Behringer X32: Sound, Routing, and Recording - SweetCare (2024)

In this guide, we will show you how to get started using some of the X32’s features. We’ll show you how to get sound out, create a monitor mix, record on a computer, and much more. If you are setting up for the first time, follow our X32 Setup Guide first and come back when you’re finished. Follow each of the sections below to get started.

1. X32 channel controls
   • Input signal and channel strip settings
   • Route signal to an output
2. Create a mix bus for stage monitors
   • Use the channel strip sends
   • Use the channel faders as sends
   • Use the mix bus faders as sends
3. Monitor, talkback, and oscillator generator
   • What is the monitor mix?
   • X32 talkback configuration
   • Oscillator generator for testing
4. X32 USB recording
   • Recording X32 to a computer
   • Record to a USB drive
5. Related content

X32 channel controls

Managing your signals on the X32 involves routing and processing. Each channel may be unique, so that means a lot of things can happen at once. To get started, let’s connect a mic and process the signal with the X32’s channel strip. Once done you can route the signal to either the main speakers or a stage monitor.

Input signal and channel strip settings

Connecting a microphone and getting input signal is pretty simple. The local (built-in) inputs will be selected by default, but you can always change them to digital snake inputs from the ROUTING menu. The input signal will show up on the channel it’s connected to. Press the channel’s select button to control its channel strip settings.

1. Connect a microphone to IN 1 and press the SELECT button on channel 1.
2. Press the HOME button to see the channel strip starting with the CONFIG/PREAMP page.
   • Use the encoders to adjust the channel settings and press the LAYER buttons to change which settings the encoders control.
   • See the sub-menus for specific channel strip functions by pressing their respective VIEW button or browsing with the PAGE SELECT buttons.
3. Speak into the microphone and turn up GAIN or ENCODER 1.
   • Increase the gain so that the signal is as loud as possible without distorting (red LED meters).
   • Turn on phantom power for condenser microphones or active DI boxes by pressing the 48V button.
   • Press the LAYER buttons to change which settings the encoders control.

Gate

A gate is an expander with a fixed, infinite ratio. Gates are used to automatically silence the channel when its level does not exceed the threshold.

• Press GATE/DUCKER or ENCODER 1 to turn on the GATE.
• Rotate ENCODER 2 to change between the alternate expander and ducker modes.
• Use ENCODER 5 to enable optional insert effects (see EFFECTS menu).
• Press the LAYER buttons to change which settings the encoders control.

Dynamics (DYN)

A compressor reduces and smoothes out the signal’s amplitude (aka volume or dynamics). Adjust the ratio and threshold settings to change how the signal’s dynamics are smoothed out. Set a high ratio like 10:1 to use the compressor as a limiter.

• Press COMP/EXP or ENCODER 1 to turn on the DYNAMICS.
• Press ENCODER 2 to change between compressor and expander modes.
• Press the LAYER buttons to change which settings the encoders control.

Equalizer (EQ)

An equalizer, or EQ, is used to change the volume level of certain frequency bands. Enable the equalizer to shape a signal’s low, middle, and high frequency content.

• Press EQUALIZER or ENCODER 6 to enable the equalizer.
• Rotate ENCODER 6 or press the LAYER buttons to alternate between the 4 fully adjustable frequency bands.

Bus Sends

The Bus Sends control the channel level sent to their respective busses. Press the 1-4, 5-8, etc. buttons to select which bus sends the encoders control.

• You can also use ENCODER 1 to browse banks of four at a time and use ENCODERS 3-6 to control their respective send level.
• Press the LAYER buttons to change which settings the encoders control.

Main Bus

Control each channel’s output settings like Pan, Solo, Mute, and Mono mix level. This menu is particularly useful for metering a channels output level on the screen.

• Solo, Mute, and Fader levels are typically done with the channel faders and buttons rather the menu’s encoders. Turn the channel fader up to send the channel to the MAIN mix.

