Behringer XR18 X-Air

[Acoustic356]

I am really close to getting the XR-18. But this is *exactly* what is stopping me!

If the X-Touch is the way to go with the XR-18, why wouldn't I just start off with the X32 Producer for about the same money, and have even more control with the added convenience of a single rack-mounted unit???

As a musician, I have learned to never but new. Even with the XR-18 and the X-Touch, I am still half the cost of the Producer.

As far as the X32 rack? You are getting the same number of channels as you get with the XR-18 until you add the digital snake.

As far as being able to pack up and travel? The XR-18/Xtouch is easier to transport.

As a reference, here's the back panel of the X32 rack...

 

[azfatboy]

As a musician, I have learned to never but new. Even with the XR-18 and the X-Touch, I am still half the cost of the Producer.

As far as the X32 rack? You are getting the same number of channels as you get with the XR-18 until you add the digital snake.

As far as being able to pack up and travel? The XR-18/Xtouch is easier to transport.

As a reference, here's the back panel of the X32 rack...

View attachment 2848505

You don't have to be a musician to recognize the waste of buying new. But I just don't know where you are finding these awesome prices for the xr18 and x-touch. Because on a popular auction site, an x32 producer (cert refurb) can be had for about the same (well under $1K) as an xr18 and x-touch (also cert refurb). And although the ports are indeed the same as the xr18, the Producer indisputably has a LOT more control surface (more faders, built-in screen, etc) than the x-touch.

I didnt mention the x32 rack--that would not a comparable solution. I said a rack-mounted unit, which the Producer is.

And easier to transport? Not necessarily. Especially if one already has a rolling rack with slant top the the Producer would drop into perfectly...

In short, my question was assuming price parity. But if you can show me where to find an XR-18 and x-touch for under $500 total, then you win (and I win, cause I will BUY it!)

 

[walterw]

As far as the X32 rack? You are getting the same number of channels as you get with the XR-18 until you add the digital snake.

input channels yes, but with the X32 rack you're getting twice the monitor mixes!

 

[Dp1363]

I have been very happy with my X32 Rack. I could never go backwards to a XR-18.

 

[walterw]

so i just discovered there's at last a reasonably-priced iphone app!

xair monitor mixer is only $3.99.

i just grabbed it and haven't gigged with it yet, but in demo mode it looks easy enough, the faders respond super-fast and it shows all 16 channels plus a master level in both portrait and landscape mode on both my iphone and ipad.

my only question will be how easily it syncs up, and whether it will show pan controls for my linked stereo monitor sends.

 

[Geri O]

so i just discovered there's at last a reasonably-priced iphone app!

xair monitor mixer is only $3.99.

i just grabbed it and haven't gigged with it yet, but in demo mode it looks easy enough, the faders respond super-fast and it shows all 16 channels plus a master level in both portrait and landscape mode on both my iphone and ipad.

my only question will be how easily it syncs up, and whether it will show pan controls for my linked stereo monitor sends.

Cool!

I've sent this to my production buddies that are regularly using, nay, running the virtual wheels off of the XR18 I sold to company after I bought the X32 Rack. They run a string of cheerleading competitions with it for about 6 months straight. 4 RF pics, 6 playback channels. Easy as (insert easy metaphor here...).

Although the guys run iPads on the shows, they have expressed a need (probably a desire, actually) for an iPhone app , for whatever reason. They are going to get it and check it out hopefully the first weekend in January.

Thanx, Walter!

 

[nervous]

so i just discovered there's at last a reasonably-priced iphone app!

xair monitor mixer is only $3.99.

i just grabbed it and haven't gigged with it yet, but in demo mode it looks easy enough, the faders respond super-fast and it shows all 16 channels plus a master level in both portrait and landscape mode on both my iphone and ipad.

my only question will be how easily it syncs up, and whether it will show pan controls for my linked stereo monitor sends.

