User Manual X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER 40-Input, 25-Bus Digital Rack Mixer with 16 Programmable MIDAS Preamps, USB Audio Interface and iPad/iPhone Remote Control
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Table of Contents Important Safety Instructions....................................... 3 7. Main Display.............................................................. 31 Legal Disclaimer.............................................................. 3 7.1 Overview............................................................................... 31 Limited warranty............................................................. 3 7.2 Home Screen...........................
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Important Safety Instructions Terminals marked with this symbol carry electrical current of sufficient magnitude to constitute risk of electric shock. Use only high-quality professional speaker cables with ¼" TS or twist-locking plugs pre-installed. All other installation or modification should be performed only by qualified personnel.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Introduction Welcome to the X32 RACK User Manual! After years of intense development, we are proud to offer a mixer that combines tremendous power and flexibility with a very user-friendly layout and intuitive workflow that allow you to get up-and-running right away. The X32 RACK is a robust-yet-streamlined mixer that features all of the core functionality and processing of BEHRINGER's flagship X32 console in a smaller form factor.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 1.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 01 Ch01 01: 0:00 config home gate A: S16 B: - - 0:00 dyn 14:11 : 37 A: 48K C: X-USB eq sends main Insert Position clip -6 -12 -18 -24 -30 -36 -42 -48 -54 Link Lo Cut +0.0 dB 2.0 Hz Lo Cut Gain Gain +0.00 dB Link t In 48V Reverse Delay 0.3 ft 0.10 m 0.03 ms Source OFF Input 01 Input 02 Input 03 Input 04 Input 05 Input 06 Lo Cut 20 Hz Lo Cut Pre Ins Post Insert OFF InsFX 1L InsFX 1R InsFX 2L InsFX 2R InsFX 3L InsFX 3L Delay Delay 0.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Effects Processing 1-8 Linux/OS X applications and Windows-based applications for X32 RACK The X32 RACK contains eight true-stereo internal effects engines.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Startup and Shutdown, and Update: We recommend switching the X32 RACK mixer on first, and shutting it off last when any sound system is connected. This will prevent the possibility of any unexpected noises being transmitted during the startup/shutdown process. The Setup screen’s general preference page contains a Safe Main Levels function. When activated, the console automatically mutes the main LRC levels when booting the console.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 2. Callouts (1) (3) (4) (5) (6) (2) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (13) (10) (12) (1) USB button opens the Recorder View on the MAIN DISPLAY, causing the LED to glow green. The LED will glow red to indicate access on the DATA/AUDIO input. An unlit LED indicates no data access and inactive Recorder View.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual (22) (23) (24) (31) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) (30) (22) TALKBACK input connects a talkback microphone via XLR cable. (29) ULTRANET connector sends 16 channels of audio to a P16 monitoring system. (23) MONITOR outputs send audio to monitor speakers via 1/4" balanced cables. (30) (24) AUX IN and OUT jacks send and receive signals via 1/4" and RCA connectors. (25) XLR OUT jacks send audio via XLR cable.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 3.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual X32 RACK Recording Studio Setup Control Room Recording Room B3031A Studio Monitors Computer tower with DAW software L R Monitor/Control Room Out Rack Expander Keys 1 Keys 2 L R 1 B3031A Studio Monitors L 2 R 3 1. Lead Vocal 2. Vocal 2 3. Vocal 3 4. Vocal 4 5. Vocal 5 6. Acoustic Guitar 7. Rhythm E. Guitar 8. Lead E. Guitar 9. E. Bass (via DI) 10. Kick 11. Snare 12. Tom 1 13. Tom 2 14. Floor Tom 15. Overhead 1 16.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 4. FX Descriptions Triple Delay FX Descriptions Here is a list and brief description of the effects available on the X32 RACK. When Stereo and Dual versions of an effect are offered, use the Stereo version when the left and right signal are to be altered together (e.g. on linked stereo channels or buses), or Dual when you want to dial different settings for the left and right signal. See the Topic Guide for instructions on how to add effects to a channel or bus.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Gated Reverb Hall Reverb This effect was originally achieved by combining a reverb with a noise gate. Our gated reverb creates the same impression by a special shaping of the reverb tail. Classic Hall Reverb simulates the reverberation that occurs w hen sound is recorded in medium to large-sized concert halls. Use the Hall Reverb to give your mix a lush, three-dimensional quality that will make your performance sound larger than life.