3 Steps on How to Set Up X Air 18 Mixer

Setting up an X Air 18 digital mixer can seem daunting at first, but with the right guidance, it’s a relatively straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to get your X Air 18 up and running quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re a seasoned audio engineer or just starting out, this guide will provide the necessary instructions to ensure your setup is successful.

Before beginning, gather the necessary equipment, including the X Air 18 mixer, power supply, Ethernet cables, and any additional audio devices you plan to connect. Once you have everything you need, follow these steps to set up your X Air 18:

First, connect the power supply to the X Air 18 and turn it on. Then, using an Ethernet cable, connect the mixer to your computer or a Wi-Fi network. Once the mixer is powered on and connected, open the X Air Edit app on your computer or mobile device. The app will automatically detect the mixer and establish a connection. Now, you can begin configuring the mixer’s settings, including input and output routing, EQ, and effects.

Connecting the X Air 18 to Your Network

Before you can start using the X Air 18, you need to connect it to your network. This will allow you to control the mixer remotely using a web browser or the X Air app. There are two ways to connect the X Air 18 to your network: via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Connecting via Ethernet

To connect the X Air 18 to your network via Ethernet, you will need an Ethernet cable. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the back of the X Air 18 and the other end to an available port on your router. Once the Ethernet cable is connected, the X Air 18 will automatically obtain an IP address from your router.

Connecting via Wi-Fi

To connect the X Air 18 to your network via Wi-Fi, you will need to know the SSID and password of your Wi-Fi network.

Step	Description
1	Press the Setup button on the front panel of the X Air 18.
2	Select the Network tab.
3	Select the Wi-Fi tab.
4	Select the SSID of your Wi-Fi network from the list of available networks.
5	Enter the password for your Wi-Fi network.
6	Press the Connect button.

Once you have entered the correct information, the X Air 18 will attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi network. If the connection is successful, the Wi-Fi indicator on the front panel of the X Air 18 will turn blue.

Installing the Behringer X Air App

The Behringer X Air app is the control interface for the X Air 18 mixer. It is available for both iOS and Android devices.
To install the app, follow these steps:
1. On your iOS or Android device, go to the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Search for “Behringer X Air”.
3. Tap the “Install” button.
4. Once the app is installed, open it and create a new account.
5. Once you have created an account, tap the “Connect” button and select your X Air 18 mixer from the list of available devices.

Connecting the X Air 18 Mixer to Your Wi-Fi Network

Before you can use the X Air 18 mixer with the X Air app, you must connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
To connect the mixer to your Wi-Fi network, follow these steps:
1. On the mixer, press the “Menu” button.
2. Select the “Wireless” option.
3. Select your Wi-Fi network from the list of available networks.
4. Enter the password for your Wi-Fi network.
5. Once the mixer is connected to your Wi-Fi network, you will see a blue LED next to the Wi-Fi icon on the mixer’s front panel.

Controlling the X Air 18 Mixer with the X Air App

Once the X Air 18 mixer is connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can use the X Air app to control the mixer.
The X Air app provides a variety of features that позволяют you to control all of the mixer’s functions, including:
– Channel faders and panning
– EQ and effects
– Sends and returns
– Scene management
– Recording and playback

The X Air app is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that gives you complete control over the X Air 18 mixer.

Feature	Description
Channel faders and panning	Adjust the level and panning of each channel.
EQ and effects	Apply EQ and effects to each channel.
Sends and returns	Send audio from each channel to external effects processors and return the processed audio to the mixer.
Scene management	Store and recall different mixer settings.
Recording and playback	Record and playback audio directly to and from the mixer.

Creating a New Scene

To create a new scene in X Air 18, follow these steps:

1. Tap the “Scenes” button on the home screen.

The “Scenes” screen will be displayed.

2. Tap the “New” button.

A new scene will be created and added to the list of scenes.

3. Configure the scene settings.

The following settings can be configured for each scene:

Scene Name: The name of the scene (any characters allowed).

Channel Name: The name of the channel (any characters allowed).

Preamp:

Type: The type of microphone or instrument being used (dynamic, condenser, etc.).

Gain: The amount of gain applied to the signal.

