​Question:

Do I really need internet access for my Ui series mixer?

Answer:

No, you do not need internet access.  However you do need network access.  There are a few key differences and definitions to understand.

Internet: The "Internet" is a term used to describe a world wide network of computers that can be accessed by other computers anywhere in the world for the purpose of sharing information via the "World Wide Web" using a web browser to access web sites hosted on those computers. These computers are called Web Servers.

Network: A "Network" is a smaller version of this with limited access to other devices within the same network.

IP Address: An address given to each device connected to a network.  These addresses can be assigned to the device manually by a person, or automatically (also known as DHCP) by a router.

Router: A device used to connect multiple devices to the same network either with a cable or wirelessly and direct data between those devices using IP addresses.

Switch: Same as a router, but does not have the ability to assign IP addresses automatically.

LAN: Local Area Network.  This is the physical connection on your mixer, computer or other device that would plug a cable from your device to a router or switch.

Wi-Fi: A method for connecting a device to a network wirelessly.

Hotspot: A "Wi-Fi" "Network" that is built into the Ui Series Mixer giving the ability to connect your iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, or Tablet and directly control the mixer.

For the purposes of the Ui series of mixers, "Internet" access is not required.  The Ui Series mixers have multiple methods to connect to it over a network. 

Use one of these three methods to connect to the Ui mixer:

1. The Ui series mixers have a built in hotspot for use in places where you may not have any other network to connect the mixer to.  This can be used without any other network equipment such as a router or a switch, but is susceptible to interference and dropouts/disconnects if the venue you are at has other wireless networks.  The Ui Hotspot uses DHCP to assign your device an address automatically.  Use your devices wireless network settings to connect to the Ui mixer.

It will show up in your available wireless networks as:

·​ Soundcraft Ui24

The network would identify as Ui12 or Ui16 if that was the hardware you are using.

2. The Ui series of mixers have the ability to connect to an existing network wirelessly through the Wi-Fi configuration.  This must be configured in the Ui mixer interface before use.  Wi-Fi is off by default. 

3. The Ui series of mixers have a LAN connection for connecting your mixer to a network using a cable rather than Wi-Fi.  This is the most reliable method of connecting to the mixer for control.  By default, the LAN is configured with a manual address of 10.10.2.1

Once you have your Ui mixer connected to your computer, iPad, tablet or other device, you will use a web browser to access a web page that is hosted on the Ui mixer itself.  In this case the Ui mixer has its own web server built in and the web page that you are connecting to lives on the mixer directly.  Therefore no access to the internet is required. You can connect to the Ui Control Interface by entering one of the addresses below into a Web Browser:

· ui-mixer.io

· ​10.10.1.1 (Default manual address of the Ui mixer when using the hotspot)

For more information please refer to the product manuals which can be found at the following links.

Ui12 and Ui16- https://www.soundcraft.com/en-US/product_documents/ui_usermanual_v3-0-pdf

Ui24R - https://www.soundcraft.com/en-US/product_documents/ui24r_manual_v1-0_web-pdf

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