Have you used this app live yet? We tried for a few weeks and every time have great difficulty in both synching and then getting to the actual synched mixer screen, if that makes sense. There's some magical combination of presses that I've not yet mastered. I can't use it and have given up.

 

[Acoustic356]

Have you used this app live yet? We tried for a few weeks and every time have great difficulty in both synching and then getting to the actual synched mixer screen, if that makes sense. There's some magical combination of presses that I've not yet mastered. I can't use it and have given up.

Are you using the built in wifi or an external wifi? The internal wifi can't be trusted in a live setting.

 

[nervous]

Are you using the built in wifi or an external wifi? The internal wifi can't be trusted in a live setting.

External since day 1. That's not the issue with the app. I have the correct address, all other units are connected. I enter that address, it should be connected but hangs in demo mode. Occasionally it will jump from there to the connected mixer view but it's so unintuitive and fussy to get to that page. Once there it works fine.

 

[ctmullins]

Modern phone? Other apps shut down? Cellular turned off? Other WiFi hotspots nearby?

 

[Acoustic356]

External since day 1. That's not the issue with the app. I have the correct address, all other units are connected. I enter that address, it should be connected but hangs in demo mode. Occasionally it will jump from there to the connected mixer view but it's so unintuitive and fussy to get to that page. Once there it works fine.

Which app are you using? Behringer released updated apps that seem to work better than the original...

 

[nervous]

Which app are you using? Behringer released updated apps that seem to work better than the original...

We're still talking about this one for the iPhone:

XAir Monitor Mixer on the App Store

 

[nervous]

Modern phone? Other apps shut down? Cellular turned off? Other WiFi hotspots nearby?

iPhone 6 and 7, no idea on other apps, cellular or hotspots. Shouldn't be that complicated.

 

[Acoustic356]

We're still talking about this one for the iPhone:

XAir Monitor Mixer on the App Store

Got it... yeah... 3rd party app.

Have you performed the latest update on your XR? When they did that, it broke a lot of things particularly dealing with 3rd party apps.

Although the monitor app is nice, a more reliable route to go may be to download the new app, assign people a bus and let them manage from their bus.

 

[JRA]

update:

i jumped into this thread when i was 'overwhelmed' after buying the xr-18 about 15 months ago. after a few days of panic (and a half dozen youtube tutorials) i settled into an acceptance of the differences between analog and digital.

i really like the xr-18, all that is does (i'm still tapping it for new setups, all the features, yada yada), and that i can use it for both live and recording.

it's a nice piece. it saves space and weight. it eliminates a lot of the analog hassles (e.g., a 100' snake, a heavy, large board, many cables!).

i use it exclusively*, now, for its convenience, on live shows.

*i still use analog at home, but in combination with the xr. i like the tactile/physical of analog...still!

 

[JGbassman]

Hey all,

My band just got an Xr-18 a few weeks ago and I've been tasked with running the sound. I'm new to sound so lots to learn. I've been running the mix from my ipad2 with reasonable results, there is just a lot to learn yet.

We play every weekend so I've got the monitors and main eqs sorted out ok, but I can't figure out how to set the drums in their own dca group, so I can run everything with a single fader. The tutorials from Behringer seem a little outdated and the simple drag of channels into a sub group doesn't work for my download. I was wondering if someone could give me a heads up regarding this. I also haven't found a good tutorial that's up to date as of yet. Lots to learn from my standpoint.

Last night I ran into a weird situation where the thing assigned my bass input and the drummers vocal mic to the same channel. Weird. We figured this out by looking at the assigned inputs on a computer. I can't find where that info is on my iPad. I will start bringing my computer starting next week as its a lot easier to find the info on. I'll still use the iPad for mixing but the app just doesn't seem to have as much info.

I haven't got into the effects as well because I have a very limited time to get everything set at sound check then we play. Getting my band mates to cooperate and get a good sound check so I can learn is about as easy as herding cats. I'm slowly training them but it's frustrating to learn in such a limited time, which is usually about 20 minutes tops.

