X AIR XR18 18-Channel, 12-Bus Digital Mixer for iPad/Android Tablets with 16 Programmable Midas Preamps, Integrated Wifi Module and Multi-Channel USB Audio Interface

I've used a few digital mixers before, DL1608, Stagescape and X32. I'm not a power user or an engineer. I do sound for my bands and other bands in small lounge settings (50 to 300 people). With that that stated, what I was looking for was a way to reduce my footprint, reduce my set up and roll up time yet not lose core functionality. Pros: 16 Combo TRS/XLR inputs Small Footprint Solid quality housing - Seems rugged and durable enough to gig often. Built in Wireless is solid - 3 connection options. You can even use your own wireless router and connect the X Air router to that to extend your range. 16 track recording Huge list of rack effects Typical digital mixer options like compression, gate, PEQ and FX on each channel 8 Outs including L/R Main Simple to use iPad mixer app DCAs (sub groups) Color coding labelling for channels and busses RTA on the PC app Cons No AES50 connection - This is amazingly disappointing. Not a deal breaker at all, but silly. I can't see why they didn't add this iPad app doesn't have RTA - The android app might, not sure. The PC app does BOX placement risk - By this I mean that it seems designed to sit on stage. You can rack mount it, but anytime you put a device on stage you risk losing power and worse (someone spilling something on it). I can envision some nightmare situations. No Security on built in wireless signal - There may be something there, but I didn't see anything. This means anyone can log connect to it and mess with your mix. Not good. If you're in a situation where you need security, you can just bring your own router, but this is a risk. Summary The positives of this drastically outweigh the negatives. For small bands this is an incredibly powerful piece of equipment. Other companies will find it hard to match the feature set in this price range. The app is so simple to learn and use. I might have a bit of an edge given I've used other iPad driven mixers before, but compared to the others this offers so many features and everything is easy to get to. For a Phase 1 app, I can only imagine how great this thing will be after a year or 2. Personally, I can't wait for them to get the X-Touch ready to use with this. They told me that they'll be making updates so the midi instructions are set up to plug and play.

Let me start this off by saying that I've never held the quality of Behringer products in the highest regard. That said, Behringer does seem to have a particular knack for making products with features which people NEED at a price that is affordable. With this unit, I've got an unbelievable feature-set and the quality does seem to be there (after several months of continuous use, I've had zero reliability issues) at at an amazing price. In addition to this unit, I also own an XR12 and I would highly recommend this unit for anyone. The positives: there are way too many to list. Just look at the feature set and see if anything else comes even close to the price--nothing comes close. The audio quality is excellent. The features are great. There control options (this is really what I wanted in this unit) are unparalleled. Behringer definitely did it right with this baby. The negatives: There are very, very few and they are exceedingly minor. Nevertheless, here are a few things I have noted. -- The lack of the ability to do time-alignment which I understand the X32 has (admittedly the X32 is in a different class than this unit, but they're apparently both based on the same core hardware). Even that is minor though because I've found a way to work around that with the built-in effects. -- Another that MIGHT be considered a downside is the Wi-fi. In any critical live situation, I make sure to have a hard-wired connection to the unit, but I have seen others complain about flaky connections with the Wi-fi. Personally, I think that's just the nature of Wi-fi and not the fault of this unit. --The software is different for the iPad and on a computer. Both offer really robust control over the unit, but they aren't the same and it can be difficult to find settings if you're using one platform and move to the other. Other than that, if you're thinking about this and the features meet your needs, don't hesitate, just buy it.