Pad: The amount of attenuation applied to the signal (-20 dB or -40 dB).

High-pass Filter:

Frequency: The frequency at which the filter cuts off the signal (20 Hz to 20 kHz).

Order: The steepness of the filter (6 dB/octave, 12 dB/octave, or 18 dB/octave).

Equalizer:

Type: The type of equalizer (parametric or graphic).

Parameters: The parameters of the equalizer (frequency, gain, and bandwidth).

Dynamics:

Compressor: The parameters of the compressor (threshold, ratio, attack, release, and gain).

Gate: The parameters of the gate (threshold, hold, attack, and release).

Channel Link: The channel that this channel will be linked to. All settings will be copied when the linked channel is changed.

Adding and Configuring Input Channels

To add and configure input channels on your X Air 18:

1. Connect Your Sources

Connect your audio sources to the X Air 18 using XLR or TRS cables. Each input channel has a corresponding input jack on the back of the unit.

2. Select Input Channels

In the X Air Edit software or on the mixer’s touchscreen, navigate to the “Config” tab, select “Input Channels,” and then choose the input channels you want to configure.

3. Set Input Gain

Adjust the input gain for each channel using the fader or rotary encoder. Set the gain so that the signal level is within the optimal range (usually around -18 to -12 dBFS).

4. Configure Input Parameters

Each input channel offers a range of configurable parameters, including:

Parameter	Description
Phantom Power	Enables or disables 48V phantom power for condenser microphones.
Channel Link	Links two channels together for stereo operation.
Phase Invert	Inverts the polarity of the input signal.
High-Pass Filter	Removes low-frequency content below a specified cutoff frequency.

Fine-tune these parameters to optimize the sound of your sources.

Setting Up Output Buses

Creating a New Output Bus

To create a new output bus, click the “Add Bus” button in the Output Buses tab. Enter a name for the bus in the “Output Bus Name” field. You can also select the bus type from the “Bus Type” drop-down menu. The available bus types are:

Bus Type	Description
Mono	A mono bus outputs a single audio signal.
Stereo	A stereo bus outputs two audio signals, one for the left channel and one for the right channel.
Aux	An aux bus is a type of stereo bus that can be used for effects sends.
Group	A group bus is a type of stereo bus that can be used to group multiple channels together.

Assigning Channels to Output Buses

To assign a channel to an output bus, click the “Output” button in the channel strip. In the “Output Bus” drop-down menu, select the output bus you want to assign the channel to.

You can assign a channel to multiple output buses by holding down the “Shift” key and clicking on the desired buses. To remove a channel from an output bus, hold down the “Ctrl” key and click on the bus.

Adjusting Output Bus Levels

To adjust the output level of a bus, click the “Level” knob in the bus strip. You can also adjust the pan of a stereo bus by clicking the “Pan” knob.

Sending Effects to Output Buses

To send an effect to an output bus, click the “FX” button in the bus strip. In the “Effects” tab, you can select the effects you want to send to the bus. You can also adjust the send level of each effect.

Customizing Bus Names

It is not possible to customize the names of the default output buses (Main LR, Main Mono, Aux 1-4, Group 1-8). However, you can rename the custom output buses you create. To rename a bus, double-click on the bus name in the Output Buses tab and enter the new name.

Creating Effects

Creating effects in X Air 18 is a simple and intuitive process. To create an effect, follow these steps:

Select the “FX” tab on the mixer’s home screen.
Choose an available effects slot by pressing the corresponding button. Each slot is labeled as “FX#,” where # represents the slot number.
Select the desired effect from the list of available options. X Air 18 offers a wide range of effects, including reverbs, delays, EQs, compressors, and modulation effects.
Once you have selected an effect, you can adjust its parameters to tailor the effect to your liking. Each effect has a range of adjustable parameters, which can be modified by turning the corresponding knobs.
To apply the effect to a specific channel, press the “Send” button corresponding to the channel and select the desired FX slot.
Use the “Send Level” knob to adjust the amount of the channel signal that is routed to the effect.

Inserting Effects

In addition to creating effects, X Air 18 also allows you to insert third-party plugins into the mixer’s signal path. This feature provides even greater flexibility and customization options for your mix.

