Digital mixer XR18

trb

Experienced
Hi all

received it last week, and now is installed in my studio.
At first impression, I must say very pleased.
My usage is home studio:
- PC WIN7 i7 950
- 2 poweramp MAtrix and 2 cabinet from thoman PA302 on main out
- 1 sub Thoman 12" on Aux 1/2
- my Axe fx 2 (rack guitar modeler) in IN 3/4
- a mic In 1 for voice
- a mic in IN2 for a guitar cab micked (on my tube amp)
- XR18 as sound card to record my AFX2, and play my backing tracks, with vst ans vsti plugins.

So as first conclusion:
My AFX2 sound appears so far to be great through the XR18 and the pres are clean/neutral enought not to modify/saturate my AFX2 guitar signal.

The latency seems to be really good with Reaper, using the XR18 usb driver param:
- 256 samples (seems to be OK too with 128 sample)
- low latency param
The latency from Reaper is 6.3/6.6 ms so perfect for me.
I use some vst plugin as compressor/eq/delay/rev on my Reaper tracks and... no issue ! great
I have still to test my vsti EZ Drummer for drum tracks.

The guitar tracks recorded seems to be as the original too, with good quality; no losses, dynamic & tone seems OK.

The headphones out is OK too, but I think a bit less dynamic than a mid market audio interface, but still very good quality for my backingtracks and guitar tracks.

Very impressed with the latency !
I tested with Reaper with 2 tracks:
- ezdrummer with 3 vst to postpro the drums sounnd
- bass vsti with 3 other vst

With the usb asio driver:
- Buffer 64 samples+ Minimum latency 2.3 ms: I can say it works very well, just some very small clic time ti time
- Buffer 128 samples+ Minimum latency 3.6 ms: no clic, perfect

I will stay on Buffer 128 samples+ Low latency 4.6ms
=> no clic, perfect sound, congrats, didn't imagine that would be so fine for my usage.

Of course with more tracks and vsti I guess more like buffer 256 at 6.3 ms.
 
...and BTW, thanks YEK for your reports on your experience with the X32, helping me to take the decision...
 
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