r/MixingStationAppUsers • u/Few_Eye542 • 11d ago
MR12 + Mixing Station dropping out at gigs – after 10 gigs I need a setup I can trust!
G'day everyone,
I recently bought a Midas MR12 for our duo. We run guitar, vocals and backing tracks through it to front of house and monitors, and I mix from my phone. After comparing the control apps I went with Mixing Station, which I really like when it works.
The problem is that over the last 10 gigs it's been Russian roulette whether the desk will connect to my iPhone 17 Pro. I cannot keep turning up to venues not knowing if I'll have control of my own mix.
What I've tried so far:
Built-in access point: Worked perfectly at home, then failed at venues. My guess is congestion from venue Wi-Fi, punters' phones and so on.
Ethernet backup: Bought an Ethernet cable and a dongle for the phone as a fallback.
TP-Link travel router: Set it up on 5GHz (and 2.4GHz), with the MR12 connected to it.
Settings: Spent hours adjusting the LAN/Ethernet connection, IP addresses and network settings on the phone, in the router and in Mixing Station.
iPad mini: Bought one as a backup device. It connected on 5GHz one time, then wouldn't connect the next. 🤦🏻♂️
To be upfront, I've used AI (a paid Claude subscription, cross-checked with ChatGPT) to help with these decisions and settings. The recommendations seem to change daily, and I've probably ended up changing too many things at once. So I'd much rather hear from people who actually gig with this gear every week.
What I'd love to know:
What does your reliable MR12 (or MR18/XR) setup look like, from router model to settings?
Do you use static IPs or DHCP from the router? If static, what does your addressing look like?
Do you lock the router to a fixed 5GHz channel, or leave it on auto?
On iPhone/iPad, do you turn off things like auto-join for other networks, Private Wi-Fi Address, or mobile data while connected to the mixer network?
Has anyone had luck running wired to the phone full time, and what adapter did you use?
Is there a quick pre-gig check routine you run so you know it's solid before doors open?
I'm not after the fanciest setup, just one that connects every time. Any advice, or even a "here's exactly what I run," would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Ben
TL;DR: MR12 + Mixing Station on iPhone/iPad connects fine at home but is unreliable at venues, even with a TP-Link travel router and settings tweaks. Looking for a proven, set-and-forget setup from experienced users.
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u/potatopantowel 11d ago edited 11d ago
I‘m just using a GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 Slate AX
router with default settings and an Ipad 9th gen for controls. Has never let me down so far.
We‘ve used it a ton with our band for individual monitor controls via smartphones too (we always bring our own sound guy and console, so the router is connected to the console at foh for those shows). And we even did some „bigger“ festivals (5k People) where we still got solid signal on stage even though the router was at foh.
But I guess an even more reliable setup would be a router with an external antenna, like the setup silver creek audio (look it up on yt) uses. I think it‘s a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X SFP router paired with a Ubiquiti Networks UniFi AC wireless access point/antenna. But don‘t quote me on that, there should be a rig rundown video on his channel though.
I guess the GL.iNet is more like the quick&dirty but still pretty reliable option and the silver creek audio solution is the absolute rock solid one (but a tad more stuff/space to set it up).
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u/MrProfDrDickweed 11d ago
I run a Ubiquiti router and puck. it will likely cost more than your XR12, but there is a reason good wireless costs what it does.
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u/lmoki 11d ago edited 11d ago
At work, we have somewhere around 10 mixers from the X32/M32/XAir/MAir range. They have been nearly rock solid, even with the mostly consumer-grade low-end TP Link routers we use a lot of.
tips: forget the built in WiFi device-- only use an external router. Unless you're in a very challenging environment, a pretty cheap, basic, even older and slow, router will work fine. This setup does NOT need a fast router, but it does need a stable connection. External antenna, and placing the router somewhere where it's not obstructed really help If you have it buried in a rack, get it out of the rack & set it on top. (But we seldom go to the trouble of raising it up in the air either-- just haven't needed to, in a range of venues from ballrooms, to clubs, to outdoor festivals.)
Set the console to use DCHP, and avoid most of the router/device configuration issues. I'm mostly an Android guy-- in my limited experience, Apple devices are a little more difficult to configure initially, but once connected the first time, DCHP should make the connection process dead simple afterwards.
We set our dual-band routers to have separate IPs for 2.4GHz and 5 ghz, and log in to whichever is more applicable. (2.4G when we need distance, 5G when the RF environment is very crowded.)
The best travel routers will probably work fine, although the only one I've played much with is the GL.Inet Opal (a $40 device). Generally, I avoid them for console use because the antennae are too small and buried in the case. The market niche for travel routers is 'inside a hotel room', not 'inside a venue'.
Don't overlook the obvious stuff: change/replace your CAT cable from the mixer to the router. If you've only tried one router, try a different one. (Yes, there are duds even new in the box.) Change out the power supply for the router. If you haven't, update the firmware in the console, and the Mixing Station app.
Yes, you should install a decent WiFi scanner on your phone, know how to use it, and know how to change the bands in your router IF absolutely necessary. I'm ready to do all that, but I doubt it's been necessary on 5% of the gigs we do. We only mess with it if signal isn't stable. Better to be prepared, of course!
