Behringer X32 Digital Mixer

Digital consoles have become popular with sound engineers over the last decade due to the abundant features and ease of operation. These consoles have been very expensive and out of reach for many, but Behringer is about to change that.

The Behringer X32 is the new kid on the block and boasts jam-packed functions and features at a price point that will impress the most discerning buyer. Since acquiring sister companies Midas & Klark Teknik, technological ideas from those brands have been implemented into the X32's preamps as well as the effects and EQ algorithms.
What you'll notice about this 32 channel, 40 input console is the neat layout, so even if you are a first time user you will get your head around it fairly quickly. The 25 mix buses, which includes eight DCA (Digitally Controlled Amplifier) groups with simultaneous group level control, come equipped with serious signal processing (dynamics, EQ and inserts), which can be configured quickly to meet the demands of virtually any gig, large or small.

On the top left section of the mixer, you have a dedicated channel strip section featuring 17 backlit buttons and 13 rotary controls with LED-collars right at your fingertips. This provides easy adjustment for each channel's compressor, 4-band parametric EQ, gates and much more, all clearly functional and easy to set up.

Below the channel strip is the 16 motorised input faders providing 32 high-end programmable mic preamps (switchable banks) as well as 6 balanced Line Ins and Outs on 1/4” TRS, 16 balanced XLR Outs, plus dual Phones and balanced Control Room outputs on both XLR and 1/4” TRS connectors. Scribble strips on each channel are backlit with dimmer functionality and let you change the colors and customise the labels. The scribble strips change with the layer that youíre on and you can also route your inputs/outputs to create custom fader layers.

As far as the X32's use of motorised faders, Behringer decided to design and build the scribble screens and faders in-house, offering the features and functions of a much pricier console.  Another handy feature is the dedicated view buttons for every section on the console surface, so you don't have to go through multiple layers to access basic functions.

The X32 is armed with a wide selection of FX modules that you'd need. There are eight stereo or 16 mono effects which are fully assignable such as echo, delay, reverbs and even guitar cabinet emulators to name just a few. Guitar cab emulators are great when you either don't have enough room on a stage for your Marshall 4x12 or the amp goes down before a show. The player can plug directly into the system via a DI, and off you go with a high-quality emulator, keeping the show going. Klark Teknik have delivered in this department, providing crisp quality and user-friendly effects which are extremely useful and dispenses with racks of out-board gear.

Another feature on the X32 is that the 32 channels of audio can connect from a computer via the USB/Firewire interface card slot on the rear panel. There are also two sets of 48 digital inputs on the desk itself. These use the AES50 'SuperMACí standard, an ultra-low latency audio network hooked up with standard Cat 5 Ethernet cabling primarily intended for connecting Behringerís new S16 digital stage boxes. With up to three units per AES50 interface, a total of 96 sources and 48 returns are accessible from the console. The X32 straight out of the box lets you record your tracks straight into your DAW. You get compatibility with ProTools, Logic, Cubase and other ASIO or Core-Audio compatible DAWís.

Some other specs include: Midas-designed, fully programmable microphone preamps for audiophile sound quality,40-bit floating-point DSP features “unlimited” dynamic range with no internal overload and near-zero overall latency, 32 x 32 channel audio interface over FireWire and USB 2.0, with DAW remote control emulating HUI and Mackie Control, iPad app for professional remote operation available free of chargeóno host PC required, high-resolution 7” day-viewable colour TFT for easy viewing of workflow components and parameters, future firmware updates, including new FX ìPlug Insî, downloadable from behringer.com free of charge, USB type-A connector providing file storage and uncompressed stereo recordings plus show presets and system updates, Ultranet connectivity for Behringer's P-16 Personal Monitoring System plus AES/EBU stereo digital output and MIDI, and networked remote control.

Overall, I would've liked more time with the X32 but I was confident in using this desk after only a few hours of use. There is so much more this console can do and as far as a digital console costing goes, this one is a fraction of its competitors. This guy is going to turn a few heads. So clubs, houses of worship, school auditoriums or musos looking for a live/recording console, it is definitely worth checking out. The X32 comes with a three-year warranty and is a definite must-see at your authorised stockist. The game is about to change.