Carleton University - School of Computer Science Honours Project
Winter 2018
App control of Behringer X Air mixers
Nicholas Arduini
SCS Honours Project Image
ABSTRACT
With the release of Behringer’s series of X Air mixers, the company also provided a remote application for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux clients. These devices could then be used to manage the mixer entirely, without the need to have any actual controls on the mixer itself. This is possible due to the Open Sound Control Protocol (OSC) and a built in WiFi router. The controlling device makes use of the WiFi connection provided by the mixer, either linked to an existing WiFi client or acting as an access point itself. Ethernet is also provided as a connection option for desktop apps being Mac, Windows, and Linux. The provided Behringer apps functions as expected, but due to its limitations and inconsistencies across platforms it would be ideal to make custom software to solve new problems the company cannot always address. The premise of this report is to detail what is needed to develop custom software for the X Air series of mixers, and theoretically most OSC enabled mixers. The end result of this project is a fully capable universal iOS application made for iPhone and iPad. This app mimics most of the features provided in the official X Air Edit app, and provides its own additional features. This report will also cover the difficulty adapting these controls into a smaller screen, iPhone device, which Behringer has not done themselves. With the completion of this project, expansion can be made to add custom features and to offer development for more platforms.