Soundcraft Notepad-12From real comments

Verdict distilled from 29 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment46%
PROS 46%
CONS 54%

Rank based on 29 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You need independent 4-channel USB multitrack recording at a budget price
  • You're building a home studio, podcast, or demo setup rather than gigging live
  • You want XLR main outputs and built-in Lexicon effects without buying more expensive gear

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need reliable stereo effects sends for live monitoring or bands
  • You require an on/off power switch or rock-solid driver support on Windows 11
  • You want independent volume control for delay and reverb effects

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Budget
Soundcraft Notepad-12
Good value for I/O countIndependent multitrack USB recordingFlexible stereo channel routingMono FX/aux send limits stereo effectsNo on/off power switchBuggy delay/reverb interaction
Soundcraft Notepad-12
Good value for I/O count
Independent multitrack USB recording
Flexible stereo channel routing
Mono FX/aux send limits stereo effects
No on/off power switch
Buggy delay/reverb interaction

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Its standout feature is genuine independent USB multitracking at a low price. Multiple commenters bought this mixer specifically because it can send separate channels into a DAW individually rather than just a stereo mix, a feature usually reserved for pricier desks. Owners praise the 4x4 USB interface, the number of usable stereo channels via clever routing, and overall sound quality and layout, calling it excellent value and 'up to class standards' for solo or small-ensemble recording setups.

The FX loop and aux routing design frustrates many owners. Users repeatedly report that using the aux out for monitoring or an external effects unit disables the internal Lexicon effects, and that the FX send is mono despite the return being stereo, defeating the purpose of stereo effects. Others found the FX return channel only working on the left side, and confusion over sharing one knob for both aux volume and FX level, with no clear manual guidance.

Software, driver, and hardware reliability issues surface across many comments. Several buyers hit trouble getting Windows to recognize the mixer, including unsigned driver installs failing and the control software no longer working on Windows 11, breaking USB functionality entirely. Others describe defective-seeming behavior like tap tempo not working on delay or reverb buttons, incorrect delay/reverb interaction, missing bass/treble/mid controls, and a flimsy power connector that pops when moved, alongside no on/off switch and constant phantom power.

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