Behringer XR18 with Midas DN4816-O for IEM Splitter

In this video, I explain how to use the Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18 digital mixers in conjunction with the Midas DN4816-O StageCONNECT box as a splitter for in-ear monitors. We'll walk through the setup process, provide practical tips, and demonstrate how this configuration can streamline your live sound workflow.

There are pros and cons to using this as a digital splitter, most of which the cons are just a matter of understanding how it works and the signal flow involved. You can't just assume it exactly works like an analog splitter. And that is what this video shows and explains. With the growing popularity of bands traveling with IEMs and needing compact and portable solutions, this is definitely an option to consider. Don't forget to leave your questions and comments below!

🚀🎤Sweetwater Affiliate Link:

🚀🚀Items on Sweetwater from video:

Midas DN4816-O on Sweetwater-

Behringer XR18 Digital Mixer on Sweetwater-

Midas MR18 Digital Mixer on Sweetwater-

Gator Shallow 4sp rack on Sweetwater-

Behringer Wing on Sweetwater-

Digital Mixers (Midas/Behringer/etc) on Sweetwater-

📦Amazon Affiliate Links:

Proreck Analog Splitter-

Elite Core Fan to Fan Snake Cable-

Cat 8 Ethernet Cable-

📦Alan Hamilton Audio Amazon Storefront (Items from video and more):

✨Items Used to Make This Video-

PROAR 414 XLR Microphone and accessories:

Sony ZV1 Camera on Amazon:

Canon M50 MkII Camera on Amazon:

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✨Other Channel Videos-

Building an IEM Rig With the Behringer XR18 | Midas MR18:

A Soundcheck in Action:

5 Tips for Mixing Live Vocals:

Direct Boxes - What are they? How to use them? Direct Box 101:

3 Tips For Aspiring Live Audio Engineers:

Building a Concert - Production Behind the Scenes:

Cable Management for Live Audio:

0:00 Connections
1:42 Settings with X-Air Edit
2:56 Summary w/ Mixing Station
3:32 Software settings/options
4:12 Physical Outputs
4:26 Pros
5:03 How to Rout USB inputs to DN4816-O
6:06 Cons
7:31 Outputs are Line Level
7:53 Summary/Related Videos

#inearmonitors
#audioengineering
#behringer
#livesound

[AlanHamiltonAudio]

For a lot of reasons, I can see these Midas StageCONNECT boxes are going to be popular for a lot of uses. And one of them is definitely packaging the DB4816-O with an XR18 for a digital splitter in what can be a very compact IEM rack.

But that said, they are not the same as an analog splitter. An analog splitter is a pretty simple thing and it just works. It doesn't require anything from either the FOH or Mon consoles. The StageCONNECT box is digital and it requires a power source (power supply is included, you just have to remember to plug it in 🙃), and it needs an interface like the monitor console (XR18 or MR18 in this case).
That means there are options, and mistakes that can be made. Both in routing and operation. So that is what this video addresses. Trying to make sure if someone want to go down this path they do it correctly so both the band and the FOH provider can interface with each other and have a smooth gig. And where things work like everyone expects, and hopefully understands.

As long as the band does things correctly on their end with their IEM rig with the StageCONNECT box in place, the venue/event provider should have no issues and it should be pretty much seamless and operate like an analog splitter as far as they are concerned. EXCEPT... the DN4816-O is line level out versus mic level like FOH would see from an analog splitter.
But any FOH person that understands how to watch the input meters and set input gain should have no issue with that.

Likes and subscribes always appreciated. Feel free to share the video link.
Leave your questions and comments below.

🚀🎤Sweetwater Affiliate Link:

🚀🚀Items on Sweetwater from video:

Midas DN4816-O on Sweetwater-

Behringer XR18 Digital Mixer on Sweetwater-

Midas MR18 Digital Mixer on Sweetwater-

Gator Shallow 4sp rack on Sweetwater-

Behringer Wing on Sweetwater-

Digital Mixers (Midas/Behringer/etc) on Sweetwater-

📦Amazon Affiliate Links:

Proreck Analog Splitter-

Elite Core Fan to Fan Snake Cable-

Cat 8 Ethernet Cable-

Items Used to Make This Video-

PROAR 414 XLR Microphone and accessories:

Sony ZV1 Camera on Amazon:

Canon M50 MkII Camera on Amazon:

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
"I earn from affiliate link purchases"

Items purchased thru affiliate links come at no additional cost to viewers, but these purchases can earn the channel commissions.


