X32 / M32 Electric 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. In small rooms the amp on stage is often louder than the PA. Use the PA channel for definition in the far seats, not for volume.
X32 / M32 note: X32/M32 input channels have no separate low-pass filter: for the high cut, set the EQ HIGH band to HCUT mode (MODE button) around 6-10 kHz.
1High-pass filter
80-100 Hz
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 90 Hz, the middle of the card's 80-100 Hz.
Guitar cabinets put out low-end rumble that competes with bass and kick.
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
Attack Fast · Hold ~50 ms · Release ~200 ms
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 gate screen, not a screenshot. The gate is optional here (high-gain amps only); the graph shows it in case you use it. Range drawn at 12.5 dB, the middle of the card's 10-15 dB. The threshold is an example only; set it by ear.
- Use
- Optional (high-gain amps only)
- Threshold
- Above amp hiss/hum between songs
- Attack
- Fast
- Hold
- ~50 ms
- Release
- ~200 ms
- Range
- 10-15 dB
Only if a noisy high-gain amp hisses between parts.
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 90 Hz, 12 dB/oct
- 1 Bell 300 Hz, -2.5 dB, Q 1.5
- 2 Bell 3 kHz, +0.0 dB, Q 1.5
- 3 High cut 8 kHz, 12 dB/oct
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; a band whose range runs from cut to boost sits at 0 dB.
| Frequency | Gain | Q / width | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200-400 Hz | -2 to -3 dB | Medium | Mud/boxiness, especially with the mic close to the speaker (proximity effect). |
| 2-4 kHz | -2 to +2 dB | Medium | Presence/bite. Boost for cut, cut if fizzy or harsh. |
| Above 6 kHz | High-cut / shelf down | LPF ~6-10 kHz | Fizz from distortion. Start high and lower it until the fizz goes; about 5 kHz pushes the guitar back. |
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 ~20 ms · Release ~150 ms (timing, not shown on graph)
Illustration in the style of the X32 / M32 compressor screen, not a screenshot. Compression is optional here (None or 2:1); the graph shows 2:1 in case you use it. The threshold is an example only: it is set so a −6 dB peak gets about 1 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
- None or 2:1
- Attack
- ~20 ms
- Release
- ~150 ms
- Gain reduction
- 0-2 dB
Overdrive is already compressed; clean parts may benefit from light control.
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 send if the amp is dry
Plate / room, about 1 s decay, send around -20 to -15 dB (only if the amp is dry).
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.
Most guitarists bring their own reverb/delay.
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
In small rooms the amp on stage is often louder than the PA. Use the PA channel for definition in the far seats, not for volume.
Going further (3 optional tips)
Not needed to get a good start. Try these once the basics above sound right.
- AdvancedDynamic control of 2-4 kHz
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 2-4 kHz. Check your firmware's FX list for newer options.
- IntermediateHigh cut with the EQ, not a filter
The M32 input has no separate low-pass, so the HIGH band does the job.
On the M32: EQUALISER > HIGH band > MODE = HCUT, FREQUENCY 6-10 kHz.
- AdvancedGuitar amp sim for a DI'd guitar
A DI'd electric needs an amp sound.
On the M32: insert Dual Guitar Amp or Stereo Guitar Amp from an FX slot.
Common gear for Electric Guitar
- Shure SM57 · Instrument mic
- Sennheiser e609 · Guitar amp mic
Scene / preset file
Coming later: downloadable X32 / M32 channel preset for this card.
Sources
- Sweetwater InSync: EQ Frequencies of Musical Instruments Explained (Music Instrument Frequency Cheatsheet)
- Sweetwater InSync: How to EQ (Almost) Anything
- Shure: Microphone Techniques for Live Sound Reinforcement (PDF)
- 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)
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