Mixing from a tablet

T

Torbjörn Molin

Freshman
Aug 9, 2011
15
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Gothenburg, Sweden
I just ordered an Idr-32 (iLive stagebox) that I intend to use without a surface, just an Ipad and a laptop. This will primarily be for mixing a band that I work with regularly and shouldn't be a problem as it's the same setup every time, but I'm also thinking about using this for other shows.
I know that some people on the forum are mixing from tablets regularly, so I wonder, what type of shows do you feel you need an actual surface for and what shows are suited for tablet mixing?
 
Re: Mixing from a tablet

T -

Mixing the idr32 without a surface falls into 2 basic categories - tablet/laptop and iPad. (There are other options for control devices from Allen & Heath.) The iPad is "multitouch" (you can do multiple things simultaneously), the tablet/laptop is "single function". The tablet/laptop can be connected to the mixrack via cable, iPad needs a router. Basic mixing is much easier & faster on the iPad, but only the tablet/laptop allows access to all parameters & functions. For these reasons, having both at jobs is reccommended, imo, if there is no surface.

Working with acts you know well can be accomplished with no surface, but high pressure/complicated/festival situations demand a surface, especially with guest mixpersons. I've done almost all my mixing on the iPad for about the last 9 months, but I always bring a surface (R72 or T112) to jobs. A lot will depend on your facility with system setup/mixing without a surface.

-Tim Tyler
 
Re: Mixing from a tablet

I wouldn't do it without a hardwired laptop as a backup for a couple of reason. One there is no scene management on the iPad app. If something unforeseen happens and you lose configuration you have no way to restore everything. Two some Wi-Fi routers can crater when a bunch of smart phones hit them causing your iPad to disconnect you need a fall back.
 
Re: Mixing from a tablet

Thanks for all the suggestions. I do have 50m of cat5 that I will use with the laptop at foh and I'm also thinking about routing the pfl bus through this cable via Dante, though I haven't looked in to this to see if it's practical. Allen & heath has a list of consumer routers that they have tested for this application so I got the D-Link DIR-815 that supports the 5GHz band and supposedly works well with multicast. Let's just hope, like some of you pointed out, that it will deal nicely with a room full of IPhones.

I think I'm more interested in the more hands on side of things. For instance, would it be worth getting some sort of midi-controller for the editor to have some actual faders?
 
Rob Spence said:
The reason to disable it is so the router doesn't have to deal with rejecting the many attempts to access it and perhaps slow the processing for your use.
Click to expand...

Had that happen the other night, FOH guy couldn't acces his lake to do some minor eq adjustments during the show due to being overloaded with requests on his network.
 
Re: Mixing from a tablet

Ok after re-reading your question here's my thoughts. (StudioLive 24.4.2/16.0.2 user)

I mix a lot of bands, often new bands, that get put "on the list" of bands that will be coming back. If its a typical band:

Drums
Bass
2 - guitars
3 vocals
Maybe keys

Then it's usually pretty smooth sailing. Once I get the gains set I can get a mix up and running. Then I can spend the rest of the night mixing remotely from around the venue, to hear what it sounds like at various locations. I wander freely, mixing to my hearts content.

But

Sometimes you get a more challenging band with various instruments:

Banjo
Acoustic guitars
Stand up bass
Washboard
Percussion
Etc.

I sometimes find these bands a bit of a challenge to stay on top of everything. One band had 6 members, and it was easier to keep a rein on things working from the desk and having everything in front of you. If I had to ride a fader for vocals while keeping an eye/tweaking the standup bass it was easier at the desk.

Plus

Using headphones to solo different instruments to check for something quirky (where is that ringing comin from) you need to be at the mixer.

But for me that would be one band per dozen maybe. It's not real often that I do work from the desk, but I do like having "Mission Control" set up at a mix position, even though I could technically leave the mixer on stage.

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Re: Mixing from a tablet

Rob Spence said:
Use the "N" band, 5gHz. Don't use the "G" band, 2.4gHz.
Set up the router and disable the "G" band.
Click to expand...

"N" and "g" (and "b" for that matter) represent transmission schemes, not frequency bands. Whereas "g" has only ever been notated for use in 2.4GHz, "n" applies to both 2.4 and 5GHz. But otherwise you're correct; using the 5GHz band will see far less users.
 
Re: Mixing from a tablet

I have been mixing with the Studiolive using the iPad app for about a month now. I use a Dell latitude with Win 7 and a Belkin 5GHZ router. So far it has been very reliable and I love the control provided by the iPad app. In answer to the OP, this weekend I will be doing a multi band festable with possible guest engineers, so I will run a snake and set up out front in the conventional manor. I recently did a gig for a dance recital were the owner warned to control CD playback from front of house so again conventional setup, but for the majority of my gigs I will set up my mixer on the stage wings and mix with my iPad from remote locations anywhere in the room. The ease of set up/ tear down and the time savings has allowed me to to do gigs with less hired help and squeeze out a little more profit.
 
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Re: Mixing from a tablet

Jordan Lahr said:
Only issue with 5ghz is its a much shorter range and doesn't cope well with solid walls.
Click to expand...

I'd disagree on the "much shorter range" for a number of reasons. First off, there's no significant difference in the atmospheric absorption between the 2 bands. Further, for a given antenna size, you can build a higher gain antenna for 5Ghz than for 2.4. This, coupled with typically lower noise floors for the 5Ghz band, can give you excellent range with 802.11a equipment, at least if you have clear line of sight.
 


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