Behringer XR18 Built-in FX Plugins Routing, Patching, and Setup Tutorial - Midas MR18 Too! FX Rack

Explaining and demystifying the setup, patching, and routing of FX plugins and FX rack in the Behringer XR18 and Midas MR18 (X-Air) digital audio mixers. This video is a Behringer built in effects audio tutorial. Setup and use shown and explained using Behringer X-Air Edit PC software (also available for Mac users).
Can be applied to Android and iPad devices for users as well.
Questions answered like: When to use the 'Insert' option. Why reverb inserted on a channel is not typically practical with the Behringer FX plugins. How the signal routing in the console works. Audio mix bus routing explained. Compressors, reverbs, delay, chorus, amp simulator patching and routing discussed and shown.

For bands, soloists, duos, praise bands, churches, clubs, home recording enthusiasts, audio techs, and anyone mixing on the Behringer or Midas digital platform. Also of particular value to those coming to digital audio mixing from analog audio consoles.

The signal flow diagrams from this video are available for free download by anyone, in the PDF format, on the front page of my Patreon Page:

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Patrons have access to script files in PDF format, other tutorials in PDF and PPT format, and Behringer/Midas scene and library files.
Patreon Page:
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►►Sweetwater Affiliate Links:

►Behringer XR18 on Sweetwater:

►Midas MR18 on Sweetwater:

Amazon Affiliate Links-

Behringer XR18 on Amazon:

Midas MR18 on Amazon:

Behringer P1 Beltpack on Amazon:

Shure SM58 on Amazon:

Stellar XT (Narration) Mic on Amazon:

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Recommended Videos:
DCA vs Subgroups on the XR18/MR18:

Behringer XR18/Midas MR18 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

5 Tips For Better Live Vocal Mixes:

Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer XR18/Midas MR18 Users:

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Facebook Group:

0:00 Intro
0:20 (Bus) Signal Flow Diagrams
3:40 Reverb Demo
4:00 Insert Discussion (When Not To Use)
5:29 Insert Discussion (When To Use)
7:40 Concluding Discussion Points

"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
"I can earn through purchases made from affiliate links, but this is at no additional charge for users"

[AlanHamiltonAudio]

This video is all about the XR18/MR18 built in FX rack and routing, patching, using... and trying to answer some questions that come up a lot surrounding this topic. I had a technical issue with the first upload today, so I had to fix the problem and re-upload it. Hopefully, that didn't cause any issues for anyone... and hopefully YT sends notifications for this repaired version. I made a PDF of the signal flow charts I created for this video, and added some other info that summarizes or adds to the info in the video, and that document is available for free download for everyone on my Patreon Channel:

Amazon Affiliate Links-

Behringer XR18 on Amazon:

Midas MR18 on Amazon:

Behringer P1 Beltpack on Amazon:

Shure SM58 on Amazon:

Stellar XT (Narration) Mic on Amazon:


Recommended Videos:
DCA vs Subgroups on the XR18/MR18:

Behringer XR18/Midas MR18 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

5 Tips For Better Live Vocal Mixes:

Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer XR18/Midas MR18 Users:


Facebook Group:

"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

[blueslsd]

Really helped me on this had the insert thing going on being a live engineer from analog to digital!!! All sorted now!!

[keaneeng]

Great video.
I have been using the XR18 on a regular basis for several months, and ready to make better use of it.
And thanks to you and your videos, I am learning a lot more I can do with it, including applying effects in more ‘effective’ ways.

My favourite effects so far are: Stereo Combinator, Stereo De-Esser, Modulation Delay, and Plate Reverb.

I was only recently introduced to Stereo Combinator because of your video.

I do mostly solo singer-songwriters to full bands with 3-4 singers.
One of the things I am currently trying improve, besides overall sound quality, is the quality of the vocals.
Aux 1-5 are almost always devoted to stage monitors.
Aux 6 is almost always vacant, except for the odd larger show.

So far, I typically set-and-forget the EQ for each monitor, and use the EQ tab on each channel for EQ’ing or feedback-reduction.

If Aux 6 is vacant, I use it as a Subgroup for vocal channels, which allows me to EQ and apply compression to vocals coming from the Main LR without affecting each vocalist’s experience or their monitor.