Route signal to an output

To get signal from your main mix connect your main speakers to the last two XLR outputs (15-16 or 7-8). Once connected, turn up the MAIN fader and your speakers will receive the signal. With the MAIN fader at unity, turn up the speaker/amplifier levels to a satisfactory level. Getting signal out of the X32 usually works with the default configuration, but the routing settings can be customized to suit your needs.

The X32’s last two XLR outputs are assigned the MAIN mix by default, but each analog output can be assigned to receive a different sound source. By default, the other XLR outputs are assigned their matched mix bus (Mix Bus 1 for OUT 1, 2 for 2, etc.) and each TRS aux output its respective insert. Follow these steps to assign which signals are sent to each output.

Get sound from the mains

The main mix level is controlled by the MAIN fader and outputs signal from OUT 15-16 (X32) or OUT 7-8 (compact, producer, and rack).

1. Set the master fader level to 0 (unity) and adjust the speakers to the optimal level.
   • A microphone with enough gain is good for setting speaker levels, but you can also connect a phone or tablet to an AUX input to play back line level audio. Just make sure the device and the music app’s output volume is turned all the way up.
2. Use each channel fader to create the main mix and the MAIN fader to control the main mix level.

Get sound from other outputs

To get output from AUX OUT 1-6, OUT 1-14 (X32) or OUT 1-6 (Compact, Producer, and Rack), you must assign the input or mix bus which will go to each XLR or TRS output.

1. Press the ROUTING button and use the PAGE select buttons to view the out 1-16 menu.
2. Assign a sound source to each XLR or TRS output:
   • Rotate and press ENCODER 1 to select the Analog Output.
   • Rotate and press ENCODER 3 to select the Category and ENCODER 4 to select the specific sound source (main or bus mix, direct-out, etc.) and Tap point. Continue below to learn how to create a mix bus.

Create a mix bus for stage monitors

Your X32 is excellent at creating aux or stage monitor mixes. On an analog, mixer you would use each channel’s Aux send to send level to another output, but on the X32 they’re called Bus sends. You can create a mix bus after selecting it for an output’s signal source within the ROUTING menu. Use each channel’s Bus Sends encoders to adjust its level sent to the respective mix bus. You can also use the X32’s Sends on faders feature to control the send level with channel faders.

Tap points: pre-fader, and post-fader

After assigning a sound source to an output you also have the option to select where (or rather when) the signal is sent from, called the tap point. That means you can choose to send a signal before (pre) or after (post) its level fader and mute controls. Usually, stage monitor sends are pre and effects sends are post. Different situations will ask for different configurations, just keep this in mind when setting up your mix.

Use the channel strip bus sends

1. Press the channel’s SELECT button.
2. Turn up the BUS SENDS encoder for a given mix bus and use the 1-4, 5-6, etc. buttons to select which group of four sends to control.
   • You can also control a selected channel’s send settings from its sends page. From there you can use the menu encoders to adjust level and select the tap point (pre, post, etc.).

Use the channel faders to control send level

1. Press the BUS 1-8 button, press your mix bus’ SELECT button, and then turn up its level fader.
2. Press the SENDS ON FADER button. Each channel’s fader will now control its send level to the selected mix bus.
3. Use the channel faders to create the mix, the bus level fader to adjust the mix level, and then press SENDS ON FADER to exit the mix bus.

Use the mix bus faders to control send level

1. Press your channel’s SELECT button.
2. Press the BUS 1-8 button and then SENDS ON FADER.
3. Use each mix bus fader to adjust the selected channel’s send level to each respective bus. Press SENDS ON FADER to finish adjusting the sends.

Monitor, talkback, and oscillator generator

Whether you’re in a live or studio environment, the X32’s monitor, talkback and oscillator generator features are essential engineering tools. They may not be necessary for your setup but can improve communication and efficiency during setup and soundcheck.

What is the monitor mix?

The monitor mix is typically used by the engineer to listen to one or more channels at a time without affecting the main or stage monitor mixes. Connect to the X32’s headphone or monitor outputs to listen to the monitor mix. That means you’ll hear either the Main L/R mix OR each channel or bus with SOLO engaged.

