Behringer Digital Mixer X32 User Manual

X32 DIGITAL MIXER Preliminary User Manual

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.

To apply an “Effects Loop” style effect:

Press the “FX” menu button. The main screen will show the FX home screen 

where different effects processors are assigned to the 8 processing slots.

Adjust rotary encoder #6 to highlight the first effects processor; it will be 

surrounded by an orange outline.

Adjust rotary encoder #1 and rotary encoder #2, selecting your desired bus 

as the source for both the left and right inputs of the first effect processor.  

By default, FX 1 is sourced from Bus 13. 

Adjust rotary encoder #5 to select a specific effect processor, 

such as  “Ambience”.

Select the fader bank button labeled “RTN” on the left side of the console. 

Bring the faders labeled FX1L and FX1R up to 0 dB in case they are not set to 

this value by default. In the initial setup, these returns are stereo linked and 

automatically send to the main LR bus, but it is also possible to send them to 

the other buses as well. For this, press the HOME button next to the screen 

while  the return is selected, then go to the SENDS tab with the PAGE SELECT 

right button and adjust the send levels for the return to the other buses, 

or use the dedicated BUS SENDS controls.

Back on the EFFECTS page, press the PAGE SELECT right button to switch the 

screen to the editor for the Ambience processor. The screen will switch to an 

editor page for the first processor. Adjust the rotary encoders to tailor the 

effect to your liking.

To apply the effect to assorted input channels, select an input channel, 

then adjust its “Bus Send 13” knob to taste. As the bus send level is 

increased, more of the channel signal will be sent to the Ambience 

effect. Repeat this process with other channels you wish to send to the 

Ambience processor.

To apply an “insert” style effect:

Press the “EFFECTS” menu button. 

As the effects on the left side are also able to handle complex send effects 

like reverb, the slots on the right side shall be used for insert effects like 

limiter, graphic EQ, etc. You can  also use insert effects on the left side, 

but this will limit your use of reverbs and other processor-intensive effects.

Adjust rotary encoder #6 to highlight one of the effects processors on the 

right side; it will be surrounded by an orange outline.  

Adjust rotary encoder #1 and rotary encoder #2, selecting “Insert” as the 

source for both the left and right inputs of the effect processor. 

Adjust rotary encoder #5 to select a specific effect processor, such as 

“precision limiter”.

Select the specific input or output channel you wish to use the inserted 

effect on.

Press the HOME button, then the PAGE SELECT right button to navigate to the 

selected channel’s “Config” screen.

Adjust rotary control #6 to select the specific processor you have applied the 

effect to, in this case “Ins FX 5L”. Press the encoder to connect the selected 

insert effect.

The Precision Limiter is now applied as an insert on the selected channel. 

Sending more than one channel through the same insert effect is, of course, 

prohibited. There will be a warning when you try to insert an effect slot that 

has already been used as an insert on any other channel. Both sides of a dual 

type effect can be used as inserts on different channels or buses.

In some situations, you may wish to use a loop-style effect provided by an 

external effect processor, as opposed to using one of the eight built-in processors. 

To do so:

Press the ROUTE button, page right to the “Aux Out” screen, and adjust the 

first and fourth encoders to tie a rear panel ¼" aux out, such as Aux Out 1, 

to an available mix bus, such as Mix Bus 2. 

Patch rear panel Aux Output 1 to the input of your external effects processor.

Patch the output of the external effects processor to rear panel Aux Input 1.

Select the “Aux In/FX/USB” layer, select the “Aux 1” channel, and make sure 

the stereo button is lit so that the Aux 1 return signal is assigned to the main 

LR bus.

Move the Aux 1 channel fader to 0 dB.

Adjust the settings on the external effects processor to taste.

Setting up a live stage monitor mix using conventional monitors:
1.  Press the ROUTE button and page right to the Analog Out page. 
2.  Adjust the first encoder to select a rear panel analog output (e.g. Output 1), 

then adjust the fourth encoder to select a mix bus (e.g. Mix Bus 1). When the 

source and destination have been selected, press the 4th encoder  to 

complete the assignment. 

3.  Adjust the 5th encoder to set up the monitor send as pre-fader, or pre/post 

EQ. This will prevent the monitor mix from changing when the front-of-

house mix is adjusted.

4.  Connect a cable from rear panel analog Out 1 to the input of:
a)  A powered stage monitor
b)  An external amplifier feeding a passive stage monitor
c)  A transmitter for a set of wireless in-ear monitors
5.  On the bank of output faders on the right hand side of the console, select the 

monitor bus (1-8, 9-16) (in this case Bus 1) and adjust the fader  to 0 dB 

initially. You can change the overall output level on this bus anytime later, 

of course.

6.  To adjust the mix sent to the monitor, select an input channel, then adjust 

its “Bus Send 1” knob. Repeat for the other input channels to complete the 

monitor mix.

The monitor mix can also be adjusted using the X32’s “Sends on Faders” function:
1.  On the bank of output faders on the right hand side of the console, 

select the monitor bus (1-8, 9-16) that feeds the talent’s stage monitor 

(in this case Bus 1).

2.  Press the “Sends on Faders” button. You will see the button illuminate.