How To Use The Behringer Combinator - X32 XR18 Midas M32 - Combinator Tutorial Step by Step Guide

Step by step guide for the Behringer Combinator. The Combinator is a multiband compressor that comes built into the Behringer X32, Midas M32, Behringer X-Air, XR18, and Midas MR18 digital audio consoles.
It is used in both live audio and studio recording applications. It's a multi-faceted processor, and one of the more powerful FX plugins in these audio mixers.
A typical live sound reinforcement use is taming frequencies that can get harsh with louder song dynamics. Taming live vocals and microphone harshness, and smooth live mixes.
It can also be used as a sound shaping tool to enhance certain areas of a mix, with its ability to act both as an EQ and as a compressor.

It can also perform as a limiter for live music mixes, and recorded mixes as a post production processor.

Uses include live band performances such as in clubs, churches, festivals, auditoriums, and ballrooms. And as a mastering plugin for studio recording.

Users include cover bands, praise bands, touring acts, duos, soloists, production companies, etc..
Setup examples and demonstrations in video shown with the X32 digital mixer surface, the X-Air Edit PC software for the XR18/MR18, and the X-Edit PC control software. Also shown is Mixing Station for Android users.

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Suggested videos:
5 Typical Mistakes Behringer X32 and Midas M32 Users Make:

5 Typical Mistakes Behringer XR18 and Midas MR18 Users Make:

X32/M32 Gain Staging and Signal Flow (Soundcheck Basics Series):

Ringing Out Monitors on a Behringer X32 (or XR18):

How To EQ A Snare Drum:

Five Tips For Better Live Vocal Mixes:

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0:00 Intro
0:30 Controls Explained
7:55 Where to Use
9:19 Insert Combinator
12:32 Sound Demo 1
15:40 Sound Demo 2

Video summary:
Live sound tutorial featuring the Combinator plugin FX as found in the Behringer X32, Midas M32, and XR18. Behringer setup video. Step by step walk thru Behringer Combinator setup. Includes a Combinator demo.
Kill It Anyway song from Streambeats

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[AlanHamiltonAudio]

I've updated the original version of the Combinator video. The major tweak was improving (I hope) the EQ on the narration from the original video. I used a different mic and it had too much proximity effect and I didn't compensate enough for that in the original edit.
While I was at it, I also added some text and graphics to the video to further explain and draw attention to some things. There's also a few pacing edits. At this point, I'm sure a lot of subscribers never saw the original. This version should maybe be a little more digestible with the changes. Especially since it is one of the longer channel videos.

[livemixpriyan]

Woww!1111 what a video …. Plz keep doing this kind of videos

[СтасГущин-оф]

спасиибо за подробное видео, помогло разобраться!!)

[greenpea]

This was fantastic. This tool can be very good or it can be very bad if not used proper. I know because I learned the hard way.

[DavidOxford]

As always, fantastic information here!

[marcomellaveloso]

Thank you very much for this video. Now all my FXs are Combinators (just joking), but this improved the sound on my vocals a lot.

Greetings from Chile.

[TommyC-njrt]

Hi Alan. Great tutorial. Not clear on setting up a vocal sub group, or vocal bus, to set up combinator for singer without effecting the monitor signal. thx

[yanudol]

HI everybody... I've been using a lot the SD9 Digico for big bands with 6 different singer at the same time doing lead vocals one after the other, sometimes in the same song. And to me, there's nothing better than a multi band compresor to shape the sub group Imake for all voices. The best solution that gives a multiband comp on voices is to calm the proximity FX of talking and singing very close to the mic. If you EQ to take out those 200/600hz of dark and disturbing low end, then you have a problem later on when he/she is singing with much more volume (to reach hi chest notes or 80's tenor powerfull epic notes) and get naturaly apart from the mic, because then, the voice is loosing to much body because suddenly, your EQ, plus the fact that they moves away from the mic and lose more of those same frecuencys you've EQed off, make the voice losing all it`s body and seems very far away. So, calming down the low end of the voice when talking and singing very close to the mic by compresing that range of frecuencys with a multiband compresor make the voice maintaining it's good lead voice body
even when they get apart from the mic. actually, this one of the main difference between the studio and the live ( sm 58 vs U87). So in a few weeks I'll use the Midas M32 for the first time on live and will try to get that combinador tool to get the same result...I'll tell yo how it went....bye

[UltimateArvin]

Exact explanation im looking for. Great video!

[mrmcnuckle]

Well if you put the multiband comrpession after house eq it will definetly affect the system eq - you want to control the dynamics od the MAIN signal before you hit the SYSTEM EQ (if you don't have any system tuning equipment in the chain after the MAIN EQ)
If you compress POST EQ then the can EQ no longer be "trusted" as the system EQ

This ONLY applies if you're using it as a part of system tuning - NOT MIXING

[ViktorNova]

Amazing - thank you so much! I didn't realize the XR18 even had a multiband compressor (weird name they gave this, haha)

[john]

Excellent Video! I am using the Combinator across the main bus but I had been confused by a few things and you cleared it up!

[schturmtrupen]

Since day one using Behringer digital mixers, Combinator is always inserted on LR. It just works.

[Topuzu-Music]

Genial video! Thank you so much, I found alot of new things about combinator. I try to use it for live situation: i want the vocals to cut better thru mix. Thanks alot! 🤝🍻

[travishanson]

Fantastic. The xr18 is looking more and more like it will be perfect for all I want to do. Plenty of times I have to eq bad recordings on the fly or someone says "TURN IT UP" and things don't go well. Not to mention the problems that arise outdoors.

A few more gigs and I will be ordering one and all my fx rack components will stay in the home studio

[GregAubry]

Alan, thank you so much for these videos. I sound tech at a small club and the occasional small outdoor stage on the weekends with both the Behringer and Midas mixers and adding the Combinator and Wave Designer to my workflow have upped my live sound game considerably. These are terrific tools and your walkthroughs of them are incredibly helpful!

[blueslsd]

Never realised how good that is. Can you insert on main outs in a DAW? I think the tap point is direct from input and you can't hear effect when recorded. Superb video. Thank you.😂
Ps I use the X32 rack.

[TimmyP]

A very useful device for keeping things tidy.

[bikerdad]

Alan I have watched and learned a lot from videos thanks. I started out using xr18 now use x32 rack for wifes 5 piece band. I still use x18 for street gigs as easy setup. That being said i know is to taste and a lot of effects to choose from i personally use a ambiance, plate, or Hall for reverb and use a stereo delay for vocals i have all vocals going to a stereo bus, guitars to 2 mono buses L/R, and Drums also to mono buses L/R. I then add a Leisure Compressor to the vocal bus and a Dual Ultimo Compressor on the Drum and Guitar bus with the Combinator inserted on LR this multi (parallel) Compression seems to do well for me. I do have a question a friend of mine uses a Rythem Delay which is a 4tap delay, i very much would like to use on certain songs as it adds like a double vocal (like on zombie) could you cover that effect and good settings to start for vocals etc. I would really appreciate it, thanks again for all your videos!

[FGuerrier]

Hello and thank you for this amazing work. I wonder: do you do any Mixing workshops or Trainings? Thanks again