Behringer SX3242FX Eurodesk 32-Channel Mixer

Whether in a recording studio or a live context, there's nothing worse than running out of channels. Not only is it annoying, but in a pro audio situation, it can be a downright liability. You don't want artists refusing your future service because you can't provide them with all the inputs their twelve-piece, two-drummer, afro-bengali groove-funk outfit requires. The Behringer SX3242FX Eurodesk boasts a whopping 32 channels of audio, including 24 fully fledged microphone channel strips outfitted with XENYX preamps and three-band "British" EQ -- because sounding great is just as important as having enough channels.

Huge Channel Count
Just try getting this many channels anywhere near this price from a different manufacturer. You can't. Behringer's manufacturing output makes it possible for them to offer an incredibly low price for professional-grade audio equipment. With 24 microphone channels and an additional eight line inputs arranged in stereo pairs, you'll be able to mix rock bands, chamber groups, pit orchestras, choirs, worship services, and a whole lot more. In addition to the 32 true input channels, the SX3242FX gives you four subgroups for assigning multiple inputs to a single fader. Use the subgroups to control an entire drum kit or all the backup signers from a single volume fader, or use them to create specific monitor mixes for different performers. You also get a mono output that can be used as a center channel, a monitor send, or a subwoofer send. This may seem like a lot of routing options, but the Behringer SX3242FX is just giving you what any serious venue needs.

Absolutely Pro-Quality Sound
Behringer Eurodesk mixers certainly do not champion quantity over quality. Each of the 24 microphone channels features Behringer's crystal-clear XENYX preamps, renowned for their low self-noise and transparent gain architecture. They make the perfect complement to the three-band "British" EQ on channels 1 through 28. By "British," Behringer means the kind of warm, musical equalization (or should we say "equalisation") that British console manufacturers specialize in. In stark contrast to the surgical EQs found on most American-designed consoles, the SX3242FX's British EQ makes it easy to dial frequencies in (or out) in a way that always sounds "pleasant" to the listener. In other words, it's hard to make this board sound bad.

Built-In 24-Bit Effects
To further sweeten your sound, the Behringer SX3242FX has its own effects processing built right in. Instead of having to spend thousands on racks of outboard processing gear, all your compressors, reverbs, gates, delays, and other effects are right in the box. The Eurodesk's dual, 24-bit digital effects processors let you make use of two independent stereo effects for use in your mix. You even get oft overlooked effects like Ultrabass, Ultramizer and Exciter -- algorithmic audio processes that can mean the difference between a good mix and an amazing mix. Not mention. . .

Automatic Feedback Detection
Typically you'd need to buy a separate unit dedicated to the destruction of feedback, but the Behringer Eurodesk SX3242FX comes with an intuitive and effective system built-in. Just activate the FBQ, and watch the LED's under the seven-band master EQ light up, indicating problem bands for whatever space you're working in. Simply adjust the EQ until the LED dims. . . it couldn't be easier. Feedback is the biggest literal headache for any live sound system, and the SX3242FX makes feedback problems a thing of the past.

Give your venue the sound it deserves, and the sound that serious musicians demand. Pick up a Behringer SX3242FX Eurodesk mixer at an unbeatable price from zZounds.

If you want classic analog handling but can't skimp on superior digital effects and studio-grade mic preamps, the SX3242FX is your new best friend. This mixer's 24 mic inputs, 8 stereo inputs and 4 buses give you enough leeway to handle anything from a graduation speech to a 5-piece band to a whole church service with praise band and choir.

The XENYX Mic Preamp matches the sound quality, transparency, headroom and even the dynamic range of boutique-style, stand-alone mic preamps. Behringer's neo-classic"British EQ" brings back the warmth and musicality of those '60s and '70s mega-console desks that made music history. The XENYX FX mixers incorporate a new studio-grade 24-bit FX processor. Get 100 real-world and awesome effect presets at your fingertips.

Classic control, state-of-the-art sound
Each of the SX3242FX's 24 mic inputs connects to our world-famous, studio-grade XENYX mic preamps. They are legendary for their high headroom, warm natural timbre and utter lack of background noise. Plug in a large-diaphragm condenser mic and track a vocal to hear XENYX's rich detail and spaciousness. Plug in a dynamic mic and stick it inside a bass drum to appreciate the whopping headroom.

