The Korg SoundLink Hybrid Analog/Digital Audio Mixer offers 16- or 24-inputs with eight output busses. To this, Korg has added a digital processing section with effects, feedback elimination, a spectrum analyzer, test tones, and more.
Since it was founded in 1963, Korg's goal has been to create new experiences in music and performance.
What does Prince have in common with churches in Little Rock, Arkansas? Prince died in 2016, but his legacy continues through a soft-spoken recording and live sound engineer, youth minister and IT professional based in North Little Rock named Julius DeBerry Jr. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 2005 with a degree in Computer Information Systems, DeBerry networked his way into an opportunity to tour Prince, and was hired as a keyboard and computer technician for the artist’s touring bands between 2013 and 2016.
“For streaming, the USB output works great for our churches..." - Julius DeBerry
Since then, DeBerry has held numerous positions that combine his passion for music, ministry, AV technology and IT. These days you’ll find him consulting with churches in central Arkansas with their media and technology ministries. From setting up sound systems, to working with churches on their live streaming set-ups, DeBerry’s primary mission is to help churches deploy or improve their AV systems.
Julius DeBerry Jr. is an AV consultant based in North Little Rock, Ark. After graduating from college with a degree in computer information systems, DeBerry spent several years touring as a keyboard and computer technician for Prince.
Whether it be recording, sound reinforcement or live streaming, one area where DeBerry pays special focus is audio quality – something that can be hard to achieve for smaller churches, or those who rely on volunteer audio equipment operators with limited experience. “Ease of use is extremely important,” says DeBerry, who on any given weekend finds himself either behind a sound board or on stage playing keyboards and organ at church. “I can’t always be there,” he adds. “So I need to recommend equipment that’s easy to understand.”
In early 2021, he had his first experience with the Korg SoundLink Hybrid Analog/Digital Audio Mixer. “It was so much easier to operate than other digital mixers,” he says. DeBerry now recommends it to many of his clients for a wide range of applications – as a house mixer at FOH for smaller services or youth events, for creating a submix of the live audio feed for the church’s live stream, as a submixer for drums or keyboards or a small a studio mixer. “I love the one-knob compressor. It’s really simple and easy for volunteers to understand,” says DeBerry. “For streaming, the USB out works great for our churches that use OBS. Also, the fact that it has lots of stereo channels gives it a lot of flexibility for use on a variety of sources.”
Korg developed the SoundLink compact hybrid mixers in conjunction with Greg Mackie and Peter Watts. The Mackie name needs little introduction after decades at the top of the compact mixer market. Peter Watts earned his stripes designing high-end Trident recording consoles before joining team Mackie.
Together, Mackie and Watts designed an affordable mixer built to advance the analog-digital hybrid concept. At its heart, SoundLink is a 16- or 24-input analog mixer with eight output busses. To this, Korg has added a digital processing section with effects, feedback elimination, a spectrum analyzer, test tones, and more. SoundLink is priced for churches and bands on a limited budget, with the 16-input MW-1608 sporting a list price of $1,800, the 24-input MW-2408 a list price of $2,100.
Learn more about the Korg SoundLink Hybrid Analog/Digital Audio Mixer here.
