SCENES & SNIPPETS Platform
Newsletter #1
X32userconfigs – NEWS 23. Feb. 2018
Blue-Sky Sunny Days now!
It will still take some time to get warmer...,
meaning, we can do and move things from being inside...,
for example sending the first newsletter of this Web-platform!
A few words about this website
The SCENEs and SNIPPETs, you’re finding here, are all from practical experience; like a
tool box, containing the right basic tool for a lot of occasions, as a starting point.
Within the learning curve within the X32-/M32 world, there are some hurdles to take,
and most of my learned lessons have found their way into these SCENEs.
Websites can be designed very good looking with a lot of effort. My strategy is
"Keep it simple".
The reason: It’s more about applications and informations, meaning real content,
and less perfect pictures. Hopefully you can buy into that.
If you do have ideas and comments, as well as own SCENEs and SNIPPETs,
just send an e-mail note, maybe along with the experience you have with the XM32
world and which applications are interesting for you.
Personally I do not have any contracts with BEHRINGER or WAVES or any other brand,
mentioned on these sites. It’s simply my story and experience and my view of things;
as an active musician since many years (a-git, keys, voc), sound-tech and electronics engineer,
always on the search for an „even better sound“…
But it has to be „affordable“ and accessible for „down to earth“ people!
For that reason it had been necessary to intensely investigate everything happening between
converting sounds into electrical signals with microphones and pickups until it reaches the ear,
also covering speakers and room acoustics. A lot of it found it’s way into guest lectures at
THM Giessen (Germany), covering the whole live sound subject.
News - Blogs extended
A little proud to really having finished chapter 2 und 3.
While chapter 1 was about the real universal genius X32-Rack,
chapter 2 is talking about how many effects are necessary for live-sound.
Chapter 3 contains empirical values, how external plugins can be used within the XM32.
Ready for feedback from your side!
News - SCENE 20 SplitMix 2x16 Ch + 3x stereo InEar-Monitoring
Produced directly after a live concert of an unplugged combo with
3 vocals, keys, a-git and percussion.
Musicians request was 3x stereo-InEar-monitoring.
With an SD16-stagebox more than enough inputs (16) and outputs (8)
were available.
Since EQ and compression changes done for FOH sound, as well as internal or external plugins
would have been hearable on the InEars, a split-mix was done:
Each input signal separately used for FOH sound (Ch 1-16) as well as for the InEar mixes (Ch 17-32),
configured perfectly according to musicians requests during soundcheck.
The big advantage: For auditorium sound all degrees of freedom related to effects, EQ and compressor
were available, without influencing and irritating the musicians monitoring;
keeping it two completely separate worlds ;).
And no wedge monitoring sound crud, spilling over from stage into the audience space - phantastic!
Til next time, introducing a SCENE, that makes the X32 Rack a real 3-way stereo + sub speaker
processing unit…
Stay tuned!
Gerson
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Newsletter #2
X32userconfigs - NEWS 30. April 2018
May has come... green and blossoming everywhere you look. Atmosphere of departure!
Just finished and tested,
the X32 Rack as complex PA-Management-System
(schematic of inside configuration belongs to documentation after buying the SCENE:
It was fun, finding out this configuration and testing, what kind of live-sound improvements would be possible
with it. There is no reason for this setup to hide behind any other PA-Management-System around!
A few details:
What other digital console on the market is capable of being configured like this?!
Blog 3 already online for a few days,
but the "extension of the internal XM32-effects with ext. plugins" is still highly interesting -
and, in relation to that, the latencies of the internal effects, as well as the external ones in native
use (plugins and host software running on PC/MAC) and working with X-WSG-card and WAVES server.
In the coming days I will have the chance to work with the WAVES Impact Server in more detail
A promising idea from someone of the LiveProfessor forum (audiostrom.com), is, to use
LiveProfessor as host software for external plugins and to apply native VST-Plugins at the same time
with WAVES-Plugins on the WAVES server, best of both worlds as some would put it..
Results will be reported in newsletter or blog.
To all of you a refreshing and warming May!
Gerson
Ideas and comments to info@x32userconfigs.com
Newsletter #3
X32userconfigs - NEWS 10. November 2018
Hi!
New x32users have been joining us. Welcome to all of you!
And there are some news.
Enough reason for a newsletter.
Have fun and real personal benefit for your sound work!
With autumnal greetings!