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual When Layer 1 is selected, the far left encoder push button allows you to select between virtual front and rear outputs. Rear is suitable for drums due to it being less reflective. Front is well-suited for vocals and other dynamic instruments. The Vintage button enables the simulation of the input transformers.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Tremolo / Panner Stereo Tremolo creates an up and down volume change at a constant and even tempo just like the guitar amps of yesteryear. Use X32’s Stereo Tremolo to add a unique “surf-music” texture to a vocal or instrument track. SPEED adjusts the LFO rate and DEPTH sets the amount of modulation. PHASE can be used to set an LFO phase difference between the left and right channel, which can be used for panning effects.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Mood Filter Chorus + Chamber The Mood Filter uses an LFO generator and an auto-envelope generator to control a VCF (voltage-controlled filter), as well as a side chain function where the channel B signal controls the envelope of channel A. When applied to electronic instruments, the Mood Filter can be used to emulate the natural sound of acoustic instruments.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Delay + Chorus Dual / Stereo TruEQ This combination effect merges a user-definable Delay (echo) with a studioquality Chorus sure to fatten up even the “skinniest” track. Uses only one FX slot. (Inspired by the TC Electronic D-Two) The TruEQ incorporates a special algorithm that compensates for the gain adjustment overlapping effect that adjacent frequency bands have on one another.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5. Topic Guide 5.1 Starting up, shutting down, and firmware updates We recommend switching the X32 RACK on before any active sound reinforcement system is connected. The function called “Safe Main Levels”, located in the Setup/General Preferences screen, automatically turns down the main LRC bus levels when booting the console, and also prevents any scene loading actions from affecting (specifically turning up) the main levels.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5.4 How do I add one of the 8 internal effects to the sound? There are two types of effects that are commonly used: • “Effects Loop” (side chain) style effects, where multiple channels all send varying amounts of their signal to a common effect, such as a reverb, delay, or chorus. • “Insert” style effects that are inserted in to the signal path of a single channel of audio. Examples would be a graphic EQ, filter, exciter, or tube emulator.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Setting up a live stage monitor mix using the S16 Digital Stage Box: 1. Connect the S16 stage box to AES50 port A on the rear panel of the console using a standard Cat 5 Ethernet cable. 2. On the stage, connect a cable from Output 1 of the S16 stagebox to the input of the stage monitor. 3. Press the ROUTE button and page right to the AES50 A page. 4.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5.8 How do I share signals over AES50 Supermac network? In many live sound situations, a single mixing console is used to cover both the front of house (FOH) mix that the audience hears, as well as all the individual “monitor mixes” that are sent to stage wedges or transmitters for in-ear monitor systems.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5.11 Using the X32 RACK in recording and production studio environments • When running a 32 track live recording from your FOH desk, you can simply assign the card outputs to the mic inputs (local or stage box), using the ’Routing/card out’ page. Note however, that the mic preamp gain (also for recording) will be controlled from the FOH console, and Gain changes during the show can be heard in the recording.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5.12 Remote control Remarks: The X32 RACK hosts an Ethernet port on its rear panel which can be used to connect and remote control it over a network via the X32-Mix on an iPad or the X32-Edit application on a PC. To be able to do this the X32 RACK has to be set up properly. Due to the FAT format of the stick, the file size will be limited to 2 GB, which is about 3 hours of stereo recording.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 6. USB Interface Operation Guide Host system requirements for X-USB interface expansion card Check the BEHRINGER website at behringer.com for updates of X-USB firmware or system requirements. Please find the recommended hardware/software minimum configurations in the specifications section. The BEHRINGER X-USB High-Performance 32-Channel 24-Bit USB Audio Interface The X-USB card provides 32 channel, bi-directional audio I/O via USB 2.0 to Mac or Windows PC.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 32 in / 32 out This mode obviously allows the full potential of the interface to be tapped. Note that the computer needs to be able to handle that amount of concurrent I/O stream without any glitches. Depending on its speed and memory configuration, some optimization for audio recording might be required. It is also possible to run a virtual sound check of all 32 input channels by recording them directly to a computer during a brief line check.