Behringer WING – What “Link Customization to Source” Actually Does!
Introduction
The Behringer Wing is a powerful and flexible digital console that offers a unique approach to routing and channel management. One of its standout features is how it handles naming conventions—by default, the name of a channel is tied to its source rather than the fader itself. This can be incredibly useful, but it may also cause confusion if you’re not aware of how it works. In this guide, we’ll break down Link Customization to Source, how it functions, and how to adjust it to fit your workflow.
How Naming Works on the Behringer Wing
Unlike traditional consoles where channel names are usually associated with a fader position, the Behringer Wing links names and icons to the source instead. This means that wherever you patch a particular input source, the name and icon you assign to it remain consistent, regardless of where you place it on the board.
Advantages of Source-Based Naming
- Flexibility – You can freely move a source to different fader positions without losing associated names or icons.
- Quick Setup Changes – If you need to rearrange the board quickly, the labels automatically follow the sources, making it easy to adjust on the fly.
For example, say you have a vocalist connected to Input 1, and you name that source “Vocal 1”. No matter where you place that input on your faders, it will always carry that “Vocal 1” label.
The Problem: Changing Input Usage
The challenge comes in when your stage setup changes. Let’s say in one week Input 1 is used for a vocalist, but the next week you decide to plug an acoustic guitar into that same input. When you route the acoustic guitar to a fader, you may find that the channel is already named “Vocal 1”, because that name was linked to Input 1’s source, not to where the fader is.
This can be confusing if you’re expecting the naming to reset or be independent for each mix setup. To address this, the “Link Customization to Source” setting plays a crucial role.
Disabling “Link Customization to Source”
If you want channel names to stay tied to the fader instead of the source, you need to disable “Link Customization to Source” for that specific channel. When this setting is turned off, channels can be freely renamed without affecting the original input source labeling.
Step-by-Step: How to Turn Off Link Customization to Source
Select a Channel
- On the Behringer Wing, press the Select button for the channel you want to modify.
Navigate to the Naming Settings
- Look at the touchscreen display.
- Tap on the Name field.
Find Link Customization to Source
- You’ll see an option labeled “Link Customization to Source”.
- By default, this setting is turned on.
- Turn the Setting Off
- Tap the setting to toggle it off.
- Now, any name you enter for the channel stays with the fader, rather than following the original input source.
When Should You Enable or Disable This Setting?
Keep Link Customization to Source ON
- If you want input sources to retain their names no matter where they are routed in the board.
- If your setup is stable and input sources don’t frequently change (e.g., a worship band with a consistent stage plot).
Turn Link Customization to Source OFF
- If you frequently repurpose inputs for different instruments or vocalists.
- If you want to manually rename channels each time you change stage assignments without input-based labels interfering.
Conclusion
The Link Customization to Source setting on the Behringer Wing is a powerful feature that provides flexibility in workflow and patching. However, if you find that channel names aren’t behaving the way you expect, knowing how to enable or disable this setting per channel can make a significant difference.
By default, names and icons follow the input source rather than the fader, which can be extremely useful for setups that don’t change often. However, for dynamic environments where inputs move frequently, turning Link Customization to Source off ensures your channel names stay with the faders instead.
