Setting up a Channel on a Behringer XR 18

This video is a walk-through of the basic setup of a channel on a Behringer XR18 Digital Rack Mount Mixer. The mixer does not have sliders and dials with which to control the sound, but instead relies on one or more external devices to alter the settings. A computer, a tablet or a smartphone can interface with the device via cable or WiFi to allow multiple operators to set sound levels and adjust the sound working together cooperatively. The video covers input settings, Noise Gate and Compression thresholds, and EQ.

Thank you to all those who have contributed comments regarding gain structure. I recognize that the way gain is treated in this video does not represent best practices, and that the gain should be set before the fader is set to unity gain. If I were to record it again, I would present those ideas very differently.

0:00 Intro
0:20 Gain
1:31 Input Panel
3:06 Pan
3:31 Noise Gate
6:18 EQ
17:03 Compression
20:00 Sends
22:02 FX
25:11 Meters
26:28 Mixer View
27:33 Solo and Mute and Mute Groups
28:17 DCA Groups
30:04 Save and Load Presets

[drumsbasically]

Some advice on gain staging: the method you describe, setting the fader to unity or "0" and then raising the input gain until it reaches good volume in the house will not give you optimal results in areas other than the main speakers, e.g. aux sends for monitors. The input gain on a channel sets the stage for how much signal that channel can send to each buss in the mixer - this includes the Main Buss for front-of-house (FOH) speakers, as you mention, but also Auxiliary (AUX) busses and Effects (FX) sends. If you use just enough gain to blend an acoustic guitar into the house mix with the fader at unity, the acoustic guitar player using a monitor system from an AUX out on the mixer will likely have to perform an extreme boost on the bodypack or floor monitor and have a poor signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio which results in a lot of hiss. A more preferred method is to set the input gain to a level where the loudest sounds send the channel meter just below clipping, and then use the fader to mix the instrument into the house. This ensures a full and healthy SNR for all busses and FX sends downstream of the preamp. Cheers!

[MikeSteinSeaTac]

I'd like to thank you for making this video which is very helpful for those of us who are still learning live digital mixing.
Your descriptions are done in laymen terms and are easy to understand and gain useful knowledge from. Thank you !

[tomblack]

I totally agree with Francis James comments, "Wow... this was an amazing video!". This is a very professional video. I will be spending a lot of time reviewing it and will use it as a reference video. You cover a wide range of information (that has application to many tools) and apply it to this particular tool. I have been at this awhile and finding a tutorial that can take complex topics and break them down into simple understandable language is hard to find. BTW I am retired and have just started taking music technology and recording classes at EIU in Illinois. I feel very fortunate to be able to learn from my professors; and professionals like you. Thank you.

[jeffreyEsoteric]

This was a very useful instructional video and having watched at least twenty such videos on the XR-18 over the past several months, there is no doubt that your section on EQ is the absolute best of any of the videos I have seen. THANKS!

[Fellysimo]

Literally the best explanation ever for beginners, thank you so much. Still relevant today

[matthew]

Behringer should have to pay you for this. This was the absolute best tutorial video I have ever watched on this unit (which I have owned for 2 years.) Thank you so much. Great job. Now if you could walk us through how we should have everything set up to record including how to monitor while recording over tracks being played back. I have an issue with delay unless I monitor through the DAW directly while recording.

I am having a very difficult time understanding the routing. Basically, I want to learn how to monitor the sound going in to the DAW, while still hearing the previously recorded tracks. However, I want to hear my instrument at a different level than the tracks and click track I am playing to. Very difficult for me.

[markmeloney]

Dude your explanation is better than the behringer videos. They should be paying you!

[paulxfish]

This the most useful tutorial I've seen for the new mixer - I'm new to the digital mixing world and this is a huge help. thanks!

[saeedsleiman]

That is a great tutorial, you are explaining better that Behringer staff, thank you, Andrew

[shankopotamus]

Thank you, you have given me a place to start. well done. very helpful. I dont know why Behringer hasnt made video like this.

[reddh]

For someone that is starting out with live sound this was very helpful. I'm planning on buying this mixer.

[thomrowlands]

Thanks for this! Haven't used my mixer live for a year because pandemic so getting reacquainted with what it can do. Very helpful video 👍🏻👍🏻

[douglasgillarddcprofessoro]

Wonderful! Thank you so much for making this! Sends starts at 20:02; Mute & DCA groups @ 27:50; Saving/Reusing Channel 30:07;

[breakerone]

Thank you for all your videos🙏They have made me learn more things everytime i go back and look at them all.

[francisjames]

Wow... this was an amazing video! Thank you so much for explaining how software works and especially the correct use of settings and interpretation of charts and visualizations. Please keep up the great work.... you're helping lots of folks. Thanks again for an amazingly helpful video!

[danitsgospelsongs]

Thank you so much for your tips Sir it really helps, just bought 2nd hand x18 here in Thailand, im so happy for the mixer.

[jelinor]

Thank you for taking the time to explain some of the features of XR18. Excellent resource.

[dwpix]

Talk about the blind leading the blind. I did learn one thing from this video- ALWAYS read the comments before watching a video from someone you are not familiar with. It can save you from “learning” how to do something from someone who does not know what they are doing.

[johncasey]

I love his dog/kids and then mistletoe explanations, really clears things up.

[patrickpolites]

Thanks for the really good tutorial of how some of this program works, very helpful to us "not a sound man but bought some nice equipment" folks! Thank you!