Solo and adjust efficiently

Turn on Solo follows Select to quickly monitor individual channels and simultaneously adjust their channel strip. Use the Solo button to solo a channel, then use the Select button to choose which channel to monitor and control.

1. Click the Monitor area’s VIEW button and view the monitor page.
2. Use the far right encoder to select the sound source you want to monitor
   • (optional) Adjust the monitor’s input level with Source Trim.
3. Monitor level controls the monitor mix’s level. Use the headphone or monitor/control room knobs to adjust their output level.

X32 talkback configuration

Talkback is especially useful when the engineer needs to talk to the performers in either a live or studio environment. There are two talkback menus and with the following controls: Talkback A/B for engaging talkback, Microphone A/B for using an external microphone, and Lamp Dim for on/off and dim. Talkback A and B can each have a different Talk level, Button mode, and Talk destination. This can be useful when you need to talk to the performers and assistant engineer separately. For example, assign talkback A to the monitor engineer’s mix bus and B to the performer’s.

48v phantom power

The external microphone input automatically has 48v (phantom power) enabled for condenser and active dynamic microphones.

1. Turn on Talkback/AB. If using an external microphone connected to EXT MIC, turn on Microphone A/B, too.
2. Engage the respective Talkback A or B buttons, speak into the talkback mic, and adjust the gain with the TALK LEVEL knob.
3. Select the destination(s) and adjust the level with Talk Level (Encoder 3).

Oscillator generator for testing

The oscillator utility is particularly useful for live sound reinforcement sound checks. The oscillator can be routed just like the talkback feature, but a test signal is heard instead. Use this to test and verify your routing settings and speaker connections. You can also use the generator to test the acoustics of a room or venue, often called “ringing out a room”. Try the Sine wave and adjust the Frequency to provoke resonant frequencies. This will give you feedback about what type of EQ or dynamic corrections could be made to create a clearer mix.

1. Select the output Destination (Encoder 6).
2. Select the Oscillator Type.
3. Press GENERATE (Encoder 1) and adjust the signal type or level as needed. When you do, all other signal sent to that destination is muted until the oscillator is turned off.

X32 USB recording

Your X32 has at least two great ways for recording. The included expansion card connects to your computer for USB audio streaming and recording. The built-in USB thumb drive port can also be used to record a stereo mix.

Recording X32 to a computer

The USB connection on your X32 can be used to record audio and MIDI to a DAW. While most users will use this feature for multi-track recording, once configured, the channel faders can even be used as a DAW controller. Follow these steps to connect the X32 to your computer as an audio/MIDI recording device. The USB card’s outputs (what’s leaving the X32 and going to your computer) can be customized. This is helpful if you want to record a combination of specific inputs, mix busses, or effects. Open the ROUTING menu, select the CARD OUT tab, and select new sound sources for the card’s output channels.

1. Connect the X32 to your computer via USB. Windows users will first need to install the latest driver available from Behringer. No driver installation is required for Mac.
2. Launch your DAW and select the X32 as the audio input/output device.
3. Create tracks in your DAW and assign each input to the correct input channel.

Record to a USB drive

The X32 also has a built-in USB recording feature. It supports 16-bit WAV files and will playback/record at the X32’s sample rate. Make sure to format the USB drive FAT (FAT32) with a PC or Mac before using it for recording or playback. Most new USB drives will work, but not all are built for audio read/write speeds, so test recording and playback to make sure it works.

Change sound source

Press the PAGE right button to view the Configuration tab and change the recording source. The main stereo mix is selected by default.

IMPORTANT: Do not remove the USB drive until the access light turns off!

1. Using a PC or Mac, format the USB flash drive to FAT.
   • (optional) Backup your USB drive’s files as formatting will delete them.
2. Connect the USB flash drive to the X32’s USB jack and press the VIEW button.
3. Use the encoders to test recording and playback.

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