Behringer DSP9024 Ultra-Dyne Pro

The basic controls use graphical displays, since you don't have knobs, it is a bit like entering names into a cell phone. Nothing tough, just pushing the right buttons at the right time. The text/numeric control pages are not so nicely laid out, I would say. That takes a bit more thought, not as intuitive. More config pages and grouping of settings would help.

The manual is thick, and seemed to give a good collection of things, maybe not as quite as friendly as it could be. With experience in the field you can find things you need in it.

The unit is relatively easy for a basic setup, including Virtuoso, auto-mode, and presets. Even novices can get somethings out of it. It is also a pro-audio device, and therefore don't expect it to do everything for you. Just like a computer, you have to learn things to use one.

I believe our's is 1.3.

To upgarde: The latest firmware according to Behringer's site is 1.3, probably isn't a 3.0 then. The firmware is in an EPROM or ROM chip. You will need to have the downloaded firmware burned into and EPROM, or buy one. Then just unplug one, and put in the new.
See http://www.behringer.com/_software/firmware-update-dsp9024.cfm?lang=EN

Our setup is mixer out through patch bay to in, out to a DA to our STL and FM TX'r.

It does some nice band and overall compression/limiting. Bands and channels can have separate controls too (or not as default).

Haven't used the tube feature on air, some of our shows might not like it, hehehe.

It has done some nice things for us. I am new to it and just playing with it. I think it has great promise as it is very flexible.

I was going to try using a band for FM and STL pre-emphasis.

Sounds ok so far, I am new to the station.

It has been running since install, no problem. Defaults to bypass if dead.

The only concern is the battery, which is easy to replace.

I once had one mid band compressing extensively, without a need. I ended reloading an old saved setting and redoing it, as I don't understand that part enough yet, and I needed to get it on-air, and get out. I think it was on an auto setting and would have resolved that.

There website has manual and software downloads, and specs.

Haven't dealt with them yet.

Didn't see FAQ or more support info on site.

We are using a DSP9024 for our program processing to our FM transmitter. We are a community station, CJLY.net (web feed may be intermittent).

Price, features, flexibility, great. XLR and 1/4" nice for balanced and unbalanced, and pro's or novice.

I would get another if it died a premature death, and am looking for another inexpensive one for our community station. I dunno what else there is like it in the price range.

EPROM/ROM upgrade not so nice, prefer flash by far. Remote by MIDI only, lame. Standard computer interface would be great addition.

If you know what you're doing and learn to navigate the menu(s), it's not so bad.

Sounds great if tune it up right...just remember, with 6 bands of compression you can make it sound really sweet or really terrible.
It sizzles!!

This is my second unit...sold the first one when I got mastering software for my DAW. I liked the way it sounded, so I looked high and low and found this one for sale on the web.

They're not very helpful...especially on discontinued products.

I am using this unit on-air for fm radio broadcast processing. Just got it in. It's still using firmware v1.0 Can anyone tell me how to upgrade? What is the deal with "EPRPOM 3.0"? Does it cure the latency issue? If you have any of these answers please email me.
Just click on my name below. I've read on the net that several radio stations use this as their fm processor. I'd like to hear from anyone who is using for this type of application. Also need some advice in resolving the latency issue with this unit. Thanks!!

It is quite difficult to use at dirst if you are a novice. I am using it for Radio Broadcasting - and it seems to be pretty easy to set up!

Apart from the 'Overshoot' problem - the sound quality is fantastic. It brings life and energy to the Pop Music we play and makes all the difference when listening to our radio station on a Hi-Fi or radio.

Only had it a few days - seems robust enough. Am using EPROM 3.0 and it seems to be fine.

Have had dealings witjh Behringer in the past - very quick at replying to questions... but the answers are never that good.

Great unit for a great price - good old Behringer! Well Done - why did you discontinue it?

Verry easy to use if you have lots ofknowledge and expierence working with recording gear. Though the owners manual assumes you have prior knowledge of recording.

The sound quality is unparreled at this price point. It sounds better than units costing twice as much. it has a ton of desireable features such as programable stereo 6 band compressor, leveler, limiter, exiter, noise reduction system,and tube emulator. Some of the functions could be better. It is great for tracking exspecially the exciter on overhead mics bass or guitar. As far as mastering goes you get what you pay for. Great for tracking better than nothing for mastering. The quality for the price is an 11. If you spend $2000 then you get a decent mastering processor.

I have been abusing it for 5 years, and it keeps taking it.

Never communicated with them.

AWESOME FOR TRACKING! If this is all you can afford for mastering save up or outsource the work don't be so cheap, and expect great results.

Just got this today, up and working quickly, but still can't find how to alter gain make-up for each band individually, which kind of makes it useless.

Sounds Fine, no noise etc.

Looks pretty well put together.

Bought this for multiband compression of drum submixes - unless I can get it to change one bands gain makeup without affecting all the rest, it's useless for that (or any other multiband compression tasks). And yes, the limiter's minimum release is half a second, which means it will always stay off in this application.

I have been using this device for 3 years now - without any problems. In this time I updated the unit to software version 1.3
I think I can say that this unit is easy to understand and easy to adapt settings fast to your own feeling or wish.

