— Interactive guide · Manual Rev1 (V 2.0) · Firmware 1.0.3

Behringer BCR32

The 32-encoder MIDI controller with the Zaquencer built in, explained properly — a clickable panel in every mode, every menu and key combination, CV and sync, DAW setup and the open-source firmware. It pulls together Behringer’s manual, the GitHub repo, ZAQ Audio’s original manual and what owners have reported, and labels every fact with where it comes from.

chapters: 9
topics: 59
key combos: 39
sources: 19

— How far to trust each fact · Fact-checked Nov 2026

Source: Official: Behringer’s manual, product page or Music Tribe’s GitHub repo.
Source: BCR2000 Zaq: ZAQ Audio’s manual for the original BCR2000 firmware: likely the same here, but test it.
Source: Press / owners: Music-tech press or owner reports.
Source: Unverified: A claim in circulation that no source we found confirms.

— Where to start

Your first hour

The right port, the right mode, current firmware, a backup, then a pattern.

0/6

Sequencing

Steps, tracks, chords and scales — and saves that survive power-off.

0/7

Controlling your DAW

Assign the encoders, pick the right mode and get the rings to follow.

0/6

CV & modular

Gates, sync rates and finding which track drives which output.

0/5

— Explore the panel

What does this key do?

Select any key or encoder. Switch mode to see how its job changes. Swipe the drawing sideways to reach the right-hand keys.

Pick a control to see what it does.

Keys glow pink; the encoders are steps 1–32. The small numbers are the item numbers in Behringer’s manual, which this guide uses throughout.

Simplified from the panel drawing in Behringer’s manual · not to scale · display text illustrative · Global labels abbreviated

— Contents

9 chapters, start anywhere

Start here

Where the documentation lives, and the first hour with the unit, in order.

What the BCR32 is · How to read this guide · Where the documentation lives · Plug the computer into the right USB-C port · Check the operation mode · Update the firmware with ControlTribe · Find the two USB MIDI ports · Back up before you experiment · Play your first pattern · Technical specifications

0/10

Panel & settings

Every control by its item number, the rear panel and the device settings.

The front panel, by item number · The rear panel · Device settings

0/3

Controller mode

Turn the 32 push-encoders and 24 keys into a MIDI controller for your DAW and gear.

Controller mode · Assigning encoders and keys · Choosing an encoder mode · All 32 encoders push · Controller output and MIDI Thru · Storing and loading presets · Coming from a BCR2000

0/7

The Zaquencer

Four tracks of up to 32 steps: step and track settings, chords, ratchets, scales and drums.

How the Zaquencer works · Step parameters (keys 5–14) · Track settings (keys 15–20) · The wave generator · Chords · Ratchets and note delays · Scales · Drum tracks · The mixer and note repeat · Recording live · The Global menu

0/11

Patterns & memory

Store, load, chain and switch the 192 pattern slots, and make saves permanent.

Storing patterns — and making them stick · Loading patterns · Chaining patterns · Copying a track · Switching patterns by MIDI

0/5

CV, gate & sync

Four CV and gate pairs, analogue sync in and out, and calibration.

CV and gate outputs · Sequencer settings: gate and sync · Which track drives which output · CV calibration · Analogue sync and external clock

0/5

DAW setup

Two-way control with LED feedback, recording the sequencer, and what owners use in each DAW.

Two-way control with LED feedback · Recording the sequencer in a DAW · Bitwig Studio · Ableton Live · Cubase · What isn’t supported yet

0/6

Firmware & hacking

Stock updates, and Music Tribe’s open-source repo: schematic, memory map, build and flash.

Stock firmware · The open-source repo · Hardware, from the schematic and README · Memory map · Building the demo · Flashing and the bootloader

0/6

Gotchas & fact-check

What trips owners up, the claims that don’t hold up, and the slips in Behringer’s manual.

Connection problems · Lost work · Sequencer surprises · Hardware and firmware quirks · Common claims, checked · Errors in Behringer’s manual

0/6

— Muscle memory

The combos you’ll use every day

Settings, the two-stage store and holding a key while you turn do most of the work. The full cheat sheet has all 39, filterable by key and printable.

Open the cheat sheet

Hold 1ZAQ/CTRL for 3 seconds: Opens device Settings: key 1 and keys 5–12 glow blue.
60EXIT, then hold SELECT + 61STORE: Makes stored patterns permanent.ZAQ mode
Hold 5PITCH + turn ENCODER: Shifts every step’s pitch together.
Hold 59EDIT/GLOBAL + 61STORE: Opens the sequencer settings.ZAQ mode
10MIDI CTRL α + 11MIDI CTRL β: Applies the scale to the current pattern’s notes permanently.
Hold 59EDIT + turn ENCODER or press a key: Opens that control’s assignment: type on SELECT, options on < and >.CTRL mode
61STORE, then hold SELECT + press 25: Opens SysEx export; encoders 29–32 (ZAQ) or 31–32 (CTRL) choose what to send.
Hold 12WAVE GEN + turn 33–36: Sets the wave’s shape, gain, rate and offset.

— Watch and read

Sources and further reading

As of November 2026 there’s no full independent video review, only short clips and how-tos. The manuals, the repo and the owner threads are where the detail is.

All 19 sources & links

Assign MIDI CC to encoder on Behringer BCR32 - Quick how-to
Unicyclic GEAR
A quick how-to: giving an encoder a CC in controller mode.

An independent guide by boog.ie, not affiliated with or endorsed by Behringer, Music Tribe or ZAQ Audio. BCR32 is a product of Music Tribe. Content is written in our own words from Behringer’s user manual (Manual Rev1 (V 2.0)), Music Tribe’s open-source repo, ZAQ Audio’s Zaquencer manual and owner reports, each credited and linked. When in doubt, test on the unit. Behringer’s manual (PDF) Product page