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 16 in / 16 out If you don’t actually need more than 16 concurrent input and output tracks to be exchanged between the console and your PC, then this mode might be more appropriate for you. First, it will slow the required bandwidth on the interface down. Second, there will be no excessive I/O tracks in your DAW configuration that might clutter your setup.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 6.2 Configuring the PC to Interface with the X-USB Card Please watch behringer.com for further advice on the software configuration of X-USB interface card. Windows: There is an ASIO high-performance driver available for download, which is essential for low-latency audio on Windows computers. MacOS: The X-USB is CoreAudio compatible and thus works with low-latency on Mac computers without any additional driver installation.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual The ’Output Channels’ screen allows you to name each output channel for more organized mixing. The ’Synchronisation’ screen allows manual selection of the sample rate and clock source.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual The ’Settings’ screen allows the stream, ASIO, and WDM sound buffers to be set. Any detected drop outs will be documented as well, in which case a larger buffer should be selected. 6.3 X-USB Specifications Expansion Card Features: Interface Audio input channels 24-Bit, 44.1/48 kHz 1 in x 1 out 32, 16, 8 or 2 Generic, HUI and Mackie Control emulation MIDI HighSpeed USB 2.0 DAW remote control Expansion Card Performance: Interface HighSpeed USB 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7. Main Display 7.1 Overview 7.1.1 Display and Navigation Controls The controls in this section are used in conjunction with the color screen, in order to navigate and control the graphical elements it contains. By including dedicated rotary controllers that correspond to adjacent controls on the screen, as well as including cursor buttons, the user can quickly navigate and control all of the color screen’s elements.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Global Screen Elements 01 Ch01 FatSn a re OpeningScene 02: next config home 0:00 gate A: S16 B: - - 0:00 dyn A: 48K C: X-USB eq 15:33 : 15 sends main AES50-A: Displays, by name, what AES50 based equipment is connected to the console’s AES50-A port. The green LED lights solid when a valid AES50 connection is present. The “global” screen elements are located at the top of the screen, laid out in a horizontal row.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Rotary Encoder Elements: Gain +0.00 dB Link Lo Cut 20 Hz Lo Cut Source Input Select Delay 0.3 ms Delay Ins Pos PRE Insert The bottom of most screens contain 6 slots of information that are always paired with the 6 hardware rotary encoders located directly underneath each slot. The hardware encoders are used to adjust parameters displayed in these slots, and operate in the following manner: 1.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.2 Home Screen The home screen contains a high-level overview of the selected input or output channel, and offers various adjustments not available through the dedicated top-panel controls: The home screen contains the following separate tabs: 1. Home: General signal path for the selected input or output channel 2. Config: Allows selection of signal source/destination for the channel, configuration of insert point, and other settings 3.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.2.3 Home Screen: Gate Tab 7.2.4 Home Screen: Dynamics Tab The gate tab contains the following parameters, divided among two pages, that can be adjusted using the six rotary-push encoders: The dynamics tab contains the following parameters that can be adjusted using the six rotary-push encoders: Page 1 Page 1 1. Adjust the 1st encoder to set the input threshold of the gate. 1. Adjust the 1st encoder to set the input threshold of the compressor. 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual • Linear: In this mode, the rate of gain change is constant (as set by the timing controls). Therefore, the greater the signal dynamic excursion, the longer the compressor will take to complete a gain change. Also, since the total time that the compressor spends in attack or decay is proportional to the size of the gain excursion, the harmonic content of the compression artifacts will seem to reduce in frequency content. The louder the signal excursion is.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.2.6 Home Screen: Sends Tab 7.2.7 Home Screen: Main Tab The sends tab contains the following parameters that can be adjusted using the six rotary-push encoders: The main tab displays and controls all aspects of the main bus assignments. Page 1 The main tab contains the following parameters that can be adjusted using the six rotary-push encoders: 1. Adjust the 1st encoder to set the level for the first send of the currently selected four-send group. 1.