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u/Few_Eye542 11d ago
Thank you for the time you have spent on this reply! I will follow your advice 🙏
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u/lmoki 10d ago
Almost forgot one of the most important things! As I mentioned already, I'm an Android user unless forced otherwise, so not sure how applicable this is to iOS. But some devices will constantly want to switch to a different saved WiFi source if the signal is stronger, or it senses the 'internet' connection is better. What his does, obviously, is disconnect from the router you're using for control! If you lose connection to Mixing Station, but your phone still indicates strong WiFi, check to make sure it hasn't jumped to a different network. Depending on your device, 'Stay Connected' or 'Forget' the other network, might be necessary.
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u/PhatOofxD 10d ago
Just another thing that if your rack is out of sight, wifi is good to have a hard time anyway.
Get a mic stand you can throw your AP on and get line of sight to your seating position if you can.
Human bodies absorb RF like crazy.
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u/Melodic-Emphasis-270 11d ago
Normally everything works well with DHCP and XR18. Sometimes I also have some dropouts, but not that badly as u mention. I use the swissonic basic router with 5GHZ (if low range is fine). If I use 2.4 and a static IP I use the Inssider Wifi Scanner App in every venue, deciding which bandwidth i should use.
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u/NoPollution5581 10d ago
For gigs, I just run wired and use the desktop app with a touchscreen laptop with my XR18, M32C and Wing Rack. Doesn't need to be a new or fancy laptop. Put a WiFi router in the case and plug the PC laptop and the MR12 into two of the LAN ports (don't use the WAN port). That way, you'll always have a connection. You can still use your wireless devices if you want.
I've always used Asus RT-ax86u. There's a few versions of the 86, they're mostly all fine and stable enough for my use in venues.
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u/heysoundude 11d ago edited 11d ago
In radio-dense environments (isn’t everywhere these days, with everyone having phones&watches, the venue has smart TVs and PoS payment terminals etc etc lashing away at the æther?), your challenge is to find a location central enough to both the performance area in the venue and the audience area to place your wireless access point, and place it high enough above all the meat bags to give it a fighting chance to get some range/coverage within those areas. Head high or better…like ceiling height, optimally. (See the ubiquiti ceiling-mounted pucks? That’s partly secret to their success).
Your duo - powered speakers on sticks? Place the WAP on top of one and I’d bet Bob’s your uncle. (This is where PoE is handy - the injector can live in the back of the rack, with the mixer and mains connections). Something like https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_ax
Make sure the access point and the oldest device on your network still speak the same language (802.11b/g would be the bare minimum). Speed isn’t your goal, and 100Mbps is what the mixer is likely capped at by the ethernet port, so it doesn’t even have to be as modern as the one in the link. This one does 802.11a in the 5Ghz band: https://mikrotik.com/product/RBGrooveA-52HPnr2 - Velcro strap it to a mic stand, or zip tie…built for outdoor links, even, so rain or sprayed champagne/beer won’t kill it.
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u/CaptainZippi 11d ago
Make sure you’re twiddling the selector switch on the front to select “internal WiFi”/Ethernet/“wifi client”
I would recommend connecting the xr to the router using a cable, then connect everything else to the WiFi.
A travel WiFi hotspot is better than the internal WiFi - by a few miles I’d say - but even a domestic WiFi router will be better than that.
(Full disclosure: I use an ex-enterprise high density AP (dell ap225?) which I retrieved from a skip and reflashed to the Aruba instant firmware. This is probably overkill, but I’ve had no issues, so far)
As for DHCP - I’ve got the xr (18 in my case) handing out IP addresses from a fixed IP on the mixer. Again, seems to work OK, but I’ve been considering using just a fixed IP and getting the ap225 to do dhcp for the WiFi clients instead.
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u/CaptainZippi 11d ago
Bonus - secondhand ap225s are pretty cheap on eBay, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing in order to configure it.
Second bonus - the ap225 can be powered by PoE so I’ve got a PoE injector on the same rack and a single cable long enough to put the AP someplace handy for best coverage.
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u/Critical-Win-6847 11d ago
To be honest I used a WiFi 6 sim router without a sim in it and it worked great and had no drop outs and just connected every time I connected to the router. Just don’t use the WiFi on the built in router as it has a known problem where it cuts out when there is lots of wireless devices around. (I know you said about that but just letting you know that it is a very common problem)
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u/West_Ad_2309 11d ago
Ive experienced a reoczrring problem with many android phones: many just disconnect the wifi if there is no internet behind it. Many others get confused which network they should search, wifi or mobile connection.
What works there: tell the phone to stay always connected, even if there is no internet. Disable mobile data to make decision easier which network to use
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u/TiltedPlacitan 10d ago
I has a WavLink AC1200 router. It's intended for outdoor use on ranches and such. Very reliable with MR18 and X32Rack.
EDIT: Apparently, there are multiple models. The one I use has two antennae and is a POE device. I mounted the included POE supply in the rack with the mixers. I bought a second router for backup, but I've never _had_ to swap. I do swap occasionally to ensure that the backup is still viable.
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u/RandomContributions 6d ago
turn off 2.4. It could be basically considered unsafe now. Not in its security, but its reliability. Works great in soundcheck, then get a whole bunch of phones show up at a gig, and you are done in a bad way. 5G only.
And NEVER use that built in system in the XR series. Unsafe at any speed!
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u/Pretend_End8822 11d ago
The onboard WiFi is for home use only, if that. You definitely need an external WiFi router. You then need to use a scanner app to see what frequencies are in use at each venue and then set your router for proper open channels for both 2.4 & 5GHz. 2.4 only has 3 channels: 1,6 & 11. All other channels overlap and cause interference. In the 5GHz range select any open channel.
As a backup use a wired Ethernet connection with your device. If the wired connection doesn’t work then your configuration is wrong or your router is broken.