Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- 231.8K All Categories
- 22 >> Start Here <<
- 12 New Members
- 8 FAQs
- 83.3K Gear
- 37.9K Guitar
- 3.2K Acoustics
- 1.3K Bass
- 14.1K Amps
- 16.7K FX
- 157 Digital & Modelling
- 730 Other Instruments
- 7.9K Making & Modding
- 406 Gear Reviews
- 100 Guitar Reviews
- 72 Amp Reviews
- 119 FX Reviews
- 84 Other Reviews
- 734 Made in the UK
- 932 Theory
- 1.8K Technique
- 2K Live
- 3K Studio & Recording
- 2.1K Making Music
- 202 Events
- 15 Guitar Show 2018
- 762 Plug My Stuff
- 100.6K Classifieds
- 39.2K Guitars £
- 2.6K Acoustics £
- 132 LH Guitars £
- 836 Basses £
- 10K Parts £
- 17.6K Amps £
- 32.8K FX £
- 2.6K Studio & Rec £
- 5.8K Misc £
- 443 Personnel
- 52.7K Chat
- 35.3K Off Topic
- 987 Tributes
- 6.3K Music
In this Discussion
Become a Subscriber!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
Behringer XR18 digital desk
glt56
Frets: 208
I've been asked if I could produce a review of this unit which I bought a few weeks ago for use with our covers band. In the past we have always used analogue desks, snake and breakout box, together with various rackmount units to get the sound we need (and still got a few of them) but this little box has replaced the lot. There's a bit of a learning curve to get to know the software and how it relates to the old analogue settings, especially as there's so much more you can do with it. For me, the best thing about it is the fact you don't need loads of your old heavy gear, and that you can set up a mix and save the settings as a "scene" and recall it. We normally have a couple of scenes that we like and and recall them, so there is no setting up time. You can then tweak the scenes as you wish for a particular venue then save it as a different scene, brill! I am no sound engineer (I'm the guitarist/vocalist in the band), but this unit has made life soooooo much easier for us. As long as you are ok with using software, setting up wi-fi, tablets, etc. then it is a huge step forward. I haven't really scratched the surface with it, as there are loads of software plugins for all types of settings and effects imaginable, plus dynamic eq's, gates, compressors, etc.... all kinds of functions that a sound engineer would love but that we don't really need (or understand!)!
By the way, you can download the XR18 app FREE from here:
https://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Mixers/Digital-Mixers/XR18/p/P0BI8/downloads
and run it in demo mode so you can check out if the software is something you would be happy with before buying the unit itself.
There are many reviews online but one of the best is here:
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/behringer-xr18
With some videos here:
By the way, you can download the XR18 app FREE from here:
https://www.music-group.com/Categories/Behringer/Mixers/Digital-Mixers/XR18/p/P0BI8/downloads
and run it in demo mode so you can check out if the software is something you would be happy with before buying the unit itself.
There are many reviews online but one of the best is here:
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/behringer-xr18
With some videos here:
0
LOL 0
Wow! 0
Wisdom · Share on Twitter
LOL 0 Wow! 0 Wisdom · Share on TwitterBase theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
it also does ok as a rudimentary 16 input recording interface.
What do you record into? It would be handy to record 16 channels directly to a USB drive. Is that possible?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.behringer.android.control.app.xairq&hl=en_GB
which allows us to change our individual mix, but you could do the same with floor monitors. In fact we sometimes use both, especially if there are other bands/musicians on the same evening.
@Roland, apologies for not replying earlier. I was recording direct into Cubase on a laptop, via USB. This is fine , although the recording level is quite low and I had to apply several dB of gain to each track after recording. Couldn't find another way around that.
We use wedges. The Behringer was our cheap alternative to paying for IEMs. The idea was to have a wedge each and a separate mix in each so you could mix your own monitor, so everyone ran the app. However I must say that certain members of the band lost interest in having their own mix when they realised it wasn't going to done for them
The QU's Android app (3rd party) is a bit crap so you have to have an iPad to access all features. Overall, I think the XR18 has the better developed software as Behringer have thrown more money at it (the XR18 probably outsells the QU-SB by say 5 or 10 to 1??).
I did originally like then idea of the XR18's on board router but it's no big deal with the QU-SB not having one. Get a shallow 4U rack and just velcro any old router that everyone has lying about. It gives you mores scope to upgrade to a stronger router if you're someone that wants to wander about the venue more.
I'm yet to read a bad word against the XR18 and lads I know in the industry don't scoff at their products the way they did 5 or 10 years ago...
Never tried the Android ap as when these products were released it was iPad \ iPhone only. I do feel manufactuers do give the Apple platform more attention with desks and other audio products. All the engineers I work with all use iPads for that reason. As the iPads aren't used for anything other than running the remote ap it doesn't particularly matter if they don't normally use Apple stuff
As I mentioned before I don't like built in routers, better to have the router high in the air in my experience, mine normally sits on the stacks. Bog standard BT type.