You may experience side-FX...
Whether you need to add a dab of reverb or delay to a live vocalist's mic or warp a hard day's studio session into psychedelic quicksand, the SX3242FX has you covered. they gave this mixer two independent studio-grade 24-bit stereo FX processors with 99 awesome presets (see full list below) to provide the perfect sonic garnish. "Sure they're great for live sound, but I have a lot of cool plug-ins for recording," they can hear some of you saying. Truth be told, you never have too many effects. And when you hear the quality of the SX3242FX's FX, you may want to give your overworked CPU a rest.

Naturally they gave you a whole palette of creative effects like reverb, chorus, flanger, delay and pitch shifter tones, as well as mind-bending multi-effects to take your sound out of this world. But you also get problem solving workhorses like compression and gating plus final effects such as Ultramizer, Ultrabass and Exciter that can put a PA or studio mix over the top. And because there are two processors, you can cue two separate effects, then apply one or both to channels 1 through 28 -- compression for the vocalist, reverb for the vocalist and snare drum, for example.

What the heck is "British EQ"?
A good thing to have on your side when you start reaching for those channel equalization knobs. At a live concert or in the studio. Think of it as kinder, gentler, more musical EQ like the type found on classic British consoles from the 60's and 70's. Single malt scotch instead of Everclear. Home-baked cherry cobbler instead of an artificial cherry lollypop.

British EQ's distinct configuration of wider curves/lower Q and harmonic phase characteristics allows you to add or subtract EQ more generously than you can with conventional EQ circuit designs. When you add low midrange, you get a firmer sound instead of a nasty bonk. When you back high frequencies off a bit, treble backs off just a hair instead of turning muffled.

All SX3242FX mono channels have low and high shelving plus a sweepable "midrange" you can move anywhere from 100Hz to 8kHz. Think of it as your roving English troubleshooter.

Kill feedback before it maims your audience.
When it comes to suppressing feedback, the SX3242FX is like having a bloodhound trained to spot trouble frequencies a mile away. The 9-band graphic EQ (which you can choose to apply to your main mix or monitor mix via the MAIN/AUX1 button) features the FBQ Feedback Detection system. It makes finding and adjusting critical frequencies a snap. Just push FBQ IN, then watch as LEDs on the individual EQ sliders light up, indicating which frequency bands are causing feedback. Simply adjust until the LED goes dim.

The Ins and Outs
Some manufacturers make what they call 32-input mixers that count stuff like CD/TAPE IN as an input. But the SX3242FX really gives you twenty-four honest mono channels plus eight stereo channels, making it easy to accommodate a variety of studio or live performance configurations. You can connect up to 24 microphones or other mono instruments and up to four stereo instruments (keyboards or tone modules, for example).

You can combine these input in four different sub-mixes (we call them buses). That allows you to blend multiple channels--say all the mics on a drum kit or all the backup singers' mics--to a single fader, which is easier to adjust for the overall mix that goes to the PA speakers. You can also use one or more of the sub-mix buses to create custom monitor mixes for picky members of your band ("More me! More me!").

A zillion ways to change the channel
Chanel StripAt the top of each mono channel, you'll find both a balanced XLR input with a XENYX mic preamp and a

Technical Info

24 XENYX Mic Preamps

Four stereo input channels with 4-band EQ plus 4 additional stereo input channels with Level and pre-fader Aux controls

Neo-classic British 3-band EQs with semi-parametric mid band

Two independent 24-bit stereo FX processors with 100 presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and various multi-effects

High-precision 9-band stereo graphic EQ for monitor or main mixes

FBQ Feedback Detection system

Peak LEDs, Mute, Main mix and subgroup routing switches, Solo and PFL functions on all channels

Inserts on each mono channel and main mix for flexible connections to outboard processors

4 Subgroup outputs and additional Mono output with sweepable Low Pass filter for subwoofer application

4 Aux sends per channel: 2 pre/post fader switchable for monitoring/FX applications, 2 post fader (for internal FX or as external send)

Balanced Main mix outputs with 1/4 inch jacks and gold-plated XLR connectors, separate Control room, Headphone and stereo Tape outputs

Solo-In-Place and Pre-Fader-Listen functions plus full-featured Talkback section

Standby switch mutes all channels during breaks while background music is provided via CD/Tape inputs

Long-wearing 60 mm logarithmic-taper faders and sealed rotary controls

Internal auto-ranging power supply (100 - 240V)

24 XENYX Mic Preamps, 3-band British EQ, Feedback Detection, and 24-bit FX.