Gerson
TOPs:
Configured and optimzed for an event in a publc
community center with 250 visitors:
Concept was to put it into practice with minimum
hardware- and setup- time and effort,
for:
o a band with 6 musicians, having
drums, bass, e-git, a-git, keys, 4 vocals
o drama parts, presentation and speech
o PC audio, MP3 audio
using this speaker hardware:
o FOH: 2x tops RCF ART 712 + 2 actice subs JBL 18“
o 4-6 active monitors on stage
Effectively this was all covered and done by only one X32 Rack on the mixing side,
that is digitalmixer and stagebox in one, placed centrally at the stage backside.
Control, completely done via WIFI: On a rigid musical sheets tripod I had a 6 year old
iPAD 3 (M32-Mix App) beside a Lenovo tablet with the not really new Android 4.4
operating system (Mixing Station App); it was the best of both worlds on 2 tablet screens.
Router placed in about 20m distance directly on top of the X32R.
No problems or interrupted connections with both tablets.
No multicore cable, no 230V supply needed, just placing myself in the middle
of the audience, creating noble sound...
And it really was excellent, due to a lot of positive feedback.
„Specials“ in this SCENE are:
o parallel compression on drums
o double compressors on vocals
o a-git with „out of center“ configuration
o enhancer operation on mains
o completely FOH independent monitormix for 10 signals
(2 e-git, 2 keys, sax, a-git, 4 voc)
3. New SCENE Church-Mix
Everything, a small to mid-sized church needs for live music,
speech, presentation and media!
Here also:
o parallel compression on drums
o double compression on vocals
o enhancer operation on mains
o completely FOH independent monitormix
for 8 signals (2 e-git, 2 keys, sax, a-git, 4 voc)
Plus:
o Multitrack-Recording
o Virtual Soundcheck: excellent possibility to train
"sound people to be" in using multitrack recordings,
without the need of having the band to be present!
o Prepared for the use of external reverb and delay plugins
via USB or Soundgrid (native) by a connected PC/MAC with
Host-Software (LiveProfessor, WAVES Multirack or others)
o Practical DCA- and Mute group configuration for band,
effects, wireless mics
o Recording via AES/EBU out, USB stick or other outputs
o Outputs for additional stereo delay-line or broadcasting
to other rooms
X32userconfigs - NEWS #4 April-2019
Nature's exploding all around - some of you have been joining us -
and there are news worth sharing!
May it be inspiring to you as it is for us.
Have a good time in growing your sound expertise this year!
If you have any ideas or comments, leave a note.
With spring time greetings!
Gerson
TOPs:
1. Optimized X32 family system
They're really existing, so-called "sweetpots" or "optimized combinations"!
And here we're looking at it from live-sound perspective
But before telling what it consists of, have a look at the quite impressing functionality this
simple system is offering:
Components:
Actual pricing (April 2019):
X32 Compact: 1200€
X32 Rack: 700€
SD16: 500€
total: 2300€
safety X32 Rack: 700€
Functionality and system safety is unrivalled on the market for
an amount of 3000€!!
The new SCENES 23c_foh.scn, 23c_rack.scn and 23c_sd16.scn do exactly what is described above.
Check them out and work at a really optimized X32 level!
2. X32 Rack enhancing existing X32/M32 setup
One of you said, he owned an M32R with a DL32 stagebox.
(And yes, the more expensive MIDAS Mic preamps are the best you can get for this system.)
And since he also had an X32 Rack, he asked how to enhance his system with it at FOH position.
The results are SCENES 23a_foh.scn and 23a_rack:
For 45€ for both SCENEs you get functionality improvements with additional value far beyond that!
3. Using WAVES Multirack with X32 at Gospel Choir Concert
It was at a 10 week project Gospel Choir final concert performance.
Having 6 condenser mics put to the different voices, those were mixed together to a choir subgroup.
Using the AUX send and returns the signal was routed through X-WSG card to a WAVES Impact Server.
Choir-Mics and many other signals were also routed directly each through Multirack.
Applied plugins:
Every choir voice: X-FDBK - PSE - RVox
With X-FDBK the strongest feedback frequencies were reduced
(automatically through ringing at soundcheck)
PSE reduced channel volume when not singing
RVox did a first unaudible compression
Choir subgroup: NLS Buss - C6 - S1 Imager
NLS Buss giving a warm analog feel.
C6 doing multiband compression.
S1 widening the stereo image
Doubler choir subgr.: NLS Bus - C6 - Reel ADT Live - S1 Imager - TrueVerb
Reel ADT Live simulates a vintage tape machine with variations in left and right
speed, thus generating a natural sounding voice doubling
Piano: PianoCentric: Processing Piano sound clear, with slight delay and doubling.
