Understanding the Behringer XR18 - Channel Setup Tutorial

A walk thru of a channel on a Behringer XR18 & Midas MR18. X-Air Edit and Mixing Station software both used. X-Air digital mixer tutorial. An explanation of the Behringer mixer console gain structure, signal flow including phantom power, Equalization, comps, gates, FX, etc.. and the main pieces needed to set up a channel strip on the console for mixing a live band, studio recording, or other event.

Audio terms and mixing concepts explained and demonstrated. Useful tips and explanations for live sound or studio for your Behringer digital mixing console (Midas digital mixing console as well ( Midas MR18 )).

Demonstrated on a PC X-Air Edit software ( that can be downloaded from Behringer) as well as shown on the Mixing Station App (on a Android Device). Apple Mac and iPad versions also available.

Club bands, praise bands / houses of worship, AV techs, and those with home studio applications can use this information.

Videos referenced in the video:

►DCA's vs Subgroups on the XR18 / MR18:

►Behringer XR18 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

►Behringer and Midas FX Setup and Routing Explained:

►Sending FX to Monitors XR18/MR18/X32/M32:

Not referenced but helpful to new users:

►XR18 / MR18 Top Five Frequently Asked Questions (Mixing Tips):

►XR18 / MR18 Overview. 12 Things to Know:

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►Patreon Page where Patrons have access to script files, other PDF tutorials, Behringer X32/M32/XR18/MR18 channel and scene files, and other audio production information:
~~~~~~~

Affiliate Links:

►►Behringer Digital Mixers on Sweetwater Sound:

►►Amazon Channel Storefront:

►►Amazon Affiliate Links To Equip Used/Shown/Mentioned In Video-

►Behringer XR18 on Amazon:

►TP Link AC1750 Dual Band Router on Amazon

~~~~~

Equipment used to make this video:

►Stellar X2 (Narration Mic) on Amazon:

►Sony ZV1 Camera on Amazon:

►ULANZI Flexible Desk Mount Camera Arm Clamp on Amazon:

► Neewer Camera Slider Carbon Fiber Dolly Rail on Amazon:

