Monitor Mixing - Setup the Behringer X32 for Monitor Mixing & Monitor Enginnering

Monitor Mixing and Monitor Engineering is often a topic not spoken about a lot. I'm launching a new series dedicated to teaching you how to set up and optimize your audio console for monitor mixing.
In this video I show you how to set up the Behringer X32 for monitor mixing.
Learn more about my X32 Fundamentals course at: course.drewbrashler.com.
Products shown in this video:
Behringer X32: sweetwater.sjv.io/g1RvM9
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:25 Monitor Engineer IEM Output Location
02:21 Setting Up the Mixbusses for Monitors on the Behringer X32
03:30 Naming the Mixbusses
05:08 Using the Tone Generator to Set IEM System Gain
06:06 Setting Mixbus Output EQ to Prevent 19 kHz Pilot Issues
08:59 Setting a Mixbus Limiter on the Behringer X32
10:43 Pre-Fader vs Post Fader
13:58 Talk to the Musicians!
15:04 Set all trim sends to -10 dB
21:56 Panning for Stereo IEM's
22:37 Conclusion

[@eastcoastproductions6422]

I've been mixing live sound for nearly 40 years. Started from the stage where I was singing and mixing during tours. (Gospel Music). The last 10 years I have been transitioning to what is now a full time sound engineer and YOUR videos have made me a pro. Don't know what I would do without your videos. God Bless you and all you do for the Kingdom Drew.

[@sedamete2071]

just wow as a sound engineer with 10 years experience this video have a lot of gold information about monitor engineering.

[@66fitton]

Excellent! Great idea for a video series. Gonna make some notes on this lol. You covered a lot of ground here. Thanks so much Drew! Many many hours spent watching with my x32 plugged in right next to me. You have saved me countless hours and helped me get a serious grasp on the x32 and what it's capacities are. Compared to any manuals and other videos out there, you crush it!! You helped get me to the next level where I'm making good money because I know what I'm doing on digital. THANKS FOR ALL MY FRIEND!!!!! ✌👊

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks so much, @66fitton!

[@joker71779]

@@DrewBrashlercan you make a video on eq/compression per channel etc when using the mixer for IEM’s (solely monitor console)

[@CamoHorizon]

@@joker71779yes exactly this

[@andreasonarheim]

Hi Drew! Recently bought the x32 rack as part of my bands in-ear rig. This and your other videos are super helpful. I'm planning to enroll in your course as soon as time frees up. You've really perfected the pedagogics of this! Kudos! :D

[@timinglismusic6707]

Hi Drew, we recently bought the X-32 for church and we use the Behringer cabled in-ear system (we couldn't afford the wireless version, unfortunately). We basically use outputs 1-8 to run 8 individual IE mixes. I think I saw in one of your earlier videos that you set the Mixbus 1 to Output 1 and so forth, which I may not have done yet, so I'll do that this week if I haven't. I would love to see a video on how to properly set up an IE mix with a cabled (as opposed to wireless) unit, if you haven't already done one. Thanks mate, your videos are awesome!

[@antarchdrum]

DREW!! Thanks for another awesome video! You’ve helped a ton of folks gain new skills and navigate the X32 for optimal use! It was great working with you in Anaheim for the Foursquare conference! -Anthony

[@mickeymiguel2726]

Flawless explanations

[@gruporabipepemata]

Thanks even though I don’t speak fluent English I love to watch your videos and if I don’t understand the first time I watch it over and over again , thanks Drew

[@jcfcv]

I'm told that for vocalists commission should be kept out of the monitor mix but reverb is helpful, but I'm not sure how to compress a channel in the front of house mic but not in the monitor mix. I'd love to see a video that touches on this. Thanks.

[@amgskratch]

Please can you teach about drive rack configuration

[@boallmon324]

Drew. How about showing how your physically connecting the hardware to the X32 cause I’m trying to setup 2 transmitters to the x32 for use of 4 in ear monitors

[@chewdk6799]

true gem for x32 monitor mixing

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks so much!

[@poxcr]

22:16 Panning these channels like you did would affect everyone's IEM mix, not just the main vocalist's.

[@johnnysalazar8848]

Yes please post more monitor videos. We have the in ear monitors that plug in and sometimes it sounds muffled and everyone likes their in ear different

[@zhordzrecords167]

truly a gem

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks for watching!

