When selecting the right console, it can feel like trying to pick your favorite flavor of ice cream at Baskin Robbins. As digital consoles have become mainstream, their cost, footprint, and capabilities have changed the landscape when recommending consoles to clients. Small performance spaces, kids auditoriums, and chapels can benefit from small consoles with large channel counts and iPad control.
As a church technical director and former tour engineer, I have had the privilege of getting to install and use a number of different consoles. With that experience, here are 10 digital consoles under $10K that I recommend looking at for your next client.
Allen & Heath - SQ6 | MSRP: $3,999
I have had a long time love of Allen & Heath. I think it comes from my early days of analog. After the small Mackie I learned to mix on in church, we upgraded to a large format Allen & Heath. WIth its British sound, and ease of use I loved it. Fast forward 20 years, A&H has come a long way and I have owned several of their consoles since including iLive, and GLD. Their latest release, the SQ6 runs on their dLive architecture that is really impressive for what you get at this price point. The key feature being the 96K clock and believe me, you’ll notice the difference.
Key Features:
- 96k sample rate
- 48 Channels (24 preamps on the console)
- 36 Buses
- Great monitor console with 12 stereo auxes.
Behringer X32 | List Price: $4,199
In my opinion, this console turned the audio console world on its head. I can’t tell you how many churches I have seen that own at least one of these. It has had its flaws and engineering hiccups but at the price point it sits at, they caused the industry to all rethink inexpensive digital consoles. So, yes this console comes from Behringer, and I will say they have come a long way since the Euro Desks of years’ past (buying Midas helped with that I’m sure).
The X32 does a lot of things, from being able to multi- track 32 channels, to being a DAW controller for mixing down your les later. Like the previous consoles, this one has all the DSP you’d ever need. Frankly though, the best feature of the X32 is the price: you can usually pick one up for less than $3k—and that’s impressive, bottom line.
Key Features:
* 40 inputs/16 outputs
* Remote snake options
* 25 available mix busses
* Midas preamps
* Multitrack recording and playback
* DAW control
* Built-in personal monitor connectivity
* iPad control
Midas M32 | List Price: $5,749
With Behringer being the parent company of Midas, the M32 is basically an upgraded version of the X32. The M32 has improved faders; better analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters; and better preamps. This console is going to feel more professional and have that “Midas Sound” more than the X32 will.
Interesting caveat: the slick design of this console came from a Bentley Motors designer.
Key Features:
* 40 Inputs/16 outputs
* Remote snake options
* 25 mix busses
* 192kHz audio converters
* iPad control
* Personal Monitor Connectivity
Roland M-200i | List Price: $2,995
This little mixer packs a lot of features into a space that can be racking in a standard 19-inch space. Even though it is compact, the layout is still easy to navigate. By simply adding a USB WIFI stick to one of the ports on the back, the M-200i can wirelessly communicate with an iPad without the need of a router. Using the REAC architecture, this mixer can digitally communicate with a wide variety of recording systems, Roland’s stage mixing system, or linking to other M-200i’s.
Key Features:
* 24 analog inputs, 32 motorized faders
* 12 analog outputs
* iPad control
* Rack mountable
* REAC Compatible
QSC TouchMix 16 | List Price: $1,630
QSC, known for amplifiers and speakers, have released what appears to be an impressive little console. The TouchMix series comes in two options: an eight- and a 16-channel version. Like the Mackie mixer, the TouchMix does not have traditional faders, but a touchscreen. While this one is built in, there is still iPad control available for remote mixing and tweaks. There is also a four-band parametric EQ, as well as full comp/gate DSP on each channel.
One of the great features of the TouchMix is that there are two operating modes. Simple Mode gives the user quick access to the most needed features, helping to eliminate anxiety or accidents from volunteers. Advanced Mode is just that, everything is available for tweaking and changing.
The key feature I like about this mixer is the multitrack recording. With an attached USB3.0 hard drive, the TouchMix will record 32bit WAV les of the inputs.
For clients with a small meeting room, fellowship hall, or chapel, I think this a great small foot print option for them.
Key Features:
* 20 channels— 16 XLR and 2 1⁄4 stereo pairs
* 8 external aux sends
* 4 internal aux sends for FX
* Phantom power
* iPad control
* Multitrack recording
PreSonus StudioLive 24 Series III | List Price: $2,995
The PreSonus StudioLive 24 Series III is the the long awaited update to the Presonus line (in my opinion) as someone who has several older versions in various rooms at my church. The biggest feature of this new roll out is the motorized faders. With previous versions while digital with multitrack recording, per channel DSP and recalable scenes, the faders were not motorized. This meant the user has to manually move them back into position using the Fader Locate feature. Now, they move, and Presonus added a touch screen! But wait there’s move, and while I have not seen how it works this is the first console of its size I’ve heard of to offer Multitrack recording to an SD card.
