Totally Amateur Soundcraft Notepad 12FX Review. (This time with video editing!) 

It is the only low end mixer that allows separate channels to be independently recorded into a computer. This function is currently only on much more expensive desks. Most USB mixers only send the whole mix. Thats the reason I bought it and I think it's very good.

I purchased this to help me put together demos -- I'm kind of old school, but trying to be more of a technologist -- the USB connection was part of the big draw to this one -- I can leave this connected to my laptop, and can leave a drum machine, bass, and guitar plugged in.

Too bad the sales person didn't take a little time to steer you towards a better fit. This is a good mixer, just not for your needs. This is designed for a basic solo artist needing a small footprint mixer. Keep us posted as to what you end up with.

The 100hz button is a Low Frequency cutoff (or more frequently called a highpass filter). It cuts off the signal coming in below 100hz. You'd use it to keep your sound from being muddy. If you had say a kick drum and a bass guitar you could enable the 100hz cut to stop the kick drum from muddy'ing up the bass sound. Or it can be used if you're getting low frequency hum from electrical interference or something and want to cut it off. With Synths you'd probably not want it on typically. Seems like the board just isn't ideal for your application and you'd probably prefer a line mixer or something.

The only problem is that you buy an item that is not design for your use. This mixer is designed to podcast and live audience. It does not have 1/4 inch output because those are dedicated to a dual mix monitoring. You have 2 headphone mixes and you do not need it..... This is a really great product.... It is just not designed for your needs.

Did you read the manual that Soundcraft took the trouble to print and supply with the mixer? The 100hz button is a high pass filter (it removes low frequencies below 100hz to reduce booming/popping). It really isn't on to say you don't know what it does "because I'm an amateur". Despite its low cost, this is a high quality miniature mixer, designed for those who do not need a multitude of features or large numbers of inputs/outputs. That's why it has XLR, not jack outputs. You can make or buy simple adaptors to enable you to use it with equipment that only has TRS or mono jacks.

is it ok if i use it for small gigs? like for example i plugged my accoustic guitar,keyboard and vocals. for garden wedding or indoor parties?

I bought this mostly as a mixer for my stereo keyboards and it works very well for that. You can use the first four channels as two stereo channels and then the next three as stereo inputs. I agree that the RCA jacks are a bit of a nuisance, but it's easy to get an adaptor cable. Then, the last channel is an FX return for my FX loop. This is my major complaint with the unit, which is that the Aux out for the FX loop is only mono, and it really ought to be stereo. But otherwise it works well, and the individual FX knobs on each channel work very well. Using an FX return disables the internal effects, so I don't use them. I don't mind the TRS outs for the main output, since my powered studio monitors have TRS inputs, and this actually gives me better sound. In this setup, I have 5 usable stereo channels, which very few inexpensive compact mixers have. You have to match your mixer to your use case. If the inputs and layout aren't what you're looking for, than you might be better off with something else. But the effects, USB capabilities, sound quality and overall layout of this unit are all excellent and well up to class standards.

Can we take effect vocals to the usb out ??

It's a good overview of the device which I own myself own. For that, a thumb up from me. Maybe it's not a good fit for you, but that's on you for not doing the due diligence prior to buying it. Don't shit on the gear. It's doing exactly what it was designed to do. We've all bought something that didn't work out, let's suck it up as a lesson learned instead of projecting blame on a perfectly good mixer. You'll hurt its feelings don't you know! LOL So, regarding the 4 "XLR" (also 1/4" inputs BTW), they can be used as 2 stereo inputs by using channel 1 and 2, for left and right from one device, then using channel 3 and 4 for left and right out of another. Then you pan channels 1 and 3 hard left and channels 2 and 4 hard right for an accurate stereo image from those 2 devices. A little trick I had to do back in the early 90s when having a Tascam 4-track cassette mixer/record offered only 4 mono channels and was more expensive back then, even before adjusting for inflation! Yes, we still had to use pay phones if we wanted to call someone while traveling (unless you were one of those Wall Street ballers). Bleak times. ;) So also, regarding the "phono in", i.e. the RCA stereo ins on channels 9 and 10, find yourself an inexpensive adapter/adapter cable. That makes 5 full stereo channels at least. Anytime mixers give channel specs, this is always referring to the number of mono channels, not stereo channels. It's not a stereo tuner after all, it's a mixer. Normally one has 30-45 days to return something. Sorry if I missed it, but why couldn't you return it within such time. Certainly, you would have sorted that it wasn't for you with 30 days? If not, cut your loss and sell it on eBay, then get what you want at some point? And, yes. I'm complaining about your complaining. LOL :)

Seems this was just the wrong choice for you, which is too bad. The 100hz button is a high pass filter, it cuts off anything bellow 100 Hz. This may be in the same price ballpark as a lot of other mixers with similar number of input, but most of them don't have USB connectivity, or if they do, its just stereo/2 channel; this has 4 I/O USB channels!! This is a great mixer for solo, or small ensemble recording/mixing where 4 mics plus a couple stereo channels is all that.s needed. Lots of stereo inputs aren't its forte, and that definitely isn't what this little guy was designed to do. Also, its super easy just to make (or buy) some xlr to trs cables for your outs.

we connect our acoustic guitar in channel 1 and connect the mixer to computer through USB, the signal comes into the computer is MONO not stereo. what to do?

I read some coments that effects don't come trough the headphones, is this true? Because I would use for in ear monitor on live gig and I need to hear the effects applied to vocals. Another thing is I want to use an external Behringer FX2000 effects on AUX and I will return on a stereo Channel. It is possible to also the internal effects be sumed with this external effects? Or when I connect a P10 cable on AUX it will desengage internal effects?