[@matthewpiatt]

Wow, we do almost the exact same setup & workflow! Too bad it took me almost a year of mixing IEMs to arrive at the same conclusions 😂 Great video - this is much needed as there is a huge gap of online knowledge for monitor engineers.

[@kristinesy6620]

Hi Drew. Would you be able to do a video on how to connect and setup an Audio Technica ATW3255 IEM system into the X32?

[@FishJackson]

Helped a lot. Thank you

[@aaronfox915]

Video idea after watching this one would be your knowledge of phone apps that musicians use to control their own mix and how they work with the X32. I mentioned Mixing Station app in a prior comment. But really any phone app and how to set up the X32 in that application. Thanks.

[@sandervandekerkhof]

Thank you for your videos on the x32 and especially this one. I have an x32 for a few months now and I recently build an IEM rig with the x32 rack for my band and your videos helped me so much! Side question: now that we have the IEM rig our band no longer need the full size x32, and since I'm a huge gear nerd I'm considering selling my x32 and saving up for the behringer wing. Do you think that would be worth the extra costs that come with that?

[@donm1547]

Good one Drew. Do you have an in depth video about using Mixbus and channel sends to the P16 for the musician that wants total control of monitoring?

[@masegado]

Thanks for this! I'm quite surprised EQ is needed to avoid pilot tone issues, though - I would have thought the transmitters themselves have pretty steep internal low-pass filters before the audio gets modulated and multiplexed. Maybe not as true for older/cheaper designs?

[@jean-christophedejean7274]

thank you Drew for such a useful video! Cheer. I have a question though: why at 20.16 do you adjust the channel gain after balancing each musician's individual mixes as you do from 15.05? Is it because when you do the balance you just do it according to their request when they are not yet on stage for the sound check? Right?

[@razvanstaicut]

Thanks for this video! I have a question. The eq that you made for the buses is a general one or is particularly for a iem model? Thanks.

[@alechapola]

Excelent videos!!!! A question: If a use DCA to control some channels (ex: a DCA for drums). If a turn down the DCA, the sound goes down in the Post Fader IEMs??? And Is some way to turn the DCA in a VCA in X32? Thanks Drew!!!

[@keithconville5460]

How would you do a stereo setup with wired iems? The packs have stereo capability, but only a single XLR. How do you set this up to be able to pan in those? Thanks for your videos!

[@aaronfox915]

Hi Drew. Thanks for the video. Our church musicians have wireless IEMs and also have a phone app called Mixing Station that they can use to adjust their own mix. How do I need to set up our X32 soundboard to allow them to adjust their own mix? Do I set everything thing up prefader for this scenario? Thanks

[@kingofkingschurch2040]

Hello Drew, thanks for the video, the problem that Im facing is that the vocals are very low in our IEM (using Bus 3&4 ), I have checked the gain and levels are ok. the only way that I can get them loud enough is using the compression gain but I get a lot of Hiss.. help please..thanks

[@kcvocalentertainer]

Great video. I wish someone would do a similar in depth video for the Yamaha DM3

[@graceappiah2249]

How do I set the eq on my DRUMER’s in ear ( p1) using x32 digital mixer And also what effects can I use to help my in ears on x32

[@LouisAdamsDiaz]

Do you know why they took down the x32-mix and m32-mix app off the play store? Or when they plan on releasing the new one? I had all my iPads stolen this past Thursday and Friday I had an event to run. So I borrowed an iPad and to my dismay the x32 apps were all gone. That would be fine if I had a x32 board but I was working off a rack. I had to download mix station and buy the x32 program for it to even work. I know this probably isn’t the place to ask but idk where else to turn.

[@boallmon324]

Drew I just purchased an x32. For our gospel group where can I get help with this mixing board. My manual only has 4 pages that came with it. And there’s nothing in about setting the console up. Ty.

[@boallmon324]

My x32 only had 4 pages with mine. And it has no information on how to use or setup this amazing digital mixing board

[@mjtejero]

Hi Drew, how about panning? do we set the panning on the actual monitor app that the musicians uses?

[@shaiju8743]

Thankyou sir

[@DanielGarcia-hn6jc]

Can you implement waves into the monitoring?

