Digital mixer, again.

[Arpangel]

The input boxes aren’t a faff really, especially if you’re going to keep them set up in the same place. It’s a single Cat5 cable to the desk, configure the desk once to see those inputs and off you go. Saves space, you can place the mixer where you want it, and have the stagebox out of the way to reduce cable clutter.

Hmmm? what would I be looking at? to give an extra 16 inputs? I’m not familiar with Cat5 shenanigans, and would they appear as an extra layer on the X32?

[Aled Hughes]

The input boxes aren’t a faff really, especially if you’re going to keep them set up in the same place. It’s a single Cat5 cable to the desk, configure the desk once to see those inputs and off you go. Saves space, you can place the mixer where you want it, and have the stagebox out of the way to reduce cable clutter.

Hmmm? what would I be looking at? to give an extra 16 inputs? I’m not familiar with Cat5 shenanigans, and would they appear as an extra layer on the X32?

https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/digital-snak ... gL-1_D_BwE

Gives 16 ins an 8 outs to a Behringer X32 or Midas M32 range. There is also a Midas equvalent that works with both ranges too.

They essentially take the place of the additional connections on the bigger X32- you can assign them ti be on channels 17-32 or however you like (obviously, having less faders, they are on a separate layer on the mixer itself)

It’s important to note that the desks are all the same internally, and can ‘see’ the same amount of inputs and outputs. It’s only the amount of onboard connections and faders that changes. They all have the same capabilities under the hood.

[ef37a]

Don't want to upset you Mr A but did you consider one of these ?...

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/soundcraft-ui24r

Mike C seemed to think it was the dog's whatsits.

Dave.

[Aled Hughes]

Don't want to upset you Mr A but did you consider one of these ?...

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/soundcraft-ui24r

Mike C seemed to think it was the dog's whatsits.

Dave.

I have one. If it ticks your boxes it’s a great piece of kit. Not as many inputs as the X32 though, and it is (stupidly) fixed at 48kHz operation as an interface. Also, it’s more limited in terms of FX engines as they can’t be placed at inserts (you could work around it with routing, but it would be fiddly…)

[DGL.]

The input boxes aren’t a faff really, especially if you’re going to keep them set up in the same place. It’s a single Cat5 cable to the desk, configure the desk once to see those inputs and off you go. Saves space, you can place the mixer where you want it, and have the stagebox out of the way to reduce cable clutter.

Hmmm? what would I be looking at? to give an extra 16 inputs? I’m not familiar with Cat5 shenanigans, and would they appear as an extra layer on the X32?

It gives you more sources to choose from, not any extra channels on a FS X32. Basically any channel can take it's input for a few different sources, these can be the onboard inputs, the card inputs or from the AES50 network.
In the routing section you choose where each channel gets it's input from and with the V4 firmware that can be from anywhere for any channel.
So I could have CH1 coming fromany of the onboard inputs, CH2 coming from an input on either AES50 A or B, and CH3 coming from the card (i.e. an input from the USB interface).

AES50 Supermac works in the same way as a regular snake except the transmission is digital, the pre-amps are in the stagebox, and the cable required is just shielded cat 5e (must be shielded with ethercons at ether end that are connected to the shield), in the world of AES50/Supermac this gives you 48 channels each way at 48Khz.

Naturally if you have one of the smaller X32's then a stagebox is needed to access all mixable channels (well you could use inputs from the card slot).

[Dave Rowles]

I went for the Midas DL32 when getting more inputs for my X32 Rack. Purely because of the upgraded Pres, which do make a difference, and the flexibility. Works brilliantly as a stage box. Once I'd set the X32 to see it, it automatically uses the DL32 as the inputs first as long as the DL32 is on.

[Sam Spoons]

I use scenes for different recording and/or mixing scenarios, I have different ones for live mixing, studio band or acoustic recording etc.

You have sussed out the fx capabilities I think but yes, 8 stereo fx slots which can br use as inserts or send fx (with some limitations).

I love the LCD scribble strips, best thing since sliced garlic baguettes, they were the main reason I ought my X32 Compact rather than an A&H Qu16.

The S16 should work flawlessly and give you the extra physical inputs the Compact lacks compared to the full sized X32.

[Arpangel]

It’s here, in the basement, no time to even look at it yet.

[Arpangel]

I use scenes for different recording and/or mixing scenarios, I have different ones for live mixing, studio band or acoustic recording etc.

You have sussed out the fx capabilities I think but yes, 8 stereo fx slots which can br use as inserts or send fx (with some limitations).

I love the LCD scribble strips, best thing since sliced garlic baguettes, they were the main reason I ought my X32 Compact rather than an A&H Qu16.

The S16 should work flawlessly and give you the extra physical inputs the Compact lacks compared to the full sized X32.

It’s too big, it’s going to displace too much stuff, I could accommodate it, but it would upset my "cockpit" approach to playing, and become the centre of operations, my synths need to be in that place.
A Compact with an S16 would be OK, does the S16 show up in the X32 as another layer?

[Luke W]

A Compact with an S16 would be OK, does the S16 show up in the X32 as another layer?

You assign it via the "Routing" menu, so you can pick which block of channels you'd like to see the inputs from the S16 on.

[Dave Rowles]

You can assign input sources as a block of 8. So in your case it'd probably be inputs 1-8 and 9-16 desk pres, then inputs 17-24 and 25-32 S16 pres.

