Behringer X32 Producer

Live mixes and studio recordings often bring many signal sources together in limited rack space. The Behringer X32 Producer combines a rack-mountable digital mixer with 40 channels and 25 buses, and can be controlled directly on the unit or remotely over a network.

16 programmable MIDAS preamps are available for microphones. Two AES50 ports connect digital stage boxes; according to the product description, up to six S16 stage boxes can be used. The routing options and processing of up to 48 signals across 25 buses are suited to extensive live setups and growing I/O requirements.

On the mixer, you control the mix using the channel strip section, the 5-inch colour display with 800 x 480 pixels and 17 motorised 100 mm faders. They follow the saved settings when scenes are recalled. You can save and recall scenes for recurring productions; a customisable control section lets you assign shortcuts to preferred views or parameters.

The internal signal processing includes Main LCR, six matrix buses and 16 mix buses. Mix and matrix buses feature inserts, a 6-band parametric EQ and dynamics processing. Eight DCA groups control multiple signals together without mixing them into a subgroup bus; six mute groups mute assigned signals together. There are eight stereo engines with eight true stereo slots for effects.

Via USB 2.0, the mixer transfers 32 audio channels in both directions to the DAW and supports the HUI and Mackie Control remote control protocols. The USB Type-A port is used to store files and show presets, make uncompressed stereo recordings and install system updates. An expansion slot accommodates audio interface cards or digital network bridges.

You can remotely control the mixer over Ethernet using X32-Edit for PC, Mac and Linux, or the mobile X32 apps. Multiple app instances can run at the same time, allowing musicians to set up their own monitor mixes. The ULTRANET port connects the P16 Personal Monitoring System; MIDI In/Out is used to recall scenes or control other MIDI devices.

Connections include eight XLR outputs, six additional line inputs/outputs, a headphone connection and a talkback section with an XLR microphone input. The model is suitable for live sound, theatre, broadcast and studio use if you want to combine local control, rack mounting and network control in a digital mixer.