Soundcraft Notepad-8chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Several users independently report that reverb, chorus, and delay heard live in headphones do not appear in the recorded track on their computer, Audacity, or Zoom, resulting in a dry-only recording and major frustration for vocalists wanting processed audio.

@jeffacuesta

Question. i want to record my band's performance live using my laptop/DAW. is the lexicon fx on my vocals also recorded on the DAW? my friend said that only dry signal is recorded meaning no lexicon fx is recorded on the DAW? is it true? if so, how can i record our performance with the lexicon fx using a DAW? please helplaunch

smart_display

November 6, 2024

@hectordiaz4893

Thank You for your video and explanation.. Just a little help from you. Using this mixer with usb connection the level sound on my Mac is very low, I have to increase the gain knob to get a good sound, recording or streaming, but I get noise, hiss. Is it possible to fix that?? Thank You very muchlaunch

smart_display

August 22, 2020

@akurianpm

Hi, Please help. \nIn the soundcraft notepad 8fx , \nHow & can i record the final mix with all effects( eq, reverb, delay etc ) to the computer ?\nand \nHow & can i use the final mix with all effects( eq, reverb, delay etc ) to zoom meeting ?launch

smart_display

August 2, 2020

@AmitMeenaSongs

Hi, Thanks for the video!\n\nI bought this product to record my vocals with the audio effects (For example Reverb).\nNow the problem is when I am recording a song, I am able to hear myself in the headphones \"with effects : reverb\" but in the final recording there are just plane vocals (In my laptop). \nThe FX effects like chorus/reverb are not being recorded in the PC. \nIt is a huge disappointment for me as I am someone who is not good with editing my vocals post processing and wanted to record my vocals the way I hear them in the headphones live.\nIs there a way I can record my songs/vocals with the effects?\n\nI have notepad 8Fx.\n\nPlease help me here, may be I have not done the setup correctly.launch

smart_display

May 27, 2020

Multiple owners describe choppy audio, dropped channels, driver signature issues on Windows, and the mixer losing connection after reboot, with one calling the driver support 'absolute garbage' and switching brands entirely.

@panjolepcha571

I also own notepad 8fx.. having issue on latency and worst part if I manage to record but recording gets stop automatically.. I don't know y .. I tried everywhere for help but I couldn't make it fine.. now I regret .. and I suggest to avoid soundcraft mixer .. one of the worstlaunch

smart_display

June 24, 2021

@kola_JF

I don't want to make any false assumptions, so I will put it this way: I bought the Soundcraft Notepad 12-FX and tried it out on my MacBook (15\", Mid-2012), but can't get a stable USB connection running:\n\nWhenever I try to listen to my Mac's sound through this mixer, it is very choppy and rarely stable. Sometimes it's missing completely. When it comes to recording 4 channels, there's also issues like missing channels, missing audio or the audio being waay too quiet. I tried it on both macOS and Windows 10 (via Bootcamp) and discovered that the issues/stability varies between both operating systems. I've got an external audio interface that is way more stable than the one in this mixer. I sent this mixer in because I thought it was just faulty, but the replacement is just barely better. Now I'm starting to believe that this product is faulty to begin with, which contradicts your overall positive impressions. \n\nCan you please tell me what I might be doing wrong or how I could fix this? Drivers were installed, I tried different OS and the problems never really went away. Didn't get around to try it with a newer MacBook, but since my audio interface (Roland UA-25EX) works great on my old one, I'm doubting that my laptop might be the problem.launch

smart_display

July 1, 2020

@Handd4u

Holy Crap! I am so glad I ran across your video. After much research, I had decided this would be a great upgrade for me. \n After seeing your video and the comments, I started poking around to see if this issue is common. Looks like it has to do with driver signatures. Can't see where Soundcraft has addressed the issue other than some elaborate work around in Windows. \nI don't need the headaches. Too bad, really thought Soundcraft was top notch.launch

smart_display

April 1, 2020

@avcreations2494

WARNING: If you want a small mixer that work wells in an analog environment then these are a nice option. If you want to be able to run this with your desktop or laptop buyer beware. Regardless of their latest drivers and instructions windows constantly loses track of this mixer when rebooting and the only way to temporarily get it back is follow their unsigned driver instructions but it does not permanently fix the problem. Absolute garbage driver support... they should be ashamed. Headed out today to buy another brand so I can get audio back on my PC.launch

smart_display

November 7, 2019

Several users are concerned that phantom power cannot be disabled on the first channels, raising questions about safety near the face with condenser mics and potential effects on dynamic mics, viewing the missing toggle as a real design gap.