Yeah Behringer really did turn their rep around with the x32, you do sometimes see no X32's on tech spec riders but only by people who have no idea about what they are talking about
Just a warning to those with Android only, watch out when using the A&H QU series.
Also, A&H only give 1 year warranty and Behringer give 3 year.
Behringer will take over this end of the market as they have a killer set of products and I would have bought one if I didn't get a great price on the QU.. They should have made the XR18 standard rack width in my opinion though (not possible as it wouldn't have fit in with their lower down XR series).
One thing I don't like about the QU App is the way the RTA is displayed over the GEQ. It's pretty useless as there's virtually no vertical resolution unless I'm missing something @John_P. ;; On the XR18 it shows underneath the QEQ faders so there's alot more resolution. That's one thing the QU series Android App does well.
On the QU App you get a fuller RTA only on the meters summary display (second image below) but you can't view that on the same screen as the QEG display...can you?
Having the full rack width A&H is nice and logical though. The 16 inputs scan better visually from left to right (and you've got space to stick on a scribble strip if required). It would have meant a more expensive casing for XR18 so can see why they've done it that way.
i can see future generations have digital scribble strips (like the Line6 Helix pedal). No confusion with band members about their channel inputs.
I'd personally prefer the RJ45 network connector at the rear though.
I do like just using it as a stage box though, shove it on the deck in front of the drum kit and it saves me using a snake. It gets booted about a wee bit but it seems pretty robust so far
if they could figure out a way to send the isolated channel audio to the tablet so you can monitor away from the main unit through headphones, would be even better.
I wonder if a low latency bluetooth transmitter in the headphone socket....
Are you satisfied with the inbuilt wifi, or do you use an external network hub, or cat5 cable?
What are you using to control the main mix? iPad, Mac, android or PC?
What are are band members using to control their monitor/IEM mixes?
Do you use gates and compression on the incoming channels? One of the articles I've read said that the inbuilt drum settings are a bit too tight.
Which reverb models do you use for FOH and IEMs?
We currently send bass and kick drum to the sub using an external crossover in a graphic EQ which sits after the mixer. Any thoughts on doing this from the X18, using an internal graphic and one of the aux/bus outputs?
@glt56 @BahHumbug @Cabicular ;
I've only used mine with the built in wifi but my mates have external for theirs, no issues at all so far but apparently it is faster and more responsive through a router so I'm going to get one soon and compare.
I've only run mine in iPads but I've done the sound for bands on an android tablet. Slightly different but near enough the same. I was toying with getting a cheaper tablet so I'm less bother about damage.
I sometimes use gates and comp if I feel it's needed, I just program up my own settings, nothing amazing compared to my old racks but they do a job so I think of them as a bonus.
Using an aux for subs is straightforward enough and I've done it a few times. There are plenty of aux outs.
The sound quality is a definite improvement over our analogue desk. Two things really stood out.
- The ability to configure individual IEM mixes on our iPads, without calling 'a bit more, a bit less' to someone on the desk. It's possible to get a much better mix this way. Our singer said it is the bet monitor mix he's ever had. Personally I was glad to get an IEM mix that gives me confidence about my levels in the FOH mix.
- Being able to record15 tracks into a DAW while we rehearsed, then play back through the desk, and adjusting the mix. We're so pleased with the recordings, which we can now mix down, that we've dropped the idea of booking a recording studio later in the year.
We used a MAC book, wired into the X18 with a USB cable to run the mixer app and Logic, and an external wireless router to connect our iPads. I think we'll use the MAC book at gigs to guard against wireless problems.The X18 offers a lot of controls over individual channels. Aside from the faders we made one other change. We used a PEQ to boost the bass guitar by 1.7 dB around 725 Hz.
Problems? Nothing major.
- The wireless dropped out once or twice, even 'though we're using a commercial quality router, not a domestic unit or the X18's internal wireless. This is obviously something to watch out for at gigs, but not a major issue because any failure would only prevent us adjusting IEM mixes personally. We could still do it through the hard wired MAC book.
- Both the drummer and sax player managed to plug their mics into the wrong sockets on the snake. Easily solved because the X18 shows a meter image of the incoming signal on each channel. With the old desk this would have taken a little more effort to trace.
- When switching between rehearsing and play back you have to go through 15 channels changing input from Line to USB, which takes a few minutes.
The mix is now saved off. We'll use it at our mid week rehearsal, and as the basis of the mix at the next gig.Nothing that isn't a bass instrument (kick, bass guitar, keys/synths) really needs any content below 100Hz, so treat that as a starting point - even the bass instruments should still have one in somewhere lower down as most bands in pubs/functions etc aren't carrying kit that's reproducing 40Hz with any real efficiency!
As far as other processing goes, I'd say less is more. There's a big temptation with digital to use comps, gates and EQ all over the place just because you can. I've heard many a mix ruined by it! Presets are of limited use because every source and signal path is different, so what works for one instrument with a particular mic in a particular room might not be the best for you. Start with it all switched off, and just throw it in where it genuinely needs it and you can hear a genuine improvement.