When we first wrote about the new QSC TouchMix-30 Pro digital mixer, we summed up what it brings to the TouchMix line with one simple word: more. As compared to TouchMix-8 and TouchMix-16, TouchMix-30 offers more inputs and outputs, more effects, more processing, more flexibility, and more control. Of course, it costs more as well (about $1,900 street), but the jump in price is dwarfed by the mixer's increase in capabilities.
TouchMix-30 is physically much larger than TouchMix-8 and TouchMix-16, with a more traditional shape and jacks where you'd expect them on the back panel. Most notable is TouchMix-30's larger 10-inch touchscreen display, which is like having a dedicated tablet built in. The mixer is sturdily built, with a feel of quality from jacks to knobs to buttons. TouchMix-30 is much more substantial than the other smaller (albeit more easily transported) TouchMix models.
What You Get
TouchMix-30 offers 32 inputs, 24 of which flow through class-A mic preamps. Six more are line level with fixed input gain, including a convenient stereo 1/8-inch jack on the top panel. The last two inputs are devoted to a USB playback feature. The QSC design team opted to stick with traditional analog preamps for optimum sound, but that means no automation or recall of input gain.
Instead, analog inputs have a +/- 15dB “digital gain” control that sits just after the A/D converter. This doesn't offer the flexibility of a true digitally controlled preamp stage, but 30 dB of adjustment means being able to park the trim at one spot for most input sources. Set the analog input trim for the loudest singer to use a given channel, for example, and bring the others up with the digital gain setting in their preset. This design approach strikes a decent compromise.
On the output side, TouchMix-30 bumps the total mixes to 16. That's enough outputs to handle an elaborate stage setup, plus a few additional feeds. The mixer also adds eight dedicated subgroups, each with a full complement of signal processing: 6-band parametric EQ, high- and low-pass filters, and limiter.
"Most notable is TouchMix-30’s larger 10-inch touchscreen display, which is like having a dedicated tablet built in."
Loren Alldrin
Reviewer
Generous processing is a common thread with TouchMix-30. Adding up all the instances (not bands) of DSP turned out to be quite a task, and I gave up as the tally approached 200. Each input has a 4-band parametric EQ, high- and low-pass filter, compressor, gate and de-esser. Each output has a 1/3rd octave graphic EQ, 6-band parametric EQ, high- and low-pass filter and 12-band notch filter for feedback control.
To all this the mixer adds two real-time frequency analyzers, six effects units and a floating pitch correction insert effect. You can configure the six effects units in any combination of lush reverb, dense reverb, pitch shift, mono delay or stereo delay. All offer generous parameters and a small (but useful) library of presets. Only the pitch correction effect failed to impress, as the process to engage it (or even tell if it's working) is unintuitive at best.
No digital mixer is an island these days, and TouchMix-30 sticks with convention to offer an Ethernet port for connection to a wireless router for external control. Full-featured apps are available for both iOS and Android. Core Audio support turns TouchMix-30 into a 32x32 recording powerhouse for Mac users. Windows users will have to wait, as QSC is still considering whether to offer Windows compatibility. Even without a computer, the mixer will record all 32 inputs to an external USB hard drive. You can also record a handful of channels (or the stereo mix) to a USB thumb drive. You can route recorded tracks back into the mixer from the USB drive (for a “virtual soundcheck”) as well as play back MP3 files from a USB thumb drive. TouchMix-30 has three USB ports to accommodate all of this data coming and going.
Technicians are Standing by
The TouchMix-30 is the first mixer I've ever used with a built-in help desk. First, there's a full manual to be found with a push of the “info” button. Graphics and well-written instructions greatly ease the use and set up of most functions of the mixer. Too bad there's no search function.
Second, the mixer has helpful “wizards” to walk you through several essential procedures. Perhaps most impressive is the feedback eliminator wizard, which emulates the process a competent sound engineer uses to ring out a system. It works like this: choose an output, get the volume hot, and tap the “Start” button. Gain slowly increases, and feedback appears for just a moment as up to 12 notch filters are automatically applied. The wizard likely won't need all of those filters, so what's left is yours to manually apply if more frequencies should ring. At any point you can globally adjust the depth and Q (width) of all the filters at once, increasing the strength of the filtering or backing it off if feedback conditions improve. That's a nice touch.
Other wizards are available for setting up effects, tuning the EQ of the system in the room, and setting correct gain. Pros may scoff at such things, but less-experienced engineers will likely find the wizards very beneficial. Other helpful touches include extensive channel preset libraries (EQ, dynamics) and fully loaded scenes that make a good starting point for total mixer setup. Many years of practical live sound experience were poured into the TouchMix-30 for those who need a bit of handholding. Finally, simple and advanced modes allow you to tailor the mixer's interface to the experience level of the operator.
Unfortunately, all the helpful wizards in the world won't make up for problems inherent in TouchMix-30's interface, and there are a few of them. The first is the lack of a “back” button. Though the “Home” button tries to do the job, it's hit-and-miss. There are times when moving to a different screen (i.e., effects overview) will require 3-4 button pushes to return to your starting screen (i.e., channel view). The user-defined buttons can alleviate some of the clicking about, but other aspects of TouchMix-30 navigation remain inefficient and annoying. Those parts of the user interface simply need to be fixed.
Other interface problems include effect parameter labels that don't update with the recalled preset, a few screens that take several seconds to render the first time you access them, and some differences between the mobile iOS or Android interface and the mixer itself. These are software issues (other than the missing “back” button), and can be remedied with one update. At least one of these (errant effects parameters) should be fixed with a software update by the time you read this.
While I'm wishing, I'll throw in a few other missing features QSC would do well to consider. Effects sends have no on/off toggle at the channel level, so you have to use the send fader to “mute” the send. EQs have no makeup gain or trim, making it hard to objectively A/B compare the original and equalized sounds. The copy/paste feature is great for quickly moving a screen's worth of parameters from one channel to another, but I'd like the option to display a confirmation window before I wipe out (perhaps mistakenly) the parameters on the target screen. The input matrix is nice, but the mixer needs something similar for the outputs. In the grand scheme, most of these are minor concerns in the face of the impressive power and flexibility of TouchMix-30.
The Point
A mixer with all of these capabilities and bad sound would be a tragedy. Thankfully, TouchMix-30 sounds very good. Preamp and converters are clean and devoid of color, while the effects have lots of character for tonal shaping. Channel effects are responsive and predictable, and that's a good thing. The time- and pitch-based effects (reverb, delay, chorus) are excellent. I especially liked the reverbs for their lush, rich sound. My only concern is how few presets are provided—they ranged in number from eight down to two depending on effect type. Maybe QSC needs to hire another wizard just to create presets.
When you add up the deep feature set, uncompromising sound quality and helpful features, it's clear TouchMix-30 is a great solution for smaller churches—especially those with limited experience on the tech team. TouchMix-30 isn't perfect, but what it lacks appears to be the result of yet another software-lagging-hardware product launch. The present is aglow for this capable little mixer, and the future is even brighter.
