Re: Actually MIXING on a tablet/ipad
Looking for reports on what it's like to mix a band completely without physical faders for a dedicated sound man – not just for a mix from stage situation, which I think tend to be more set it and go.
Trying to decide between a digital mixer with faders plus wireless option vs. a rack mount type that runs wireless/wired on a tablet/laptop only. This is for typical bar band gigs but that don't suck too bad.
[h=2]To the inquiry of what it is like mixing a band without faders, actually mixing on a tablet/iPad :[/h]LOVE IT. LIBERATING. LIFE ALTERING. No exaggeration. My first gig out in 01/12 with a remote desk/ device (1642SL) was a Moonwalk moment. Since then aprx. 90% of my time mixing live music performance week in & out is via a tablet UI( iOS & Android ), the majority of which is on the X32 line, peppered in with a wee bit of the DL1608 and 1642SL.
I offer examples of other related events for consideration of a similar impact, personally and universally; mylar drum heads , solid body guitars, Beatles & George Martin, MTR, Rhodes EP, DX7 synth, personal computers, audio DSP, Digidesign SoundTools/ProTools, cd/r/rw recorders, touchscreens, smart phones, Al Gore & the Internet, are to name some of the more memorable having altered the landscape in a most profound and lasting way, IMHO.
More to the point of physical faders or not, lets be clear that zero of these are passing audio, rather acting as mere encoders. Nonetheless, always nice to have WHEN they might be needed and /or desired by those who may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with a remote UI, or in the event of wired or wireless connectivity difficulties of remote devices.
The pool of fader equipped digital desks is larger to choose from vs. rack units and size/space of desk candidates are an obvious consideration be it for install or portable use.
The flip side is real estate and weights savings with less moving parts for the racks. Additionally, the StageBox variety of digital mixers should be considered as part of the faderless genre, e.g. Behringer X-Air and Soundcraft Ui series.
Wired/wireless peripherals, PC`s, laptops, tablets, touchscreens, wifi AP/routers are wide and varied from which to choose from and choices may be dictated by which manufacturer platform is chosen and implemented. Here as well you may find varied and fervent end user preferences for not just mixer X,Y or Z but the choice of UI control as well.
It is with the UI of the apps that I feel really make a huge distinction between platforms. All are available to download and fiddle about with (exception A&H iLive MixPad) to assist in a general assessment and comparison, bearing in mind minimum device requirements.
And to dive deeper, are the differences of the DSP of EQ and FX. There is a difference. Play with the apps and one can see the degree of PEQ frequency points varies between platforms. FX quality differences are audibly and significantly obvious between brands.
Rack/stagebox units should be given careful consideration of the corresponding remote apps/software since this will likely be the primary means of control.
Aside from the software considerations are the requirements and/or desires of mic-pres, hardware in/outs & routing provisions, computer/D2D recording, brand reputation/preference and as always, dinero $.
If possible, find someone, somewhere, somehow to get up close and personal with some rigs in a real world situation. More to your consideration, is it doable, mixing sans fadercaps? Absolutely.
Look MA, NO FADERS !For a bar band, no problemo. For theatre, now that is a wholly different question for another thread.
Which, if ever, when ever, one may choose, a word of wisdom,..... redundancy......or back-up plans. Old school rules, weakest link in the chain & Murphy still applies, and with so many processes and devices essentially reduced down to one device, plan for success by preparing for the unexpected. In addition, I am of the here and now variant, not one to buy into the promises or in-hope of to come in version 99.9. Translation: do the best to know what one is buying into at the feature set, and can make use of such with any future revisions to be considered X-Mas gifts in July.
In January 2012 there were essentially only two affordable remote controllable live performance digital audio mixing platforms, the Presonus SL and Mackie DL series. What a difference three years has brought in choice of platform and price for the consumer/ end-user, with likely more to come. Game-changing. Cheers