🎚✨ Support via Patreon:

🎶🎶Channel Facebook Page:

[TimOost]

We have a small studio where we use this setup to record and playback digitally with the X18, and use the 16 outputs with a snake to a physical mixing desk. So we have best of both worlds. We record to the laptop, but have it simultanously on our mixing desk so we have physical faders and the use of outboard gear. We then bounce the mixes to input 17-18 on the X18 back to the laptop when finished

[TerenceKearns]

The analog tap looks like it would be a great way to send a "copy" of all the inputs to a separate mix team like a broadcast crew who are preparing a mix for livestream consumption. they can just patch in from the midas box to their own mixer. Thats an alternative to giving them access to your mixer so they can build their own aux mix.

[steimystein]

I like the simplicity, but I don't like having to rely on the monitor console for proper gain structure, nor do I want FOH going down if the monitor console does. I'm using simple, inexpensive passive splitters in three of the bands I work with. We've been using them for a few years without any issues. Takes a bit more space, but it's simple, and it works.

[JazzBusterzz]

We also use XR18 and DN4816-O for our band as IEM rig. But it happened several times that the FOH sound engineer reported that the signal from DN4816-O is too hot when I set the gain to average (and recommended) -18dB on XR18. So our solution is to set the gains to -30dB. Of course, this results in a lower signal-to-sum ratio, but it's still imperceptible for live playing.
Another problem that gave us quite a hard time was occasional loud noise on some output channels on the DN4816-O. Eventually we found out on reddit that it was probably a bad masterclock synchronization. The solution is simple - turn on DN4816-O after XR18 is fully up and running.

[AndyWragg]

I'll stick with the analogue system that your earlier videos helped me build using the Behringer 8 way splitters. The only downside is the bulk and occasionally a link switch might get depressed.

[johnsix]

I'm back, I could use this to run ultra net outputs from my X32 to my XR18 channel inputs and use the XR18 for a dedicated in ear box using the 6 sends plus L & R giving me 8 in ear options.
(not using stereo in ears since the stage is 100% mono) This way I can EQ, add compression to the in ears to make them sound better.

[TerenceKearns]

Is it fair to say that another pro for digital is that you avoid ground loop and other RF interference?

[AndrewBanker]

Would the lack of a ground lift switch also be a potential con?

[zolwikwkurwik]

I can see ground loop issues with this. Splitter is a better way imo

Hi, thanks for this video. Do I understand correctly that if I send the Ultranet 16 channels from the XR18 to the DN4816-O, I can forward it to my Wing thru the Stage Connect cable and use it in FOH? (I understand that I'll not have control of the XR18 preamps from FOH)

[johnsix]

Thanks for the review. Now I see no use for the DN4816-0 a snake splitter is much more reliable.

[madrockxvx]

You need to use shielded cat5e, not just "any" ethernet cable. Power issue can be resolved with a UPS.

[ykchowaa]

bad idea to connect the line input route to ouput like that as IEM it should be mix with different input to the ouput for example we have 18 input and now we have 18 output it should not be one to one mapping. It should be each ouput can be different mixing for the input. for that I will prefer to use link of logic pro . after mixing in logic pro and output as USb then in the mixer just rout the USB to 16 output. then it could be make sense for IEM. IEM should not only listen the original channel audio level. What do you think?

[mgdf]

So 1 channel of DB can output a 1 channel from xr18 or multiple channes from xr18?

[McNessie]

What if I want to send bus outputs so players get a mix of different channels. Is that possible too?

[Guitarzan]

I play in horn rock band. We use 14 channels. We have 9 monitor mixes. We don't use stage wedges, IEM's only. I would like to use the XR18 as the stage box where everything plugs into the XR18, all the channels are split to FOH, and each musician has his own monitor mix. I can see how this would work with 1 DN4816-O but we would only get 6 busses and 2 mains for the IEM's. That leaves me one short. Is there a way to have a 16 channel splitter, AND an IEM mix for each musician?

[leeyujitv]

Can I connect in ear monitor directly in DN4816-O?

[styxx]

Could this also be used with the x32 rack?

[whoistheythough]

Has any one experienced phase cancelation between the PA subs and IEMs? To the point where you loose bass frequency in the IEM entirely?