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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: pohaku on January 16, 2026, 10:02:30 AM

Title: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: pohaku on January 16, 2026, 10:02:30 AM
https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=0603-AFE

Inevitable I suppose.

And with an expander, lol.

https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=0606-ADZ

I don’t see it available for sale just yet.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 16, 2026, 10:09:10 AM
seems like a steal.  I've been reasonably happy with the behringer gear I've bought over the last decade or so.  I imagine the preamps are similar to what's in their mixing desks. 
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: goodcooker on January 16, 2026, 10:41:40 AM

I really like the idea of the single cable expander. Would be very handy for a lot of the things I do like placing multiple mics on stage then taking a board feed from the stage box at side stage. I have questions about how this can be done over a single DMX/XLR cable though...
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 16, 2026, 10:48:40 AM
I missed the stage box.  That's fantastic, and makes it easy to make it an 8 channel recorder, in a bag, or with 4 inputs/outputs farther away.  Good chance the preamps are equal to mixpre/flow/deity/etc
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: pohaku on January 16, 2026, 11:41:14 AM
I saw some comment that it has Midas preamps, but I don’t see that in the product promotional literature.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 16, 2026, 11:41:48 AM
I saw some comment that it has Midas preamps, but I don’t see that in the product promotional literature.

The farther we get away from their purchase of midas, the less that matters I think.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: goodcooker on January 16, 2026, 01:24:30 PM
I saw some comment that it has Midas preamps, but I don’t see that in the product promotional literature.

After Behringer purchased Midas their products markedly improved from the fairly bland offerings they had in the beginning but it's still gear marketed towards a low price point for hobbyists and (now) prosumer level buyers and some pro gear for venues that's competitively priced A friend of mine has the newish Behringer Wing console and it sounds really good. At least as good as the Midas X32 at another venue that I frequent.

In general the quality of built in mic preamps has improved by leaps and bounds with new surface mount ICs that sound good even in cheaper gear. Brands like Presonus and Behringer can compete with some of the big companies now at a much lower price point.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: 2manyrocks on January 16, 2026, 04:11:49 PM
Behringer built their own factory in china to get better quality control in place.  That's another one of the key reasons why X32s started popping up everywhere because they were delivering a lot of features at a good price point with reliability. 

The Flow 4  looks to have a stunning amount of features, especially for $279.  Honestly, I was still on the fence about keeping my Deity PR-2 for a choir video recording until I saw the Flow 4 which so far looks like more what I want.   
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: Billy Mumphrey on January 16, 2026, 05:32:30 PM
4 channels of dual-ADC 32fp, with timecode, and USB interface abilities? For $279? Very cool.

AND for another $200 you can add a separate expander box that adds another 4 identical channels? Pretty darn cool IMO.


EDIT: expanding on what goodcooker says above:
To add to the preamp discussion, I know Doug Oade has talked about the huge leap in quality that audio chips have made in the last 7-8 years or so. I suspect this is why companies like Zoom and other consumer brands are able to put out some high quality products at consumer level prices. Tech experts please weigh-in and correct me if I'm wrong or inaccurate (a very real possibility).
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 16, 2026, 06:18:20 PM
Apparently it’s 48k only if that matters.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: Billy Mumphrey on January 16, 2026, 07:28:10 PM
Apparently it’s 48k only if that matters.

Not a deal breaker per se BUT that's definitely worth mentioning.

I still primarily record at 48k, but have been reading a lot about the DSD format and it's high sample rates. I've been running 96k more often lately, and I want to try some 192k stuff but am scared to ruin a recording. (slightly off topic, but still relevant if this recorder maxes out at 48k).
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: goodcooker on January 16, 2026, 08:07:58 PM

It has sort of a "My First Recorder" toy look to it. Kinda like a first gen Nintendo NES.


Can't beat the features for the price but someone will have to bite the bullet and see how it sounds when it becomes available. After being the early adopter on the Marantz 706 and getting burned by it's quirks I tend not to be one of the first any more.

I'm looking for info about latency on the breakout box and not seeing it. There has to be some even if it's only a ms or 2. Not a big deal for most users as long as you aren't splitting a main pair/feed across the two devices - like using channel 4 for L and channel 5 for R.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 16, 2026, 08:11:04 PM

It has sort of a "My First Recorder" toy look to it. Kinda like a first gen Nintendo NES.


Can't beat the features for the price but someone will have to bite the bullet and see how it sounds when it becomes available. After being the early adopter on the Marantz 706 and getting burned by it's quirks I tend not to be one of the first any more.

I'm looking for info about latency on the breakout box and not seeing it. There has to be some even if it's only a ms or 2. Not a big deal for most users as long as you aren't splitting a main pair/feed across the two devices - like using channel 4 for L and channel 5 for R.

Says 1ms
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: pohaku on January 16, 2026, 11:58:46 PM
https://cdn.mediavalet.com/aunsw/musictribe/WZN169UOxE-CxMe1pln0ww/HBUz2xY-m06IJalUFZotCg/Original/QSG_BE_0603-AFE_0606-ADZ_FLOW4V_4VIO_WW.pdf

Quick Start Guide

Lord knows, I don’t need another recorder, but at that price it might be worthwhile to have as a just in case spare for certain gigs.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: Niels on January 17, 2026, 11:48:27 AM
I am not familiar with Behringer.
A search does not really show any history with recorders as far as I can see.
Almost a "too good to be true" price for what they claim to be offering.
Great if they can deliver but I would probably not want to be first mover on this one.