You can then assign any of the inputs to any channel. This is a little bit inflexible which is one of the major gripes against the desk, but I find, in reality, that I've rarely come across a situation where it would've been useful to have more flexibility.

[Arpangel]

OK so it doesn’t give me extra hardware inputs just more choice of inputs from the ones already on board?

[Sam Spoons]

Not sure what you mean here Tony? If you buy a Compact then the S16 will give you 16 more inputs and 8 more outputs but an X32 full console already has the max number of physical inputs the desk can process at any one time so there would be no benefit in having an S16 for your setup with a full sized X32.

[Aled Hughes]

OK so it doesn’t give me extra hardware inputs just more choice of inputs from the ones already on board?

The hardware inputs are on the S16.

I’ll try and break it down- think of it like this:

*All and any X32 is a 32 channel mixer. They all have exactly the same ‘brain’ and processing power, but but only the big ones have the physical connections for the 32 input.

*In order to have physical inputs for all channels on the smaller X32 (Compact etc) you need to connect it to a stagebox like the S16. That gives you 16 extra physical inputs and 8 outputs in addition to the connections already on the desk. For example, you can assign the desk inputs to channels 1-16 and the S16 inputs to 17-32.

*Obviously, the Compact has less faders than the big X32, so you need to use the fader layers to access the channels (there are buttons on the desk to switch labels, clearly labelled such as ‘1-8’, ‘9-16’ etc.

*So, essentially, an X32 Compact with an S16 offers the same power and connections as the big X32, just that half the connections are moved out of way onto the S16, and you need to press a button on the X32 a bit more often.

[Sam Spoons]

Nicely explained Aled Just to add, the full sized X32 only has 8 extra faders making 24 plus master in all (the Compact/Producer has 16 plus master). All X32s are, actually, 40 channel mixers, all of which can be assigned to analogue sources (I think, not entirely sure if you can assign analogue inputs to the USB stereo channels). The aux/USB channels have a more limited feature set than the main 32 channels and you can only send 32 over USB to the DAW simultaneously but it does have huge flexibility.

[Arpangel]

Thanks for the very clear explanation Aled.
If I’m going to go in this direction, the combination is a Compact, and an S16, I still get the scribble strips (important) and all the inputs I need.
Not having matching numbers of faders to inputs, could be seen as limiting, in a live mixing/recording situation, but I guess these can all be automated to overcome that problem? if I’m correct, even though a layer may not be visible, it’s volume curves will still be active?

[Aled Hughes]

Thanks for the very clear explanation Aled.
If I’m going to go in this direction, the combination is a Compact, and an S16, I still get the scribble strips (important) and all the inputs I need.
Not having matching numbers of faders to inputs, could be seen as limiting, in a live mixing/recording situation, but I guess these can all be automated to overcome that problem? if I’m correct, even though a layer may not be visible, it’s volume curves will still be active?

The X32 does not have automation. That would need to be handled by your DAW.

If you need automation of your live inputs before hitting the DAW for whatever reason, I guess you’ll need to be looking at some rare and expensive system, with a lot of setup and syncing work and associated headaches!

I was under the impression that you’d use the X32 as a big interface/patchbay/FX unit to get the signals into your DAW.

[Luke W]

Not having matching numbers of faders to inputs, could be seen as limiting, in a live mixing/recording situation

Even with the full size versions you still only ever have 16 inputs "in view" at a time, but once you've put some time into getting to grips with the way of working then switching between layers quickly becomes second nature.

[Sam Spoons]

The Compact (and Producer) can assign inputs to both fader banks so allowing 16 visible at a time, the FS X32 has 16 faders in it's LH/input fader bank so doesn't do this.

[Arpangel]

The X32 system I need will cost me £2,000+
I’ve thought it through with your help and it’s not even almost there in my head.
It’s been great to play with, effects are very good, and it feels OK.
Space is my biggest enemy, it’s more important for me to address that than look at gear right now, as more space would enable me to have what I really need, and deep down really want, and that’s a large format analogue console, and £2,000 would go towards something really nice, so I’m not making any moves just yet.
Borrowing this X32 was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

[fatbenelton]

Still think a Speck XtraMix 6 is exactly what you need…..

[Hugh Robjohns]

...what I really need, and deep down really want, and that’s a large format analogue console...
Borrowing this X32 was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

It probably was, and I think you're right. A big, old-school analogue console is what you'd be happiest with.

You just need to find the space.

[resistorman]

This thread reminds me that I need is to quit rearranging my gear and get on with making music

[Arpangel]

This thread reminds me that I need is to quit rearranging my gear and get on with making music

I have about six albums on my friends website and another 32 unpublished, I have well over 200 hours of music in various formats that could be sorted into albums.
It wouldn’t bother me if I never recorded another note, and I’ll never live to edit all of my back catalogue.
But like a lot if by people I can’t stop recording, and also like a lot of people my stuff will probably go unnoticed in the grand scheme of things, thrown in a skip.
Messing around with equipment and playing with gear doesn’t concern me, it passes the time, as I get older my musical output is decreasing and other things are more important, you realise what is actually important in life.
Designing my modular, rearranging my studio, and posting on this forum, are all in my opinion “musical acts”

[Guest]

Certainly “museful” acts.