Is my band stuck in the Stone Ages? Mixer and PA

[Ledvedder]

I’d recommend an Allen and Heath CQ 18 or 20. Recently upgraded to the 18 from a Soundcraft Ui24 and it’s wayyy better. Really nice mixer with touch screen on board, great fx and good iPad app. One of the newest digital mixers on the market and has a lot of processing power.

This is much more than I was looking to spend.

 

[pipelineaudio]

I'm still trying to figure out what upgrade the CQ is over the QU series. Maybe its newer DSP but it doesnt seem to do anything new and better, and I think the QU was from 2011, with the X-series being from around 2015?

 

[Gtrsolo]

I'm still trying to figure out what upgrade the CQ is over the QU series. Maybe its newer DSP but it doesnt seem to do anything new and better, and I think the QU was from 2011, with the X-series being from around 2015?

Don't have experience with QU series but CQ has a higher sample rate and the effects are supposed to be much better.

Zoom L12 does look like a great option if you prefer real faders and aren't worried about multi track recording or lots of effects.

 

[Ledvedder]

I've decided to get the Behringer XR18. Thanks for everyone's input.

Now to get a storage/transportation solution together. I've started another thread for that.

 

[pipelineaudio]

I've decided to get the Behringer XR18. Thanks for everyone's input.

Now to get a storage/transportation solution together. I've started another thread for that.

Drew Brashler

For real, between him and Scott Uhl, you'll be swimming in Xair knowledge. The Xair is pretty much the standard for under 1000 people shows in Hawaii right now, and I've been pretty damn happy with it. The SQ systems are a close second.

 

[ian_dissonance]

I personally like passive mains because I don't want IEC and speaker cables to manage going out front. I have an XR18 and a power amp in stackable racks planned just for that (still no mains yet, my PA build is on standstill until I actually need to complete it).

I cringe every time I see a mic'ed up drum set at a bar gig. The last time I saw something like that, the band had too many microphones on stage and it was tough for them to manage sound and focus on playing. Feedback came from somewhere and they couldn't figure it out. It was a disappointing show stopper for them.

Mic’ing anything but the kick in small places is pretty unnecessary, but a big pro tip for OP is to not start mic’ing stuff live until you’re comfortable with it in rehearsal. As in comfortable with gaining up the signals, accessing your controller quickly, etc. We use the XR18 in two of my bands for IEM and backing track playback and we keep an always-on tablet on our bass players rack and the laptop that runs the tracks has the mixer app an ALT+TAB click away, so we can emergency mute from either side of the stage. Also, to the OP. Please for the love of all that is unholy buy a separate router for the XR18 right away. The onboard wifi is straight trash.

 

[pipelineaudio]

You can save mic/monitor anti feedback eq settings in the x air and mixing station.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

We don't run our own sound at shows, but I don't think we've ever played a gig where at minimum a kick drum wasn't miced

Oh for sure, mic on the kick is almost standard.

I've decided to get the Behringer XR18. Thanks for everyone's input.

Now to get a storage/transportation solution together. I've started another thread for that.

Don't forget to add an external router to the list if you plan to control wirelessly. The built in one is