Behringer WING in the Studio: Digital Console Muscle for Modern Workflows

The Behringer WING is introduced as more than just a live mixing powerhouse—it’s positioned as a versatile digital console ready to anchor a variety of studio environments. The video’s host is quick to emphasize that WING’s capabilities extend well beyond front-of-house duties, highlighting its analog I/O, USB interface, and DAW control features as key assets for studio engineers. This sets the tone for a deep dive into how WING’s hardware and software can be leveraged in recording, mixing, and production scenarios.

Behringer’s presentation style is, as always, focused on accessibility and practical application. The video promises a comprehensive look at studio workflows, making it clear that WING is intended for users who demand both flexibility and high channel counts. The approach is hands-on, with the host outlining what viewers can expect to learn about integrating WING into their own studio setups.

A central selling point for all WING models is the inclusion of Midas Pro preamps and converters, ensuring transparent and accurate audio capture. The video is careful to note that regardless of which WING variant you choose—Black, Compact, or Rack—you’re getting the same high-quality analog front end and digital conversion. This consistency across models means that users can select based on workflow needs rather than sonic compromise.

The WING Black offers eight preamps and the largest control surface, making it suitable for studios with moderate input requirements and a preference for tactile control. The Compact and Rack versions step up the preamp count to 24, with the Compact retaining faders for DAW control and the Rack focusing on space-saving installation. The 48-channel USB audio interface is highlighted as a major advantage for multitrack recording, providing seamless integration with DAWs and eliminating the need for external audio interfaces.

Behringer’s emphasis on practical connectivity is evident in the discussion of digital stage boxes and simple Ethernet cabling between live and control rooms. The video makes a strong case for WING as a central hub in both traditional and hybrid studio environments, with flexible routing and robust I/O underpinning its appeal.

The video moves into hands-on territory, demonstrating how WING can be configured for a range of recording and mixing scenarios. For multitrack recording, the workflow starts with assigning analog inputs to USB channels, allowing signals to be sent to the DAW pre-processing. This preserves the raw capture while enabling processed monitoring mixes for performers—reverb, EQ, and other effects can be applied for comfort without being printed to disk.

A notable feature is the ability to create user signals and patches, letting engineers record both dry and processed versions of a source (such as a snare drum with and without console EQ/compression). The routing system is shown to be flexible, supporting complex setups like recording a drum kit with multiple mics or capturing processed stems alongside clean tracks. The video also demonstrates summing strategies: users can mix within the console and bounce a stereo mix or stems back to the DAW, or use WING’s processing as hardware inserts for specific DAW channels.

Hybrid mixing is addressed with examples of routing DAW outputs to the console for analog-style processing, then returning the results to the DAW. The host walks through both single-channel insert workflows and full-stem processing, highlighting the ability to maintain independent control over levels and processing at each stage. While the video is rich in practical tips, it focuses primarily on routing and signal flow, leaving deeper questions about latency, automation, and large-session management for further exploration.

The final section delves into WING’s DAW control capabilities, which are designed to streamline integration with popular recording software. The console supports both MCU and HUI protocols, enabling transport and fader control in DAWs like Cubase, Ableton, Logic, Reaper, and Pro Tools. The video walks through setup steps, including enabling DAW mode, assigning MIDI input/output, and mapping custom controls for transport and fader layer switching.

This hands-on demonstration shows how WING’s hardware can serve as a tactile extension of the DAW, with user-assignable buttons and fader layers adapting to different workflows. While the video provides a clear overview of basic DAW integration, it leaves open questions about deeper automation, plugin control, and workflow customization—areas that advanced users may want to investigate further.