Questions:
1. I basically set up the Modulation Delay at 90ms, one-repeat, and 40-1, 500 Hz. So, I’m looking for a simple, yet warm and natural-sounding delay. Are there any other delays you think I might like?
2. Dual, or Stereo De-Esser? I am applying it each vocal channel, or a Subgroup that is set up for all vocal channels only.
3. Does the LR on/off button, on each channel’s Output tab mean that, a channel is being sent through the Main LR channel, and therefore, any effect that is Inserted into Main LR?
4. I want to get the most out of the 4 effects I am limited to, and I want to apply the most effective compressor to, at least, all of the vocals, if not, the entire mix. If I apply the Stereo Combinator as an Insert on Main LR, and apply Delay and Reverb as sends/returns on Aux 6, which is setup as a subgroup on vocal channels only, is the Stereo Combinator also being applied to Aux 6 and therefore, its wet effects?
5. I guess what I am trying to say is, if I only have 4 effects, I want to apply De-Esser, Delay, and Reverb to all vocal channels, and apply the Stereo Combinator to everything - especially all vocals - but not any wet effects, such as Delay or Reverb. What would you do?
6. If I was singing, I would want little to no compression on the vocal coming through my monitor. Should I turn the built-in compressor on the Dyn tab of my channel to Off? Or use it as usual, just sparingly? What do the pro’s do?
7. If Aux 6 is not vacant, and I am unable to use a dedicated Subgroup for all vocals, what would you do to EQ or apply compression to vocals through Main LR vs. Monitors independently?

Cheers

[JoeDrumma]

Alan, your videos are the best. Really well done. I have learned more from your material than from any other source, including Behringer. Awesome work. I also see you out there on the XR-18 FB pages. Very helpful there too.

[cli]

Been watching a lot of your videos recently. Great stuff! Super good explanations.

[spoonman]

Great video and it’s super cool you’re helping people. Thanks brother!

[JackOwensMusic]

Alan man! Killer explanation! Wish I would have found this video earlier!

[alexbrandauer]

Dear Alan, would you like to explain what kind of singnal flow is going up in case of using computer based VST FX via USB. Where exactly we have a signal out to VST and where we CAN put it back to tract? Thank you in advance for support.

[mgdf]

I have an xr18. I havent dive that deep into its effects. Only been using some reverbs. And might not use anymore in the future if we ever setup a xr18 to daw, for some waves or other plugins.

[flashanddancedj]

I myself will do the following FX 1Reverb, FX2 3 Tap Delay, FX 3 Dual DeEsser, FX4 Dual DeEsser. Ill insert the deessers into my 4 vocal channels

[DanCistone]

Alan, another great video. One question. What is the Aux channel between channel 16 and the FX1 channel used for? I can't find anything about it.

[FreestyleGGD]

Hi Alan. When using vocal and delay on the lead vocal, how do I get the delay to also be going through the reverb. Does the order of the FX buses effect this?

[pauljosse]

when i want to eq my bus send, if i change the eq it changes it for front of house as well, is there any way to stop this happening?

[crissmoschus]

Hello, I have a question, how can I assign effects to the p16 monitor, everything that arrives there is dry without effects, although effects can be heard in the main out, thanks for now

[aaronl]

The FX channels have an EQ section for each. Could I use that to apply a high pass filter to a reverb effect if I only want it applied to higher frequencies? The plate reverb effect also has a "lo cut" dial. I assume that would do the same thing for that particular effect?

[ramusperforans]

I don't get the sense behind the effect sends for the effects themselves being shown as faders, if you click on a certain effect on the far right of the screen. Can you please explain that?

[DannybFlat]

Free plug ins anywhere? Just bought an X air so I'm new! Thanks for all the great Videos Alan

[JackOwensMusic]

So I can only have 4 fx total? Or by using inserts I can have individual channels with different fx, they just won’t be on the rack and the fx busses?

[johnz]

I connected the usb from the mixer to computer but there’s no audio on OBS.

[billytremoloband]

Would the delay/chamber do for all vocals to add a bit of verb/delay rather than using two separate effects slots….? 🤔