#Chapter 13: Recording, Playback & Expansion Cards

The Behringer X32 and Midas M32 offer exceptional recording and playback versatility, from simple stereo walk-in music and board-mix capture on the top-panel USB port to 32-channel multitrack DAW recording and standalone dual-SD card playback via modular expansion cards.

This chapter details the top-panel 2-track USB recorder, the standard X-USB interface, the standalone X-LIVE card, Dante networking, and the complete Virtual Soundcheck (VSC) workflow.

#1. Top-Panel USB 2-Track Recorder & Player

The front-panel USB Type-A port provides instant stereo WAV recording and playback without an external computer.

#Recording Setup:

1. Navigate to HOME → TAPE (USB REC) (or press the dedicated screen button).
2. Set the Record Source:
   • Default: Main L / Main R (Records the live room mix).
   • Recommended for Live Board Mixes: Route a dedicated Matrix (1–2) to the recorder, allowing you to insert a mastering limiter (e.g., Fair Compressor or Combinator) to level the recording without affecting the house PA.
3. Press the fifth encoder to start recording; press again to stop. Files are named sequentially (REC_0001.WAV).

#Playback Setup (Walk-in Music):

1. Load 16-bit or 24-bit stereo WAV files onto the root directory of your USB drive.
2. In the USB screen, select the audio track and press Play.
3. The stereo playback stream automatically returns onto the Aux 7/8 fader layer (labeled USB / TAPE). Raise Aux 7/8 to hear playback in the house.

#2. X-USB Expansion Card (32x32 USB Audio Interface)

Shipped factory-standard on most X32 consoles, the X-USB card transforms the mixer into a 32-input / 32-output USB 2.0 audio interface for digital audio workstations (DAWs) including Reaper, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and Studio One.

#Driver & OS Configuration:

• Windows: Requires the official Behringer/Midas ASIO driver. Configure buffer size to 64–128 samples for low-latency live software monitoring, or 256–512 samples for stable live recording.
• macOS & Linux: Native USB Audio Class 2.0 compliant (zero driver installation required). Select X-USB directly in system sound preferences and DAW hardware setup.

#Setting Up 32-Channel Multitrack Recording:

1. Connect a USB-A to USB-B cable between the card and computer.
2. On the console, press SETUP and page to Card. Verify configuration is set to 32 in / 32 out.
3. Press ROUTING and page to Card Out:
   • Outputs 1-8 = Local 1-8 (or AES50 A 1-8)
   • Outputs 9-16 = Local 9-16 (or AES50 A 9-16)
   • Outputs 17-24 = Local 17-24 (or AES50 A 17-24)
   • Outputs 25-32 = Local 25-32 (or AES50 A 25-32)
4. In your DAW, create 32 audio tracks mapped sequentially to Inputs 1 through 32. Arm all tracks and record.
5. Because Card Out taps channels at IN / LC (pre-EQ, pre-compressor, pre-fader), your recorded tracks will be pristine, untouched multitrack audio ready for studio mixing.

#3. X-LIVE Card (Dual SD Card Standalone Multitrack)

The X-LIVE expansion card eliminates the need for a laptop during live concerts by recording 32 uncompressed channels directly onto two high-speed SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards.

#SD Card Selection:

Use Class 10 / UHS-1 / U3 SD cards from reputable brands (SanDisk Extreme, Kingston Canvas). Format cards as FAT32 directly inside the X32 setup menu.

#4. X-DANTE Expansion Card

The X-DANTE card replaces the USB interface with an Audinate Dante IP-based digital audio network port:

• Transmits 32 channels of audio over standard Gigabit Ethernet.
• Integrates seamlessly with Yamaha, Dante-enabled digital wireless receivers (Shure ULX-D / Axient), and Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS) on laptops.
• Configured using the free Dante Controller software on PC or Mac.

#5. Virtual Soundcheck (VSC) Step-by-Step Workflow

A Virtual Soundcheck allows the audio engineer to record the band during rehearsal, send the musicians off the stage, and play back the 32 multitrack recordings back through the console channels. You can dial in EQ, compress vocals, tweak reverbs, and balance monitor mixes without fatiguing the performers' voices.

Pro Tip: Store Phase 2 and Phase 4 into two dedicated Snippets (Snippet 01: VSC PLAYBACK and Snippet 02: LIVE INPUTS) with only the Routing parameter box checked. You can now toggle the entire console between virtual soundcheck and live performance with a single button press!