To insert an effect plugin:

Select the “FX” tab.
Locate the “Insert” section. Each channel has two insert slots, labeled as “INS1” and “INS2.”
Click on the desired insert slot.
Select the “Plugin” tab.
Browse the list of available plugins and select the plugin you want to insert.
Once the plugin is inserted, you can adjust its parameters by clicking on the “Edit” button.

Parameter	Description
“Type”	Selects the type of effect to be applied.
“Edit”	Opens a window where parameters for the effect can be adjusted.
“Send Level”	Controls the amount of the channel signal that is sent to the effect.
“Return Level”	Controls the amount of the effected signal that is returned to the mix.

Managing X Air 18 Firmware

The X Air 18 firmware is the software that runs on the console and controls its functionality. It is important to keep the firmware up to date to ensure that the console is running at its best and is compatible with the latest software and hardware.

To manage the X Air 18 firmware, follow these steps:

Connect the console to a computer. Use a USB cable to connect the console to a computer running Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Download the latest firmware. Go to the Behringer website and download the latest firmware for the X Air 18.
Update the firmware. Once the firmware is downloaded, open the X Air 18 Editor software on your computer and connect to the console. Select the “Firmware Update” option and follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware.

Here are some additional tips for managing the X Air 18 firmware:

Check the firmware version regularly. Go to the “System” menu on the console to check the current firmware version.
Only update the firmware if necessary. If the console is running stably, there is no need to update the firmware.
Follow the on-screen instructions carefully when updating the firmware. If the firmware update is interrupted, the console may become damaged.

Firmware Compatibility

The X Air 18 is compatible with the following firmware versions:

Firmware Version	Release Date
V1.0	November 2016
V1.1	March 2017
V1.2	June 2017
V1.3	September 2017
V1.4	December 2017

Recording and Playing Back Audio

Recording to USB Drive

Insert a USB drive into the X Air 18’s USB port.
Go to the "System Setup" menu and select "Record Settings."
Set the "Record Device" to the USB drive.
Configure the recording format and bitrate.
Start a recording session by pressing the "Record" button on the mixer or in the X Air Edit app.

Playing Back from USB Drive

Insert the USB drive with the recording into the X Air 18’s USB port.
Go to the "System Setup" menu and select "Playback Settings."
Set the "Playback Device" to the USB drive.
Select the recording you want to play back.
Press the "Play" button on the mixer or in the X Air Edit app.

Monitoring During Recording and Playback

The X Air 18 features a built-in headphone jack for monitoring the audio during recording and playback.

Looping a Recording

Enable the "Loop" option in the "Playback Settings" menu.
Set the start and end points of the loop using the "Loop Start" and "Loop End" controls.
Press the "Play" button to start looping the recording.

Saving and Loading Recordings

Recordings can be saved and loaded to and from the X Air 18’s internal memory or a USB drive.

Table: Saving and Loading Recordings

Action	Menu Path
Save Recording	System Setup > Record Settings > Save Recording
Load Recording	System Setup > Playback Settings > Load Recording

Additional Notes

Recordings are saved in the WAV format.
The maximum recording time is limited by the capacity of the USB drive.
The X Air 18 can only play back one recording at a time.

Advanced Routing Options

The X Air 18’s advanced routing options provide a wide range of flexibility to customize your audio setup. These options allow you to create complex mixes, assign signals to specific outputs, and utilize external effects.

Aux Sends

The X Air 18 has six aux buses that can be used for sending signals to external effects, monitors, or other mixing devices. Each aux bus can be set to pre- or post-fader, and can be assigned to any of the output channels.

Subgroups

Subgroups allow you to group multiple channels together and control their level and panning as a unit. The X Air 18 has four subgroups that can be assigned to any combination of channels.

Matrix Outputs

Matrix outputs provide an additional level of routing flexibility. The X Air 18 has four matrix outputs that can be assigned to any combination of channels, aux buses, or subgroups. This allows you to create custom mixes for specific purposes, such as sending a dedicated mix to headphones or a recording device.

DCA (Digital Control Amplifier)

The DCA feature allows you to control the level of multiple channels simultaneously. This can be useful for quickly adjusting the level of multiple instruments or vocals in a live performance.

