X32 Mixing Pre-recorded Band

[Dima Gordeyev]

Hey guys! I need some advice please...

I'm running on a Behringer X32, and I'm trying to develop a mix without having the band play continuously for me as I mix. What I did is I recorded the band multi-track into my laptop, and now I use each track as an input for each channel on the X32, respectively. The problem comes in when I begin switching input sources on the board from the Local Inputs to the Card Inputs. It seems that the Local Inputs have a different Gain Staging system than the Card Inputs do.

I've noticed that the Gain Control is literally called "Gain" when the channel is in Local Input mode, and changes to "Trim" when in Card Input mode.

Additionally, the dB range changes. Gain dB range is from -12dB to +60dB, while Trim dB range is from -18dB to +18dB. Also, the board saves the Gain/Trim level independently from one another.

This introduces a problem. Here's what happens:

I have a live kick drum playing, and I'm recording it into computer. Suppose my Gain is set to +5dB.
My drummer leaves, and I'm off to mixing on my own.
I change the input source from the Local Input to the Card Input, and bam! My Gain, or Trim in this case is now at, oh I don't know, let's say -10dB.
Of course I can change the level BACK to +5dB, provided I remember that the Gain was actually at +5dB to begin with.

But is this correct to do?

Now imagine an entire band playing live, each with a given Gain level, everyone recorded into computer. As soon as the band leaves and I switch to Card Inputs, now my entire mix is thrown off because first of all, the Trim is at a different dB (saved to whatever setting it was at when previously used), secondly, the dB ranges are completely different, and this is a problem all on it's own because supposing that the Gain was at +25dB on some given channel, I see no way to set the Trim to +25dB when Trim only goes as high as +18dB.

There's something I'm radically missing here.

First of all, why does the board switch from Gain to Trim, including the range differences?

Secondly, is there a good way to be able to mix my band from computer while they're not there, so that when they DO come back to the studio, the mix is all nice and ready from them?

Thanks guys!

 

[brian maddox]

Re: X32 Mixing Pre-recorded Band

Without getting into the specifics of your situation, perhaps i can help by at least shedding some light on the basic structure of what is happening here.

Each full input of your console has essentially TWO gain stages. The first is the analog mic preamp and is indicated by the word "GAIN". The second is the digital gain and is indicated on your console by the word "TRIM".

When a microphone signal passes through the input stage of your console, it passes through BOTH of these stages. Typically the TRIM is set to unity gain and the analog GAIN provides whatever amplification that microphone needs to raise it to a suitable level for mixing.

When you record a channel on the X32, the signal is taken AFTER the GAIN, but BEFORE the TRIM. When you select the Card input to play that signal back the Card input goes directly to the TRIM and does not pass through the analog GAIN. I hope that's clear enough. Basically the send and return of the card is taken from between the GAIN and the TRIM on the channel.

Theoretically, if you TRIMs are all set to unity, you can record from the card output and when you return that signal to the same input you should be able to leave the TRIMs unchanged and you will get the same level of signal at the channel strip. I've done this with this console so i know it can be done this way.

There are a few places to get tripped up however. If you take your recorded signal from another place in the console [using P16 outputs or other tricks] then all bets are off. Also, if you've remapped your inputs to different channels this can also introduce a variable that can cause some confusion.

Hope this is at least a start in the right direction.

 

[Tim Padrick]

Re: X32 Mixing Pre-recorded Band

If the sound levels (not the gain/trim settings) are not the same on playback as they were when the band was playing, adjust the trims to compensate on playback and save that as a new playback snippet.

And don't forget that with most bands a large percentage of what the audience is hearing is coming off of the stage (drums, amps, monitor wash), so a perfect playback mix will have to be changed a lot when the band is live. However if nothing else, playback is great for finding trouble EQ spots (the whump or sizzle in a mic, a singer's SSSS), learning how the comps and gates work, and tweaking FX.