Drums-Kick: Smack Attack - RCompressor - RBass
Smack Attack delivering the desired punchy kick sound
RComp compressing softly
RBass giving a deep stomach felt bass, not to be achieved with EQing
Drums-Snare: Smack-Attack - VComp
Drums-Overheads: F6: Dynamic EQ with Analyzer
Drums-Toms: Smack Attack - RBass
Drums-Subgroup: NLS Buss - C6
Acoustic Guitar: RenAxx: very suited compressor for (acoustic) guitars
Solo vocal: RVox - F6 - Sibilance - VoiceCentric
RVox with first slight compression and Gate - no artefacts
Sibilance: optimized automatic vocals deesser
VoiceCentric: Mono-to-stereo voice compressor-exciter-delay-pitch-reverb
giving special polishing
Summarizing:
The available plugins are way beyond what could ever be done with the X32 on its own
and gave a lot of freedom and polishing tools!
Guests comments on band sound were very positive. Songs with solo vocals only almost perfect ;).
PA was FOHHN LX150 with Sub on both sides - excellent vertical beaming for church buildings,
avoiding unnecessary sound distribution and thus contributing to high intelligibility;
very fine and powerful sound!
With our 2 choir subgroups in parallel we could open up and really double the sonic image of the
choir voices - impressing!
The only thing we would definitely be doing different next time, since we were not able to put out
the choir volume we wanted before getting feedback, is definitely using one mic (SM57 or SM58)
for 2-3 singers each, thus avoiding "far distance choir micing" with all it's monitoring problems!
For those interested we could be programming SCENES 24a_foh.scn, 24a_rack.scn, combined with the
suitable WAVES Multirack Session configuration.
Keep in mind that applying it, additionally to your X32/M32 setup, you would need:
X-WSG card (599$), WAVES Impact Server (999$), Netgear 8-port switch (90$), Multirack software
(499$), WAVES plugins (best is to follow their newsletter for all those special offers. In the course
of one year almost all plugins can be bought as special offer).
And, mostly it is possible to add a 10% coupon like this one here: 10% OFF WAVES Voucher
X32userconfigs - NEWS #5
4-January-2022
Dear XM32 users around the globe,
2022 ahead...
You might have some time to try something new ;)
Studio Reverbs and Delays for the XM32…
… bringing your favourite reverb and delay effects into the X32!
… freeing up internal X32 plugin effect slots for new missions!
Why Reverb and Delay plugins only?
The simple reason: With these effects we don’t have to care about typical
USB interface latencies of 7-15ms (send-return-operation, 100%
wet mix).
For reverbs many are using pre-delays of 20-50ms and more anyway, and
with usual echo-delays, delay times are generally a lot higher.
But, applying insert-effects like compressors or limiters, given the
mentioned latencies, could lead to noticeable disturbance in a live environment.
For more details see Blog 3.
What do we need?
PC- (or MAC-) Notebook hooked up to the USB interface of the X32
Installed VST-Plugin-Host-Software:
Could be any DAW, like STUDIO ONE, LOGIC PRO X, CUBASE, or others, or,
due to its CPU effective design for Live use, the plugin host software
LiveProfessor (99€ on audiostrom.com; Dec 2021).
This one is what I went for. Here the wiring display:
HOFA IQ-Series Reverb V2 (250€) – noble room simulator,
HOFA System AlgoVerb (50€) – more simple, very good sounding algorithm reverb
with easy GUI,
FABFILTER Pro-R (126-165€) – often praised reverb,
VALHALLA Room (50€) – maybe ‘best’ room reverb?
VALHALLA VintageVerb (50€) – stunning sounding reverb effect, collection of high-class
simulated hardware units,
NI Raum (49€): fine and intuitively operable reverb,
...
just to name a few.
BABY AUDIO Comeback Kid (30-50 USD),
VALHALLA Delay (50€),
WAVES H-Delay (30 USD in the moment)
NI Replika (25€),
...
and many more…
This is the chain display in LiveProfessor:
Oh yes, inserting a simple reverb (like HOFA System AlgoVerb) after
the delay plugin, makes the dry echoes being embedded into a soft space,
giving it a more pleasant feel.
And one more thing:
Not all delay plugins do have a TAP-tempo button!
But this is essential for spontaneous live application!
Above mentioned plugin-host-software LiveProfessor has it available as a global
software-button on screen. All delays can be synced to it.
If you don’t want to work with some kind of mouse entering the tap tempo,
better have a touch-screen notebook!
Unfortunately MacBooks are still ignoring applications like that…
USB Card Routing inside the X32
Assuming that 3 send busses, for Reverb large, Reverb medium and Delay are
required, then these have to be routed via the OUT1-16 (or Ultranet) signals
of the X32 to the desired outputs of the Card.
Select these Card outputs to be inputs in your Plugin Host Software.
