How to EQ Your Room with the Behringer X32 (or Midas M32)

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DBX RTA Mic

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Description
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If you are ready to take your mix to the next level, it is time to EQ your room. This is also a great way to solve feedback problems.

Although this technique is somewhat of an advanced tip, I am going to break it down in a way that is easy to understand.

Once you have some basic EQ parameters set to compliment your room, it is going to be much easier to create a great mix.

This video was made specifically for those using the behringer x32 or midas m32 digital mixer.

[chriscampbellmusic]

If I may make a suggestion, you can do this without an iPad and without jumping back and forth between the ref mic channel and the main mix. Under the RTA screen, use the first encoder knob and rotate to select the 'Use RTA Source' option, and then use the last rotary knob and select your reference mic channel. This will use the ref mic as the RTA for EVERY EQ overlay on your board. That way, when you are adjusting your main mix, you are actually looking at the reference mic RTA instead of the main mix RTA. Whenever you are done, you can deselect the 'Use RTA source' if you want. It is nice to have on during a performance though, but if you are making changes to individual channels it becomes a little harder to use. That is where the 'Solo Priority' option can come in handy (same rotary knob as the 'use rta source' knob). If you solo a channel, you use that channel's RTA again instead of the reference mic.

It is really a personal preference thing, but for tuning the room, using the source RTA is really handy and makes the process a lot smoother. I personally do not use a reference mic during a live mix, so I turn those settings off. But for tuning a room, I turn on 'Use RTA source' to make it easier to tune.

Couple of other pointers: adjust your Decay to use RMS (average) instead of the peaks, and adjust the Decay time to like 3 sec. This will smooth out the frequencies as 1s usually you see them bouncing around a lot. This will make it easier to see where your true peaks are (averaged out over your decay time) instead of trying to focus on the frequencies bouncing around all the time.


Lastly, I recommend people start using Matrix 1/2 for their main outputs. You can do the same 4-band EQ on that as you can your main mix, and then that gives you options later to send your main mix to other outputs (for example, a video output, recording, lobby, etc.) If you adjust EQ on your main mix, then all of those sources are now using that EQ. Remember, you are adjusting EQ for your room, not every output.

Also, 31-band EQ for more advanced system tunings. You get 8 effect inserts, 4 are stereo returns to your FX bus, 5-8 you can insert to any channel. I set up a stereo 31-band to my matrix 1/2 to mix my room.

[EtOHman]

Just got our X32! Can't wait to use your tips for our church! Keep up the good work!

[johnmirabile]

This video is right in my zone of proximal development, as they say in education circles (sorry). In other words, it's in my sweet spot. It's perfect. Thank you!

[adebiyioluwagbenga]

I love the way you explain this topic.
My question is can give me a close result to what SMAART will give? Knowing full well that I do not have SMAART, not planing to get one and do not even know how to use it.
Once again, thanks for the great vid

[philgutierrez]

Would you be able to make tutorial about setting corporate audio? Using wireless lavalieres and wireless hand held. With X 32Compact or Yamaha TF.
Thank You

[DidYouKnow-tv]

Eventhough it is not specified in the manual, I believe as a DBX RTA M owner that the mic is a difuse mic mic (not direct) so it should be used at 90 degrees, so aiming at the ceiling and not the speakers/stage. But thats just my opinion.

[babefish]

I use the x32 stereo graphic EQ in the effects rack, I assume the process is the same for flattening out the EQ and then following the rest of the process while adjusting the graphic EQ?

[markwinslow]

great video. Can you do one on how to measure the R60 values in the worship space?

[billbarry]

What happens when the room fills up with people and the Room Ambience changes???

[CatalystSM]

I hope you don't mind commenting on an old video. I just discovered you channel and enjoying it. We currently use an iPad during services instead of the X32 itself. I'm not sure why this is, but I'm curious if you recommend this or not, or if it matters.

[noegonzalez]

How do I set my Rta back to factory setting when I’m done my Rta is no longer reading like it used to and I didn’t write down the factory settings now I get feed back and my Rta won’t show where it’s comming from

[SiQuemaCuhh]

Hey Collab W,
Wanted to run a test using sonar works. How would I be able to have the whole mix hit sonar works on a computer, return to the x32 and then to the house? I have Dante as well.
Thanks in advanced, again this is just a test 😅

[philofi]

Are your on-stage mix monitors (wedges) on and playing pink noise too, while you're doing this? I presume yes, as you're trying to address feedback?

[k.m.a.j]

Hey kade! Great video. I’m wondering if we can use any reference microphone or if that’s the one we need. My church isn’t really on a high budget so I was looking at the behringer ECM8000 and was wondering if you think that mic could get the job done. Thank you and God bless you.

[hopefulsyrus]

Hello...
Kindly help me understand why I don't get enough output signal especially from the hand held mic even when the channel is clipping.
I use a Midas m32. Not enough channel signal is output at the main LR even when the gain cranked all way.

[jeanfrancoisnolin]

I agree with the discussions however I would like to know how you proceed to align your subwoofer?

[aprilyun]

So this may be a no-brainer question, but does the room need to be empty to tune it? With being a church plant so many things are happening at the same time. People moving in and out, screens and lighting being set up.

[WalkingMichael]

We only have an iPad as an interface. Actually, we can view this with 2 iPads. Can we use on instead of the board? and the other as you suggest?

[YourHaloCreations]

Is this something you’d do without running audio thru any subs? Just the tops?

[donaldburns]

we had a outside audio company install our system which included ringing out the room. I noticed he did this in the effects section using the graphic equalizer This takes away one of two of my effects because they have also use on for my subs. thought?