7:57 11/12 is just 11/12 A stereo inpujt with level and even panning. Sure, you can route your FX return there. It's perfectly suited for that, but you can also return it on 1/2 if you need to. Again, not a problem. You can route any stereo signal into 11/12. (A return channel just is an input).

@Kristian Wontroba Have you tried using an external effects processor? I have yet to find any info on how to hook that up though the manual alludes to it...

I recently bought this mixer. I noticed that when I press the 3 buttons Delay, Chorus, and Reverb the Effects TAP TEMPO Does Not Work. It's will work on two of the three buttons when press the Delay button with. I also noticed that the Chorus and Reverb button DOES NOT WORK on the TAP TEMPO effect when I tried on each individual and see which one will not work. Am I got the defect mixer or just how it built? Thanks

Thanx for doing this review. I still can't decide between a soundcraft or Yamaha mixer. Really needing a 4 in 4 out mixer with USB capabilities..

So now the software for this machine isn't compatible with windows 11. So its usb function is gone. :( if anyone knows how to get it working. Please let me know. The current software doesnt detect the unit on windows 11

6:57 Jack to RCA adapteres don't cost much and make RCA inputs jack inputs. I don't see the problem. In fact, at the moment I use four of them to connect two pairs of RCA to jack. Or well, one RCA to jack, the other jack to RCA signalwise, but the point is: This is not a problem! They are very useful!

You just put a split on your input & use the aux on the mixer,if you need sound to come in from your MPC or other.

Hello, any chance you've figured out how to get the Lexixon Effects out of the 'usb out'? Thanks for the detailed and informative video.

Thanks for the review. You are musician working abroad? Looks like you have filmed it at hotel room :)

The makers are thinking We are going to sell This product to ignorant people like me But know thanks to you I will make a better choice

sound like you got unlucky my man. I had the opposite problem, I got a mixer that would fit all your needs meanwhile the soundcraft would have been more suitable for mine due to having more than one stereo bus.

Hi can i use all inputs like a normal mixer if im not using it as an 4×4 interface?

The similar MACKIE mixer has the same XLR outs... The effects send is just that, it works like any other mixer. It is a 12 channel, 4 channel USB mixer, tell me where you can find this amount of I/O for $160?

Hey.... it's possible to change voice tembr or effect with this mixer?

Sir the fx external output can be converted to rca ouput as well right? Just need to buy a separate converter for it. Great sharing btw🥰👍

Converter cables?

TRS is Mono unless you use it in an aux send/return which this mixer does not have. This is not DJ equipment

How do you turn it on?

The effect is not at all good. When we use delay and reverb at the same time, the delay overrides reverb. In essence, the reverb is also delayed along with the delay. The reverb should be independent of the delay. No one seems to be talking about this. I hope Soundcarft will have the solution for it in the next version of its frameware.

This video has been up for a while but I'll try asking this question anyhow...is it possible to use the AUX as an out to my amp as my bass amp doesn't have a XLR input?

Well the device is pretty good and usefull, but seems you bought the incorrect one with some bad advise. The device itself is pretty nice piece, using it daily here

Do you still has this mixer and still working as of today? Just wonder how long it last since no off/on power. I thinking of getting one. I looked on others brand like Behringer, Mackie, Yamaha, and others. Some are more expensive but the main outputs only has quarter jack which not what I been looking for. For price range, only Yamaha and Soundcraft has the main outputs XLR.

You probably shouldn't review something when you don't know how mixers work

@Blites I discovered through another forum that the usb output only receives a clean signal, before the effects. That's why you can't hear the effects on your pc. A solution is to route your xlr out plugs through another interface into the pc. Kinda defeats the usb capability...

I cannot record channels 3 and 4 separately, 1 and 2 work ok but when I record 3 and 4 with usb, it records everything, the tracks already recorded plus what I’m actually recording. Anyone else has the same issue?

Mai I connect Soundcraft 12 FX with smart fone USB?

Sir how we connect these mixer to another for channel extension

You’re complaining about the available number of inputs is totally common on most mixers that you’re going to look at that this price level. Maybe you don’t want RCA inputs, but this is usually based on mono source. I don’t even own this mixer, but this is really not a valid complaint.

Awesome video review

Does it come with a cable to your computer?

What is the USB for? Hook up to????what??

You probably don't liked main outputs being XLR and not stereo jack. Personally, I preferred XLR instead of the stereo jack or the 1/4" because it louder or has the full range sound not like stereo jack or quarter. As I watched other reviews on this mixer, one thing I disliked is that there's no off/on power which in the long run will get shock and gone.

How do you record from it

get the yamaha MG10XU mixer it’s better in many applications. practice and enjoy!

Not the best idea to review something if you know nothing about it. If you are an amateur and have no idea what these knobs mean and you are too lazy for reading manual - just leave, don't push yourself. Horrible overview. It tells us more about your expertise level than about this mixer.

Nice video and nice review! Recently i bought this mixer too and I'm totally amateur too... when i plug it into the pc everything goes as planned but i have some trouble with the effects. if i press the reverb effect, for example, i can't listen any reverb in my voice. is it me or it just doesn't work? i've checked the master effect volume, the channel effect volume and the aux master effect volume too.

My man you seem like a nice person but honestly, this is pretty half assed and you even state you don't know a lot about how it works so prob best to avoid reviews (at least until you do?), Just some constructive feedback for you ;-)