So now what?

John Halliburton

John Halliburton

Junior
Jan 10, 2011
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The city with big shoulders
I've been stashing some extra shekels away, in hopes of buying an A&H QU-16, when now comes along the debut of the QSC Touch Mix.

I know the possible risks of buying the first version, but for pub gigs, corporate stuff(if the channel count syncs), etc., the Touch Mix seems like the way to go.

I hope QSC makes purchasing extra or replacement power supplies a reasonably economical option-that six pin connector is a potential PITA if someone loses the PS(or heaven forbid, it breaks).

Thoughts as I sit on the fence?

Best regards,

John
 
Re: So now what?

This is an area of technology where product life cycles will shorten, so cost benefit and payback needs to be over a relatively short life.

It is always a good idea to let somebody else be the guinea pig for first production runs, but product should stabilize within a few months of shipping, and if there are any major issues they will reveal by then.

My crystal ball does not have a strong opinion about these transition products.

JR
 
Re: So now what?

I have also had the same buy now or wait question regarding a new mixer. The recent price drop by Sweetwater on the Behringer X32 products may be my tipping point.
 
Re: So now what?

These are all very good points.

First, I'm not in rush, other than to get a new tool. ;>)

Second, there is a desire to finally make the jump into the digital mixer waters, as it is the way the industry is going, and I don't mix on them too often.

Third, I'm not getting any younger, and lighter/smaller gear packages are very appealing.

Fourth, I'm hoping QSC does enough beta testing/revision work between NAMM and mid Summer when they say they're actually planning to ship. I've heard there are units going out for this.

So, I think I'll wait and see how this rolls-I hope to hear some field test opinions in the upcoming weeks.

Best regards,

John
 
Re: So now what?

Yup. Once you're "over the hump" on the aging thing you pick up speed on the downhill slope. The only thing moving faster is the number of compact digital doohickeys coming out from a half-dozen different manufacturers. Patience is a good thing here as your money will get you a better feature set or a cheaper feature set as things condense from vaporware to actual products.

At this rate, waiting for a track record on any particular offering will likely put you into the next release cycle. I opted for the Qu-16 and am happy with it. I have a friend who went for the B********** stuff and it works for him. I wouldn't buy any of Uli's stuff myself, but that's not because of the gear...

That said, when and if the X 16/18 or whatever it is comes out, it looks like it'll pass up the QSC with a great big WHOOSH as far as functionality. They're all getting small and light. By waiting you get more features. Price??? Who knows, but the dogs are feasting on one another in that regard.
 
Re: So now what?

Hello

I might be "An old dog" - at 62 - tired of hauling more than absolutely necessary - I was among the wery first to get hands on Behringer X32 17 moons ago - or so - they released it on friday - next wednesday I had it - thursday-friday saturday I had gig with about 20 bands - I loved it - audience loved it- bands loved it ...

Then came wireless remote control with iPad !!!!!! Fun-f-tastic !!!

Last year I was again among the wery first with X32 Rack - today I have made up a deal with my friend - he will take my X32 and 2xS16 and I will keep X32R - together we are strong and have two systems - I am SOOOOO happy mixing with iPad - ( certainly equally nice with other manufacturers desks as long the iPad-app is o.k. ) - from now on I just carry X32R with laptop and iPad - looking forward to get X18 or something else for second unit - all big stuff must go - obviously I am not the guy they telephone for big festivals ... young folks are taking care of that anyway...


Certainly worth looking into it - whatever brand you choose.
 
Re: So now what?

Well, the QU-16 is also the first gen - granted it's been out a while and has been customer thrashed, and proven itself desirable.
The size/weight of the QSC is VERY tempting for us old farts. The QU and a case like the Road Ready RRM19R would come in upwards of 50#
I don't think the capabilities of the QSC will be anything near what the QU-16 are.
But if you're coming from, say a MixWiz, the QSC would be a step up as far as what it does (don't know what it sounds like).

Coming from a MixWiz myself, I was perfectly happy with my Presonus 16.0.2 until I got my 24.4.2. Didn't take long to find features that made my life easier on the bigger board, and take all the shine off the smaller brother. I'd be willing to bet that would be the case between the QSC and the QU-16.

Recommendation: If you get the QSC, promise yourself you won't mix on anyone's bigger mixer. You won't want to go back.

frank
 
Re: So now what?

