Behringer X Air 12

[Arpangel]

After much though and still not getting a bigger interface, I was thinking of getting the Behringer UC18, but thinking about it the X Air may be better, as it will give me mixing ability too, and it’s not that much more money, it also has lots of decent FX.
What I’m worried about is I’ve heard the internal router isn’t very good, and I’m still a bit phobic about i Pad based systems, and redundancy etc.

[ef37a]

I don't know mu ch about computers Arp' but I DO know you can run an external router TX from an ethernet port coz I done it. Ran a 4pr to a TP-Link wireless box half way down my hall to get wi fi to a camera in the garden.

I bet you have at least one old router somewhere? I have about 3! Net one to the Behrry* and put it up high, should go 50mtrs no sweat?

*Has MIDI forsooth!

Dave.

[shufflebeat]

I'm not an owner/user but so believe the XAir series can be connected to a regular PC by ethernet which would take care of both those concerns - no WiFi, no iPad.

[Arpangel]

I don't know mu ch about computers Arp' but I DO know you can run an external router TX from an ethernet port coz I done it. Ran a 4pr to a TP-Link wireless box half way down my hall to get wi fi to a camera in the garden.

I bet you have at least one old router somewhere? I have about 3! Net one to the Behrry* and put it up high, should go 50mtrs no sweat?

*Has MIDI forsooth!

Dave.

Thanks Dave, I’m still a bit nervous about all this, I’ve gone ITB before but now it’s a bit more complicated, I’m worried about latency when multi-tracking, it’s never been an issue before as I’ve only ever recorded straight to stereo in one take, and now I want to record multiple inputs, and possibly over-dub, but is latency a thing of the past these days?
I’ve always used a mixer for direct monitoring but I don’t want or need to do that anymore hopefully.

[ef37a]

I'm not an owner/user but so believe the XAir series can be connected to a regular PC by ethernet which would take care of both those concerns - no WiFi, no iPad.

As stated PC numpty here shuffs but will a laptop act then as a wireless re-radiator to give better coverage to the iPad?

I would have thought a £30 wireless router (if he doesn't already have one) would be better and can be stuck up high. We did similar with a Trazport MIDI controller. Extended the dongle and hung it seven feet up the wall. Son could then sit in the acoustically better living room but start/stop the PC DAW remotely.

Cannot help you much further matey, others will but do you not have the equivalent of our Distance Trading Regs? Make sure you unpack the unit carefully and only breakout cables etc you really need. Then, get all your ducks in a row before it comes. You have two weeks here but I would have thought just 2 or 3 days of concentrated testing, with SoS assistance, would tell you if it goes or stays?

Dave

[Arpangel]

I'm not an owner/user but so believe the XAir series can be connected to a regular PC by ethernet which would take care of both those concerns - no WiFi, no iPad.

As stated PC numpty here shuffs but will a laptop act then as a wireless re-radiator to give better coverage to the iPad?

I would have thought a £30 wireless router (if he doesn't already have one) would be better and can be stuck up high. We did similar with a Trazport MIDI controller. Extended the dongle and hung it seven feet up the wall. Son could then sit in the acoustically better living room but start/stop the PC DAW remotely.

Dave

Ha!
This is to use in my basement Dave, the ceiling isn’t 7ft high!
I’m thinking of the Air 12 as it doesn’t take up much space, and still gives me mixer functionality.

[The Elf]

It really isn't worth the hassle mucking around with routers and stuff, IMHO - just wire it. I've found the Ethernet connection to be reliable.

You can get latency-free by routing back through the mixer, not going via your DAW, just as you would with any mixer.

I'd go the extra mile and get the XR18, rather than the XR12 - the XR12 only allows stereo recording to a DAW, while the XR18 sends all 18 channels separately.

If you find you really need knobs and faders then you can add an X-Touch some time.

[Music Wolf]

I'm in 100% agreement with The Elf on this.

[Stratman57]

Elf is right on the mark here. I have the XR18, with an X-Touch for physical faders, there's nothing worse when playing live than trying to find the right onscreen fader on a small screen when something is feeding back.

I do have an external router though for when I'm doing live and theatre sound, as it lets me wonder around the venue and check the balance. But that's not the primary control surface. Laptop and X-Touch are connected to the router via ethernet cables.

The X-Touch can also control your DAW, with one button to switch between mixer control and DAW control. Great setup.

Regards, Simon.

[Arpangel]

It really isn't worth the hassle mucking around with routers and stuff, IMHO - just wire it. I've found the Ethernet connection to be reliable.

You can get latency-free by routing back through the mixer, not going via your DAW, just as you would with any mixer.

I'd go the extra mile and get the XR18, rather than the XR12 - the XR12 only allows stereo recording to a DAW, while the XR18 sends all 18 channels separately.

If you find you really need knobs and faders then you can add an X-Touch some time.

Thanks a million for that Elf, you’ve saved my bacon. I’ll investigate the XR18, I guess I just use USB to connect to the computer?

[Music Wolf]

When I use mine for recording I hook up to the laptop with USB and Ethernet. The Ethernet controls the mixer whilst the USB is to transfer audio from the XR18 to the DAW. I haven't, so far, used my X Fader with the XR18 (that's permanently hooked up to the studio PC)

[Arpangel]

When I use mine for recording I hook up to the laptop with USB and Ethernet. The Ethernet controls the mixer whilst the USB is to transfer audio from the XR18 to the DAW. I haven't, so far, used my X Fader with the XR18 (that's permanently hooked up to the studio PC)

I’m a bit confused, I thought my I Pad would communicate via wireless?

