Behringer X32 Compact 40-Input Digital Mixer

Behringer X32 Compact Digital Mixing Console

With the introduction of our new X32 version 3.0 firmware, Behringer have not only dramatically enhanced the workflow, but also added all-new capabilities including "Acoustic Integration" for total connectivity and control of your speaker and In-Ear Monitor (IEM) systems. Then they completely re-imagined the more than 50 onboard FX "Plug-Ins" and added classic processor examples based on "True Physical Modelling". They’ve also made the X32 even more flexible, with swappable expansion cards for connecting to other multi-channel audio networking via USB, ADAT, MADI and Dante protocols, in addition to the onboard ULTRANET and AES50 connectivity. Above all, the X32 puts the power of digital in your hands – without compromise.

X32 COMPACT serves the user a full complement of 17 long-throw, 100 mm motorized servo faders for primary mix control. Working in concert with the LCD Scribble Strips and TFT Display, the faders serve multiple functions while always keeping you informed. Separate fader sections for inputs and groups/buses allow for convenient assignments from inputs to groups/buses. With the ability to store up to 100 scenes, X32 COMPACT’s motorized faders jump to life the moment a scene is recalled.

LCD Scribble Strips

X32 Compact’s automated control surface is designed with a total of 17 programmable LCD Scribble Strips that offer channel/bus identification that mirrors what is being controlled. Use them to enter input/output tags, plus add icons you recognize at-a-glance. Then assign colors to create visual groups for immediate, on-the-fly recognition of similar inputs.

The X32 Compact Channel Strip puts the most important channel processing parameters into one section so that no matter which channel you are working on, the controls are always the same. This highly-efficient layout stems from Behringer’s decades of console design and input from our users. Optimized control illumination ensures a clear indication of levels or status from any viewing angle. Illuminated rotary encoders and switches give you control of preamp settings, frequency shelving, dual dynamics sections, as well as multi-mode fully parametric EQ, bus sends, main, mono and stereo panning.

DCA (Digitally Controlled Amplifier) groups allow control over several signals at once without actually mixing them into a subgroup bus. X32 Compact’s 8 DCA groups let you control multiple signals via a single fader, such as the entire drum mix, the horn section, or the backup vocalists, etc. DCA control affects the FOH mix, while allowing the individual buses to remain unchanged. The result is a customizable workflow that provides maximum flexibility, but still allows individual buses and subgroups to serve the purpose they were intended for, such as zone sends, broadcast feeds, etc.

Across the X32 Compact you’ll find strategically placed View buttons associated with various functions. These buttons enable immediate access to information about that specific function. For instance, if you press the View button in the Equalizer section, information for that channel’s EQ is instantly shown on the main display, providing in-depth editing of all related parameters. This direct access to visual fine-tuning gives the engineer a level of control previously available only on consoles costing exponentially more.

X32 Compact’s Assign section allows you to to set up short-cuts to your favorite views or parameters. Buttons can be defined to toggle parameters on/off , adjust timing of effects by tapping, or jump to specific screen views.

Legendary 40-year old British company Turbosound, famous for producing some of the world’s best speaker systems, have teamed up with Behringer to seamlessly integrate mixer and speaker systems. they call it "Acoustic Integration". The X32 Compact’s Ultranet bus allows streaming up to 16-channels of pristine digital audio to an array of Turbosound iQ speakers - all on a single CAT5 cable, along with control data to set sound presets remotely. Furthermore, the iQ Series features "True Physical Modeling" of some of the most popular speakers which can be easily remote controlled via the X32 Compact, allowing the sound engineer to apply different speaker models in real time from the comfort of the mixing desk.

The X32 Compact now includes a high-resolution 100-band Real Time Analyzer (RTA), with full Bar and Spectrograph views. This high-resolution RTA displays the audio energy distribution in 100 frequency bands over time – capturing a sonogram window of a full 10 seconds. Switch between the Large RTA view, displaying any available signal in full screen resolution, or the Combined view with the RTA view shown above each of the channel and bus EQ curves. See the results of your filtering choices in the audio spectrum directly. Additionally, the RTA can be displayed on top of the 31-band graphic EQs in the FX rack.

They’ve added 16 new FX "Plug-Ins" to the X32 Compact, giving you access to a total of 50+ effects that would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars in hardware. This new generation of high-end FX "Plug-Ins" is based on True Physical Modeling of classic audio hardware. They essentially "rebuilt" classic analog gear in the digital domain and included models of legendary processors such as Urei’s 1176, Teletronix LA-2A and Fairchild 670 compressors as well as the legendary Pultec EQP-1a and EQ5 equalizers etc. They also added a cutting-edge 5-band multiband compressor. Last but not least, the X32 Compact can now run 4 studio-quality stereo reverbs together with 8 channels of 31-band graphic EQ. This allows you to replace your old outboard gear with a fully recallable onboard solution.

A new Gain Split mode separates channel gain (trim) from the head amp gain, allowing both the FOH and/or the monitor engineer to adjust local trim digitally – and independently of the preamp gain. Additionally, the new HA Gain Remote option allows console gains to be remotely controlled by an external console, such as when using the X32 RACK as a stage box.

The X32 Compact’s routing becomes even more flexible with this recent firmware upgrade. Output signals and XLR outputs are now treated separately, allowing signals from AES50 sources or expansion cards to be routed directly to the X32 Compact’s analog outputs. For example, now you can use the outputs from an X32 Compact for directly routing back PA or monitoring signals from a main or FOH console. New output tap points can be set as pre- or post-mute for greater usability with your P16 personal monitoring mixers. This is very useful in situations where you don’t want mute groups to interrupt your signal flow.

Introducing the Cue List, an innovative way to automate the loading of scenes and new "Snippets" at different points during a show. Each of the 500 Cue entries can load any of the 100 Scenes or Snippets separately or at the same time. This gives you an amazing total of 500 Cues x 100 Scenes x 100 Snippets! For example, store your favorite EQ settings for drums on channels 1-8 as a Snippet, recallable in an instant as its own preset, completely independent of the console’s overall scene. It’s like