Podcast Mixer ~ BEST USB Mixers For Podcasting

Podcasting is a great way to do some awesome experimental stuff. Several different podcasting tricks can enhance the listening experience and thus increase the value of the best episode. It is just a matter of obtaining the top audio mixers for podcasting, usually a USB option. There are some basics to keep in mind when choosing the best podcast mixer, but it can be well worth the extra effort. Given what it can mean for your podcast, it may be well worth investing in a mixer for your production studio. There are many different audio mixers for podcasts on the market these days, so hopefully, this will give you the best idea of which podcast mixers to choose from.

Are You Sure A Mixer Is Right For Your Setup?

When you are just starting out, there sometimes can be some confusion on whether or not to go with one of these podcast mixers or an audio interface to buy from Amazon.  If you are sure that this is best for you, continue on with your budget.  If not, maybe take a look at our mixer vs audio interface article here first.

The Top Podcasting Mixers Overview

Best USB Mixers For Podcasting

1. Samson MXP124FX – Podcast Mixer

These podcast mixers have high-quality effects and a built-in USB. You can record your podcast mixers by connecting the Samson MXP124FX to your computer with a USB. It has a 3-band EQ on every channel, producing professional sound for studio and stage mixes. This high-quality mixer is affordable and easier to use. Functionality and design merge excellently on this high-quality and suitable mixer.

Recording Mixes 

With its in-built USB feature, you can record by connecting the Samson MXP124FX podcast mixer to your computer. Use the DAW software, such as Audacity, for easy and simple recording of a podcast guest.

Effects

This mixer has 100 inbuilt, high audio quality podcast effects with a 24-bit solution to choose from. With these best studio-quality effects, you are covered for;

• Delays
• Reverbs
• Tremolo
• Chorus

Applications

These mixers have small-format mixing applications like a podcast. It has four preamplifier microphones and phantom power. Each input has high pass filters. Other podcast applications include:

• Four stereo line inputs.
• Four mono line inputs.
• One-knob compressor.
• Drum overheads.
• Best podcast vocals.

Features

• USB connection
• 100 inbuilt effects
• one-knob compressors
• 3-band EQ
• 12 channels microphone

Pros

• Small-sized and affordable
• Four clean microphone preamplifiers
• Two one-knob audio compressors
• Can do the mix-minus setup

Cons

• The USB out has a 16 bit AD converter. A 24 bit AD converter would be more superior and best.

These mixers are best for recording podcasts and video calls with a guest. With it, you get a mixer that perfectly combines size and features. It is easy to carry around and comfortable to place on your desk.

2. Behringer Q802USB Mixer

Today, a lot of individuals show their best interest in music or podcasts. While some folks wish to pursue a career in podcasts, others love mixing multiple sounds to cherish something new in their past time. If you are among these enthusiasts, you may want to invest in a good-quality podcasting mixer like the Behringer Q802USB mixer.

Specifications and features 

Behringer’s Q802USB mixer is a premium low-noise podcast mixer. This high headroom mixer comes with two state-of-the-art XENYX mics preamps just like stand-alone best boutique preamps. You also get studio-grade compressors that come with a more accessible one-knob functionality and control LED for the best instrument and vocal sounds.

Pros

• One of the best things about Q802USB mixers is it is relatively easy and basic to use. Whether you want to use it with a PC or Mac via USB, plug the podcast mixer, and you are all set to play the mixer.
• It can accommodate both condenser mic as well as dynamic mics. These mixers work well with any streaming software for a podcast.
• Budget-friendly.

Cons

• If used for a long time, it gets heated. Also, the circuitry is a bit noisy. Despite these drawbacks, Q802USB delivers an excellent sound quality at a minimal price.

A top-notch best mixer such as the Behringer Q802USB podcast mixers can do wonders for you when mixing multiple sounds at your home or recording studio. Affordability, clean sound and best podcast sound, great add-ons, etc., are some of the striking features and benefits of this fantastic choice. This is why many music and podcast lovers choose to buy Q802USB for enhanced sound mixing and better output quality.

3. PROFX8V2 8-Channel Compact with USB and Effects Mixer

Having the right equipment is critical for producing the best mix of beats to get your audience moving. Mackie is the premier name in sound quality and mixing technology. We provide a full range of mixers, faders, loudspeakers, studio monitoring devices, portable PA systems, Bluetooth speakers, podcast headphones, and other audio tools for podcasts.

The Mackie PROFX8V2 mixer is a comprehensive and cutting-edge sound solution featuring brand new Vita preamplifiers for unparalleled podcast sound quality.

Vita preamps are designed exclusively for the best live podcast sound. They are noiseless and sport a low-profile Class-A front-end design. Other notable elements include dual feedback and bias current stabilization.

ReadFX Engine

The cutting-edge ReadyFX engine utilizes floating-point DSP and is made for aggressive processing of top-notch audio. This produces a rich and inspiring performances that any podcast audience will love.

