Yes indeed. Although, before I continue it should be said that this TechBlog isn’t intended to be a platform for extra sales pitches of our gear – it’s hopefully going to turn into the place where we get to report back things that would benefit from discussion with you – our users – or possibly things that we think are interesting/cool. Click on the “Comments” link above here and discuss…
That said, this is sort of a sales pitch, but not for an XTA product, so I’m not contradicting myself. Not much anyway 😉
So, this year in Frankfurt, by far the biggest cool factor award has to go to Andreas Zeh and his iPhone app to control 4 Series units. I’m allowed to tell you all about this because he did this completely “off his own bat”, in his spare time just because he’s a fan of the gear. He got in touch about a year ago and asked would we mind if he looked into developing an app, and asked for the protocol for 4 Series. Once we’d tied up the legal side he got stuck in and had things up and running late last year. He got it approved by Apple in February and now it’s available to download.
It works like this: you buy a “Walkabout Kit” from us – this contains the WiFi – RS485 converter and a WiFi adapter for your laptop. This kit enables full wireless control of a network of units via AudioCore and we’ve just updated it with a new WiFi end for the laptop to make it easier to set up and improve performance. And so ends the sales pitch – well almost – here’s a link if you want to know more:
https://audiocore.wpengine.com/products-walkabout.html
So anyway, once you’ve downloaded the app on your iPhone/Pod, you set up the IP address of the Walkabout kit and that’s it. You’ve now got access to 4 Series on your shiny iDevice. There are a couple of provisos – it only currently accesses one device at a time (the ID number can be adjusted to address different ones though), and it only works with DP448/6/4s (so not 424 or 426). I’m sure that’ll change though as Andi has already done one update. He likes a tweak.
Just a few screenshots, to show you how cool it actually is, and a link to his page and we’re done. Remember – we’re not selling this, nor are we getting a cut, so we don’t offer tech support for it. If you wreck your system due to particularly fat fingers, at least you can pretend you were on the phone at the time and had nothing to do with it.
One last thing worth noting – this doesn’t mean that anyone with an iPhone can suddenly hack into your system if you’re using a wireless kit – there is the not inconsequential WEP security on the WiFi network which should stop that. Only one device can connect to the WiFi-RS485 adapter at a time anyway so if you’re online, no-one else gets a look-in.
So, some pics…
Routing and muting - tap an input or output to jump to it for editing...
Parametric EQ adjustment - whilst not as cool as curve dragging, be honest - would you safely be able to on a screen this size? The screw-up possibilities would be high.
Memories contents can be quickly seen and different bits switched off prior to recall and saving.
Metering is returned in real time...
Flip your iPhone/Pad on its side and if you're editing an input, the Graphic EQ slides into view. Very cool and guaranteed to get an "ooo..." from your assembled tech geek friends 😉
You can get his datasheet at: https://www.rockbaby.de/dp4remote.html
Will do and thanks. In Australia at the moment, but plan to do my roving reporter bit and put something up over the next week or so…
Yeah well said, I’m beta testing the DP4 software with a DP424 – and working with Andreas Zeh via email. I too suffer from fairly large fingers but I’d have to say that I’m loving this App – Sure it has limitations – great work Andreas!
“It works like this: you buy a “Walkabout Kit” from us”… and Apple takes 30% 😉
Is there an iPad app planned by someone? Or maybe an official app by XTA for iOs and/or android in the fututre?
Hi Bart – keep an eye on the blog this week for more details about an iPad app – it’s on its way!
Cheers,
Waring
Dd4remote together with ipad is just perfect! Try it, you´ll love it! Supposed to be the best walk-around-kit on the market.
IPad App would be great. Is it in the works?
Hi Marc – it’s already available in the appstore – here’s more about it here:
https://audiocore.wpengine.com:/techblog/?p=246
There’s now a full screen mode for EQ editing as well which isn’t shown in the blog post,
and I know Andi is working on controlling a network of units now, not just single ones.
Cheers,
Waring
Good day how can I get this app for the iphone?
Hi Jonathan – it’s available in the appstore – just search for “DP4” and you’ll find it. Be aware that you need a Walkabout kit (well, the WiFi – serial interface half) to work with it.
Cheers,
Waring
would love this for android. Galaxy s 2 and Galaxy tab in particular. Any chance of it happening?
Hi Tom – I’d love it for Android too, as I’ve just taken delivery of my third tablet, an Acer A100 which is absolutely fantastic (apart from maybe not the best battery life ever but OK).
As we haven’t actually written the apps ourselves here at XTA I couldn’t comment on what Andi Zeh, the developer of the apps, has in mind. He’s a “dyed int he wool” apple man but I’ll float the possibility past him and see what he thinks – it’s all income for him in the end!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Waring
Thanks Waring,
sorry for the late reply. Have you been in touch with Andi?
nearly ready to purchace a tablet, but not keen on forking out that bit more for the ipad.
keep up the good work
tom
Hey Tom – saw Andi in Frankfurt and the iPad app is looking great, what with the new network support and the copy/paste stuff…a few minor bugs concerning timings but nothing major.
Did you read the blog post about it?
You might get a bargain iPad these days with the 3rd edition being out now, and apple users being so eager to give their money away (!).
Cheers,
Waring
I am guess the XTA sound app works on the IPad ? If we could control sound at a outdoor festival from an iPad FOH this would be wicked ! 🙂
Hi Tim – yes the app works on an iPad and is about to be updated to include the 5 Series and both DC1048 and its close cousin the MC2 Ti1048. Check out facebook for the latest news about this…
Thanks,
Waring
Can I ask, do you need to network the 4 series to a windows machine first to then use the app or can a 4 series be controlled if is connected to a wifi router? I’m thinking about buying a 448 but don’t fancy getting a windows laptop (or running windows on my Mac :-/)…
Hi Simon and thanks for the message. If you are thinking of using the DP4 remote app then I’d recommend you get hold of a Moxa NPort adapter and plug this into a wifi router. This will give you the wireless access without needing to use a windows laptop. AudioCore does offer some additional functionality that’s not in the app, but if you’re only using a single device then you probably won’t need the other features (it’s mainly to do with array control, so grouping of outputs across multiple in a VCA type manner, and ganging of EQ across devices fro master EQ controls).
There’s a useful guide on the website that explains ow you set up the Moxa (it’s all done via a web interface so it is just as applicable to set-up via a mac), and then carries on with how you use this wirelessly in the DP4 app:
https://audiocore.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/moxa_nport_config_14.pdf
If you have a look at this and then email me directly if you’ve any questions – I don’t check the comments on here so frequently so you’ll get a swifter reply!
Cheers,
Waring (waring@xta.co.uk)