QSC TouchMix Users!

[Dave B]

FYI : there has been a major software update for the Touchmix 8/16. It looks like they've back-ported some functionality from the 30Pro - they've definitely gone to the same graphics scheme. If you have your tablet / phone set to auto update apps, then the app grumbles if it now sees an older software version on the mixer (but does work still).

I'm just updating my system now so will post again after with any issues.

[Mike Stranks]

Thanks for the heads-up Dave!

Using my TM tomorrow AM, but not wirelessly... but I'll update over the w/e as next week I WILL be wireless!

Gracias senor!

[Dave B]

Update is relatively painless and, boy, is it an update. If you go to :
https://www.qsc.com/live-sound/resources/software-and-firmware/touchmix/
and look at the release notes, there's a whole heap of stuff. What jumps out is :

1. UI overhaul makes it more like the macOS non-3d look thing (non skeumorphic?). I am currently ambivalent about this I think I'll grow to like it
2. Real Time Analyser and feedback suppression on main outs and most auxes - cor blimey! I wish I hadn't bought that berry unit now...
3. Output eqs can be parametric or graphic (and/or?)
4. Room Tuning Wizard - ooh err.
5. Firmware can now be directly downloaded and updated from the internet!
6. Hallelujah!! It can finally format it's own drive! I've been booting up linux boxes to format the drive before each gig as the Apple FAT format isn't 100% so this is a major relief for me.

What's extra handy is the new iOS app only needs iOS7 onwards - so I can still use my trusty old iPad2 (which stops at iOS9) to control it. I was worried that they wouldn't support older devices but it all seems ok. I'll update the iPads next.

The only thing which didn't survive the os update was the security settings for the various phones/tablets, so we'll need to re-enable those. But that's not too much hassle.

All in all it looks like a fairly impressive update. TBH, they've now included most of the reasons for jumping up to the big brother unit, so it's main USP now is the sheer number of inputs. But if you don't need them, QSC have made the 8 and 16 killer bits of kit. I can't wait to get playing with some of this stuff.

[Bob Bickerton]

Thanks for posting that up Dave.

That new app certainly seems like an improvement over the old one. There's a lot I like about the Touchmix, but as time has passed, I have two lingering negative criticisms. One is that the preamp gain cannot be operated remotely. Secondly, I've always found it challenging to navigate around the app.

Following a beer spill (not my own beer I should add) and an insurance claim, I've decided to go with the new Midas MR-18, which does have remote gain control and a more logical app (in my opinion), along with RTA etc. In fact its workflow seems more aligned with the Soundcraft Expression approach.

Getting back to the new QSC app, it's a pity they don't have FX sends as an option in the left hand 'bus menu'. Also, whilst it's good to have an 'overview' window when you select a channel, it's (expectedly) too small to be be too useful, so requires a 'two-step' tweak as opposed to the 'one-step' offered on the Midas.

Of course the big advantage of the QSC is its ability to record directly to disc without the need for a computer, that's something the Midas does not offer.

Bob

[Dave B]

Bob, hope you enjoy your new Midas mate.

As for the gain, I hear what you're saying, but what I did find was that the 'digital gain' on each channel was a bit of a lifesaver the other week. I was able to get a healthy signal into the desk initially, but where I'd slightly undercooked it, the gain control allowed me to compensate without pushing the faders to extremes. It's a bit of a kludge, but it did make the fader movements smaller and more manageable.

The irony here is that I'd only recently read the manual properly and really got to grips with what the TM can do. Guess we'll all have to rtfm again

[Mike Stranks]

Ho-hum....

I like the new firmware... addresses my key niggles I think.

BUT my 10" tablet says it's incompatible with the new Android app... the 7" tablet is fine...

[Dave B]

Which might be a problem as I'm sure that the fonts on the app are smaller and harder to read. Even with my new specs!

I see a new 'testing' mic in my future and some time spent analysing rooms to see how good the new RTA / Tuning Wizard is. Could be interesting

[Mike Stranks]

Which might be a problem as I'm sure that the fonts on the app are smaller and harder to read. Even with my new specs!

Indeed they are...!

Leaves me with a dilemma... I'm still not entirely comfortable with touchscreen faders... my gig on Saturday which required a lot of high-speed fader movement emphasised that...

So do I buy another compatible tablet or move on to something with faders? First option is to try the memsahib's iPad as she's considering getting a newer one anyway...

In a very real sense I'd be sorry to see the TM8 go... it's a superb piece of kit with many features that mark it out from the competition at that price point... time for a very considered ponder...

[Dave B]

Just had a thought. Maybe we should ask QSC to implement a fader mode where, once the basic mix is set up, the faders change to 'relative mode' a la the old SSL way where the fader is recalibrated so that the defined level is now in the middle and we would have +/- a certain amount (6dB? 12dB?) each direction. This would give the faders more room to move which is what half of FOH mixing is about. Does that sound like a sensible idea? Or is it less practical for live?

[MarkPAman]

I think I'd still want to be able to instantly pull a fader down to "minus infinity" for live work. Things do go wrong!

[Dave B]

Yeah - I did wonder about that, but there's a nice 'mute' button at the bottom of the fader which would have to be included in any new view. With a multi-touch screen, you could even stab at a fistful of them in one go. The other idea was to make the fader do +/- 12dB which should be a hefty amount to turn down.

Like I said, just an idea

[Mike Stranks]

Well some serious pondering has taken place and I was on the point of going back to analogue!

... but wiser counsels (aka Mrs S!) have prevailed and I've just bought a 10.1" tablet that runs Android 6...

As she pointed out, the 'gig' that required rapid fader movement is quite specialist and of only annual frequency.

So now looking forward to using Firmware v3.xxxx and the improved screen layouts it offers.

[MarkPAman]

Maybe we should ask QSC to implement a fader mode where......

The way Allen & Heath achieve something a bit like this (in their Qu-Pad app at least), is that if you touch a (vertical) fader then slide you finger sideways, any Up/Down movements you make, become progressively finer as you move out from the original fader. This works the other way on the horizontal control such as the gains, pans, thresholds etc too, in fact, just about anything except the PEQ which is obviously a 2 dimensional control already.

You could download the app & try it in demo mode if what I've written is not clear.

Works pretty well for me. Now, if only they'd fix the delay time problem........

[Sam Spoons]

That is a great feature of the A&H app. I wish the Behringer app had similar.

Do you mean the delay in response to touching the screen and the fader moving?

[MarkPAman]

No. The problem is with with the FX delay unit.

On the desk, you can set delay time with a touch & turn system, or by tapping. Early versions of the iPad app didn't allow FX editing at all. Over time, various bits got added.

When the Qu-SB came out, obviously all functions need to be accessible via the iPad - and they almost are.

However, for some reason, the only way to set a delay time is by tapping it in, which is just not as accurate as it should be. It needs a slider like everything else has - there's even a blank space on the screen where it should be....

Should add that there are rumours of a new firmware update in the offing, so I hope this will be sorted; it's been over a year since the last one. I assume A&H's attention has been focused on the dLive range for a while now, which I notice has just expanded again.

[Mike Stranks]

So... used the TM8 yesterday in conjunction with my Android 6 tablet. The tablet makes the UI usable in that you can read it!

The mixer/wifi/tablet all worked faultlessly and the v3 software upgrade makes navigation and access to key areas quicker and more intuitive. I like it!