Any tips, regardless of how rudimentary they sound would be appreciated as I learn this beast. I really do like it and know I have just uncovered the tip of its cabapilities. I can't wait to get more familiar with it.

Thanks.

 

[Geri O]

Hey all,

My band just got an Xr-18 a few weeks ago and I've been tasked with running the sound. I'm new to sound so lots to learn. I've been running the mix from my ipad2 with reasonable results, there is just a lot to learn yet.

We play every weekend so I've got the monitors and main eqs sorted out ok, but I can't figure out how to set the drums in their own dca group, so I can run everything with a single fader. The tutorials from Behringer seem a little outdated and the simple drag of channels into a sub group doesn't work for my download. I was wondering if someone could give me a heads up regarding this. I also haven't found a good tutorial that's up to date as of yet. Lots to learn from my standpoint.

Last night I ran into a weird situation where the thing assigned my bass input and the drummers vocal mic to the same channel. Weird. We figured this out by looking at the assigned inputs on a computer. I can't find where that info is on my iPad. I will start bringing my computer starting next week as its a lot easier to find the info on. I'll still use the iPad for mixing but the app just doesn't seem to have as much info.

I haven't got into the effects as well because I have a very limited time to get everything set at sound check then we play. Getting my band mates to cooperate and get a good sound check so I can learn is about as easy as herding cats. I'm slowly training them but it's frustrating to learn in such a limited time, which is usually about 20 minutes tops.

Any tips, regardless of how rudimentary they sound would be appreciated as I learn this beast. I really do like it and know I have just uncovered the tip of its cabapilities. I can't wait to get more familiar with it.

Thanks.

I wish I had time to post some thoughts, but you can find a bunch of stuff on YouTube.

For your drum vocal and bass input issue, search for “XR18 input patching.

For assigning the DCAs (which not easy to utilize on the XR, unless they’ve updated the app), search for XR18 DCA assign.

They have a bunch of stuff on YouTube for the XR. It just takes time to sort through it all, not easy to find, don’t I know. And you really need the XR and your iPad in front of you when looking at the videos.

Good luck...

 

[walterw]

my only question will be how easily it syncs up, and whether it will show pan controls for my linked stereo monitor sends.

Although the guys run iPads on the shows, they have expressed a need (probably a desire, actually) for an iPhone app , for whatever reason. They are going to get it and check it out hopefully the first weekend in January.

Have you used this app live yet? We tried for a few weeks and every time have great difficulty in both synching and then getting to the actual synched mixer screen, if that makes sense. There's some magical combination of presses that I've not yet mastered. I can't use it and have given up.

so, used it last night, to generally good results. i was running my ipad mini which i keep just for personal monitor mix duties.

i had to manually enter the IP address (not immediately obvious to do, you have to touch on the provided address number itself to call up the keyboard) but once done it found the mixer just fine and was pretty easy to tweak. the fader response was fast with a long throw so it was easy to do gentle level nudges while playing, and it was nice to have all channels visible, no time needed to swipe around looking for what i wanted.

my big disappointment is it doesn't do panning for linked stereo mixes i had to pop back over to the "real" x-air app to adjust that, not an option for iphone users. if they can add this feature it'll be a home run. also, the level calibration marks don't show until you touch a fader, don't know why they need to hide that. at least keeping the mark for "0dB" visible would be useful.

one weird thing that did happen was in the middle of the show my ipad let go of the network for the mixer and latched onto the house wi-fi, something that had never happened with the official app. i quickly re-found the right network and it synced back up quick and was fine the rest of the night.

overall it's well worth the little money (c'mon it's like one beer at the gig ), i found it faster and easier to find and nudge my mix levels than with the x-air app.

 

[Robb Fesig]

My biggest annoyance with stereo linked channels is when you want to send them to a bus you have to send both channels. I thought I read a while ago where it was a known bug and was going to be fixed, but so far nada.

 

[the explode man]

Just have to chime in and say - for the time I've had it, the X32 has been awesome!