dave_bass5

Thanks, thats a good way of working. I dont think I’ll need to many snapshots etc, but i wanted to make sure others can get the same info as my device without to much effort. They are a bit backwards when it comes to tech.

I started off using my Air 1 but when i got a Hammond App it just wouldn't run. Ive been very impressed with the ‘cheap’ iPad9’ I think it was the last ipad to have a headphone out which is cool. Love my 12.9 pro though. Its old, got it in 2020 during the first lockdown, but i use it everyday. I thought my MacBook Pro would take over but that mostly just sits on the desk. I do plan on using it at gigs at some point, but so far it’s not needed. Ive ordered the Air XR18 from Thomanns. It’s out of stock but listed as hopefully in stock in about a week. I wont hold my breath. Everywhere else is saying early July. If it gets to mid June and i don't have it I’ll cancel the order and the the RCF M18.

The old iPad I found at home can only go up to iOS 15 so seems to be fine with the Behringer app, but I’m warming to Mixer Station now so will probably use my iPad 9. I originally got that for running soft synths and although the screen is smaller than my pro I think it’s good enough. I plan on setting it all up using the pro and use the iPad 9 for gigs.

Yeah, I’m going to order the X18. Cheers. Good to know. Now the long wait starts as I have no idea when it will turn up. At least I can play around with Mixer Station in the meantime. Thanks all for the help 👏

Some may argue that point 😂

Haha. Have you tried to leave BC? 😂 I do plan on going back to bass as soon as I find time, but just having a break. Actually, as I’m also a bass player my left hand is very inactive most of the time. I cover my lack of ability to do two things at once with the notion that I’m staying out of his way 😎 Ok , last question before I pull the trigger. When using the app, does it save everything to the mixer or just the app? Reason I’m asking is I can’t figure out how someone else can have control with a different device other than by me sending the set up file to them. Is that how it works or does the mixer transmit the layout etc?

Thanks, that makes sense. Im not aiming to get more Aux’s, just to make sure i can get stereo out of the phones. I use a P2 (sometimes a P1) wired. The stereo thing is a way of getting the sounds i program in, and use at home, to sound the same at gigs. I play/practice at home with headphones, in stereo obviously, so i want that at gigs. Im not doing any sweeps, and in fact on the whole i dont care if FOH is stereo or not (it is though), but playing Piano for instance sounds a lot more natural having the left and right spread in my ears. Same with Leslie swirl from my Neo Vent. There is also the danger of phase cancelation when going down to mono which i have heard at our rehearsal studios on occasion. Bottom line though, im happy with my current monitoring, but if im going to spend almost £600 it cant be a compromise or step back.

Probably down the line i would stop taking it, but to start off id keep it handy. Our speakers are powered so it would make a good back up, at least to get the keys and some vocals.

There is still a lot to take in, but am i correct that with both the X18 and M18, i can use the phones out as a stereo aux, with almost as much control as the normal Aux’s have? Id have my keys going in in stereo (so 4 channels), and I’d like to have my own IEM mix with the keys in stereo, and vocals etc in mono (for now). This seems possible but if one doesn't do it then thats out of the running.

Yeah, that makes sense. I’ve been using our current Begringer desk for almost 9 years. Various bands, but this one has the most mics. If it wasn’t for possible move to IEM for some, it wouldn’t be an issue. I would still take my Sub mixer as a back up. It wouldn’t handle everything but it’s better than nothing.

Thanks for all the GAS, I mean replies 😂. I still want the RCF M18, especially after Phil’s fantastic review, but stil have a few niggles. I tried the App on my iPad Pro last night and really liked it, but it did crash once. Not a big deal, but I see it hasn’t been updated for about 5 years. That makes me a bit nervous goi g forward. The biggest plus for the M18 for me is the app. Might be a non issue. The amount of mic inputs wasn’t an issue until today. Guitarist is well up for the IEM route now, but we have discussed setting up and ambient mic. I currently use a Behringer B2, which has to be phantom powered, going in to my sub mixer, but I’m planning on letting the PA mixer do all that once I get it and I’ll ditch the sub mixer. With that, plus the 5 vocal mics I think I might reach the limit sooner than expected. I found an old iPad Air at home which worked ok with the stock Behringer app, although I guess I really should get to know Mix station. The biggest plus for the M18 though, is I can get it this week. The X18 seems out of stock everywhere until July. Thomanns seem to think it’s just a week or so, but we know how that works. I may just order the X18 from Thomanns and see how it goes. Next gig isn’t until 8th July (we have one this weekend but I wouldn’t use it as it’s too soon).

It’s not something id really want to do, i want to stay wireless, but i can see the advantage of having something small like that sitting on my keyboard.

Cool. Im already using midi live. I wouldn’t say im an expert but if it will work, i can figure it out.

Ohh, i just remembered i have a Korg NanoKontrol2. It’s got real sliders but is very small. I wonder if i can utilise that.