Configure the outputs of the Plugin Host Software, so that inside the X32 they are
routed like Card 1/2 to AUX IN 1/2 (Reverb Return) and Card 3/4 to AUX IN 3/4
(Delay Return). Even though it is possible to combine all effect returns to the
same stereo out pair in LiveProfessor, we're keeping it separate and are a
little more flexible …
Three high quality X32 plugin slots freed up for new missions…
In my previous X32 mix setup, (this one is based on SCENE 21: Church-Mix)
FX1 effect slot was reserved for Vintage Room
(wide reverb stage without single disturbing reflexions),
FX2 for Rich Plate Reverb (medium reverb time) and
FX3 equipped with the Stereo Delay.
These three I am going to substitute with the above mentioned external effects.
Reverbs and Delays are belonging to the more complex premium send-return-effects.
Having three FX-slots being free and available again, the idea suggests itself to
fill them like this:
FX1: 5-band multiband-compressor COMBINATOR (1 or 2 of them) for solo vocals,
or stereo vocal subgroup. Now dynamic singing can be ‘tamed’ excellently and brought
‘to the front’! Also continuous EQ-adjusting between quieter and more powerful vocal
parts is not needed any longer!
FX2: Stereo Pitch Shifter, fed with Bus 9 (li +5, re -6 Cent, Delay on minimum),
for friends of old fattened vocal and e-git sounds.
FX3: could become a Sound-Maxer, for example to be inserted into the subwoofer
matrix channel.
All that combined enhances mixing on the X32 quite remarkably, simply needing a notebook,
that might be available anyway, with some software (that might be available anyway too ;)).
Many of You could be doing this without paying a cent, given the tools You already have!
Anyone who is heading for some support:
My project was built, verified and documented for use in a small church.
The modified and updated version now is called SCENE 21c: “Church-Mix_USB-RevDel”,
incl. a stereo bus for ZOOM broadcast (Web-Bus 11/12)...
Have a good time experimenting and improving sound-excellence!
And treasure your loved ones in these times.
Gerson
Preview NEWS #6:
X32userconfigs - NEWS #6
6. February 2022
Dear X32-, M32-User,
Infos and news are quite a few and want to go out into the world ;)
This time it's about the easy entry into InEar-monitoring in the XM32 world!
Have fun and benefit from it!
InEar-Monitoring in X32 World (Feb. 2022)
Why InEar monitoring?
InEar monitoring too expensive...!?
When I was thinking of InEar-monitoring there quickly came an amount of 500€ per wireless unit to my mind,
plus expensive earpieces, in wired topology a mandatory multi-channel headphone amp, that had to be organized,
plus suitable ear-plugs.
There is however a surprisingly simple and cost-efficient solution to start with InEar monitoring in your band,
especially if you are starting wired, eventually changing to wireless later on.
3 "Traps"
Lets look at three pitfalls some are tapping in when stepping into InEar world:
Any objections that this would not be affordable for everyone
seriously involved in making music!
OK, you’re right. Something is missing:
The infrastructure for those stereo InEar mixes plus space
information…
Lets say, the band is consisting of 7 musicians.
Then we need exactly one X32 Rack as system extension
for an already existing setup of X32 or X32 Compact with
stageboxes.
14 busses (incl. activated limiters as hearing protection!!)
are used for those 7 stereo InEar mixes, one (bus 15) for space
simulation and bus 16 routed to a stereo-chorus effect for enhancing
and enriching acoustic guitars, Rhodes, vocals as desired.
With a connected WiFi router, preferredly working in the slightly
calmer 5GHz range, the complete monitor mix then is happening on
the X32 Rack, completely independent of the FOH mix!
Each of the 7 musicians is able to taylor his or her individual sound
with an own smartphone or tablet.
BackesBand from Cologne (BackesBand.de) has been applying exactly this
concept of extending their system with an X32 Rack.
For details and features, that also are improving FOH sound intensely,
we will be talking in NEWS #7!
Til then
Gerson
X32userconfigs - NEWS #7
1-March-2022
Hi there!
This is actually the most sophisticated and elaborate SCENEs setup, that has
ever been done on this website. Check out yourself, if you could take advantage
of it for your application!
BackesBand (backesband.de) optimizing setup with X32 Rack
6.1 Setup before
FOH: X32 Compact
Stage: 2x S16
6.2 Setup afterwards
FOH: X32 Compact
Stage: 1x S16
1x X32 Rack
6.3 Requirements for the new setup
Here the actual BackesBand stage rack...
...with the new X32 Rack on top, the wireless transmitters, a 4-channel DI and 2 Digitech
E-Git Preamps.