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Title: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Aaron Nickerson on October 01, 2014, 02:34:06 PM
Hello all,
I run a Venue D-Show system in my main room.  My worship leader is determined to find a personal monitoring solution without actually paying for an Aviom type system.  Recently he has become enthralled with the x32's ability to allow musicians to control monitor mixes via iPads and smartphones.  We have a Behringer x32 for our gym that rarely gets used, and I have been tasked to figure out what it would take to utilize that as a monitor board.

Two questions:

1:  From what I have seen, both the D-Show and X32 have MADI option cards.  Is connecting the two consoles as simple as that?

2: Does the X32 apps really make it as easy as it sounds for musicians to control their own monitor mixes?

Please let me know if you think this setup would work, and any potential complications you foresee.

Thanks,
Aaron
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Aaron Nickerson on October 01, 2014, 03:05:05 PM
I also just found out the D-Show MADI card is $3274 through sweetwater, so it may not be saving us much money to go this route anyway....
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Tommy Peel on October 01, 2014, 03:22:56 PM
I also just found out the D-Show MADI card is $3274 through sweetwater, so it may not be saving us much money to go this route anyway....

Not sure of your situation... but what about using an analog splitter snake to feed your D-Show and the x32? That would be much cheaper than a $3300 MADI card; here's a 32ch splitter snake on Audiopile. (http://www.audiopile.net/products/Stagelink_snakes/Poorman_splitter_snakes/PSX-S_poorman_spliter_snakes_cutsheet.shtml)
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Aaron Nickerson on October 01, 2014, 03:35:04 PM
Not sure of your situation... but what about using an analog splitter snake to feed your D-Show and the x32? That would be much cheaper than a $3300 MADI card; here's a 32ch splitter snake on Audiopile. (http://www.audiopile.net/products/Stagelink_snakes/Poorman_splitter_snakes/PSX-S_poorman_spliter_snakes_cutsheet.shtml)
Tommy, thank you for the reply.  I was actually just looking at a very similar splitter snake.  There are two issues that I see.  One is it adds another potential piece to break into my signal chain.  I like the MADI interface because it does not impact my input signal flow at all.

Secondly, we are looking to place the X32 at the FOH position at least to begin the process, so that the FOH engineer can help with people who are struggling with their mix, or don't have an iPad or smart phone to connect to the X32.  I really like the idea of being able to easily listen in to any monitor mix, and make adjustments as needed (This happens fairly often that I need to help a musician with their mix).  But this would require a pair of s16 stage boxes, plus the cat5 run to the rear of our 1500 seat fan shaped auditorium.  That would put the price at about $2300 or so.  Still cheaper than the MADI interfaces, but I maybe the simplicity of MADI would be worth the extra $1200? 

And maybe there are other options I am not even thinking of?
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Tommy Peel on October 01, 2014, 03:45:51 PM
Tommy, thank you for the reply.  I was actually just looking at a very similar splitter snake.  There are two issues that I see.  One is it adds another potential piece to break into my signal chain.  I like the MADI interface because it does not impact my input signal flow at all.

Secondly, we are looking to place the X32 at the FOH position at least to begin the process, so that the FOH engineer can help with people who are struggling with their mix, or don't have an iPad or smart phone to connect to the X32.  I really like the idea of being able to easily listen in to any monitor mix, and make adjustments as needed (This happens fairly often that I need to help a musician with their mix).  But this would require a pair of s16 stage boxes, plus the cat5 run to the rear of our 1500 seat fan shaped auditorium.  That would put the price at about $2300 or so.  Still cheaper than the MADI interfaces, but I maybe the simplicity of MADI would be worth the extra $1200? 

And maybe there are other options I am not even thinking of?

Don't forget you'll need the MADI card for the x32($300). You also could have the x32 at the stage and an iPad for the FOH tech to use. For monitoring you could potentially feed the solo bus output on the x32 into an extra channel on the d-show and the FOH tech could listen to that channel on the d-show surface's headphone output(not sure if this is possible, I'm not familiar with the d-show).

Anyway this may be more complicated than you're wanting. Also how are your musician's IEMs being fed? Don't forget you'll have to get the x32's outputs to the stage somehow(if the board is at FOH).
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Thomas Lamb on October 01, 2014, 08:30:42 PM
What does your input list look like?
How many mixes do you need to be controllable?
What kind of mixes? Wedges? Wired IEM? Wireless IEM?
I've done a lot of work with different PM systems hardware based (aviom style) IPAD based but in your situation.... You already have arguably the best sounding one built into your desk PQ it takes a little to wrap your head around but it's a great system.
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Don Sullivan on October 01, 2014, 08:37:51 PM
Why not put the X32 at the monitor mix position for monitors and an X32 CORE or RACK right next to it for FOH? Use the built-in digital snake between the two. Operate FOH from an Ipad or Andriod tablet. No MADI cards or stage boxes required, no splitter. I know at least one sound company who is doing just that. If you need, run two or more tablets at your mix position, some for monitors, some for FOH.
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Samuel Rees on October 02, 2014, 10:02:13 AM

Why not put the X32 at the monitor mix position for monitors and an X32 CORE or RACK right next to it for FOH? Use the built-in digital snake between the two. Operate FOH from an Ipad or Andriod tablet. No MADI cards or stage boxes required, no splitter. I know at least one sound company who is doing just that. If you need, run two or more tablets at your mix position, some for monitors, some for FOH.

Are you saying they should switch their Avid D-show... For an X32 core? I hope I'm misunderstanding something.
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Liam Halpin on October 05, 2014, 01:38:38 PM
Have you looked at the pq system for the venue? Possibly on the second hand market?
Title: Re: Interfacing Venue d-Show with x32 via MADI?
Post by: Aaron Nickerson on October 15, 2014, 12:59:03 PM
Thank you for all of the responses.  Sorry I have not been on to answer clarifying questions.  It has been a hectic week.

Our current setup we run 1 wireless in-ear (Shure P9), 4 or 5 Wired in-ears (Shure P6HW), and 1-2 wedges for BGV(s).  These monitor sends are currently being controlled via aux 1-8 on the d-show, sent to stage via the d-show digital snake system.

We run up to 28 (24 when stereo channels combined on D-show surface) channels, depending on the week (7 drums, click, cues, 2 loop tracks, bass, 2 electric gtr, 1 acc gtr, 3 keyboard channels, 3 vocals, plus 3 speaker mics, and stereo inputs from video booth and FOH comp for pre service audio)

We originally wanted the x32 at FOH because we do not have the volunteers to consistently staff a monitor position, and I wanted to be able to listen in on musicians' mixes to help them dial things in when necessary.  But if I could route the solo bus of the x32 to the d-show, that would be unnecessary.  iPad control at FOH position would be sufficient. 

I have looked into the PQ system new, at it seemed more expensive than an aviom option.  I haven't priced used, but that is a good idea.  Right now church finances are a little tight, so big purchases will probably be nixed, but it is an option to look into.  I also don't love the clunky look of a bunch of control units on stage, but that might just be a personal preference I may need to get over.