Mixer with a built-in split?

[synterx]

Presonus digital mixers had this. We still use an old 32 channel board, right on stage, because there are 4 db25 outs giving us easy 32 channel tails for foh. We wired up the db25 tails ourself saving money. It’s big, bulky, and we hate dragging the rig out. And are in fact going to go all rack and digital stage boxes, but we are having a hard time finding the same number of outs easily.
You can see it here:

You can see the size of it. It’s perfect, just too big.

 

[mmon77]

Presonus digital mixers had this. We still use an old 32 channel board, right on stage, because there are 4 db25 outs giving us easy 32 channel tails for foh. We wired up the db25 tails ourself saving money. It’s big, bulky, and we hate dragging the rig out. And are in fact going to go all rack and digital stage boxes, but we are having a hard time finding the same number of outs easily.
You can see it here:

You can see the size of it. It’s perfect, just too big.

I can't help the OP unfortunately, but wanted to drop in to say your band rocks!

 

[synterx]

Ha, thank you. I’m not looking for free views, but our giant stage rack mixer has the exact thing the OP wants. It’s so useful as it’s all built right in.
We’re trying to replicate the functionality of those outputs, and it’s going to cost us a fortune to do it right.

 

[s0c9]

Yep we do this exact setup but with the XR18 instead of 32

I added an SD8 in the back of my X32R rack… giving me 24 in and 16 output busses. 14 if I take 2 for effects into the IEM mixes. FOH has their own effects to use as they see fit.

 

[s0c9]

Presonus digital mixers had this. We still use an old 32 channel board, right on stage, because there are 4 db25 outs giving us easy 32 channel tails for foh. We wired up the db25 tails ourself saving money. It’s big, bulky, and we hate dragging the rig out. And are in fact going to go all rack and digital stage boxes, but we are having a hard time finding the same number of outs easily.
You can see it here:

You can see the size of it. It’s perfect, just too big.

My Presonus 16-ch had 2 on the back. Used to hook both DB25 outputs with 1/4” ends to a Behringer P16-I which would let me run multiple P16M’s off it. One of my stops on the route to full wireless independence. I still have the Presonus and 2 P16M’s.

 

[synterx]

Our problem is we need 32 outs, and at least 6 stereo monitor sends for our in ears. So 32 ins, 12 sends, and 32 xlr outs.
The dbx type connectors work so nice for outs. I guess that interface is no longer a thing for prosumer audio gear?

 

[agedhorse]

For live use, DB-25’s won’t last very long. Also, a non-isolated split is often problematic regarding noise between systems. We traveled with a 40 channel transformer isolated splitter snake, it was more or less foolproof.

 

[synterx]

For live use, DB-25’s won’t last very long. Also, a non-isolated split is often problematic regarding noise between systems. We traveled with a 40 channel transformer isolated splitter snake, it was more or less foolproof.

We only play 5-10x a year, so the durability hasn’t gone up yet.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

For live use, DB-25’s won’t last very long. Also, a non-isolated split is often problematic regarding noise between systems. We traveled with a 40 channel transformer isolated splitter snake, it was more or less foolproof.

That is the way to go, but I have to say, I've been using a non-isolated split for 25 years for my location recording (and now IEM) rig and I can count on one finger on one hand the number of times I've had problems with noise. That was due to poor wiring on the part of the venue. It's usually the tiny venues that are the problem. I'd love to get an isolated split but I don't want to cheap out on transformers if I do (not saying that you did), and that gets pricey pretty quick. I do have about 16 channels of isolation I can patch in, if needed.

I dream of a really nice snake, but I have other priorities. <possessed Jonathan Harker voice> "Snakes? Why have snakes when I can have nice juicy microphones!" </pJHv>

 

[agedhorse]

When working a lot (100+ shows a year) and interfacing with many different systems, different acts and venues, reliability becomes one of the biggest priorities because of the potential for huge losses if the sound company can’t make it happen. It totally changes the perspective.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

When working a lot (100+ shows a year) and interfacing with many different systems, different acts and venues, reliability becomes one of the biggest priorities because of the potential for huge losses if the sound company can’t make it happen. It totally changes the perspective.

Absolutely true.

 

[synterx]

That only makes sense. Our db25 based system has been perfect, but the sheer size and weight of it all has taken it's toll. So db25 is a goner as soon as we can figure out how to replace it all with digital stage boxes and all that stuff. Seems kind of dumb for a band that only plays 5-10X a year, but we have been getting bigger and bigger gigs in our 2nd year, so we're banking on our future a bit. Plus we all just like blowing our money on cool electronic stuff HaHa.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

My interfaces (Metric Halo ULN-8s) all have db-25 connectors, but I connect them to an XLR patchbay and use a standard split with two sets of XLR tails. It makes it much easier to interface with everything, especially when a venue already has a spare set of tails for their monitor desk.

 

[agedhorse]

We had all the necessary XLR sub-snakes and long/short split snakes, all terminating in XLR.