I actually quite like the very clean layout.


Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: 2manyrocks on January 17, 2026, 12:10:55 PM
They make a wide variety of gear including plenty of digital recording audio interfaces, but I believe this is their first digital audio portable recorder at least to my knowledge. 

Their XR12 digital mixer was released at a price point of $279 before inflation drove up the price.   Lot of features, solid mixer, revolutionary in that it could replace an entire rolling rack of gear in one tiny box. Has the auto mix capability. 

So, yeah, I believe they can build an amazing portable recorder and sell it for $279.   
 
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: al w. on January 17, 2026, 12:31:04 PM
Very cool! Bit disappointing that it has no internal/attached power options (like a sled) but the price makes that palatable.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: rastasean on January 20, 2026, 02:20:45 PM
Curtis' video on it from Sunday - basically an unboxing with a little testing. He will probably make more "educational videos" soon.
https://youtu.be/afl2MJRb8Fo

Surprising there's not a place for batteries and runs on usb power. I don't hate that idea - fewer individual batteries to carry around and charge.

It looks like bluetooth is BUILT IN! If that's true, that's amazing that it doesn't require a $40+ adapter.

Seems like this recorder will likely undercut the upcoming Deity planned recorders - pr-4/6, which we don't know the prices for yet. Although those may be more advanced; we'll have to see.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: Ozpeter on January 22, 2026, 05:32:25 PM
My only negative takeaway from the Curtis Judd video is that in order to save costs - perhaps - the device only has one knob to do all configuration operations, by finding (eventually) and selecting items on the small screen.  In comparison, my tiny and humble Zoom H2e has 11 configuration buttons (plus transport buttons) - which might sound more complicated but IMHO it enables quicker access to settings.  I guess in time one would get used to how to select stuff and make settings, but even so it doesn't look ideal for quick-fire recordings. 

Other than that, it looks very promising, and I would add it to the others in my cupboard which never seem to get used these days if my bank manager would allow it.  But when she was watching me clearing away the dishes after dinner, she said no when I raised the matter...

[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: Niels on January 25, 2026, 12:20:22 PM
Curtis has a new video up with a walkthrough/first recording:

https://youtu.be/RHpmxEgtWs4
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: adrianf74 on January 25, 2026, 09:37:41 PM
[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]

I like these first look videos because they're exactly what will happen without a proper heads up first.  As an end user, a lot of people will do this not realizing that it's a touch screen.

Curious to see what others think before considering this. I like the idea of having a 4 or 8 input track option because this is how I'd generally use it.  I just need to know if there's enough reason to consider this over the F6 that I already own.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 25, 2026, 09:43:52 PM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: al w. on January 26, 2026, 09:12:05 AM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 26, 2026, 09:22:59 AM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp

Using a device you already have is free.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: al w. on January 26, 2026, 10:09:50 AM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

probably, but it's also almost three times the price, so I don't think it's a reasonable comp

Using a device you already have is free.

you're right, I missed that, sorry
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: dallman on January 26, 2026, 02:18:38 PM

[Edit - now I have been told, and Curtis Judd has stated on his video comments, that the device has a touchscreen and Curtis Judd was trying to use it without touching.  I have to say that this misunderstanding does rather show that doing unboxing reviews like he did are fraught with the possibility that what you are shown might not actually be correct.  So maybe making such a video wasn't a good idea....]

I think inherent in any unboxing is the supposition that the user will make mistakes and wrong assumptions. Even in later in depth reviews there are lots of wrong things stated. I still enjoy and get something out of it, but like a good manual.  8)
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: voltronic on January 26, 2026, 07:36:14 PM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: grawk on January 26, 2026, 07:39:17 PM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

From what I can tell behringer stops caring once they get your purchase. Assume any of their products is disposable.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: mepaca on January 26, 2026, 08:23:39 PM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

Zoom replaced my defective F6 at no charge after 5 years. It did take some convincing.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: voltronic on January 30, 2026, 07:46:14 PM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

Zoom replaced my defective F6 at no charge after 5 years. It did take some convincing.

Did they? How did you determine it was 'defective' after 5 years?

Mine suffered a short (6-8 in.) drop off of a peli case, and the NP battery tabs broke off, and then channels 3 and 4 were 20 dB down. I had to pay $300 for an 'out-of-warranty replacement'.
Title: Re: Behringer Flow 4v Recorder
Post by: mepaca on January 31, 2026, 08:55:09 AM
The f6 is a better device on everything except ergonomics

As a longtime owner of the F6, I agree. But I wonder if Behringer does repairs, or if they consider their units 'disposable' as Zoom does.

Zoom replaced my defective F6 at no charge after 5 years. It did take some convincing.

Did they? How did you determine it was 'defective' after 5 years?

Mine suffered a short (6-8 in.) drop off of a peli case, and the NP battery tabs broke off, and then channels 3 and 4 were 20 dB down. I had to pay $300 for an 'out-of-warranty replacement'.

From the start the backlight would flash on and off intermittently and volume would also flash on the screen as if
adjusting the volume when I wasn't. It also developed an issue where in 32 bit the gain of each channel could be
adjusted even while recording as it would in 24 bit. They initially offered me the $300 replacement deal but I persisted.