Re: StageMix for LS9 released
Used it last night.
Stage one: charity fundraiser with two co-chairs and organization head using RF HH at podium. Then, auction given by three celebrity types wearing RF lavs. System, flown delays and pole mounted boxes near stage. iPad connected to laptop via wrt54g router, remoter app, and tight vnc. Laptop running airfader, wired to router and then to console. Right tool for the job...where being able to ring out prior to event, then tweak tonality and dynamics during event while walking the room was a significant advantage. Not to mention, console was located in a closet, so a second person and walkie talkies would have been needed otherwise.
Session two: Once auction event was over, grabbed router and walked upstairs to get the band started. Mixer side of stage, iPad running stage mix. Obviously, not able to adjust dynamics or tweak effects using this method, but the interface is less cluttered and the metering is really nice. Adjusting monitor mixes or effects feeds takes a few clicks, but it was easy enough I could respond to monitor request sign language without leaving my cocktail table. Huge bonus is that now you can leave your effects on the encoders (rather than giving up faders). Fader control is not clunky at all and fine moves are really easy.
Compare and contrast: Airfader has meters too, but the lag of vnc makes it difficult to use them outside of checking to see that RF mics are turned on. For really tweaky sessions like mine, airfader vnc was great. Tweaking of vnc settings to reduce bandwidth required by graphics can reduce lag to minimal levels...where the refresh rate easily keeps up with clicking through menus. Stage mix is really nice. Reduced feature set compared to airfader but the bare bones interface keeps you from being nervous about hitting the wrong button. For instance, airfader puts the mute button right next to the button for closing the channel strip view...so you have to be careful there. Overall, two good tools for "some gigs I do." The airfader experience will be different if you host it remotely via laptop or pc tablet. Perhaps the metering would be better too. Naming your channels in each application is pretty essential for workflow verification. Airfader allows this to be done from the tablet. Stage mix requires this to be done from the console, but the bonus is that channel tag colors show up for a nice visual cue. Airfader allows scene manipulation while stage mix requires a trip to the console. Finally if you want to use airfader, get a bulletproof router with good antennas. Stage mix takes a skinny minute to resync, so vnc is a winner in this area. I didn't have issues, but there's no reason to mess with spotty control coverage.
I even spilt coffee on the iPad. No worries, ran right off the screen. All day on the iPad and still 50% on the battery remaining.