Sound quality is still good after 3 year 24/7 usage, in most circumstances. (see my 2 reviews somewhat lower on this page.)
Ronio, the reviewer below me, is claiming that the peaklimiter can be set to 60 or even 50 msec release time.
Well Ronio, could you check if you really can do that on the 9024 and if so, how!
I think you gonna tell me that the shortest release time of the peak limiter is 0.5 sec, like I said before, wich is way too slow (am I crying again now?).
Ronio, read carefully: I'm talking about the peak limiter release time, not the compressor release times.

Like I said, I've been using this unit for 3 years in a 24/7 nonstop environment. And it still works, it never failed me.

Behringers customer support is somewhat crappy. They write quick "lets get this question over with" answers. Wich is not always enough.

By the way (Ronio :-) ):
Behringers support said this about the peaklimiters 0.5 sec fastest release time:

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QUOTE:
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this slow limiter realease time is normal, so your Eprom V1.3 isn't faulty.
Due to the fact that this product is discontinued there are no more changes to come.
-----

Still a pretty good device. Its is not really good standalone useable for broadcast.
I wrote most things already a little bit more to the bottom of this page.

I found this unit fairly easy to use. I bought the display, so I got it cheap and Guitar Center for about $79.00.

Sound quality is great if you take the time to set thing right. You should definitely take the time to learn this unit. I notice there are people here complaining about things and they don't even have the right figures. Remco is crying about the peak limiter being way too slow because of the release time and has the minimum listed at 0.5 seconds, that's wrong it's 0.05 seconds, which is much faster the 0.5! Also the upgrade with the software gives you a speedy 50ms release time. Also, Troy state he can find no level controls for the seperate compressor bands, but they are there. So you have to take into consideration that a lot of the critics have not taking time to read the manual and learn the product. But if you do, you'll love it.

I can depend on it to funtion well when I use it.

Never used them

I give it a great overall rating

The manual is as it should be, reference material.
Editing patches is easy once you get accustomed to the interface.
Firmware is currently 1.2.
No trouble getting a good sound out of it.

I use it for finalizing my mixes from a Fostex VF16 hard disk recorder. It works well enough for my purposes. It is a quiet unit and takes any noise out of my tracks easily.

The unit was secondhand and manufactured in 1998. Seems dependable enough.

They have always responded to my inquiries.

I am creating short jingle like creations and mixing my friends music.
The addition of the DSP9024 has made my mixes cleaner and given them a little more life.
If it were lost or stolen I would replace it.

The instruction manual is poor. This relates directly in difficulty in application for the ease of use. With experimentation one can eventually correlate implementation. I have tried the Ultramizer and Virtuoso by running a completed final mix down to improve the sound and could notice no changes or improvements. However, I have not yet dug into the deeper menu functions.

I have had the unit for about one month and so far have not obtained any imrpovement on sound quality.

I have had the unti less than one month. I turned it one for the second time and am now receiving a low battery notification. How would you rate reliability with this experience?

I have not dealt with the Company. The way they write their manual I doubt dealing with the Company will gain any improvements. In addition, Behringer is noted for poor customer relations. Why bother?

I purchased this unit to be used in final mastering. I have been recording and mixing for 8 years using a Alesis ADAT and TEAC ADAT along with numerous professional compressor/limiters, reverbs, 32 band Equalizers, and digital delay units.

Obviously I will have to study and work a to harder to obtain a final quality product using this device.

As stated previously here, the manual is useless. Once you get used to the menu selections and arrow keys, everything is pretty intuitive.

I am able to get a very 'optimod'-like sound quality from this unit, partly because I run an Orban compressor in front of it, using very slow settings. This prevents 'raw' audio from being driven hard into the multiband stage, and introduces some degree of program-dependent attack and release times.

The attack and release times on this unit are only adjustable by time, and do NOT seem to be program dependent. It is therefore very easy to get undesirable pumping effects, even though it is multiband. Too little delay, even with the attack time set to 'zero' results in that chintzy 'slappy' attack sound that you get from cheap compressors.

I am also intending to use this unit for 'pirate' broadcasing, so the bandwidth controls are very useful (I think!). I have set band 1 to begin slightly above 30hz and band 6 to end at slightly below 15khz. This seems to work in making the unit both a high-pass and low-pass filter.

I also will run a fast peak limiter after this unit, since as previously stated, the built-in limiter is useless, and overshoots are great from the mulitband stage.

So far reliablity sucks! The first unit out of the box produced a 'low battery' reading that manual says should occur 'after a few years'. Even though this battery is only supposed to store user settings when powered off, it says 'return the unit to us as soon as this happens'!

The second day I had it, I powered it on to find a grey screen, the MIDI light lit up, and NO OPERATION possible. After waiting two full weeks for the mail order company to send me a replacement, (even though I originally paid for second-day shipping) I open it up and plug it in only to get the same 'low battery' indicator!

The replacement was also a demo or display unit with an opened box, spooge on the display, and screw marks from being rack-mounted!

Never dealt with Behringer. The mail order guys were okay considering the situation, but I should have been told the replacement would be a demo unit.

If it worked it would be fine, but it absolutely requires a fine ear and experience adjusting other audio processors for sound. Listen to plenty of stuff before judging the sound.