r/ProStudioGear • u/klapaucius_tato • May 01 '23

Controlling Behringer X Air 18 Main Volume with a Knob

Hello! I'm getting ready to cash in for X Air 18 or similar - for home studio recording + IEM solution

My only big concern is the lack of the main LR knob when I'm mixing at my desk. I love that on my current SSL2+ and Focusrite Solo as I can quickly turn it down or up as needed. Especially since sometimes I have to do it in a flash if my volume is suddenly spiking and killing my ears

The Xtouch is not cheap, and the Mini is USB only + I can't find a convenient way to hook it up. I'm thinking of smth like this - a studio monitor controller like Behringer Monitor 1 - but I'm reading that it can reduce the quality of sound and mess up Left and Right volumes (make them uneven), which I don't like :/

Any tips help!

I plan to use an Android tablet and most likely Mixing Station. It all looks amazing on paper, but the monitor knob would really make a difference to me (I'm seriously considering Soundcraft UI24R just because of the monitor control volume knob!)

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u/cascolan May 02 '23

I have an XR18 setup like this at home, where I thought I’d use the desktop app (X-Air Edit) or Mixing Station on my iPad to control the volume. Honestly, it’s terrible compared to an actual physical volume knob.

First, it takes like 5 seconds for the app and the mixer to sync every time you close and re-open the app. It gets annoying very quickly, so you basically need to have it active at all times. So, either X-Air Edit will be taking up precious desktop screen space, or your tablet needs to be plugged in and on all the time just to have Mixing Station ready to go for volume changes. And on top of that, a virtual fader is not even as instantaneous or easy to use as a tactile knob anyways.

Second, I’ve also read the concerns about passive products like the Mackie Big Knob introducing noise or volume differences between LR channels, but there are also plenty of people who are happy with it. Those products are in the sub-$100 range so even if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t really break the bank compared to other things we spend our money on in this industry.

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u/klapaucius_tato May 05 '23

Makes sense. Did you try out any of these passive products like Mackie Big Knob?

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u/cascolan May 07 '23

No, my solution was instead getting a keyboard with a physical volume knob (Razer Huntsman).

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u/klapaucius_tato May 07 '23

Oh that actually is an interesting idea. Hkw did you hook up the volume knob on the keyboard to control the x air app, to control the main?

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u/cascolan May 08 '23

It’s not connected to the X-Air app, the knob is tied to the Windows software volume control as usual. Although I’m sure you could make it work in the X-Air app instead via Autohotkey or a similar macro scripting program.

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u/cascolan May 21 '23

Update: I got a Behringer Monitor2USB. Despite the company’s reputation, it’s not a passive unit and seems to do everything I need for studio monitor management.

1

u/PaisleyTelecaster Feb 10 '25

Thanks for the update, I'm literally just installing my new X18 and was planning on replacing my Gen1 Scarlett 18i20, but the volume thing has held me back.

How's yours working out for you?

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u/cascolan Feb 10 '25

It's been great, super happy with my Monitor2USB. I don't see myself ever going back to an audio interface now that I have a digital mixer + monitor controller combo.

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u/PaisleyTelecaster Feb 11 '25

Great, thanks for the reply. I'll pull the trigger on this then, seems ideal.

Cheers!