FANTASTIC PRODUCT, TOO EASY, MANY FEATURES

This is the best mixer ever simple and direct I use it with my tablet with a program called mix station no need for anything else

I just received my XR18 today, but I was able to swap out my XR12 prior to our gig tonight. I got most of the configurations and labels all setup up prior to setup and the learning curve from analog to digital already occurred with the XR12. Already, I have air to breath since I have 16 XLR/TRS combo inputs instead of the 4 XRL/TRS combo and 8 TRS inputs. It has a USB-B 18 channel in/out audio interface capabilities. More Auxiliary outputs, 6 XLR, and channels 17/18 work for my smart phone USB-C to dual 1/4 T/S stereo inputs. I have been considering purchasing an Xvive U4 Wireless In-Ear-Monitoring (IEM) single channel system for a backup or for gigs where someone doesn't have an IEM and could benefit from one. The Xvive currently lists for $249 on Amazon. However, an Behring P16-HQ 16 channel digital personal monitoring mixer only cost $210. While it does require a cable the wired Ultranet personal monitor system gives the user full control over their 16 channels of monitor mix; They can save or load mix presets, link or group channels, solo or mute channels and give them control over the eq for each channel and the overall mix with a 1/4 stereo headphone output, or R/L line out for speakers, but I won't tell the band if you won't. The XR18 is rack mountable in a 3U space with rack ears provided or comes with rubber bumpers on both ends and can just simply be placed on stage as a snake interface would. This means you can recapture usable space that an analog/digital mixing console and cable snake routing areas. All controlled from a tablet or laptop with wireless and wired ethernet connections. So, yes, it is only my first day with the XR18. However, I have already used a Behringer X32, and XR12, so owning an XR18 is going to help me grow leaps and bounds for both live and recorded sound.

Bold move to head to Digital...... I was hesitating between buying this or a normal 16- channel Yamaha desk. I have only had it for two weeks. When I first opened it it looked flimsy, light and cheap... Yes it really does. Directly mounted it in a 3 space reinforced rack bag as this needs more protection. You need to protect this thing. Period. The wi-fi aerial is cheap and flimsy. Was seriously doubtful about this. 1) Sound quality is really good and clear. Although I am positive the pre-amps on Focusrite and Yamaha (UR44, etc.) devices are fare superior to this MIDAS pre's. They look and feel very plastic. Only time will tell. 2) Lots of inputs. I can Run everything in stereo now. 3) used both PC and Android apps. They are quite different in features and setting them up. But once you get to know each control surface it is really easy. Did not use iOS interfacing. 4) I am not too clever with WiFi but managed to set up access to 3 different devices using access point feature. For PC you can use Wifi connection or Ethernet cable. Just install the Windows program from Behringer's web site. 5) Download apps: I bough this mixer instead of Pre-sonus and Heath & L models because..... I really do not like apple devices. My bandmates use apple phones and I'm sure they are great. In today's market you should focus on what your clients want - Behringer did that and grabbed sales from all its competition. Android rocks. Make sure to check all settings on your tablet / phone to prevent it from disconnecting. 6) Channel set-up is very easy. I like the Linking feature for stereo vocals 7) Saving set-ups is a breeze. 8) EQ is excellent you will not have this much EQ control in most high end desks. It is very similar to DAW control. If you are experienced with using software EQ the parametric works really nice. You have to know what frequencies to cut for each instrument or voice, to make sure each one is clear. 9) Apps: Important to know Behringer X-air app is for full control of desk. The Xair Q app is only for monitor control. You can assign rights to each user. I use my tablet for mixer and pone for monitors. 9) Probably the best feature of any digital desk is the ability to create separate monitor mixes. I read up a lot on this before buying the mixer. These are excellent for in ear monitor mixes. My previous desk had mono mixes. Mono IEM makes you really tired as everything sounds 1 dimensional. This mixer has 6 aux buses. 1&2 goes via: 2 x Female XLR to 1/4 TRS stereo cable into input of Behringer Microamp Ha400 Ultra-Compact headphone amp. This then goes to a few 1/4 TRS 20 ft to Male XLR cables that connects to Elite Core EC-WBP-VC Wired Body Packs. This is better than the Behringer dual wire model as you only have 1 tail and no batteries. 3 & 4 is set up exactly the same as 1& 2 for second set of 4 monitor mixes. You can control the levels of each channel to the monitor in addition to panning and overall EQ. 5 & 6 can be sent to whatever. Floor monitors. Important to note is you can even set up your sub's from these and filter out high frequencies sent to them. You have to save your setups and play around a lot with this before taking it to a gig... Set up passwords, practise the EQ for each channel and main LR to prevent feedback. Lastly when you gig you need some final control of your volume etc, I bought the DBX goRack Performance Processor (it is ridiculously cheap) to handle this. 1) This gives you a great master volume control 2) Ability to adjust level of speakers (L & R) individually 3) The anti feedback actually works great. 4) Managed to get a good EQ sound for my band. Smooths out everything to sound more produced. 7) Mute - Yip sometimes after sets you just have to hit that one magic button to kill everything and prevent noise from PA during your break. Dont worry about price it really is a nice finishing touch to the system to have some hardwire control.

