Re: So now what?
Here's one reason why I don't want to go back to using preamps that are not recallable.
I was frustrated by the lack of remote gain control when working for a wedding band. Each member had a variety of roles during a long set with lots of dynamic changes (it went from the "first dance" to "party like a rock star" and each member was also a multi-instrumentalist).
Between the changing of roles (from background to lead singer for instance) to the changing of instruments (the keyboard player was also the trumpet player, DJ and part time lead vocalist for instance) it was a challenge to keep dynamics well in hand.
If I had the X32 Rack or X32 full sized that I have now, back then, all of my complaints would have vanished. The outfit in question was awaiting the release of the X32 Rack so they could sell the Mackie digital mixer they were using back then. The Mackie worked, but the lack of remote preamp control made things more complicated than they needed to be.
Now that I have been using this technology for a while I can say that my life has become easier and I am more often a happy camper. With all the commotion on stage from constant moving about, it is inevitable that mics will get moved or that dynamic changes will be made on the fly by one of the musicians.
I am a performer and multi instrumentalist myself and I would prefer having access to my gain pots no matter where I may be at. I have too many memories of mixing analog where the mixer was stage side and I had to run back and forth between the audience area and the mixer to make the necessary changes (especially in the bars).
Now that everything is digital, I enjoy being able to fully control the mix regardless of my location. I have a gig coming up soon where I might be playing organ, bass guitar and drums in one set all the while controlling the rest of the mix. Having access to the gain pots with my iPad will be a great help. Without them I'm not sure it would even be possible.
As for the WiFi issue, I have yet to run into the kind of show stopping trouble that I hear about from others, and it does not bother me to use an iPad as the sole control surface. Whatever you choose, you should always have enough redundancy built into your system to keep the show from grinding to a halt. I carry an X32 full size, an X32 Rack and a 12 channel analog backup mixer. I still carry my analog snake in the van and I carry a laptop with Ethernet cables in case I must use a hard wired connection to control one of the digital mixers.
Here's one reason why I don't want to go back to using preamps that are not recallable.
I was frustrated by the lack of remote gain control when working for a wedding band. Each member had a variety of roles during a long set with lots of dynamic changes (it went from the "first dance" to "party like a rock star" and each member was also a multi-instrumentalist).
Between the changing of roles (from background to lead singer for instance) to the changing of instruments (the keyboard player was also the trumpet player, DJ and part time lead vocalist for instance) it was a challenge to keep dynamics well in hand.
If I had the X32 Rack or X32 full sized that I have now, back then, all of my complaints would have vanished. The outfit in question was awaiting the release of the X32 Rack so they could sell the Mackie digital mixer they were using back then. The Mackie worked, but the lack of remote preamp control made things more complicated than they needed to be.
Now that I have been using this technology for a while I can say that my life has become easier and I am more often a happy camper. With all the commotion on stage from constant moving about, it is inevitable that mics will get moved or that dynamic changes will be made on the fly by one of the musicians.
I am a performer and multi instrumentalist myself and I would prefer having access to my gain pots no matter where I may be at. I have too many memories of mixing analog where the mixer was stage side and I had to run back and forth between the audience area and the mixer to make the necessary changes (especially in the bars).
Now that everything is digital, I enjoy being able to fully control the mix regardless of my location. I have a gig coming up soon where I might be playing organ, bass guitar and drums in one set all the while controlling the rest of the mix. Having access to the gain pots with my iPad will be a great help. Without them I'm not sure it would even be possible.
As for the WiFi issue, I have yet to run into the kind of show stopping trouble that I hear about from others, and it does not bother me to use an iPad as the sole control surface. Whatever you choose, you should always have enough redundancy built into your system to keep the show from grinding to a halt. I carry an X32 full size, an X32 Rack and a 12 channel analog backup mixer. I still carry my analog snake in the van and I carry a laptop with Ethernet cables in case I must use a hard wired connection to control one of the digital mixers.
).