[James Perrett]

I’m a bit confused, I thought my I Pad would communicate via wireless?

I think we've all assumed that you are going to be recording onto your computer. In which case there's no need for an iPad as you can control the mixer from the PC.

Or are you wanting to record onto the iPad?

[Arpangel]

I’m a bit confused, I thought my I Pad would communicate via wireless?

I think we've all assumed that you are going to be recording onto your computer. In which case there's no need for an iPad as you can control the mixer from the PC.

Or are you wanting to record onto the iPad?

Ah, OK, in that case I’ll be recording to the computer using USB and "controlling" the unit via Ethernet?

[The Elf]

It really isn't worth the hassle mucking around with routers and stuff, IMHO - just wire it. I've found the Ethernet connection to be reliable.

You can get latency-free by routing back through the mixer, not going via your DAW, just as you would with any mixer.

I'd go the extra mile and get the XR18, rather than the XR12 - the XR12 only allows stereo recording to a DAW, while the XR18 sends all 18 channels separately.

If you find you really need knobs and faders then you can add an X-Touch some time.

Thanks a million for that Elf, you’ve saved my bacon. I’ll investigate the XR18, I guess I just use USB to connect to the computer?

USB for audio, Ethernet for control.

[shufflebeat]

I can't help but think we're already heading down a specific path which might exclude some more appropriate options.

What do you reckon your main in/out requirements are going to be and are you already wed to one DAW or another?

I've toyed with the idea of buying one of the XR boxes as they are super-compact and possibly more future-proof than others but the thing that stopped me was integrating it into my existing recording setup. There are more appropriate options (for me - couple of mic/lines, midi) for that.

[Arpangel]

I can't help but think we're already heading down a specific path which might exclude some more appropriate options.

What do you reckon your main in/out requirements are going to be and are you already wed to one DAW or another?

I've toyed with the idea of buying one of the XR boxes as they are super-compact and possibly more future-proof than others but the thing that stopped me was integrating it into my existing recording setup. There are more appropriate options (for me - couple of mic/lines, midi) for that.

I'm still considering the Behringer UMC18 interface, it’s pretty straightforward, and future proof, the XR18 worries me in this respect. I was thinking of it in terms of an interface, with a mixer if needed.
I need a maximum of 8 line inputs, no mic's, and Midi, up until now I’ve been a hardware mixer guy, this’ll be my first foray into purely ITB recording.

[shufflebeat]

Processing and mixing is going to be a whole lot more flexible, repeatable and expandable if you spend a little time transferring your existing skills to the DAW compared to adapting an ITB system to look like a hardware one.

There's a "community" facility not far from me where people can engage in music projects. They were donated or bought some quite decent gear from a studio which was updating from tape/ADAT (I assume) to ITB. Because they had a nice computer and no expertise in maintaining the recorders they cobbled a hybrid system together which ended up being much more complicated than it needed to be and ultimately defeated the object of being accessible to the public. An hour of computer education would have been far more useful and productive for all.

The XR box is very handy, I might still end up with one when my dl1608 finally parts ways with Windows updates but the other box looks like it has more of what you need (inc expandable inputs) and less of what you can't really use without getting messy.

As far as FX is concerned - everything you need and more is pretty standard in all DAWs anyway.

Just my sestertius worth.

[Arpangel]

I know, my head's hurting already, I’m going to get the UMC18, it’s just an interface, I understand those.
I just bought a patch bay to solve my input issues, and pedal spaghetti, I’ve got all my instruments normalled to the interface inputs, with all my pedals and effects alongside, there’s nothing more to do. I'm just glad I ran this by you folks.

[FrankF]

Elf is right on the mark here. I have the XR18, with an X-Touch for physical faders, there's nothing worse when playing live than trying to find the right onscreen fader on a small screen when something is feeding back.
The X-Touch can also control your DAW, with one button to switch between mixer control and DAW control. Great setup.

Regards, Simon.

You've just given me a great idea for a home-studio setup: XR18 + X-touch. I can't justify buying an X32 at the moment, but it seems that these 2 boxes would do almost the same job, what say you?

Do you use this setup in a studio environment, by any chance?

[Stratman57]

For a home studio, yes, that's how I use it. I originally got the XR18 so I could record my band on our gigs, but give me the option to remix later, previously I'd had to record the front of house mix via a well placed Zoom H4 recorder.

At home, ther're enough inputs for my Xiosynth, Roland HPD10, GR50, Alesis Performance pad, mic input and a guitar DI. Of course if you have a load of hardware synths that need more than 16 inputs then maybe one of the X32 variants would be better.

Regards, Simon.

[Arpangel]

These X Air things are just basically mixers that we used to use, without knobs and faders.
My old I pad has stopped working, so I have to get a new one, all this is done just to sell us even more stuff, to do what we’ve done already, but using more convoluted more complicated stuff that pretends to be easier........

[Drew Stephenson]

Other interpretations are available...

[Stratman57]

OK, you buy the Behringer audio interface, then, you decide you need something else, if you get the XR18, you've got an audio interface with ASIO drivers, which will work just as well as the one you've decided on, but you'll have so much more potential if you want a live mixer, with snapshots,and other stored stuff. I have snapshots stored for studio recording, studio play back, live recording etc. all at the push of a button in the XR18 edit software app on Windows 10.

Think about the future. You wouldn't need a patch bay. Although from your previous posts, an X32 console would fit right into your available space. I didn't get one at the time I got the XR18 because I didn't have the cash.

Regards, Simon.

[shufflebeat]

I do like a problem with several possible appropriate solutions.