D. Gauss

There's been several "what mixer?" threads lately. If you're having trouble deciding what to get (and have the cash), I'd say the A&H CQ-18T is a super small, power monster that is pretty hard to beat. Just picked one up yesterday. Built like a tiny lightweight tank and super easy to use. Did i mention it is small and weighs considerably less than a gallon of milk? Compared to the usual suspects out there (Behringer Xr-18, etc.), here's (IMO) the main things that really set it apart from the others: -Built in WIFI router that actually works. No need to bring a router, and unlike the useless wifi on the Behringers, this one is strong (both 2.4 & 5) works quite well. -Built in color touch screen. You can easily control everything and see your settings without need for an ipad or phone. But of course you can use them too. -Built in mapped rotary controls. There's 3 rotary controls that automatically map to controls on every screen. e.g. you can turn the channel volume down with an actual knob (or still use your finger on the touch screen if you prefer) -Built in 96K multitrack recording to SD card. Pop in a $7 dollar SD card and record 18 discreet channels, plus your master mix, and your submixes. (24 tracks total) -Simple, tabletop style format like an analog mixer. For almost 10 years, i've been using an A&H Qu-Pac (which i absolutely love and thought was small at the time), but the CQ-18T does 90% of what my QU-Pac does at about a third of the weight, and does some things the Qu-Pac can't. It ain't cheap though. $1200 bucks is a damn lot of dough to put out when you can get the ubiquitous XR-18 for $750. But, to me, the on-board screen, tactile knob control, lack of need to bring a router, and ability to record without a computer help soften the sticker shock. Hard to tell in the below pic, but the mixer's footprint is smaller than the laptop i'm typing this on (13.6 x 9.5 inches).

depending upon your needs, you can also use bluetooth and a wireless MIDI adapter. I've successfully used the Mixface with a Casio Ct-s1000v (comes with it's own bluetooth midi adapter), an Ipad, as well as several other keyboards using the $13 dollar m-vave wireless midi bluetooth host adapter from ali-express.

why wish when I mentioned that there was a larger one right in the actual post that you quoted? 2 secs on google machine and boom: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Adjustable-Connecting-Microphone-Compatible/dp/B07D5TSC7C/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3FBE34COAW22F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.itAXNvaNYNF_BXq2NjjeFru98gQLWr5yZxlTuQi13RC1gLUrNlbTalWDziPjuU0uHGyM-Ny2D6lJKQWouPfCvCxk5gJIJIjTJSFKf5UUXnMUNVoDKUUJpIDNmsU0ekJa_woLzkyTSS2hvI7Xb1fVqHFf3JFBzXGBkKcCPMXDE2Kw5HTfSmhJ2uNpsre6IbugJrcXAm9QMxUQpMNPKS3_HZwdvLjqwXYgE8YeB6TQAiA.0XJ8Nsk2bcxQHnv2KOPbcB0ggILUlRTllv8nPXdQsoo&dib_tag=se&keywords=ipad+pro+holder+clamp&qid=1713818943&sprefix=ipad+pro+holder+clamp%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-9

What keyboard? That would make it easier to help. Any of the QSC, Yamaha, Alto big boy PA speakers should be ball-shakingly loud enough with correct gain staging as Delaware Dave has mentioned. You can get a half decent super tiny mackie/behringer mixer for $50 if you need more gain on the front end. The $29 M-Audio Audio buddy was perfect for this but sadly, they stopped making them.

IMO, that has FAIL written all over it. Especially the what looks to be tiny spring clamp. In my experience with IPAD holders (and i've been through a ton of crappy ones), if it doesn't clap down with a serious, good-sized all metal screw assembly similar to a C clamp, you're asking for trouble and a shattered tablet. (ask me how i know) The Amazon branded one i posted a few posts above (also made by several other folks too), isn't perfect, but it holds non specific sized tablets/phones very sturdy and is extremely adjustable in many directions. In addition it holds the tablet/phone with contacts on all four sides instead of the usual 2 or 3. It also has the plus of using a standard mic stand thread which lets you be able to add an extender or put it on a boom if you need to. They used to be 12 bucks, now they're $18, which is still not bad compared to how expensive some inferior ones are.

i own and use at least 3 of these, maybe more. some in studio, one lives at a club, one in a gig bag. ymmv, but they are cheap, solid and work great. (the link here is fo the size i have, but i beleive there is one size larger that will hold an ipad pro for a couple bucks more) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RD8B8ZB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i use one of these via bluetooth to an IPAD. $179 new. Can find them for $100 used. Have one scene programmed for VB3 and one for B3x.

One of my bandmates played bass for Pinetop for years. Lotsa good stories.

also, make sure you try flipping the USB C adapter orientation. Being symmetrical, it is not supposed to make a difference which way you plug it in, BUT in my experience with keys/ipads/power it DOES make a difference. Worth trying anyways.

Or you could go mono and buy this for 29k https://reverb.com/item/80818871-moog-mini-moog-actual-david-bowie-ziggy-one-with-original-case-and-provenance-1970s-dark-wood?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=us-dpa-all-value-1d-2024.Q1&utm_content=90D Sessions&utm_term=This gear looks good on you.&utm_id=120213213319430456&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3_ARl6fbXVjJUJADWtzTsiALCcWPeppLXejThX2Rxt0LLnfMhUBhluefc_aem_ASVDaVLAK6Pf_3TN2WwFEOewDMGJQFZDSzKJ9Cvp3_XaqEipVIIbp4xZKQ00WLBiJMclghILbQyVBzXFqpIl8NjL

AUM runs on windows? Being that Reaper is a DAW, it wouldn't be my first (or even 3rd) choice for a live keyboard rig. In my case, I spend 8-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week with Reaper recording clients in the studio. Your post mentioned dated 32 bit VSTs. If your goal is to use them, then Windows and Reaper with it's ability to easily bridge 32 to 64bit plugs will meet that goal.

FWIW, Reaper bridges 32 bit plugs automatically. No muss, no fuss, Easy Peasy. As JoJoB3 mentioned above, Reaper is IMO the best DAW out there. Insanely powerful and stable.

Not always, and it never hurts to inquire/check it out. I posted elsewhere about someone giving away a beautiful, pristine condition Yamaha C7, which i passed on (no room for it), but it later ended up in a club I play at. I have a beautiful Baldwin M grand that i got the same way.

It's long gone.

Can't speak for the others, but the cheapie aliexpress one also acts a pseudo host. E.g. I use one to send wireless sysex commands from an ipad to a zoom fx floor pedal.