[@EldredMerricks]

Need routing for monitor mix when you have two x32 consoles and a dl32 stage box

[@jfabian1980]

I’m confused. Some people say Pre fader is the way to go if you’re using one board for everything but here you say post fader? I just want to be able to set a good mix for their in ears and leave it so I can worry about the house mix. I do understand the individual mix being post fader but not all the channels. What am I missing?

[@JurajHalaska]

How to make in ear mix more like a hearing without in ear monitor ? An it is hood idea use two mono mixes dor one person ? I thouht of had one full-band mono mix compressed in the end of the bus and the other one only me, my vocal and guitar. These two sum up into mono/or maybe stereo hard panned, and leave it on the brain… It makes sense ? Thank you

[@AVIDpros]

Where do I find the frequency range for a Midas DP-48?

[@boxclone]

How do you set up stereo IEMs so that the signal for a stereo instrument is sent simultaneously and in stereo to the left and right ears? Currently, I'm selecting bus 1 for the left ear and sending track left to the left ear. Then I have to select bus 2 to send track right to the right ear. Can the 2 sends be done simultaneously? If the tracks I'm sending are linked then it will send both channels to the left ear and both channels to the right ear, yielding a mono result. Thanks.

[@JonathanLadner]

I am a little confused as to why the faders on the vocal/instrument mixes are brought up beyond the -10 when they are going to be set to pre-fade after the fact. Love the content Drew; keep it up...

[@VladimirYerokhin]

I have the same question

[@DrewBrashler]

That is to get them loud enough in their mix so they are happy with the levels. That is just a starting point. If they need to be bumped up or down in their own mix, I will adjust once we are starting to make noise.

[@kevinallen9106]

Yes I was confused initially too. The faders he is adjusting to -10 are the channel *send to bus* levels (he's in Sends on Faders mode). The pre/post fader selection relates to what would be the "main mix" channel fader. He wants pre-fader so adjustments to his house mix don't reflect in a change of level in his IEM bus mix - those levels are determined by the send levels he's pre-setting here. Subtle but I hope that makes sense! Drew - yet more fantastic X32 content, I love it all, keep up the great work!

[@mbalabenoit7750]

Nice

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks!

[@ransfordfearon8780]

Hi Drew. Thanks for all that you are doing especially for the church community. I am new to the Behringer x32 compact. I am trying my best to find way around it. Just a few days ago I cannot get any audio feed to go to the monitors. The two main speakers work great but my 3 floor monitors have no feed coming through them from the console. What advice can you give me? Thanks

[@BjorgenEatinger]

Please elaborate more on why you are cutting the 19.2K frequency so heavily. I had 5 IEMS running on a show in Las Vegas July 4th, and had massive amounts of issues with them getting audio. RF was okay, but the audio would frequently dip out. However, one of the 5 IEMs would work perfectly, but I found out later that it was the only one in MONO (at the back of the transmitter). When the IEMs in in stereo, don't they need the pilot tone, AND the 38Hz sub-carrier? I believe that they do in fact.

[@DrewBrashler]

Yeah, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p52vqGh-m5eJosk. The pilot tone is how the receivers decide to mute/unmute and how they reference for stereo. So if you over-modulate the 19k pilot tone, this can cause a bunch of issues that I cover in that video I linked. Hope that helps!

[@Kingdom0324]

does this change with subgroups?

[@TOTO-vm4cb]

One newbie question... When BUS 1+2 are linked with the purpose of having a stereo picture for "musician 1" how does this chain continue with the output (Bus 1+2) of the board? What kind configuration of cables/equipment do I need until the stereo signal reaches finally the ears of the band member? What I mean is: At a point BUS1+2 must be put together for the in-ears monitors. Is this possible with a jack and/or XLR? How? Thanks in advance!

[@gusdibelas1160]

Hello, one question! In the video you set the busses to a post fader mode and then, you go to individual channels and set it as pre fader. This pre fader mode is only for the individual channel (eg. the vocal only will send as pre fader while the other remains post fader), or you change the entire mix bus to pre fader?

[@davidshamoon5501]

I wish you would make a video of how to tune a room using RTA or maybe more than a method. because I think this is essential.

[@thetruesargz5693]

Hi Drew, just like @timinglismusic6707, we have beringer cabled IEMS. We are using 8 BUS channels (stereo linked) for the 4 IEM'S but even after setting the correct routing I get a faint fuzzy signal from only one ear when I plug in. Our IEM's go straight to our S16 stage box outputs. It would be good if you could do a video for cabled IEMS. I can't work out what I am doing wrong

[@fiyinfoluemmanuel5527]

Great video! Question: Why would you want to use the monitor out for your in ears instead of the headphone out??