Mute Groups

Mute groups allow you to quickly mute multiple channels at once. This is especially useful for managing complex mixes with a lot of channels.

Cue Sends

Cue sends allow you to send a signal to a dedicated output for monitoring purposes. This is useful for creating a personalized mix for the performer or engineer without affecting the main mix.

Talkback

The talkback feature allows the engineer to communicate with the performers through the main outputs. This is a useful feature for giving instructions or providing feedback during a performance.

Solo

The solo feature allows you to isolate a single channel or group of channels for monitoring. This is useful for troubleshooting problems or making adjustments to individual channels.

PFL (Pre-Fade Listen)

The PFL feature allows you to listen to a channel’s signal before it is sent to the main outputs. This is useful for monitoring signals before they are mixed with other channels.

Routing Option	Description
Aux Sends	Send signals to external effects, monitors, or other devices
Subgroups	Group channels together for level and panning control
Matrix Outputs	Create custom mixes for specific purposes
DCA (Digital Control Amplifier)	Control the level of multiple channels simultaneously
Mute Groups	Quickly mute multiple channels at once
Cue Sends	Send a signal to a dedicated output for monitoring purposes
Talkback	Communicate with performers through the main outputs
Solo	Isolate a single channel or group of channels for monitoring
PFL (Pre-Fade Listen)	Listen to a channel’s signal before it is sent to the main outputs

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. No audio output from the X Air 18

Firstly, ensure that the master fader is up and not muted. Check all the connections to the X Air 18, including the power supply, audio cables, and Ethernet cable. If using Dante, verify that the Dante network is configured correctly and that the X Air 18 is connected to the network.

2. Audio output from the X Air 18 is distorted

Adjust the gain of the input channels to prevent clipping. Reduce the overall output level using the master fader. Check the speaker connections and ensure they are secure and not damaged.

3. Feedback occurs when using the X Air 18

Use the feedback suppression feature to reduce feedback. Adjust the EQ to reduce the gain at frequencies prone to feedback. Position the speakers and microphones to minimize feedback.

4. Noise or hum is present in the audio output

Check the power connections and ensure they are grounded properly. Use balanced audio cables to reduce noise and interference. Try using a different power outlet.

5. Latency is noticeable when using the X Air 18

Reduce the buffer size in the X Air 18 settings to decrease latency. Use a faster Ethernet cable or switch to a wired connection for Dante. Optimize the network configuration to minimize any potential bottlenecks.

6. The X Air 18 does not respond to control inputs

Restart the X Air 18. Check the Ethernet cable connection and ensure it is secure. Reset the X Air 18 to factory settings if necessary.

7. The X Air 18 does not appear on the network

Ensure that the X Air 18 is connected to the network and that the DHCP server is assigning an IP address. Try using a static IP address instead of DHCP. Reset the network settings on the X Air 18.

8. The X Air 18 is not recognized by the computer

Install the latest version of the X Air Edit software. Check the USB cable connection and ensure it is secure. Try using a different USB port on the computer.

9. The X Air 18 software does not load

Close any other programs that may be interfering with the software. Restart the computer. Reinstall the X Air Edit software.

10. The X Air 18 is experiencing unexpected behavior

Reset the X Air 18 to factory settings. Update the X Air 18 firmware to the latest version. Contact Behringer support for further assistance.

How To Set Up X Air 18

The X Air 18 is a digital mixing console that can be used for a variety of applications, including live sound reinforcement, recording, and broadcasting. It has 18 input channels, 6 aux sends, 4 subgroups, and a stereo main mix. The X Air 18 can be controlled remotely using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

To set up the X Air 18, you will need to connect it to a power source and to your audio sources. You will also need to connect the X Air 18 to a computer, tablet, or smartphone if you want to control it remotely.

Once you have connected the X Air 18, you can start setting up your mix. You can use the channel strips to adjust the gain, EQ, and dynamics of each input channel. You can also use the aux sends to create monitor mixes for your performers. The subgroups can be used to group together channels that you want to process together. The main mix is used to control the overall level and EQ of your mix.

The X Air 18 is a powerful and versatile mixing console that can be used for a variety of applications. By following these steps, you can set up the X Air 18 and start mixing your audio.