Key Features:
* 24 built in Preamps
* AVB Capable allowing for up to 55 channels
* 16 flex mixes can be used as aux sends, matrix, or sub group sends
* Intuitive DSP for those new to mixing and or digital.
* Multitrack recording
* iPad control
* Bluetooth input for streaming from Phone or other capable device
Yamaha - TF Series | $3,000
Full disclosure, I love Yamaha. I don’t get anything for saying that, that is just me. When I started my adventure into touring as a FOH engineer, one of the artists I worked for just used the house system wherever we went. I was new, young, and airlines weren’t requiring the equivalent of a mortgage down payment to fly with luggage. I carried my own console. I bought a Yamaha O1v and then later upgraded to the O1v96. Since those days my biggest love of Yamaha remains and that is consistency. They have released one reliable product after another (even the M7 especially after they fixed the word clock issues.) Over my career as a TD, I have tried to stick with the Yamaha family because they have a console for every room. I can start my young volunteers on something small in the kids spaces and then move them up to the large format in the main room. All the while they are learning the Yamaha system which remains very similar throughout.
Their TF series is their answer to Behringer's X32. It is a slimmed down version of their QL and CL line. While it does have a different software interface, they kept it similar enough that people have a very easy time moving up. It comes in four size flavors, the largest being the TF5 at $3000.
Key Features:
* 32 inputs on board
* Expandable to 48 channels
* Dante Capable
* Library Presets to get users up and running quickly
*1 Know Compression and EQ helps inexperienced users dial in a mix
*iPad apps allow remote mixing as well as the band to mix their own monitors
Soundcraft Si Performer 3 | List Price: $9,999
Soundcraft is the rst audio manufacturer that I am aware of that has merged the worlds of audio and lighting into one desk. The built-in DMX512 controller is the obvious stand out feature of this console. The expansion card slots give the user a variety of options, including DANTE, MADI, and Aviom exibility.
Key Features:
* 32 inputs on board
* Expansion card slots can bring the channel count up to 80 inputs
* 14 assignable mix busse
* iPad control
Digico - S21 | $10K range
With Digico’s release of the S21 they have made their way into the $10k market. Digico is widely known and used in the tour world. They have a unique sound and cult like following of die hard users. They are very flexible consoles, built on their “Stealth Digital Processing” architecture. This is the first company I have seen that has allowed their users to breathe new life into their existing consoles with a mere firmware upgrade that give users additional channel counts and features. This architecture also allows them to use what they call Flexi Channels. This is where any channel can be either mono or stereo with the push of a button without sacrificing processing.
For the growing church looking to make a lasting investment in a console for their main room. This is definitely one to look at.
Key Features:
* 96k Sample Rate
* 48 flexi inputs
* 16 flexi auxes
* Optional Waves Plugin integration
* Myriad of expansion cards for connecting to Dante, Aviom, Madi, etc.
* 10x8 Matrix for serious audio routing
Mackie DL1608 | List Price: $1,249.99
Mackie DL series of mixers, while being compact (currently only in eight- and 16-channel configurations), have truly embraced the digital world. The mixing surface you’re used to seeing has been replaced with iPad mobility. The DL1608 is capable of receiving wireless control from up to 10 iPads, and has a built-in docking/charging station.
A key feature of digital is onboard DSP, and this unit is no exception. With EQ, compressors, and gates for every channel as well as reverb and tap delay, you have a lot of options to enhance your mix. Once the mix sounds just right, you can easily record it onto the iPad.
I have not used this mixer, but have mixed via an iPad before. While it takes some getting used to, I think we’ll see a lot more console/iPad integrations in the future.
Key Features:
* 16 channels—12 XLR and 4 combo XLR/TRS connectors *6 aux sends via 1⁄4
* Main Out via XLR
* Phantom power
* iPad control
* Record and playback via the iPad
There you have it, 10 digital consoles offering a wide range of features. Whether you looking to put a small system in a “fellowship hall” (are they still called that?) or in a large auditorium, the console doesn’t have to break the bank. I’m always amazed at how these manufactures can fit so many features and capabilities into these compact mixing consoles (I say that, as I type this on my ipad at starbucks). But like the good ol days of giant computers, large format analog desks with piles of outboard gear are becoming a memory to the next generation of audio mixers. With that the learning curves seem to be lessening as manufacturers are finding ways to make digital more streamlined.
As a tour guy, turned AVL integrator, turned TD (I’m dizzy from all this turning) make sure you offer your clients demos of consoles before they choose. As you can see, I have my personal preferences and a lot of that just comes from the way I learned and how my brain works. While one console may not speak to me, another client may love it. They all have similar features, their layouts can differ, finding the one that fits their needs and budget will make the transition to digital a breeze.