Live Mixing Tool Kit 

Every ProFX mixers model comes standard with an audio tool kit. Users get multi-band graphic equalization, channel inserts, and FX mute that is foot-switchable.

USB Playback and Recording

The Mackie ProFX mixers feature a built-in USB interface for mixing or recording during live shows. Tracktion recording software that is easy to use and intuitive helps you make sick beats no matter where you perform. Great for podcasts!

If you’re looking to take your recording podcasts and mixing skills to the next level, the Mackie PROFX8V2 has all the power and versatility you need. It has everything you need to be a podcast mix master with multiple features and cutting-edge sound technology.

4. Mackie 402VLZ4 Mixer

If you are in the market to buy a top-rated analog podcast mixer, you may want to check out the Mackie 402VLZ4. Beyond sounding great, the 402VLZ4 is one piece of gear that you can depend on. You get an excellent dynamic range, 60DB gain range on Onyx microphone amplifiers, and pretty low noise performance.

Specifications and features

It is a 4-channel podcast mixer that features a high-headroom/low noise design of Mackie. You also get two boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps for some best-enhanced mixing and recording. These mixers are built like a tank for maximum usability, and it is capable of recording podcasts and mixing multiple sound varieties.

Pros

• The main benefit of 402VLZ4 is it produces the best excellent sound. With smooth controls, you can adjust and change the levels and mix at any given time without any issue. Above all, the product is highly durable as it is made of steel to last for a long time.

Cons

• To mount it on a mic stand, you need to have screws that are not provided with the package; users find this a bit annoying. Also, some users think that the price is a bit more. Aside from these simple flaws, there are no known drawbacks.

Mackie 402VLZ4 is an ideal podcast mixer for blending a range of sounds to create the unique music that you want. Durably built, modest price range, clean and crisp sound quality are some of the fantastic features of this analog mixer. This is why it is highly recommended by the majority of music and best podcast professionals.

5. Behringer X1832USB Mixer

The Behringer X1832USB mixer makes mixing 14 channels (maximum) of audio at an affordable price possible. The initial six channels offer Xenyx mic preamps, along with four stereo channels. The two-bus design facilitates routing signals to another source. The X1832USB also makes you sound ideal, thanks to the three-band EQs and one-knob compression. The FBQ system for feedback detection helps identify the odd frequencies so that you can control them.

Sound Features

Live sound engineers understand a quality compressor’s significance. The Behringer X1832USB podcast mixer makes compressing easy, thanks to its six channels faders that come with one-knob compression. Adjust the compressor as per your best requirements after setting the best signal levels so that signal-level management becomes easy. The multi-effects, 24-bit processor, lets you add professional touches, such as delay, reverb, chorus, and echo, to your mixes and vocals for a podcast.

Recording and Playback

The X1832USB’s mixer’s ability to connect and hook with your computer is a bonus feature, both on stage and within the studio. Inside the studio, you may record the X1832USB’s stereo output to pretty much any recording software. You could also do audio playback from your computer via the mixer. The X1832USB, for live use, makes mixing and recording the podcasts simultaneously easy.

Pros

• Excellent audio mixers performance
• A compact and versatile mixer
• Great connectivity options
• Small on budget.

Cons

• May not pack in all the power you need

If your acoustic requirements are reasonably modest and you do not want to compromise on the best podcast sound quality and connectivity, the X1832USB mixer is what you should be looking at.

6. Behringer X1204USB Mixer

If you are searching for a feature-heavy option at an affordable price, take a look at the X1204USB. The product comes fully equipped with all that is needed to keep you rolling in the world of music. If you are still skeptical about this great mixer, read the below review.

Specifications and features

Behringer xenyx X1204 podcast mixer is a 12 input option with a computer (integrated) audio interface. It offers two stereo and four mono channels, making it best for smaller jobs like a podcast. You will find two aux sends on each mono channel for routing individual channels to stage monitors and external effects.

Pros

• It is a high headroom analog mixer with low noise. The built-in engine effects processor includes 16 presets with the chorus, reverb, delay, pitch shifter, flanger, and multi-effects. You can mix and shape multiple podcast audio signals’ sounds together and route the final audio to various outputs effortlessly.

Cons

• Some users have reported that the driver support is not a dedicated one. Also, the mixer does not interact much with DAWS. Aside from these minor flaws, the product is a good choice for beginners looking for top-notch mixers with a low price tag.

Whether a professional podcast studio recorder or an amateur, you need a good quality option such as the X1204USB to blend everything you need to create great music. By expending a minimal amount, you can own something best for small applications. Check out its features, pros, and cons mentioned above given your requirements, and you will never repent on your purchase.

7. Allen & Heath Zed-12FX Mixer

Buying a good-quality podcast sound mixer is tricky due to so many mixer brands in the market. You ought to be very careful when choosing a mixer for sound mixing. If you are interested in the best class that returns good value for your money, consider buying Allen & Heath Zed-12FX.

