Another New Digital Mixer That Might Make It Into A DJ Rack

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steve149

Shine on you crazy diamond
Staff member
Sep 26, 2011
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I mentioned the new Behringer X-Air mixers coming out early next year .. here's another line coming out in January (so they say).

From Australia, SM Pro Audio ... the uMix line of Digital, Wireless mixers .. from $250 to $1000.

LargeuMixHardwareMarch.jpg

Here is the low midrange uMix 12, a 12 channel unit $499 .. like the Behringer X-Air XR12 (and it may be the same guts for all I know), it has a built-in WiFi access point, so it will work even without connection to the Internet.

Has 8 combo jacks, 4 1/4", 2 Aux sends, plays from a USB stick and can record to a 2nd. 4 effect engines, each channel has dynamics available (compressor,limiter,PEQ), and wireless control from iOS, Android, PC and Mac systems.

Rack mountable as well.

For me, I'm thinking I could put one of these or the Behringer in a lower rack, using a tablet or laptop to control additional mics for karaoke, have the ability to adjust sound from out in the room.


sm-pro-audio-umix-tp_3943520717362423256f.jpg
XR12-large.jpg


Behringer is smaller, and cheaper at $299 (though doesn't have as many mic pres), doesn't record, but VERY similar (eerily?).
 
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I have to ask - what would be the benefit / purpose behind a mixer without controls?

Has controls .. just need a tablet/laptop to see them .. :)

For me, it would be space in the rack. My A&H ZED12FX takes up the entire 10RU top one of my mixer racks. I could leave the DJ stuff on top, put this below and use either the main laptop or an iPad mini to control it ... lets me consolidate the DJ and Karaoke functions with minimal loss of functionality (actually has more functionality) .. this assuming the electronics/mic pres/etc. are worth even the $299 .. time will tell.
 
Has controls .. just need a tablet/laptop to see them .. :)

For me, it would be space in the rack. My A&H ZED12FX takes up the entire 10RU top one of my mixer racks. I could leave the DJ stuff on top, put this below and use either the main laptop or an iPad mini to control it ... lets me consolidate the DJ and Karaoke functions with minimal loss of functionality (actually has more functionality) .. this assuming the electronics/mic pres/etc. are worth even the $299 .. time will tell.

That's kind of my point .. with 'wireless', it could potentially have problems. Nothing is hardwired or has actual buttons / knobs. Lots of potential for things to go wrong.
 
That's kind of my point .. with 'wireless', it could potentially have problems. Nothing is hardwired or has actual buttons / knobs. Lots of potential for things to go wrong.

My iPhones have had no real buttons (save for volume and ringer off) and I've made it through 4 generations without an issue ... I would certainly have a backup (actually the DJ mixer could back it up).
 
My iPhones have had no real buttons (save for volume and ringer off) and I've made it through 4 generations without an issue ... I would certainly have a backup (actually the DJ mixer could back it up).

If your phone stops working, I don't think that would affect volume levels to your speakers or mixing. To make this kind of similar, it would be like having the phone hardware in your pocket - and a tablet to talk to it in your hands .. or removing all the physical controls from your car - and replacing that with a tablet.

Your iPhone, though it has minimal buttons, is still physically connected as one unit. You don't control your phone and it's behavior from some other device.

There's a little difference when you move the controls from hardware to software only (which may cause issues). There's a slightly bigger difference when you move those controls to some kind of wifi / web interface. Some of those difference may have really negative impacts. Most positive impacts are in the name of convenience.
 
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If your phone stops working, I don't think that would affect volume levels to your speakers or mixing. To make this kind of similar, it would be like having the phone hardware in your pocket - and a tablet to talk to it in your hands .. or removing all the physical controls from your car - and replacing that with a tablet.

Your iPhone, though it has minimal buttons, is still physically connected as one unit. You don't control your phone and it's behavior from some other device.

There's a little difference when you move the controls from hardware to software only (which may cause issues). There's a slightly bigger difference when you move those controls to some kind of wifi / web interface. Some of those difference may have really negative impacts. Most positive impacts are in the name of convenience.

Both of these mixers (and I suspect new ones as well) can have multiple devices connected to them simultaneously, one showing faders, one showing peak levels, etc. In my scenario, both an iPad and a laptop could be connected .. if one craps out, the other marches on .. or my phone .. they all work.

Here's a cool video intro of the uMix ones:

 
Agree - that you can march on with some other device - but there's so much more than can go wrong with a device that's not physically connected to and controlling something so centrally important as a mixer. In addition, for those few seconds that your iDevice / Mac / Windows machine / Tablet / name your device locks up .. you may have just blown the show and equipment.

And from a security aspect, if it's in the air and I can touch it, it's hackable.
 
Agree - that you can march on with some other device - but there's so much more than can go wrong with a device that's not physically connected to and controlling something so centrally important as a mixer. In addition, for those few seconds that your iDevice / Mac / Windows machine / Tablet / name your device locks up .. you may have just blown the show and equipment.

And from a security aspect, if it's in the air and I can touch it, it's hackable.

Welcome to the future ...
 
I don't think it's as simple as that Steve-o. Are they in the future? Maybe. Maybe technology also proves that it can't be done well.

;)
 
I don't think it's as simple as that Steve-o. Are they in the future? Maybe. Maybe technology also proves that it can't be done well.

;)

This technology is pretty standard in the live sound space. Many of the newer digital boxes are headless and use a variety of remote UI components .. it's not new technology .. just a new price point.
 
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