At the moment we have 5 mics (all sing apart from me). Nothing else other than keys go through the PA at the moment. The drummer has a fancy little box/mixer thing that has a set of mic’s that he can use (although doesn't, as he is too loud as it is). Thats just a stereo jack to jack out. ‘Modern’ guitarist has a Helix type box (much cheaper) that has DI we could use, but doesn't need to be XLR on each end. Bass can DI (love that it has a MarkBass Amp sim in the M18). Again, doesn't need to be XLR. Id use mic cables for those above until we need more XLR, but i cant imagine we will. I like that all 3 of these mixers have a stereo headphones out, which i would use for my IEMs (i need stereo for keys). Ideally the singer will have her own Aux, the drummer his, guitarist (if he sticks with IEM) and me. Drummer will never go IEM. That leaves ‘dinosaur’ Guitarist and bass player. They can share an Aux that will run to a second stage monitor until they decide to go IEM. We will never go amp less. Cheers for that. I’ll have a read. Yes, it seems strange that all the Aux outs are jack based, but in a way that doe make it easier for me to connect things up.

Since my last post Ive watched a few videos on the Ui and it does look cool. I would be worried about the wall wart as far as damage goes, but I’ve got many devices that already use them. Then I came across the RCF M18. This appeals to me more. Inputs and outputs are more than adequate. Has the right number of Aux outs (yay, one guitarist is going to try IEM at the next rehearsal. I’m getting there) and I like that it seems smaller. It’s lacking some of the fancy stuff the others have, but seems perfect for us. Any thoughts? I appreciate this has been discussed already.

Thanks. That looks quite cool. I hadn't even thought about the Soundcraft Ui16, but its £100 cheaper than the X18 and seems to have enough of what i need. The main compromise for me seems to be the Aux sends, but i cant imagine 4 wont be enough for my band. It seems quite a bit larger than the X18, but thats not a deal breaker. Until the Luddite of the two guitarists decides there is some milage in Digital (as well as starts using a decent tone) im apprehensive about mic’ing him up, but the other guitarist seems on top of his sounds and i am going to try him in the PA at the next gig. We are just a pub/Social club band with a vocal PA (1x15+horn each side) so don’t need too many pro features, but of course its better to have them rather than not.

This is pants on all fronts, but I don’t often have anything to post. To quote REM, that’s me in the corner 😂

Yeah, i can see the advantages of hardware sliders. I rarely need to touch our desk during a gig, but i can see that its a lot easier to quickly grab a slider rather than slide a finger on a screen etc.

Yeah, i felt the interface looked a bit less ‘fancy’ than the Behringer, but i can see its potential and it does look very comprehensive. I may put at least one guitarist in to the PA at some point soon, as he now uses a multi effects box, but at the moment his volume levels are all over the place. It’s safer to only have all that coming out of his amp for now. The other is a firm ‘old school’ guy who thinks digital is just a fad.

Ha. The idea is to cut down on boxes and cables and be able to do sound remotely. As impressive as that looks, it’s totally the opposite of what im looking to do. Very cool though.

Cheers Guys. This all sounds quite exciting. Ive had a look at Mix station and it seems a but more daunting compared to the Behringer app, but not out of my comfort zone. Ive watched a few YT videos and it looks like it has a bit of a learning curve to set up, but pretty straight forward once it is. The idea is, at this stage, just to use it for vocals and keys. We dont put the guitars through the PA as they are still too random, volume wise. All our monitors are powered, so each singer (5 of them do it) can have their own tailored monitor mix, and the singer can also have control during the gig. I cant see us actually having or needing 5 monitor mixes though, at least not until IEM’s are in use. The drummer likes his loud, with loads fo keys, so for him it’s ideal. I’ll take a mono sub mix of the vocals and run that in to my stage mixer, which i can then blend in with my keys for my IEM’s. Id say 3 monitor mixes will be fine. Having something like this should, in theory, help speed up sound checks, as im hoping once its all locked in it will just be a case of doing minor tweaks at each gig. (Side note. Last gig the lead guitarist was 90 mins late so we didnt get to sound check. He lives 20mins away 😡) Definitely looking to go wireless as ive just worked out how to play one of my keyboards over Bluetooth from an ipad, so having that ability and the ability to stand in the middle of the room at sound check really appeals to me. I have an old Nighthawk router I’ll use, im aware of the internal Wi-Fi’s issues. The band are keen to get it, but im not keen for us all to pay for it. Me and the singer (we live together) are going to buy it between us.

Thanks very much. I must admit I thought it strange the app was closing like that. shame about the iOS thing. I did see Mixing station, ill and have another look. MacBook is an option but we have a few iPads and id rather take those out.

Got a quick question about the X18, actually its iOS app. My band are thinking of getting the X18, as it ticks every box we can think of. I downloaded the app to see what it looked like, and it has a demo mode. Clicking on most of the settings closes the app instantly. I just wanted to ask if there are any issues with iOS 16. I appreciate the demo might be acting up because there is no hardware attached.

They have a UK base as well. I recently ordered some software from the website. I got confirmation etc from them but needed to cancel. I didnt really get anywhere with replying to them in Germany (this was over a. 24 hour period) but contacted them in the UK and they sorted it out instantly.