Specifications and features

The Zed-12FX comes with many features, including 6 mic/line inputs and 4 auxiliary sends. Other features include a USB I/O with sonar software and 100MM professional faders. It also has 3 band equalizers with sweep mids for creating mind-blowing mixes.

Pros

• Zed-12FX delivers what it says – it mixes sound cleanly and produces good quality output to your satisfaction. The settings are easy to get the presets. Also, the preamps are clean and easy to use. With a sturdy built and appealing look, it quickly drives potential buyers to take a look at the product.

Cons

• Some buyers have reported that it comes with a poor instruction manual. Also, users tend to lose channels on send/return occasionally. Despite these minor drawbacks, it is highly recommended for its innovative features and varied benefits.

Picking the suitable mixer for a podcast need not be a chore if you know the top-of-the-line mixers such as Allen & Heath Zed-12FX. Just go through the pros and cons in light of your podcast requirements. Within no time, you will be able to recoup your investment in terms of the best mixing and clearer podcast sound quality that you ever wished.

What Does An Audio USB Mixer Do For A Podcast?

First off, it is essential to realize what a podcast mixer does. In the simplest sense, it is an electronic device that allows for combining and modifying sounds. At the minimum, it can be used to clean up audio tracks, make them sound clearer, and eliminate several minor audio problems. It can also be used to create special effects, combine and modify tracks and any number of audio tracks. Using one, a podcaster can make any number of adjustments to his podcast’s audio and have a lot of fun when it comes to their sound.

With that in mind, we can explore what it can do for a podcast. For those running an interview show, it means that the interviewer and interviewee can be assigned different tracks, which can add some additional clarity, especially if the recording is done as a stereo track and rigged so that one voice is heard in one ear and the other voice in the other. Any music and special effects can be set on its track to share control between the two ways when the audio is combined.

Mixer channels: How many do you need?

This is a relatively easy question to answer. Basically, how many mics are you going to be using to record a live episode. Let’s say you use one podcast mic and headphones per person. You’ll need that many channels. However, I would highly recommend that you buy something that has more than you need in case you need more later and don’t want to upgrade or buy a new one.

Do you want the ability to add special effects?

An important option to look at is the ability to create special effects. For most podcasts, it may not be that important, but it can add some fun to the experience for others. For example, it can be used as simply as adding censor bleeps or even drum rolls. In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, several different effects ranging from storms to closing doors can be added to heighten the drama or humorous effect. In short, sounds can make the podcast more appealing to the listener, thus adding value to the best experience.

Do you need to include other audio devices for inputs?

A podcast mixer can also be used to tie in other audio devices to the computer so that they can be used to add additional sounds and other effects. For those that compose and play their music, this means that electronic music can be added. While the obvious is an electronic keyboard, a drum machine, or electric guitars are other options; the individual tracks can be recorded, modified as desired, and then added together with a mixer. This music can then be added to provide filler, breaks, or even accompaniment to a podcast audio play.

Let’s look at an audio play for a moment. It can modify the voices used in the play and any foley work, such as slamming doors and shattering glass. A lot of music can be added, such as dramatic piano music or even background music. A low-frequency sound can even be added for a little extra fear. It is even possible to have different voices heard on different ears to allow a listener to follow a conversation. While this is an extreme example, it is nonetheless worth considering what it can do and then best applying that to your podcast.

How much do you want to spend?

It is essential to consider what you will be using it for and how much you are willing to pay when looking at one. The price is less of a factor than you might suppose, but it may be useful to help limit options. With that as the cap, it is also important to debate what it will be used for and what you have planned. Keep in mind that most people will never use every possible option provided by a podcast mixer, and thus it is very useful to consider exactly what you need the mixer for. Once you have the best idea of what you will be using the mixers for, you can begin looking in earnest.

Used or new?

Some other considerations need to be debated. The condition is one, as used mixers are cheaper but are more prone to breaking down. An older option will also be more affordable but may not have the connections that you need. However, there may be some great mixer options for older used versions that may make them worth the issues that they carry with them. As such, remember to look carefully at whatever mixer you end up looking at, and be very careful before you put down any money when choosing the best podcast mixers.

What types of input and output connections do you need?

Be very careful when it comes to the podcast mixer connections that it has. While it is a given that you will be looking for at least a USB connection, keep in mind what other devices will be connected to the mixer. For those attaching musical instruments, make sure that those connections are there. Ensure that all of the connections work; there is nothing worse than finding a mixer to record that looks like it works best only to find out it does not.

Podcast Mixer – Ready To Choose Your USB?

It can be your best friend if you know how to use it. Just remember that when choosing the most excellent podcast USB mixer for podcasting, there is a wide range of options available to you and that you need to know which best podcast options you are looking for when it comes to dealing with a podcasting mixer, as opposed to an audio interface for your podcasts. Once you know which options are essential, it is just a matter of applying those to the audio mixer you want and grabbing the most important features. Your audio will be better, so make sure that you have the audio podcast mixer for your podcast studio kit.