With a “street price” of $4,999, or about half of the Midas Pro1, the new Midas M32 digital mixer hits right at the sweet spot for many small- and mid-size churches.
Hey Behringer X32 users: Midas has heard your cries. NAMM 2014 revealed that much for sure. When the Behringer X32 first came out it really broke a hole in the ceiling of affordability and features for a digital console. Still many of us were wondering when the “Midas touch” (see what I did there?) was going to start coming through in their pro-sumer products. Well the wait is over since Midas revealed the M32 console at NAMM 2014.
The Midas M32 is essentially an upgraded Beringer X32. The internal software is the same, so navigating menus, assigning effects, and all other internal operations are the same. There is still a slot card for USB, ADAT, Dante, and MADI options. Midas took what was familiar in the X32 and made enchantments in three impressive (and much needed) ways. First off they've updated the motorized faders. I was able to put my hands on the console at the NAMM show and the improved feel was very impressive. The M32 felt like a professional console. These new faders are said to be rated for 1 million life cycles.
Secondly they've upgraded the D/A and A/D convertors. The new convertors are 96 kHz-ready and capable of 192 kHz. This will improve the fidelity of the audio signal in the live environment while supporting the higher sample rates that are becoming more common for recording applications.
While we haven't heard it yet, we were able to lay hands on the console at the NAMM show, and the improved feel was very impressive. The M32 felt like a professional console.
The Midas X32 was one of Church Production Magazine's "Top 5 Products for Churches from NAMM 2014." Learn what other products were recognized:
Third, and most impressive, they have put the same preamps that are in the Midas Pro1 and Pro2 into the M32. This is the most exciting upgrade as it raises the audio quality to another level. Though we haven't heard it yet, Behringer says that classic Midas sound is now attainable in a smaller and more affordable way.
All of these changes are housed in a slick looking carbon fiber and aluminum body designed by Bentley Motors. The seven-inch screen and channel strip controls are raised at the top of mixer so there's no need to look over the console during a mix. The hand rest design below the mixer improves comfort. This console looks and feels like any professional console should.
A few other stand-out features of the new desk included a 100-band RTA (real-time analyzer) for all channel and bus EQ's. Displayed in either full bar or spectrograph view this gives you real-time monitoring of your EQ choices.
There are also 16 new “plug-in” effects based on classic outboard dynamics hardware like Urei's 1176, Teletronix LA/2A and the Fairchild 670 as well as EQ options like the legendary Pultec EQP-1A an EQ5. They also added a five-band multi-band compressor.
Mixing on this desk should be an easy switch if you are familiar with the X32 experience. Midas took everything that was good in the X32 and made it better in the M32 essentially taking away most, if not all of my reasons to critique the X32. These are the changes that engineers were asking for.
It is so good to see a big company actually listen and respond to its customer base. The M32 is still a lightweight and portable console but we're told it now has the sound, and and it certainly now has the feel of a real Midas console. I'm a big fan of the Pro2 and its popularity has been increasing every year. If this desk can deliver as its been advertised it will be a very popular in the church market for years to come. The suggested MAP is $4,999.99 and is covered by Music Group's three-year Warranty Program.