I would also seriously consider the X32 Rack (which you can buy today) which has been price reduced to $1200.00. Way more features, 22 inputs vs 16 (plus USB playback which Behringer counts as 2 inputs ..... not), and supports a real IEM remote system with the P16 personal IEM mix stations.

The QSC has lots going for it, but I still can't get over the lack of recallable gains. The DL1608 also lacks this feature, but the X32 Rack has it covered.

Good luck with your decision. Now is a great time to be looking for your first digital mixer ;)
 
Re: So now what?

frank kayser said:
Well, the QU-16 is also the first gen - granted it's been out a while and has been customer thrashed, and proven itself desirable.
The size/weight of the QSC is VERY tempting for us old farts. The QU and a case like the Road Ready RRM19R would come in upwards of 50#
I don't think the capabilities of the QSC will be anything near what the QU-16 are.
But if you're coming from, say a MixWiz, the QSC would be a step up as far as what it does (don't know what it sounds like).

Coming from a MixWiz myself, I was perfectly happy with my Presonus 16.0.2 until I got my 24.4.2. Didn't take long to find features that made my life easier on the bigger board, and take all the shine off the smaller brother. I'd be willing to bet that would be the case between the QSC and the QU-16.

Recommendation: If you get the QSC, promise yourself you won't mix on anyone's bigger mixer. You won't want to go back.

frank
Click to expand...

Frank....

Qu-16 : 22#
SKB 12 space pop-up case : 16#

Total : 38#

BUT...There enough space under the board to stash headphones, router, cables, talk-back mic, cables, board light, etc...
 
Re: So now what?

Scott Bolt said:
I would also seriously consider the X32 Rack (which you can buy today) which has been price reduced to $1200.00. Way more features, 22 inputs vs 16 (plus USB playback which Behringer counts as 2 inputs ..... not), and supports a real IEM remote system with the P16 personal IEM mix stations.

The QSC has lots going for it, but I still can't get over the lack of recallable gains. The DL1608 also lacks this feature, but the X32 Rack has it covered.

Good luck with your decision. Now is a great time to be looking for your first digital mixer ;)
Click to expand...

As someone somewhere else said, "recallable gains are overated for a small live sound mixer", and I agree. The Touch Mix has scene/setup saving ability, but honestly, during a live gig we're all fussing with trim knobs when we soundcheck anyway. If the mixer can recall my normal channel assignments/config for the regulars I work for, fine.

Now for a sixteen channel amplifier with DSP that is only 1u tall and weighs ten pounds...

Best regards,

John
 
Re: So now what?

Dick Rees said:
Frank....

Qu-16 : 22#
SKB 12 space pop-up case : 16#

Total : 38#

BUT...There enough space under the board to stash headphones, router, cables, talk-back mic, cables, board light, etc...
Click to expand...

Dang. I was wondering why my MixWiz was so much trouble to lug around - just looked it up - the case is 40# by itself!!!
Road Ready - Road Ready Cases - Pro Audio - Pro Mixer Cases - Mackie - UNIVERSAL 19' MIXER CASE WITH RACK RAILS (FITS MOST 19' RACKMOUNTABLE MIXERS)

Does the SKB case fit the QU-16 better than it fit the MixWiz? I was not happy with the mods I had to make, hence the Road Ready.

Guess I won't sell the SKB... Had it for my old Mackie 1604. The QU is getting closer and closer to making it to my GAS NOW list...

Thanks for the slap upside the head, Dick. Sometimes I wonder just what I'm thinking. Then I realize I'm arguing facts not in evidence.
 
Re: So now what?

John Halliburton said:
As someone somewhere else said, "recallable gains are overated for a small live sound mixer", and I agree. The Touch Mix has scene/setup saving ability, but honestly, during a live gig we're all fussing with trim knobs when we soundcheck anyway. If the mixer can recall my normal channel assignments/config for the regulars I work for, fine.

Now for a sixteen channel amplifier with DSP that is only 1u tall and weighs ten pounds...

Best regards,

John
Click to expand...
While recallable preamps may/may not be everyones cup of tea the sideeffect is that they become remote controllable.

Setting the analog preamp gain from your ipad instead of running to the hardware and tweak those analog gain controls is for me a huge deal when I'm going remote.
 
Re: So now what?

I personally hate trying to mix on ipads. Sure, it's great to be able to walk around the room and hear what it's like throughout, but you're still on an ipad.

