Just got my CQ-12T up and running and noticed that the CQ Mixpad app on my iPad will lose connection to the mixer when the app is in the background. Is this normal?
I already had a tough time with the first small travel router I purchased. TP-Link N-300 couldn’t stay connected for more than 15 seconds not matter what. Returned it and got the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) and it works fine unless the Mixpad app is relegated to the background. The router is configured to be an access point. It is mounted in my rack and the mixer sits on top of the rack.
I want to run my IEM mix from my iPad which is also running Forescore for my charts. It is annoying to have reconnect MixPad to the mixer every time I switch back to the app from ForeScore.
My experience is the same running mixpad on my iPad. I don’t believe that it had anything to do with networking and agree it would be nice to have it fixed somehow.
I purchased Mixing Station for my iPad and this app does not lose the connection when running in the background. Or at the very least quickly reestablishes the connection when bringing the app to the foreground. My old QSC Touchmix 8 did not lose the connection when the app was in the background as well. The CQ MixPad app should be able to do this as well.
The difference is MS automatically reconnects very quickly when I pull it back to the foreground. If they could get MixPad to do this as well that would be sufficient.
The issue is that you cannot have a persistent network connection with an app running in the background as described here - iOS Background Execution Limits | Apple Developer Forums
When the network connection is dropped, the app will logout to ensure there’s no mis-match of data, as all data is sync’d when first logging in.
We may look to speed up the reconnection process in future, but keeping the connection going in the background is not possible.
@Keith - I understand there are technical challenges here, but Spotify and other iOS and iPadOS apps have figured it out. Or is there something different about these apps?
@jpguitar As in the linked information, yes.
You mention Spotify which is an audio app and there’s a specific mechanism for allowing background audio apps. Our control apps are only for control, with no audio.
Other apps may have periodic connection, to check for updates for example, where our apps require a constant connection to ensure they remain in sync.
This is just a thought experiment from a software engineer with no prior knowledge of the CQ MixPad app or CQ mixers.
Observation:
The CQ MixPad app could function more like an email client. Just as my email client remembers my login and reconnects automatically, why should the MixPad app require me to essentially “log in” again after a connection drop?
Here’s the idea:
Constant Network Connection:
The iPad stays connected to the network via its built-in Wi‑Fi, just like any device connected to a standard Wi‑Fi router.
Connecting to the Mixer:
When you select a mixer from a list, you’re essentially choosing a network address—much like an email client connecting to an email server using its stored address.
Automatic Reconnection:
Email clients save the server address (and credentials) so that they reconnect automatically without asking for login details every time. Similarly, if the MixPad app saved the mixer’s network address, it could automatically reconnect when the connection drops.
Potential Improvement:
Allowing the app to automatically reconnect would simplify the user experience. You wouldn’t have to acknowledge the lost connection and manually select the mixer again. This could be implemented as an optional feature (e.g., a checkbox labeled “Automatically stay connected”), with an option to cancel the reconnection if needed.