How to Incorporate a Digital Mixer into Your Live Sound System

Mitch Gallagher shares expert advice on integrating a digital mixer into your live sound system. For this video Mitch is using a Behringer X Air X18 digital mixer, connected to a pair of QSC K12 powered loudspeakers. However, the tips shared in this video will apply to a wide range of systems.

[MrVyrtuoso]

Some things about this generation of digial mixers I really enjoy.
1) The remote means of control so that we don't have the inevitable hardware failure of physical faders, buttons, and rotary encoders on the unit that have to be fixed.
2) Choice of controller platforms, even if at least only between iOS and Andrioid. For the Behringer family, it's great to be able to establish device connection via built-in access point, WiFi client, or LAN with mobile devices or Mac/PC, and have multiple devices be able to control the unit at the same time.
3) To some extent with some units, channel and I/O expansion by linking/cascading multiple units (as with the Ui24R) or adding digital snakes (like the X32 family).


What I wish would be universally adopted by all manufacturers is MIDI control. The Behringer X Air family can be controlled over MIDI CC to move channel, fx, and bus faders, mutes, and panning (though not channel aux sends). This lets the board be synced to MIDI sequences that play back fader, mute, and panning automation moves making precisely controlled live performances possible for the cheap.

[Axman]

hi Mitch, thank you for this "very easy to understand" video. You didn`t went to deep into parameters, thats what i like most. well done... i like

[FedericoLynch]

This is very good!! Seems pretty straight forward and reliable

[serbiztv]

Cool Vid! Question: in the middle of the show your ipad suddenly collapses or the X18 app collapses, does the mixer still in the running? Thanks for your reply

[TMAS]

Could you use this if the speakers weren’t powered? Could you still use this?

[bryeap]

does behringer's "x32-q" monitoring app works on this model too?
how do i independently control the 6 aux outputs for personal mixing? thanks for the reply!

[TonyTrombo]

How do you SIMPLY send the XR18's FX and EQ to a DAW along WITH the dry signal for each track?

Our XR18's mix sounds perfect LIVE, and that's exactly what I want the computer to record! I DON'T want to add FX and EX to the tracks in the DAW later!

[alandrew]

Hi Mitch, thanks for the cool Vid, very helpful from Sweetwater as usual. We use a QSC Touchmix-16, how can we send aux to Behringer P16-1 through to P16-M to get each band member to still have control over their own mix for their Monitor or IEM mix?

[gioguitar]

Very Nice Presentation! thank you! One question please: Can I connect this wi fi mixer with a pair of wi fi speakers such as the Behringer B112D? How?

[bladimirperez]

Hey Mike so this mixer charge the iPad or you depends of the battery in the iPad and 2nd how about to disconnect the iPad is still going to be connected to the mixer and last question what do you think about the effects for the voice like reverb echo etc ? Thanks i aprecciate the video .

[adediranadewunmi]

Isa speaker management system still necessary while using a digital mixer

[RoeyHaviv]

I run pretty much the same setup, same mixer and K12's, sometimes I add my EV sub on Aux6 since I only need 4 monitor mixes.

[malibu]

It's a good video but would be made better if you could use some software that shows what you are clicking on. The screen is changing but I don't know what it is you are clicking on.

[japhethelcarte]

Does a Digital mixer has built in amplifier inside??

[jrdrums]

Can we connect the x18 via usb to a Mac instead of an iPad and use it on a daw like Logic Pro?

[luiscarlosobandolopez]

Thanks for the cool video. We use this one for our gigs we also use ear monitoring H8000. For vocals. How can we split the signal when monitoring? We are a total of 10 and as you can see this one just has 6 outputs. Do we need a special cable? Any guidance is appreciated. Thanks

[PapaBaush]

For this particular desk how would you run monitors? with the groupings? we normally use aux.

[eleehoh]

Hello, in case that I was working with passive speakers, would this need to output to an amplifier? If so what should I look for in terms of an amplifier?

[songbirdinc]

Is it possible to plug in my Bose digital recorder for recording ?

[georgiyfeldman]

Does this need an internet/ wifi connection always? What if you are at a venue or bar that doesnt have wifi. How does the ipad connect to the mixer?