Soundcraft Notepad-12FXFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 47 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment50%
PROS 50%
CONS 50%

Rank based on 47 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You need to record multiple analog inputs as separate USB tracks at once
  • You want XLR main outputs and per-channel effects at a budget price
  • You're mixing stereo keyboards or synths and want flexible channel pairing

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need reliable, well-documented Windows driver support out of the box
  • You want a real power on/off switch and simple live-performance controls like mutes
  • You need onboard effects to pass cleanly through USB into your DAW or video calls

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-12FX
4x4 USB Multitrack RecordingGood Sound Quality for the PriceBudget-Friendly XLR OutputsConfusing Effects/AUX RoutingWindows Driver & Connectivity IssuesNo Power On/Off Switch
Soundcraft Notepad-12FX
4x4 USB Multitrack Recording
Good Sound Quality for the Price
Budget-Friendly XLR Outputs
Confusing Effects/AUX Routing
Windows Driver & Connectivity Issues
No Power On/Off Switch

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Its 4x4 USB interface is the standout feature for budget multitrack recording. Commenters consistently point to the 4x4 USB interface as the mixer's headline feature, letting users record analog inputs like mics, keyboards and guitars as separate tracks rather than a single stereo mix, something rarely found this cheap. Buyers used it for demos, karaoke setups and multi-instrument recording, pairing channels into stereo pairs for synths. Several note the XLR main outputs give a fuller sound than typical stereo-jack outs on rival mixers, and at roughly $160 it's seen as strong value against pricier interfaces and mixers costing three or four times as much.

Effects and monitoring routing trips up a lot of users. A recurring frustration is how effects and monitoring are routed. The single AUX/FX knob controls both auxiliary send and effects level together, confusing users who expect separate controls. Multiple commenters found the USB output carries a clean, pre-effects signal, meaning reverb or delay applied on the mixer doesn't show up in DAW recordings, Zoom calls, or Discord. Others couldn't get reverb or delay to audibly trigger at all, or found tap tempo and delay/reverb interacting badly. Some also discovered the FX return and channels 11-12 only send signal to the left channel, requiring workarounds.

Build quirks and driver headaches undercut the low price. Beyond the mixer's core sound, reliability and design details bother some owners. Windows driver installation is described as poorly documented, with unsigned drivers and USB dropouts after reboot for at least one user, plus no printed manual in the box. There's no physical power on/off switch, which several people flag as unusual and a long-term reliability concern. One live performer criticized the lack of mute buttons or an effects footswitch and reported a flimsy power socket that caused pops, ultimately abandoning the unit for live shows and selling it.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?