This mixer is a great cheaper alternative to an X32 (my personal favorite). I was apprehensive getting this one because there are no controls on the mixer itself, so you MUST rely on a good connection. I use this for Outdoor Marching band and Indoor percussion. Its perfect for this because I dont have to travel to the mixer to adjust levels or mute and unmute for any reason, I can do everything wirelessly. BUT : Beware!! The onboard wireless system likes to disconnect, has a semi-short range, and allows interference to EASILY interrupt its signal. This obviously would not be a problem in a controlled environment, but WILL be a problem if youre using it at say any venue you havent tested or is new, etc. Just pay the extra and buy a good strong wireless router and run your signal off of that via Ethernet, and you can even hardwire a computer through the router. Behringer has endless tutorial videos on these things and can answer any trouble shoot question you have. ALSO, the x18 air app is SO easy to use, and is actually different across different devices, i.e. win., Mac, iOS, and android. You can mix anything you can on a traditional digital mixer, AND MORE!

Very nice unit. Considerable learning curve, probably less so if you have a lot of experience using mixers and mixer terminology. Software works great. It loads easily. I am using it on an iPad, MacBook Air and a PC. The software runs clean on all of them. Not buggy.

18 canales, 6 monitores y dos salidas excelente mezcladora muy fácil de usar y muy compacta estoy satisfecho con la compra. Y por el precio que la encontré 15 mil que mejor

Lucky to have this mixer functioning properly despite years of manufacturing.

I'm impressive, let me say that. Behringer is a brand I've always avoided with a ten foot pole because of cheap products and typically poor and dull sounding pre-amps. After recently downsizing my home studio and ditching the massive gear rack I didn't have space for anymore, I figured I'd give this little guy a try as something that meets the needs of where I'm at in life. As usual, I started with a pre-amp test as soon as it was out of the box. I keep samples recorded on all the preamps I own (or have previously owned) so I can get an idea of how new preamps sound when purchasing gear. The Midas-powered pre-amps in this guy are impressive and have come a long way from the cheap Behringer house brand preamps of times past. Preamp sound is very subjective to everyone's own ears, but in my opinion they were on-par with any good quality hobbyist level preamps (presonus, tascam, ART, maybe even Mackie Onyx too). Plenty good enough for home recording where I know I won't need to fight with the track to make it sound good afterwards. The software blew me away the most - I can't believe how much this can do not just in the studio, but for live use too. I have no reason to own any other outboard processing gear - throw this in a bag, and you've got easily $20k worth of gear all in digital fashion now that you can control from your computer, tablet, or even cell phone. You can load up effects on channels, patch things around, route things as needed, I'm honestly still learning even half of what it's capable of - I feel like an old man trying to learn some new fangled technology after being used to all the old outboard gear racks! My primary use is as an audio interface though - it handles all playback from my computer for 8hrs a day, and all recording when working on my projects. For that, it works flawless. They make the exact same unit with Midas Pro preamps as the Midas MR18 (compared to the "Midas Designed" cheaper line of preamps in this XR18), but with supply shortages during the pandemic I went for the XR18 simply because of availability - no regrets. For my level of use, the MR18 Midas Pro preamps would probably be overkill anyway.

Very good for churches work really well combined with Mixing station app. Best preamps, I will be glad to make a proper video review if the company wants

A mesa chegou em perfeitas condições. Gostei muito do produto, pois trabalho nessa área e tinha curiosidade no uso desse equipamento. Apenas o software dela me deixa um pouco decepcionado, pois só funciona no windows.