I have had the Behringer Xenyx 802 mixer since 2006.  

Major gratitude to the forum admins in the FL Studio forum, who recommended the mixer to me after I told them I had to hook up a condenser mic, the Roland Fantom X-8 keyboard, the Stanton T.80 Turntable, and possibly a TV! (the audio output of anything on TV).  

I also have the Mbox2, and I must say that the Pre-Amp inside the Xenyx 802 amplifies much better than the MBox2.  The mixer, with the Phantom Power and XLR condenser mic plugged in, really makes recording vocals at home a clear quality.  When doing this tactic, the Mbox2 only serves as a gateway into the computer (Where I record into FL Studio); it's input gain is completely turned down.  The same thing goes for anything plugged into the Behringer Mixer like a Keyboard or Turntable; it seems to boost the audio power.

I recently utilized the FX Send and Return feature in the video: Put the Gun Down Human Being - The small echo is from an analog delay, and the DEEP PITCHED VOCALS on the HOOK is actually from the send/return feature. (a pitch shift fx of sorts)  You can use this feature on the mixer for anything - many times these FX sends are a way to input some Reverb, Echo, Delay, Pitch, and other fun and interesting music/electronic effects.  


The unit also has some RCA inputs, as well as a main out and control room out.

When using in conjunction with the computer, I simply use the main out of the mixer into the Mbox2, which connects via usb into the computer.

Maybe one down side regarding the mixer is the power plug in, which has to be fed into the back of the mixer.  No biggie, but that part can get damaged; it is the only piece I have replaced on the mixer since owning in 2006.  Actually, the only damage was to the metal prongs, so take a look inside and be sure not to abuse it.  (I simply never knew they were there)

My buddy in Fort Wayne actually took this unit to a jam session with a band, and the results were pretty damn slick.  So in a live environment, it definitely gets the job done.  

Check out the Xenyx 802 mixer for many applications, clear electronics, and a solid design. 

The unit has a purple/blue laser when on.




 

 This beat has a sampled loop from a vinyl record that is sped up and hard to hear.   I was dealing with pre-done wave chords and other effects, so it was almost a miracle that they came out in key.  I added my favorite piano from Reason - the NNXT piano that loads as soon as you load up NNXT.  The hyphy trumpets and violins give it another crazy feel...but I love anything with piano.

 I've got the studio setup in the basement with all the same casts of characters.   I have revamped the signal flow a little bit though.  My Dell Laptop i5 is the hub, which has a USB breakout with 4 connections.  Connected to the four slots is the Digi Design MBox 2, Roland Fantom X-8 USB, External Hard drive, and Dell printer.  The other remaining USB ports on my computer are for the mouse and ilok key.  I have the digital SPDIF output from the Roland Fantom X-8 hooked up to the MBox 2's digital SPDIF input.  The Stanton Turntable is connected to the Behringer XENYX802 Mixer (RCA left and right outputs into 1/4" left and right inputs on the behringer mixer).  The Mixer's Main outs go from Left and Right 1/4" outputs into the Line Level input of the MBox2.  In this way, anything connected to the mixer (stanton turntable, microphone, Roland Handsonic 10, or Television) can be ran line out from the mixer into the line in of the digi design MBox2.  I also have monitors and a headphone output.  The creative possibilities are endless as my sound pallete includes .WAV drum kits in FL Studio, Sytrus in FL Studio, Alieno VST, other free VSTS, Reason, All sounds from the Fantom X, all old Vinyl Records for sampling, The Roland Handsonic 10, the microphone, and even the T.V.

 I got the email from Morrison today, owner of Neat Neat Neat Records in Fort Wayne.  I am grateful that he told me everything is working on the Stanton T.80.  He's got a pretty cool shop as well.  There are high end turntables for sale as well as many vinyl records.  Vinyl is vintage and vinyl is cool.  There is just something special about spinning records on turntables.  It's a physical substance you can hold in your hand, feel, and see the cool artwork on the record casing.  This is something that Mp3s and digital computers can never touch.  The best part is that vinyl SOUNDS better than digital because it was recorded with analog equipment.  I hope kids today realize they can still buy vinyl records, that they hold value, and that they sound awesome.

I lent my buddy my behringer XENYX802 Mixer so he can practice with his band.  The mixer has been returned to me but I was informed he still needed to retreive the ac power adapter.  He seems to be built on integrity and told me that he would pick it up for me and return it.  If I had to, I would have picked it up because I understand it's easy to forget a power chord.  However, if it was his OWN mixer, do you think he would have forgotten it in the first place?  Furthermore, my Stanton T.80 turntable was dropped off at a record store to get fixed by the owners "guy."  I emailed the owner and asked if he had a status because I was leaving in a couple days and needed to get it back.  He told me it can sometimes take 10 to 15 working days.  I told him that I hope we can work it out, and that I thought it would be a shorter time.  Low and behold, the turntable shows up the next day, I receive a phone call and email from the owner, and it didn't even need a new motor.  I arrive to the record store and he turns the platter to show me that it is in working condition.  (How do I really know this without plugging it in and then turning it on?)  I ask him where the power chord is and then the bad vibes start coming.  He calls his "guy," who clearly lost the chord and tells me I can take the turntable now or tomorrow, when he will BUY me a new chord.  He says it works because the guy tested it, so I ask him how could he test it without the power chord?  He was already frustrated, so he said I can come back tomorrow and pick up both items.  I hope the turntable works when I plug the thing in.  And I hope he buys the power chord.  This all started because I thought the motor was dead, but it looks like a case of cleaning out some dust from the inside parts.  I'm power chorded out.

Sampling old vinyl records from my father's generation has a certain "spice" to it.  It's just more fun.  I have crates of vinyl records from the baby boomer generation in which I sample certain sections, loops, and phrases of the song.  I love finding the key of the song and adding my own drums, bassline, and harmonies on top of it.  I brought my turntable from Cleveland back to Fort Wayne and as soon as I turned it on and pressed play it died!  The motor must be shot.  I am going to find out if I can fix it from NeatNeatNeatrecords.com, but I'm not sure how expensive it is to fix a motor.  Either that or get a new turntable.