X32 : Amazing features, warm sound, quality

We had some reservations when considering the X32, especially considering Behringer's less than stellar reputation, and the price point of this digital console. We were also concerned that our team of mostly volunteers would struggle with the system, as it seemed overly complicated, coming from a simple analog desk.

However, we rented an X32 for a weekend, and our fears were immediately put to rest. The X32 is an outstanding console, and it is astonishing that Behringer can pack so much into the unit for such a competitive price.

Setup was simple, and we have replaced all of our cabling with CAT5 connections to our S16 stagebox, which the X32 recognised immediately. The routing took a little time, but in hindsight it was intuitive and straightforward.

I will preface the next statement by saying that I'm a volunteer sound engineer, so my opinion may not carry the same weight as a professional, but in terms of quality, the sound of the desk is excellent and is warm to my ears. In fact others who have been introduced to the system have noticed that the sound quality has improved over our old system, which is great.

The other area we felt might be of trouble to our team of volunteers was the ease of use of the desk, but other than some initial training and a few days getting used to the 'new' way of doing things, our team has caught on surprisingly quickly, and are starting to delve into the more advanced FX scenarios that the X32 can provide. We have found there are sometimes several different ways of accomplishing the same task, which is useful as some people find it easier to use it one way, while others enjoy the flexibility of another method. (EQ is a prime example, either using the knobs, or the main display screen).

Many of the additional features we can now no longer live without, such as using a laptop or smartphones to allow another team member to control a second mix for our live video broadcasts, or adjust mixes for our musicians while on stage.

In short, an outstanding console that we wonder how we managed for so long without it!