X32 / M32 Backing Vocals 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. Backing vocal mics also pick up drums and guitar amps; listen for bleed when they're not singing and mute between parts.
1High-pass filter
120-180 Hz (start around 140)
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 140 Hz, the card's suggested starting point.
Backing vocals need clarity, not body; a higher HPF keeps them from muddying the lead.
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
Use mutes or DCA/mute groups between songs instead.
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 140 Hz, 12 dB/oct
- 1 Bell 300 Hz, -2.5 dB, Q 0.9
- 2 Bell 3 kHz, -1.5 dB, Q 0.9
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.
| Frequency | Gain | Q / width | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200-400 Hz | -2 to -3 dB | Wide | Removes body so they blend behind the lead. |
| 2-4 kHz | -1 to -2 dB | Wide | Lets the lead vocal own the presence range. |
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 ms · Release ~200 ms (timing, not shown on graph)
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 compressor screen, not a screenshot. The card gives a ratio range (4:1 (go to 5:1 if needed)); the graph shows the first value, 4:1. The threshold is an example only: it is set so a −6 dB peak gets about 6 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
- 4:1 (go to 5:1 if needed)
- Attack
- ~10 ms
- Release
- ~200 ms
- Gain reduction
- 4-8 dB
Backing singers often sing quietly then belt choruses; firmer compression keeps them consistent.
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
Same vocal reverb as the lead, a bit more
Vocal plate (same as lead), about 1.2 s decay, send around -12 to -8 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.
Pushes them slightly behind the lead.
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
Backing vocal mics also pick up drums and guitar amps; listen for bleed when they're not singing and mute between parts.
Going further (3 optional tips)
Not needed to get a good start. Try these once the basics above sound right.
- IntermediateGroup the backing vocals
One fader (and one compressor) for the whole group makes riding them easy.
On the M32: assign them to a DCA (Home tab page 2, DCA select), or send them to a subgroup bus (Setup bus pre-configuration or post-fader bus tap) and compress the bus.
- IntermediateUse a de-esser instead of a static EQ cut for 's' sounds
It only turns down sibilance when it happens, so the voice keeps its brightness the rest of the time.
On the M32: load Dual DeEsser (or Stereo DeEsser) into an FX slot (Effects > home; slots 5-8 are insert-only, which suits this), then on the channel go VIEW > Home > config and pick that FX as the Insert, insert on.
- AdvancedDe-ess backing vocals harder than the lead
Stacked 's' sounds add up fast; heavier de-essing on the backing vocals is rarely noticed.
On the M32: insert a Stereo DeEsser on a backing vocal subgroup bus (bus Home > config > Insert).
Common gear for Backing Vocals
- Shure SM58 · Dynamic vocal mic
- Sennheiser e835 · Dynamic vocal mic
Scene / preset file
Coming later: downloadable X32 / M32 channel preset for this card.
Sources
- Sweetwater InSync: 8 Essential EQ Tips for Live Sound
- 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)
- Sound On Sound: Techniques For Vocal De-essing
- Sound On Sound: Vocal Production (parallel compression, de-essing)
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