Control Surface vs App | PROs & CONs

[@dataplatter]

Mixing Station is just fantastic- and the licensing is reasonable and simple. The first time I used it I just paid for it. I hope it lives forever this way.

[@kevinharkins746]

Hey Daniel, really enjoy your videos and totally spot on. I had a production company in NYC for years and then just ended up in Africa for a concert series and never left. Where I am at there really isn't anything like rehearsal, sound check, riders etc and its all last minute. Mixing station for us has been a real gift. I have an x32, Dl32s, xr18 and it was getting complicated trying to keep the crew up on learning all of the programs. I think I too will part with the x32 as here they don't allow you to sit in front of house....for mixing ( and lighting ) its a headache. Also the great thing about phone/tablet control is working with the band and their monitors. Here you don't really get useful feedback ie, this monitor doesn't sound good and spread across 6 or more languages this can really get complicated. Now I can stand next to them on the stage and the setup is way faster and more enjoyable working with the bands.

[@mrufino1]

You mentioned this in the video, but I’m just expanding on it a little. You can run faders wirelessly (or wired if you desire) with mixing station, so if you want to do the brain onstage and control surface in audience you can do it. I use an x-touch and x-touch extender as a 16 channel surface through mixing station. You connect the usb b from one of the surfaces to the usb A of the other surface, then the usb B of that into whatever you’re running mixing station on. The only downside with that setup is that you have no local inputs, so preshow music, etc has to be connected onstage.

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

Great video and advice as always. I ended up getting a Midas M32R. Even in a flightcase I can carry into a venue on my own. It also fits in the back of my two seat Smart car. I just prefer a physical interface. I also use an iPad to walk around and fix things. I can see why using just a rack with inputs and a control surface would be attractive though.

[@EqDior]

I've used my android phone connected to a touch screen via Dex and an xtouch connected to the usb port of the screen thats connected with Mixing station. Worked to perfection for my needs!

[@СашаГаджетотСибиридоКрыма]

Dex is very interesting idea! What screen are you using?

[@EqDior]

@user-vf7bl4uy2c. I'm using a Uperfect 15" touchscreen

[@djabthrash]

Great video and great points as always. I do sound in a small venue that has a M32R, and still i do most things with X32 EDIT on my laptop and MS on my phone, because it's way more efficient this way. I only use the console surface to ride faders (when i'm not doing it in the crowd or from stage stage (monitors) with MS on my phone) and assign DCAs. I have to force myself to do more things with the console surface so that i don't depend too much on MS :)

[@davebrownentertainment7191]

I got the X32 Rack over the M32c, for the I/O redundancy (can use stand-alone in a pinch, but I also have the MR18), and for the controls/screen on the unit in case of router or control device failure. DL32 for that Midas flavor. Great combo! And Mixing Station is amazing, definitely the preferred/superior control app. :)

[@chucko22758]

I switched from an X32 Compact to an X32 Rack for exactly the reasons you describe. You need a case for the console, and then it's no longer "compact" or lightweight. The X32 Rack has the same aux ins and outs as the Compact, and only lacks proper line outs for the monitor. All in 3 rack spaces! I have it in a 4U rack bag and can carry it with one hand. I'm also a big fan of Mixing Station. I've barely scratched the surface of what it will let me do. I've mixed monitors for band rehearsals on my phone when I forgot the tablet. I know engineers who are uncomfortable without physical faders under their fingers, but I'm happy to mix on a tablet.

[@julianshowalter7001]

Succinct. Appreciate the presentation brother

[@jthunderbass1]

You can use an X-Touch with an M32Core and get faders what way. It has been mentioned here that you can use faders wirelessly with Mixing Station too. Just cause you get an M32 Core doesn't mean that you can't use faders. I wouldn't even consider a physical console in the X/M32 formate because you can do it with an X-touch. You can even use a fader wing wiht the edit software and do it wirelessly.

[@MarioSanchez-ym9fw]

For me biggest con - Cost. If you have the surface mixer, you still need to buy a digital snake or use an analog snake to get your inputs from stage to FOH. Some digital snakes are just as expensive as the rack mount digital mixers.

[@rolfdc2934]

One extra 'con' is that you have no audio from the app. I'm moving away from the full size mixer as well, I recently got the m32c.

[@SENPAI_R6]

i my self got the m32 Full size + DL32 stage box but for small events I use the DL32 + M32 Core it's easy with the app + u don't need to run cables all the way to FOH. If I got a big event Like a big one with multiple bands and stuff I use all I use the DL32 + M32 Core at stage + The M32 Full size at FOH to control the M32 core that way even if for some reason I get power cutout on FOH I can still use the app and my audio is still running BC it's all at stage in the M32 Core

[@dogfreak3000]

How are you using a full size M32 to control a M32C? Can you ellaborate?

[@СашаГаджетотСибиридоКрыма]

IF you're using DL32 on stage + M32 on FOH, why do you need additional M32 core on stage? Just to have all the stage "brains" only on stage and use M32 as big controller?

[@SENPAI_R6]

@@dogfreak3000 Its tolally overpowered to do it this way but i had multiple events with power dropout at FOH so i do it this way so the show can keep going even if FOH gets disconnected

[@SENPAI_R6]

@@СашаГаджетотСибиридоКрыма basically yes

[@dogfreak3000]

@@SENPAI_R6 I understood that part, but how exactly are you using the big console as a slave? Been trying to figure that out for a while now, before buying the M32C.