You can't feel what you're changing. A few db on the channel fader feels like a greasy finger skip. (did you actually move it that much or did your finger just move that much)

The wifi reception on ipads is absolutely fucking horrible... Any decent sized crowd, and your wifi connection is useless. Wifi is NOT professional caliber, nor are ipads.


A local production company has great stacks and racks, but has a FUCKING x32 rig; at the monitor position. FOH is TOTALLY WIRELESS with 2 ipads and a laptop at foh. All wireless, powered off of a boat battery. Sound check works fine, for what it is (ipads and laptops aren't tools to mix with). Then, the crowd comes in, and the wifi goes to shit, and it takes 10 seconds for a damn fader change to register on the (fucking) brain controller thing. It's unacceptable. With 3000 attendees you can't count on a CONSUMER thing like wifi. Even with 100 people you shouldn't rely on wifi. (the production company loves the wireless thing because it saves the whole 5 god damn minutes it takes to run a FOH line/drive line/AC loom to the FOH position... stop being fucking lazy...)

Manufacturers need to get back to releasing tools that we can rely on, not shit that does the behringer "that company is doing this" attitude. Make some damn tools. I'm not necessarily talking Snapon caliber, but craftsman would be nice: Not kmart tool set shit...

However, this industry is quickly becoming "lowest bidder" and it will be what it will be. I might have to go get a job at Walgreens or something...
 
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Re: So now what?

frank kayser said:
Dang. I was wondering why my MixWiz was so much trouble to lug around - just looked it up - the case is 40# by itself!!!
Road Ready - Road Ready Cases - Pro Audio - Pro Mixer Cases - Mackie - UNIVERSAL 19' MIXER CASE WITH RACK RAILS (FITS MOST 19' RACKMOUNTABLE MIXERS)

Does the SKB case fit the QU-16 better than it fit the MixWiz? I was not happy with the mods I had to make, hence the Road Ready.

Guess I won't sell the SKB... Had it for my old Mackie 1604. The QU is getting closer and closer to making it to my GAS NOW list...

Thanks for the slap upside the head, Dick. Sometimes I wonder just what I'm thinking. Then I realize I'm arguing facts not in evidence.
Click to expand...


I had one of the RR cases for a MixWiz and was happy to have something so armor plated. But yes, it was a heavy bugger. The SKB does require you to add a couple pieces of foam padding as the depth of the QU in relation to the "split" depth of the pop-up case means that the rack frame won't retract totally into the bottom of the case. In addition, you have to reverse the lid and make sure the two tangs/tabs hook UNDER the rack frame.

Otherwise it's a snap. Less weight, decent protection, nice angle for you to see the surface and screen when deployed. I got mine from a friend who had it in his surplus pile. Paid $100 for it and that seems to be the going rate for used. I see them on Ebay and Craigs List.

But like I said, I'll probably be adding a few pounds of go-with hardward in the space under the board.

My last G.A.S. purchase was a small snow-blower that I could lift easily into the back of my Jetta wagon. The older you get, the more friends you have who could use an occasional hand with clean-up after a good snowfall. But the upside is the coffee's free and hot... Now if it only had remote control with an iPad!!!
 
Re: So now what?

Lee...

I'm not unsympathetic in these regards, but the incremental fader control on the iPad (at least the Qu-pad app) works fine for me. The trick is to place your finder on the virtual slider and when it registers, move your finger off to the side. I still have control of the selected fader and the travel rate decreases with the distance away from the pictorial representation of the fader.

I don't know if that's an iPad thing or if it's "app-dependent", but give it a try. As for wi-fi and dependability, I really can't say as I had someone more knowledgeable set up my router and I haven't yet used it in a busy environment, but from reading here and on other forums it would seem that success in this area is heavily dependent on having a top-quality router properly configured with the address hidden and all other parameters optimized to keep other devices from hitting on your connection. The only evidence I really have to support this is admittedly anecdotal, but if these things didn't work there wouldn't be anyone out there using them...and there are a LOT of people who do it successfully.

So when and if I start suffering any such "deal-killer" drop outs, I'll have to hit the books and study up on configuring wireless networks. Not something I relish doing, but probably very necessary the way the world is going head-first into this technology. The up-side may be that it'll make my use and future purchase of wireless mics easier and better.
 
Re: So now what?

Here's another vote for the X32R and the fact that it's a REAL PRODUCT. I love mine and just bought another to replace my X32. If you keep waiting for the next best rumored product you may NEVER end up buying anything.

Good luck!
 
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