Switch from analogue to digital mixer

[dennisgamalej]

Dear all,
Any tips how to switch from analogue mixer to digital? In my case i think i will hate the most the layers… you cant have everything in one row you have to go from layer to layer

Thnx for your help!

[Drew Stephenson]

First tip: don't make a live gig the first time you use the mixer!
More seriously, you'll just need to dedicate some time to learning it.

[Mike Stranks]

Not all digital mixers are the same... don't be driven solely by price. Get one that you think you'll feel comfortable with...

[The Elf]

Within a week you'll be flying around it and, if you've chosen wisely, won't want to go back.

But, as Mike says, they're not all the same, so beware of assumptions!

[Mike Monte]

When I switched to digital I first went from a MixWizard to a QU-16.
There was a learning curve but it wasn't too bad.
I set the QU up in my basement and "played with it" a little every night for a week. After a while it was like second nature.
btw: QU mixers have faders (like analog mixers) but can also mix remotely using a tablet.
(I personally like the option of using either a board's faders or tablet..)

Nowadays I set the QU on the side of a stage, get a "rough mix" going, and then tweak from out front using an iPad.

[AlecSp]

Any tips how to switch from analogue mixer to digital? In my case i think i will hate the most the layers… you cant have everything in one row you have to go from layer to layer

Just take time to get familiar with your mixer.
Fortunately, these days, you can do a lot of this without even making a purchase, as running the software will tell you a lot (but not all) about how the mixer works.

Layers - the reason you have them is that a digital mixer usually has a ton more functionality than the analog desk it's replacing. If you really care about this, get a desk with a high fader count. On an SQ7 (32 faders) I rarely have to switch layers when mixing. DCAs provide a strong support for improving workflow, too.

Give it time and, like most people on the other side, you'll wonder why you took so long to make the change.

[shufflebeat]

Simplify your workflow, there are opportunities to help with this. I use a QuPac for bands and a Mackie dl1608 for my own playing gigs.

I usually have three "layers" to think about; "stage front" (vox, acoustic melody instruments), "stage rear" (kit, bass, 'leccy gtrs) and "control" (group faders, FX returns, DCAs).

Groups are arranged; all vox, melody instruments, kit, backline.

DCAs are; FX master sends, wedge monitor master sends, IEM master sends.

Once levels have been set up I adjust on the fly from the control level, only really flipping back to other levels when something changes, such as a change of instrument on a shared mic (whistle needs serious compression, flute doesn't).

When I'm playing I keep the FX mutes handy, otherwise just concentrating on playing.

Saving channel presets for individual musicians, FX choices, EQ presets for specific speaker systems & rooms and show scenes makes life very easy later on.

These are all little things that have evolved over time as ideas occur to me but now save me huge chunks of time in setting up.

I have a "shutdown" scene which I recall at the end of every gig so there are no nasty surprises when I start the next with a different lineup.

There's one venue that I actually play but with various duo partners. I have the venue name saved as a show and my different partners saved as scenes so that a tweakable benchmark is instantly recallable.

[MarkOne]

I went from a Yamaha MG32/14 which was like mixing on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, to an A&H SQ5, and honestly I can't imagine going back, setting up monitor mixes is a breeze, having visual feedback on the EQs is such a bonus, routing flexibility is amazing, and OLED scribble strips which I can colour code make navigation so easy.

Switching between mix layers and paging through channel layers is just second nature now.

Yes, there is a learning curve, and I had it set up in the studio for a couple of weeks while I familiarised myself with it before setting it up in it's permanent home at the church.

[AlecSp]

A&H SQ5, and honestly I can't imagine going back, setting up monitor mixes is a breeze, having visual feedback on the EQs is such a bonus, routing flexibility is amazing, and OLED scribble strips which I can colour code make navigation so easy.

I have to point out that the scribble strips on the SQ series are definitely *not* OLED. They're actually one of my beefs with the desk - tiny, limited to six characters, and not really that legible. Compared with them, the X32 scribble strips are so much more usable.

Admittedly, I'm nit picking...

[dennisgamalej]

Thnx guys for the reaction. I forgot to mention that i have an. ui16, but i don't use the layers i have everything in one row.
I think to switch from the ui,good mixer but i play a lot of music from the computer so i need something with faders….

[shufflebeat]

...so i like having something with faders….

FTFY