[@jethri]

I think he meant to say “wireless in-ears”. In which case the transmitter would probably have XLR or 1/4” inputs, and be best fed from those control room outputs. For normal wired headphones or in-ears, the stereo 1/4” headphone jacks are fine and do the same thing of giving you the solo/monitor bus and there’s the phones level knob right under the one he showed 1:02

[@fiyinfoluemmanuel5527]

@@jethri Thank you for the response

[@DrewBrashler]

Yup! @jethri nailed it!

[@rubenphineas3568]

Thanks so much for these type of video's! I'm a newly graduate in soundengineering and just sighned a contract at a Pop stage, at my study I did not learn a lot about Monitor mixing. wich is weird cause that is what you mostly start with if you're new in Audio engineering. I'm exited but also very nervous and scared i might mess up someones hearing with monitor mixing. so if you have any more tips that can help me i'd like to hear it👌🏻 greetings from a new Dutch Sound engineer🇳🇱

[@maxbuitendijk8456]

I have a question about the part at 16:20. Why do you want to set a send to pre fader for the instruments that a musician is playing himself? Can't one just adjust the fader (for musician bus, not audience mix) for this instrument from -10 dB to 0 dB so that the musician hears his own instrument louder compared to the mix the audience hears? why would it also have to be pre fader? If you set it to be pre fader, the musician will not hear that his/her instrument's volume is adjusted by FOH, which defeats the purpose of having a monitor setup to be post fader (in my opinion). I play bass and I am also the bands 'technician'. Im looking to implement the post fader setup instead of pre fader because we want to play more dynamically as a band, and everyone having a totally different in ear mix is not really helping us to play dynamic. Most gigs we play at do not have a monitor or FOH engineer and we just go by with our X32, so that is why we need to control the volume, and therefore dynamics of the band, of each instrument by simply playing/singing softer/louder.

[@WutrUduin]

Not sure I can answer your question, but in this video, he's using the X32 as a monitor mixer. There would be another mixer at front of house to mix for the audience. If your case is like mine, where I run monitors off the front of house console, I have all the sends tapped post gain, gate, and high-pass before dynamics and fader. This way the talent gets a consistent mix song to song and knows whether they've gotten louder or softer without compression confusing them or making them strain their voices against a compressor trying to get louder.

[@ambrosesengottuvelu5663]

I have doubt in input , lot of time ppl mention kick in and kick out from drums kick - what it mean how I can set that in my mixer.

[@DrewBrashler]

Great question, the Kick Out and Kick In define the microphones used. The Kick In mic is like a Shure Beta 91 or Sennheiser e901 and is placed inside of the kick drum to get the sound of the beater hitting the drum. The Kick Out mic is placed just outside of the head at the sound hole with a mic like a Shure Beta 52 or a Sennheiser e902. The kick out mic captures the main sub frequencies of the kick. You then blend the two mics together for a more full sound on the kick drum.

[@azariah1903]

Could have been a better video if you showed how you had your routing, how do you connect 2 Behringer X32 redundantly without Dante etc? Also I would have love to had audible examples .. any great initiative! We need more of this - God bless you

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Palvader]

This video is sooooo good! Now I want to go mix monitors!

[@DrewBrashler]

Love it! Thanks for watching, @Palvader!

[@mbalabenoit7750]

Sorry how to send effect on monitor, i follow u from tabzania.

[@jethri]

The FX Returns have sends to busses, just like you would do a channel, so any bus can receive the signals.

[@DrewBrashler]

I actually did a video on how to send reverb to a monitor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/naLFZGybqKhrq5o. You can follow this same setup for getting really any effect into a monitor if needed. Hope this helps!

[@isaacsitiakalaabwenje]

The only problem with the video is that the camera is not revealing the teachings clearly for someone new in the field to understand ....... Seeing also makes someone learn quickly.

[@YoshiaBarabha]

I'd want to listen to two audio channels from the main speakers on a single Behringer X32 monitor. I don't want them to travel through the main speakers; instead, I want them to go to a monitor. How can I accomplish this? If so, could you please walk me through the process?

[@melhayes204]

Set the monitor channels to pre-fader and turn the channels down in the main mix.