]

Thanks for all the feedback. You can check it out using the links below.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Buy it on B&H (USA)

Buy it on Sweetwater (USA)
(affiliate links)

[miekwavesoundlab]

I got this unit 10 years ago. I run it on ancillary output from my Focusrite interface for optical analog dynamics. Still holding strong 10 years later!

[sothchurch]

The passthrough of audio when the unit is off is brilliant.

[bitcollector]

I own a MDX 2600 for more than 10 years.
I've just learned that it's pass through!
Thanks!

[SteveCaddy]

I think you're under-driving the compressor. The green level is peaking at -18dB, so you're working around 16-20dB lower than nominal (0dB). This explains why you need so little gate/expander, or why at 4 notches it starts to make your mic audio cut out. I'd also set it to be an expander rather than a gate for vocal work, so that the noise floor is simply lowered rather than chopped off to nothing (the gate is more useful in a situation where you're trying to prevent multiple mics from cross talking, like when recording a drum kit). I'd wind up the output of your pre-amp, and make the compressor work more. You can then set the thresholds of the compressor and gate/expander higher if you find it's compressing too much. The fact all the red LEDs come on when you stop talking is the gate/expander in action - it's pulling the level of your noise floor right down. You also say something about the unit making your quiet sounds louder, and that's not what compression does - compression is a gain reduction function. You can make sounds at levels below the knee sound louder by turning up the output gain (sometimes called make-up gain). The make-up gain is intended to replace some of the gain lost by the compression process, but by this virtue, it also raises the level of anything that hasn't been compressed (that stuff below the knee). You're also running a really high ratio, which is making the unit work more like a limiter than a compressor. Maybe you could make a video where you change the ratio to show the difference it makes? At least you've managed to set up some fairly nice sounding attack and release constants that suit your voice - I've heard some reviews where these are badly set, and it makes the output "pumpy" and subjectively horrible to listen to. Other than those really technical notes, this is a good review. I've used an MDX2600 for many many years in a broadcast environment, mostly as a limiter rather than a compressor, and for the money, you get a pretty good single band compressor. I'm pretty sure they're more expensive than they used to be too - I'm sure I bought mine for less than £100.

[dalejason]

Cheers for this Shane, helped me decide what I need ...

[jamalabdul]

Wow sounds great!!! Looking forward to the shootout!!! Thanks Shane!!!🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾

[glenesis]

My OG Composer hasn't ever left my rack. It's a secret weapon. Great review, and I'm glad you enjoy this as much as I do. Slow your attack, you're getting "essy". Cheers!

[mka]

Shane is THE MAN! This guy could review a polish cloth and it would RAWK! He doesn't try to be "cute" like American reviewers or go on and on and on and on and on and on ABOUT NOTHING like British reviewers, NOPE! He understands the reason people watch these things is honest, un filtered, TO THE POINT reviews of the gear DUH! What a concept! Keep Rockin it Shane!!

[Videos_I_like]

Thanks for this video! Very helpful and really appreciate seeing your settings, as well.

[RoomAtTheTopStudio]

I've had a Composer Pro since 1998. I've not used it a lot because I had a Focusrite Voicemaster which was my go to back then and although I used to use the Composer on my mixes back then I usually took it off and just leveled my mixes how I wanted them without compression and left it for my mastering engineer to work his magic. I've recently taken it out of storage and I'm going to use it on vocals going into the Composer Pro then into my mixer. It should be interesting to hear the results. Thanks for the tips.

[ryder]

This is my 4th Behringer purchase, they deliver everything that other processors do at half the price. I'm a professional producer with year's of recording history. My first studio board was a Tascam 488 and moved up to the 688, yes things where not near the quality that we have at our disposal now. Buy Behringer, give them a chance, you won't be disappointed. Thank you for this OUTSTANDING video, its top notch but putting them in your rack will be the defining answer, yes they're just that good!

[bobbyberetta]

Hey Shane! Great review, I just ordered based on this. Thank you.

[Smlmusic]

I've had this unit for years and have never been able to get it to work. I have it hooked up the same way as you too.

[miketypeeach]

Nothing about the functionality of the de-esser, then? I didn't know this unit existed until today, and am very interested to know how the de-esser works.

[aftertheendtimes]

These units are awesome! thanks dear Shane <3 cheers

[kox]

Do you have a video for connecting it all? I mean, the two behringers and the mic? best regards ... thanx for awesome simple show and tell videos ... helps alot

[peterschmidt]

Behringer makes some great rack gear Shane. For my PA setup, I'm using their 12 channel rack mixer, with the DBX 166xs compressor/limiter (for vocals) and a Behringer 30 band stereo EQ. The 12 channel rack mixer has build in effects which you can mix into any channel. I also bought a TC Voicelive to try out for a bit of fun, but haven't had the time to play around with it.
But the MDX2600 sounds pretty good, I like that enhance + tube buttons too.

[derkhedemann]

I had a DBX 286 S, but I got rid of it because it bothered me that it didn't have an off and on button.

[theBVSS]

those in/out buttons are like the "bypass" ?