"As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."
"I earn from qualified purchases from affiliate links."
~~~~~~~

Suggested videos:

►►Popular videos:

►Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer X32 Users

►Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer XR18 Users

►►Audio Cable Information series videos:

►Connecting an MP3 Player to a Mixer:

►Cable Management For Live Audio:

►Patch Order and Input Lists For Live Sound:

►►Mixing series videos:

►5 Tips for Better Live Vocal Mixes:

►Mixing Live Bass Guitar:

►How to EQ a Kick Drum:

►How to EQ a Snare Drum:

►How to EQ Toms:

►►Other videos:

►Building An In Ear Monitor Rig Using the Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18:

►In Ear Monitors On A Budget:

►Behringer X32 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

►Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About the XR18 (and MR18):

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
►Facebook Group:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#LiveSound
#AlanHamiltonAudio
#LiveSound
#XR18
#MR18
#XAir
#BehringerMixer

0:00 Intro
0:14 How to initialize the XR18 MR18 X Air
0:21 How to initialize on Mixing Station App
0:28 Channel start
0:32 What Are USB and Analog Inputs
0:50 How to Set Phantom Power
1:09 What is the Polarity (Phase) button for
1:41 What is Stereo Linking
1:56 Gain structure discussion
2:50 How to set gain on Mixing Station
3:48 Signal Flow discussion
4:31 Input Tab Discussion
4:46 EQ explained
7:38 XR18 FX Rack
8:32 Bus Sends
9:25 Bus Sends as Monitor Sends
10:44 Bus Send Tap Point Chart
10:59 How to use FX Sends
11:55 Main tab. How to Pan channels
12:09 How to assign or un-assign channels to Mains
12:35 How to assign DCAs
13:35 Comps and Gates/ Pt 1 How to use Comps
14:43 Pt 2 How to use Gates

[AlanHamiltonAudio]

This video library entry is a bit longer than normal. It's a walk through of a channel on the XR18. It is using X-Air Edit for control, but also has several screens for Mixing Station software also included. There was a lot of ground to cover.
As always, please add any comments or questions here. :)
Likes and shares always appreciated!

This Behringer XR18 channel walk-through video focuses on a channel, other than initializing the console to start from a blank slate, so it doesn't veer into USB recording and overall in/out routing (other than where that stuff appears on the channel strip and could trip you up), nor things like the need for an external router if using it on wifi (I recommend the TP Link 1750 because those work for me... and I did drop an Amazon affiliate link here and in the text below the video for those).

But that said, you can't really focus on the channel settings without talking about the built in FX rack, going thru FX, nor discussing monitor sends, etc... So that stuff is in there too.

And then both during the video, at the end, and in the text below the video, I link to other videos that discuss different areas discussed in this video in even more depth and that will many times go beyond the settings of a single channel.

There was a lot of info to cover in the video and I also tried to get some Mixing Station examples into the video as well. So while X-Air Edit is the main software in use, I added several inserts showing the topic on Mixing Station as well.

And a section dedicated to setting the input gain on Mixing Station since the metering is different and not as straight forward if you're striving for accuracy as much as consistency.

Videos referenced in the video:

►DCA's vs Subgroups on the XR18 / MR18:

►Behringer XR18 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

►Behringer and Midas FX Setup and Routing Explained:

►Sending FX to Monitors XR18/MR18/X32/M32:

Not referenced but helpful to new users:

►XR18 / MR18 Top Five Frequently Asked Questions (Mixing Tips):

►XR18 / MR18 Overview. 12 Things to Know:



►Patreon Page where Patrons have access to script files, other PDF tutorials, Behringer X32/M32/XR18/MR18 channel and scene files, and other audio production information:


►►Amazon Affiliate Links To Equip Used/Shown/Mentioned In Video-

►Behringer XR18 on Amazon:

►TP Link AC1750 Dual Band Router on Amazon



Equipment used to make this video:

►Stellar X2 (Narration Mic) on Amazon:

►Sony ZV1 Camera on Amazon:

►ULANZI Flexible Desk Mount Camera Arm Clamp on Amazon:

► Neewer Camera Slider Carbon Fiber Dolly Rail on Amazon:

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


Suggested videos:

►►Popular videos:

►Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer X32 Users

►Five Typical Mistakes Made By Behringer XR18 Users


►►Audio Cable Information series videos:


►Connecting an MP3 Player to a Mixer:

►Cable Management For Live Audio:

►Patch Order and Input Lists For Live Sound:


►►Mixing series videos:

►5 Tips for Better Live Vocal Mixes:

►Mixing Live Bass Guitar:

►How to EQ a Kick Drum:

►How to EQ a Snare Drum:

►How to EQ Toms:



►►Other videos:


►Building An In Ear Monitor Rig Using the Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18:


►In Ear Monitors On A Budget:

►Behringer X32 Monitor Setup Tutorial:

►Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About the XR18 (and MR18):



►Facebook Group:

#LiveSound
#AlanHamiltonAudio
#LiveSound
#XR18
#MR18
#XAir

0:00 Intro
0:14 How to initialize the XR18 MR18 X Air
0:21 How to initialize on Mixing Station App
0:28 Channel start
0:32 What Are USB and Analog Inputs
0:50 How to Set Phantom Power
1:09 What is the Polarity (Phase) button for
1:41 What is Stereo Linking
1:56 Gain structure discussion
2:50 How to set gain on Mixing Station
3:48 Signal Flow discussion
4:31 Input Tab Discussion
4:46 EQ explained
7:38 XR18 FX Rack
8:32 Bus Sends
9:25 Bus Sends as Monitor Sends
10:44 Bus Send Tap Point Chart
10:59 How to use FX Sends
11:55 Main tab. How to Pan channels
12:09 How to assign or un-assign channels to Mains
12:35 How to assign DCAs
13:35 Comps and Gates/ Pt 1 How to use Comps
14:43 Pt 2 How to use Gates

[gmschwartz]

I am so grateful for you and your videos Alan. I've got my new MR18 up and running. This is my first mixing console ever. The info from your channel has been huge in teaching me the basics. I can't image how frustrated I would be without your videos. And I haven't even scratched the surface of your content yet. Awesome. Thank you!

[MattBoltonMusic]

Your videos are so great. You do such a great job explaining things. This channel is a MUST subscribe for every single XR18 owner.

[kaseyhogan]

With spring/summer gigs right around the corner, this was a great refresher on the x-air. Clear, concise, and well scripted - thanks for putting in the effort. Extremely helpful channel.

[BillBene]

Dude...your videos are THE best out there on this Behringer mixer..Thanks for sharing such awesome content

[ebwalk]

Thanks! After struggling with mixing for a couple years now, I just learned in 20 minutes more than I've accumulated in all of those years and other you-tubes combined! Super thanks!! clear and doesn't make assumptions!

[rayderrich]

I use the XR18 for years now and did not expect a video this new to pop up. Thanks!

[christianbechard]

Hi Alan, as former AV consultant/designer and owner of an XR-18 mixer, I always enjoy and appreciate your XR-18 videos. I am not sure if you are familiar with Midas IEQ Pro (App for tablet). This program allows users to auto equalize the main “house EQ” with pink noise and a measuring mic. It would be great to have you review and explain this product in your typical clear manner. Best regards, Christian

[daledjfire]

Your videos are the best out there. I've been Djing and running karaoke for a about 10years and have started helping out some bands and doing sound for them and your videos have made learning so much easier.

[kingsqueak]

You do a great job on this. I spent five full time years with rack gear and reading the Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook and listening to the results in order to learn dynamics processing and effects for FOH. It's amazing now with the mixer tech and YouTube how much information people have that are new to the business.

I think I had over $3k in rack gear for only four complete channels worth that I used to drag around with me. Now you have more control than I had on every single channel on mixers that are less money than I had in just insert patched chains for four channels. The shift in 25 years has been pretty incredible.

[peterthomson]

Well thought out presentation Alan. It makes a huge difference from tubers who make it up as they go along. Much power to your elbow and giant thanks from Pete, Auchtermuchty, Scotland.

[STORMMusic-cojl]

This is a great beginner tutorial for those, like me, who've never used X Air! I particularly like the clear, even diction. So many tutors stress important points by going quieter or changing their speech pattern momentarily and that's distracting. Thank You!

[jlink]

im gonna have to revisit this video at least 75 also.... thank you

[greenpea]

Holly crap where to start. Man that was a boat ton of information packed into that video. I remeber when the X Air 18 came out and video's were hard to come by. This was a great over view of an entire channel. I have been thinking about buying the Soundcraft 24UIr and giving that interface a whirl but I don't think there are many videos like this for that model.

[waimeaguyz]

Glad I subscribed. You explain mixing made easy. I been mixing over 30 years and still need to learn something new. Thanks, and awesome video.

[cvnb]

This is a great video. I have the xr18 for my band’s monitor mix. I’m new to mixing anything in general so your clear explanations are very helpful. Thanks 👍🏽

[seanwalsh]

Pretty good overview for those that are somewhat familiar with the " X " series of mixers, hopefully people will check out your other video's, because they are much more in-depth and you go a little slower.

[MrDiscoseeker]

Very good and informative, had my xr18 on the shelf since buying it and finding this useful before I even dust it off 👍

[jojoagustines]

I learned a lot from u Mr. Hamilton, thank u so much, I owned a Midas MR18.

[rickyates]

This tutorial is freakin' AWESOME. Thanks so much. I am now subscribed. Great job and so helpful.