So from what I gather, I must have the first retail X32 in the UK...
The UK retailers seriously dropped the ball with this one. I too placed a pre-order in good time and once the release date came and went, I would phone regularly to get updates. Each time I was told that they really didn't know when they were going to get the desks in, although they think it would be late September.
Not good enough.
This being a business decision, I decided to take mine elsewhere.
One e-mail to an overseas retail establishment (no, not the German one) confirmed stock availability, price match with the lowest advertised price and free delivery. I ordered by reply and four days later received my nice shiny new X32 by UPS.
Fast forward a few days and a couple of sessions of use and all I can say is 'Wow'. It really does all the stuff that they said it would.
It's intuitive enough to get into without the manual, although I couldn't figure out how to label the channels from the front panel. That isn't in any version of the manual on-line or not. I had to hook up a laptop and run the XControl Editor. Setting that up was a breeze as well. The software is well laid out and unlike the 01v96 Studio Manager, you can view a different screen remotely to what you have selected on the console. Labelling channels with the remote software is so easy, I still haven't bothered to figure out how to do it from the console!
I still can't register my purchase online though...
The 32 channel recording feature was easy enough to set up once I'd figured out where the desk was connecting to Cubase. I was able to record 32 channels in the background and also run XControl from the same laptop. Now all I need is a bigger hard drive!
In action, the console is well laid out and from my experience with other consoles, it feels like a cross between an LS9 and an iLive. That's an observation, not an accusation. The unit is solid enough. Yes, the end cheeks are plastic, but they feel solid rather than flimsy and thin. The buttons feel like the non latching FX buttons on a Yamaha MG32/14FX.
Where this system comes into its own is when you bring the P16M monitor mixers into the equation.
Yes, there are 16 bus outputs on the desk, but there are also 16 dedicated outputs for the P16 system. These can be made up from any of the direct inputs or mix groups. The P16s themselves are a breeze to configure. I've not got as far as actually using one properly yet (I have 5 for my band), but I've managed to get the pre-configuration setup and ready for our next production rehearsal.
The cons? Well there are a couple.
There are only 32 channels available (OK 40 with the aux inputs).
It's not expandable. Once you fill your 32 channels (and I have), there's nowhere to go. Yes you can have four S16s connected (apparently) but you'll only ever be able to access 32 channels at a time. There's no extra layer.
Really they're minor gripes, as I knew it was 32 channel only when I bought it. If I'd have wanted a 64 channel desk or an expandable one, I would have bought something else.
That said, with a feature set comparable to a LS9 and even the iLive (GLD), the X32 takes the phrase 'value for money' to another level.
It makes those other systems seem overpriced.
With the soon to be released S16 digital snake system, that puts a full X32, digital snake AND personal monitoring system at less than the price of a LS9-16.
With the nearest comparable system (the GLD without any Aviom bits) priced at over twice the X32, S16, P16 package price, I can't see how LS9/GLD sales won't be affected by this (it's certainly hit the seconhand market. I sold my 01v96VCM for peanuts compared to what I could have got for it earlier in the year).
To all the anti-Behringer 'snobs' (I still am one myself. I won't touch the DI boxes and although not directly affected by reliability issues on other equipment and I will freely admit to being in two minds about the reliability of this one before buying it), try one out. Compare the X32 to the GLD and LS9 in the flesh before berating it. OK, so it might not be up to Avid or Digico levels, but up against those other two? In a lot of ways it beats them both hands down.
On price alone, no-one else can compete.
No, I don't work for Behringer and I won't be out in public with my X32 until mid-October....
~
~:smile:
KB.
