Question

I've just finished a year of touring with a mid-level band (Large club to Academy size venues. Independent and major festivals). I've been using another brand rack-mixer which I'm looking to retire, for a number of reasons, and am considering purchasing one of the new Studiolive rack mixers.

My only hesitation is that all the promo blurb I've seen for them thus far seems to only reference them as a monitor console, and the ability to also run it as FOH is kinda a deal breaker. I'm sure it's possible but if it's a current software restriction then please.. also consider this a feature request. I could see the rack series being very popular in cramped or temporary venues and with av/conference hires if this were possible.

Cheers

Answer 1

The Series III rack mixers are full-fledged mixers both for monitors and FOH. So you can do both from one screen, or from two separate screens, with or without smartphones for individual monitor control. All it needs is a wifi router and you can do all of this wirelessly (or wired if you prefer) from any place in the venue.

Answer 2

I love my 32r it fits on stage or in tight areas works great for FOH and monitor mixes using IPAD and a computer. I still use a stage box if necessary but only 25' not a 100' like the old days. You have complete control of FOH but if you actually like touching knobs and faders this won't be fun for you. It took me one show to like the touch and control of the IPAD and I never missed the knobs and faders except for when I needed to go from one layer to the next but resolved that using a computer with larger screen for multiple layers no latency but still awesome with an IPAD. Highly recommend it for those ready to drop running a 100' snake and get control anywhere in the house.

WI-FI is another story make sure to get a good router everybody and I mean everybody now days is on there iPhones facebooking the event or talking on it really messing with the 2.4 ghz and the venue might have its own network too so just get your router up high in the air and buy the best you can afford, you can also invest in a range extender or use the 5 ghz band on the router too, past 30' feet is an issue in a large crowd.