X32 / M32 Acoustic Guitar starting point
Beginner Skill level for the five steps below. Optional intermediate and advanced tips are in Going further.
Dial these in, then adjust by ear in the full mix. Feedback with pickups shows up as a low 'hum-swell' around 100-250 Hz. Cut that narrow-ish band rather than turning the whole channel down.
1High-pass filter
80-120 Hz (full band), ~60 Hz (solo/duo)
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 low cut / HPF, not a screenshot. Drawn at 12 dB/oct; the shaded area is what gets cut. Drawn at 100 Hz, the middle of the card's 80-120 Hz. The card also lists ~60 Hz (solo.
In a band, the bass covers the lows; in a sparse set, keep more body.
On the X32 / M32: Config/Preamp section of the channel strip: press LOW CUT and turn FREQUENCY (M32 label) to set it, 20-400 Hz. Screen: VIEW > Home > config, encoder 2 (also Home > eq, page 1). Need a cut above 400 Hz? Set EQ band LOW to LCUT mode with the MODE button.
2Gate
- Use
- No
Not needed.
On the X32 / M32: GATE section: press GATE to engage and turn THRESHOLD (-80 to 0 dB). Press VIEW for Home > gate: Range 3-60 dB, Attack 0-120 ms (1 ms steps), Hold 0.02-2000 ms, Release 5-4000 ms. Page 2 has the key filter (20 Hz-20 kHz) and key source. The protocol lists the modes EXP2, EXP3, EXP4 (expander 2:1-4:1), GATE and DUCK; check the names on your firmware's screen.
3EQ
- LC 100 Hz, 12 dB/oct
- 1 Bell 175 Hz, -3.0 dB, Q 1.5
- 2 Bell 1 kHz, -2.0 dB, Q 2.5
- 3 Bell 4 kHz, +0.0 dB, Q 0.9
- 4 High shelf 11 kHz, +1.5 dB
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 EQ screen, not a screenshot. Curve shows the midpoint of the suggested ranges; HPF drawn at 12 dB/oct; where the card lists alternatives, the first is drawn; a band whose range runs from cut to boost sits at 0 dB.
| Frequency | Gain | Q / width | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100-250 Hz | -2 to -4 dB | Medium | Boom/body build-up; also where feedback often starts with pickups. |
| ~1 kHz | -1 to -3 dB | Medium-narrow | Piezo 'quack'. Sweep to find it. |
| 3-5 kHz | 0 dB (up to +3 dB if it lacks presence) | Wide | Presence/strum definition. Start flat and add only if it lacks presence; too much makes it harsh. |
| 10-12 kHz shelf | +1 to +2 dB | Shelf | Sparkle/air. |
On the X32 / M32: EQUALISER section (EQUALIZER on the X32): pick the band (LOW, LO MID, HI MID, HIGH), then GAIN (+/-15 dB), FREQUENCY (20 Hz-20 kHz) and WIDTH (labelled Q on the X32; Q 10 narrow to 0.3 wide). The MODE button, or VIEW > Home > eq, sets the band type: LOW = LCUT, LSHV, PEQ or VEQ; LO MID and HI MID = PEQ or VEQ; HIGH = HCUT, HSHV, PEQ or VEQ. There is no separate low-pass filter on input channels: for a high cut, set the HIGH band to HCUT.
4Compression
Attack 10-20 ms · Release 100-250 ms (timing, not shown on graph)
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 compressor screen, not a screenshot. The threshold is an example only: it is set so a −6 dB peak gets about 3.5 dB of gain reduction, the middle of the card's target. Set yours by ear while watching the gain reduction (GR) meter. Drawn hard-knee with no makeup gain. Attack and release shape timing and don't change this curve.
- Ratio
- 3:1
- Attack
- 10-20 ms
- Release
- 100-250 ms
- Gain reduction
- 3-4 dB
Strummed vs fingerpicked parts vary a lot in level.
On the X32 / M32: DYNAMICS section: press COMP to engage and turn THRESHOLD (-60 to 0 dB); the LED meter shows gain reduction. VIEW > Home > dyn: Ratio (1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 20, 100), Attack 0-120 ms, Hold, Release 5-4000 ms, makeup Gain 0-24 dB, Knee 0-5, Peak/RMS and LIN/LOG. Page 2: pre/post EQ position, key filter and key source.
5FX send
Small reverb send
Plate / small hall, about 1.4 s decay, send around -18 to -12 dB.
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 sends view, not a screenshot. Bus numbering depends on how the venue file is patched; set the level by ear.
Pickups sound dry and boxy; a little reverb helps.
On the X32 / M32: Common practice is to feed FX from mix buses (e.g. Bus 13-16, set to pre/post as needed) patched to FX1-4 in the Effects rack, and return them on FX Return channels. Only FX1-4 can be fed this way; FX5-8 are insert-only and can't run reverbs. Check how your venue file is patched before assuming.
🎧 What to listen for
Feedback with pickups shows up as a low 'hum-swell' around 100-250 Hz. Cut that narrow-ish band rather than turning the whole channel down.
Going further (3 optional tips)
Not needed to get a good start. Try these once the basics above sound right.
- AdvancedDynamic control of 100-250 Hz
A fixed cut can thin the sound; a dynamic tool only acts when it builds up.
On the M32: there is no dynamic EQ in the 2018 M32 effect list. Options: the Combinator (multiband compressor) as an insert, or ride a narrow EQ cut at 100-250 Hz. Check your firmware's FX list for newer options.
- IntermediateNarrow cuts for feedback
A narrow cut at the ringing note keeps the guitar loud without feedback.
On the M32: LO MID band, WIDTH narrow (Q 4-10), sweep until the ring drops, cut 3-6 dB.
- IntermediateSave and copy channel settings
Recall the same starting point next week or on the next mic.
On the M32: VIEW the LIBRARY screen's channel tab to save/load a channel preset; use it to load the same setup onto the next channel.
Common gear for Acoustic Guitar
- Radial ProDI · Passive DI box
- LR Baggs Venue DI · Acoustic preamp/DI
Scene / preset file
Coming later: downloadable X32 / M32 channel preset for this card.
Sources
- Sweetwater InSync: How to EQ (Almost) Anything
- Sweetwater InSync: EQ Frequencies of Musical Instruments Explained (Music Instrument Frequency Cheatsheet)
- Behringer X32 User Manual (PDF, channel strip: Low Cut, Gate, EQ, Dynamics)
- Midas M32 User Manual (PDF; official download on the Midas M32 product page)
- Unofficial X32/M32 OSC Remote Protocol (P.-G. Maillot), parameter ranges, pp.24-26 (not a manufacturer document)
- Sweetwater InSync: 8 Essential EQ Tips for Live Sound
Didn't find your answer? Ask a question