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.3 Meters Screen The meters screen displays different groups of level meters for various signal paths of the console, and is useful for quickly ascertaining if any channels need level adjustment. Since there are no parameters to adjust for the metering displays, none of the metering screens contain any “bottom-of-screen” controls that would normally be adjusted by the 6 rotary encoders.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.4 Routing Screen The routing screen is where all signal patching is done, allowing you to route internal signal paths to and from the physical input/output connectors located on the console’s rear panel. The routing screen contains the following separate tabs: 1. Home: Allows patching of physical inputs to the 16 input channels and Aux inputs of the console. 2. Analog Out: Allows patching of internal signal paths to the console’s 8 rear-panel XLR outputs. 3.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.4.2 Routing Screen: Analog Out Tab 6. Tap the 5th encoder to assign the selected signal tap point. The routing screen’s analog out tab allows the user to patch the console’s various internal signal paths to the 8 analog XLR outputs that are located on the console rear panel. 7. Adjust the 6th encoder to adjust the amount of digital line delay applied to the output path as it is sent to the rear-panel physical output.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.4.3 Routing Screen: Aux Out Tab The route screen’s aux out tab allows the user to patch an internal signal path (such as a mix output used as an effects send) to the 6 separate ¼"/RCA auxiliary outputs. Since these six outputs can have a wide variety of signal paths assigned to them, they can be used for a wide variety of tasks, such as: 1. Feeding an external effects processor when the internal effects are insufficient 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.4.4 Routing Screen: P16 Tab 7.4.5 Routing Screen: Card Output Tab: The routing screen’s P16 tab allows the user to route various console signal paths to the rear panel P16 Ultranet output. The Ultranet output allows for 16 channels of audio to be sent, in digital form, to various accessories such as a personal monitoring distribution box.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.4.6 Routing Screen: AES50-A and AES50-B Tabs: The routing screen’s AES50-A and AES50-B tabs allow the user to patch various console output paths to the outputs of the dual AES50 connectors. These AES50 connectors can feed other AES50 equipped devices such as a digital stagebox or standalone multi-track recorder. The console contains two separate AES50 connectors, an “A” connector and a “B” connector.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.5 Libraries Screen The libraries screen allows loading and saving of commonly used setups for the channel inputs, effects processors, and routing scenarios. 9. Tap the 6th encoder to export the currently highlighted preset to an attached USB drive. • When the 6th encoder is tapped, an “Export Preset to USB drive appears”. • 2. Effects: This tab allows the user to load and save commonly used effects processor presets.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.6 Effects Screen The effects screen controls various aspects of the eight internal effects processors. On this screen, the user can select specific types of effects for the eight internal effects processors, configure their input and output paths, monitor their levels, and adjust the various effects parameters. The home screen contains the following separate tabs: 1.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.7 Setup Screen The setup screen offers various controls for global, high-level functions of the console such as display adjustments, sample rates and synchronization, user settings, and network configuration. The setup screen contains the following separate tabs: 1. Global: This screen offers adjustments for various global preferences of how the console operates. 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.7.2 Setup Screen: Config Tab: The setup screen’s config tab allows adjustment of various audio-related settings, such as the console’s base sample rate and use of an internal or external digital clock. It also offers choices for high-level global settings for how signal path buses operate. To adjust the various settings of the config tab, perform the following steps: 1. Adjust the 1st encoder to select between Console, Show Data, and Libraries for initialization. 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.7.3 Setup Screen: Remote Tab: 7.7.4 Setup Screen: Network Tab: To adjust the various remote settings, perform the following steps: The setup screen’s network tab contains settings used when connecting the console to a standard Ethernet network. The user can set parameters such as using a fixed IP address or having one assigned, as well as setting up the Ethernet and subnet mask settings. 1. Tap the 1st encoder to enable DAW remote control. 2.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.7.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual The Scribble Strip tab allows the color, icon and name that appears in the small LCD display of a channel, bus, matrix or DCA group to be adjusted. 