@exmormonsongbook

will plugging a condenser mic into the mixer while phantom power is (always) on, hurt the mic? I've heard you should only turn phantom on when the mics are plugged in. Kind of weird that there is no on/off switch for the mixer. Other than that this is exactly what I am looking for.launch

smart_display

December 20, 2023

@MOHAMMADAHMADRAZA_QADRI

Hi! Hope you're keeping well!\n\nI just want to enquire. To my knowledge This mixer doesn't have a phantom power switch and the phantom power is always on so will that effect dynamic microphones?\n\nI love this mixer but this is the only reason I'm hesitant about buying it.launch

smart_display

November 9, 2021

@velvin9

Thank you for this wonderful review video. My only concern with these notepad mixers is that you can't turn off phantom/48v power for the first two or four inputs, depending on the model. Perhaps asking for a toggle switch is too much to ask at this price range given all the other features available. Still, by far, the best product in this price range if you're looking for a small desktop mixer with a decent audio interface.launch

smart_display

August 4, 2021

@Mr-pt1066

Sorry for my ignorance but I'am confused. At the beginning of the tour, you indicate that 48v phantom power is automatically switched on for both channels and cant be switched off? I see you're using an SM 7B mic that doesn't use phantom power. Did I miss something, asking in all honesty. Thanks, great and concise tutorial. Also on the notepad 12, is the loopback function for podcasting, available for all 4 the first for inputs? One last thing, I have heard that the software to interface is really buggy and not recognized by Windows 8-10, has this been rectified?launch

smart_display

March 21, 2020

Multiple users struggled to correctly route mic, USB return, and playback signals simultaneously without bleed or losing effects/EQ, finding the manual and default configuration unclear for multitracking scenarios.

@TwinCitiesOxygen

I’m having an issue where I’m using my Soundcraft notepad 12fx as my interface. The issue is that the sound during playback on the daw is playing coming through in tracks I’m trying to record other instruments on. How do I make it so I can hear what I’m recording, and hear what’s been recorded without everything coming through on the track I’m recording on. \n\nI’m recording a synth on channel four of my mixer, and I have track four on the daw set to receive audio from that channel. But it’s receiving all the sound that’s being played back on that track/channel.launch

smart_display

August 10, 2022

@Hoodednood2

Just bought the Notepad-8FX. One thing I'm wondering, is there any way to record each channel (Ch1, Ch2, Lines 3 - 6, and RCA output) into a DAW simultaneously and onto separate audio tracks? I assumed you would be able to do this, but so far it seems you can either choose Channels 1 & 2 simultaneously (e.g. one mic and one instrument), or the full post-fx mix using the plug-in you mention here.launch

smart_display

June 29, 2022

@lperry65

When I set the 12FX to L+R on 3&4 no matter what I do with the windows sound mixer I cant hear the Mic input and backing track from USB, if I select USB RTN I can hear USB and if I select Master I hear the Mic. I'm trying to sing over a backing track and stream, I've tried setting all the IO to use 03/04 and variations of 01/02 for output but nothing works. The only time I hear both is if I set IO to use 01/02 for both input and output but then I lose the FX and EQ. Very frustrating !launch

smart_display

October 23, 2021

@robotomo4249

Never have I seen such an informative and easily understandable video!\nI'm just a little confused on one thing. If I wanted to record the EQ and effects, I would have to select Inputs 3+4 as Mix L+R. So in my DAW, would I select to record from Mix L+R on my track, or from Mic inputs 1+2? If I have to select Mix L+R as the recording on my tracks (to get EQ and effects), would I be able to set it to record Mix L+R on 2 different tracks in my DAW so I can record 2 separate tracks, both with EQ and effects? Also, with recording from Mix L+R, would it also record the audio coming from the usb, or only from inputs 1+2?launch

smart_display

October 21, 2021

Some users found recorded levels too quiet even at max gain, and boosting further introduced noticeable hiss or noise, complicating clean recording and streaming setups.

@ja9mariee

Very informative video! This helped me understand the mixer better. I just got my notepad 12fx earlier this week and couldn't record with effects. Thanks for making this video! \n\nI have a question though, the mic input levels recorded in my DAW are too low despite having my gain and volume knob at max on the mixer..do you have any suggestions or tips to fix that? Hoping you can reply. Thanks in advance!launch

smart_display

January 8, 2022

@hectordiaz4893

Thank You for your video and explanation.. Just a little help from you. Using this mixer with usb connection the level sound on my Mac is very low, I have to increase the gain knob to get a good sound, recording or streaming, but I get noise, hiss. Is it possible to fix that?? Thank You very muchlaunch

smart_display

August 22, 2020

A few users felt the onboard reverb/delay sounded cheap or that delay overrides reverb when combined, with no independent volume adjustment, calling the effects section a weak point of the unit.

@danoconer

No control for the backing tracks. No bass treble mid. Sounds terrible. Also no control over the reverb delay at all. And the reverb is unusable. Wouldn't recommend this unit to anyone. Don't listen to these YouTubers there not honest the delay and reverb has no vol adjustment. Then when U have the delay on kills the reverb. And the reverb sounds like a $20 pedal from China.launch

smart_display

May 1, 2026

@ajigangadharan2221

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.launch

smart_display

August 13, 2023

One detailed comment notes the mixer lacks per-channel mute buttons and is limited to 16-bit/48kHz audio, calling these dealbreakers despite the otherwise attractive price and features.

@bobcatt2294

The two things I saw which kept me from a commitment are: only 16-bit 48k and secondly, no mute buttons per track. A mute function would have been great if the volume knob, when pressed, muted that channel.launch

smart_display

April 4, 2020