1. Adjust the 1st encoder to select the channel, bus, matrix, DCA group, etc. you wish to edit. 2. Adjust the 2nd encoder to set the color for the currently selected channel. • The selected color will be shown in the LCD screen above the selected channel’s fader.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.8 Monitor/Talkback Screens: 5. Tap the 3rd encoder to toggle the delay function on/off. The monitor/talkback screen contains the following separate tabs: TIP: The delay function is useful for aligning the sound of audio monitored through headphones or speakers used at the Front-of-House position with audio that is coming from the stage location. Monitor: This screen controls various solo options, dimming, speaker delay, and sources for the control room output.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.8.2 Monitor/Talkback Screen: Talkback Tabs: 7.8.3 Monitor/Talkback Screen: Oscillator Tab: The talkback tabs offer various adjustments for the talkback paths of the console, such as destination of the talkback signal and more. The oscillator tab offers controls for the console’s onboard oscillator, a very handy tool that can be used for setting up PA systems and testing various signal flow paths without the need for a live source feeding a microphone.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.9 Scenes Screen The scenes screen allows setup for saving and recalling different memory scenes of the console. The comprehensive recallability of the console (including gain settings for the digitally controlled mic preamps) is one of the most powerful aspects of the console.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.9.3 Scenes Screen: Parameter Safe Tab 7.9.4 Scenes Screen: Channel Safe Tab The scenes screen’s “parameter safe” tab configures which console parameters are and are not saved/switched with the console scenes. This is very useful when the operator has certain parameters that they wish to remain in control of, and would never want to have altered during a scene change, for example, the mic pre gains on the input channels.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.10 Mute Group Screen 7.11 Utility Screen The mute group screen allows for quick assignment and control of the console’s 6 mute groups, and offers two separate functions: The utility screen is a supplemental screen designed to work in conjunction with the other screens that may be in view at any particular moment. The utility screen is never seen by itself, it always exists in the context of another screen. 1.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 7.12 USB Screen 7.12.2 USB Screen: Configuration Tab The USB screen controls various aspects of the console’s onboard audio file player/recorder, allowing the user to record stereo audio to an attached USB drive, as well as playback audio files from the drive through the console. The configuration tab allows setting up all aspects of the stereo recorder. In this screen, one can select audio paths to feed to the recorder and adjust the level of incoming audio.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 5. Rotate the 4th encoder to select the specific signal source to feed the currently selected channel of the stereo recorder. Choices include: • Main L • Main R • Main C/M • Any of the 16 Mix Bus Outputs • Any of the 6 matrix outputs • Any of the 32 direct outputs • Direct Outputs Aux 1-8 • Any of the FX Direct Outputs • Monitor L • Monitor R • Talkback 6.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual 8. Specifications Processing Number of processing channels Internal effects engines, true stereo / mono Internal total recall scenes (incl.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Input/Output Characteristics Frequency range, @ 48 kHz sample rate, 0 dB to -1 dB Dynamic range, analog in to analog out (typical) A/D dynamic range, preamp to converter (typical) D/A dynamic range, converter and output Cross talk rejection @ 1 kHz, adjacent channels Output level, XLR, nom./max. Output impedance, XLR, unbal. / bal. Input impedance TRS jack, unbal. / bal. Non clip maximum input level, TRS Nominal output level, TRS Output impedance, TRS, unbal. / bal.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual Block Diagram
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual X32 MIDI Implementation MIDI RX > SCENES MIDI TX > ASSIGN Whenever program change messages in the range 1-100 are received on MIDI CH01, the corresponding scene of the X32 internal show memory will be loaded.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual MIDI RX/TX > REMOTE Enables a specific form of bi-directional MIDI communication for remote controlling a computer DAW application using control elements of the X32 console.
X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER User Manual FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION COMPLIANCE INFORMATION X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER Responsible Party Name: MUSIC Group Services NV Inc. Address: 5270 Procyon Street Las Vegas, NV 89118 USA Phone Number: +1 702 800 8290 X32 RACK DIGITAL MIXER complies with the FCC rules as mentioned in the following paragraph: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.
We Hear You