Best Digital Mixers Under $5,000

Digital mixers have become a go-to choice for engineers at venues of virtually any size, worldwide. It’s not difficult to see why: the convenience of their compact designs is bolstered by their capacity for quick recall, onboard processing, and so much more. Fortunately, cost isn’t the only thing that matters! Resident gear guru Mitch Gallagher breaks down what you need to know to find the right digital mixer for your space. Check it out!

#Sweetwater #MitchGallagher #DigitalMixers #Guide

[petterrong]

Several things that I feel are important to point out:

X32 has 40 input channels, but only 32 with full channel processing and only 32 regular input routings. The last 8 are AUX channels with limited processing, where only 6 of them has actual routing points (which have weird quirks as to what order you can route them), the last two being by default sourcing from the USB player. The last two USB player AUX channels can, as all channels can, be sourced from a different input, but unlike the 38 other channels, it doesn't have an actual input routing, so you only have those 38 + USB player to choose from, as well as buses and FX returns (which is rather pointless since those already have their own channels)

It also does not have 25 buses and 6 matrixes in the way that Mitch presents. 6 of those 25 buses are the 6 matrices. It has 16 mix buses, 6 matrices, one main stereo bus and a main mono bus with limited send capabilities.

On the software side there is absolutely no difference between X32 and M32, so every feature will be the same in that respect. Weird that Mitch seems to present them as two entirely different consoles, not mentioning that they're basically the exact same mixer engine inside two different hardware controllers. Almost every feature mentioned is identical on both mixers, besides the pre-amps. He even did a mischaracterization, when he said that X32 has 4 FX processors and M32 has 8, which is wrong. They both have 8 FX processors.

SQ5 doesn't have 36 buses - it has 12 stereo buses + 3 stereo matrices + LR + 4 FX sends (which seems to be mono). The buses and are selectable as either mono or stereo, but you can't split a stereo bus into 2 mono buses, nor can you split the stereo matrices, so why A&H choose to say it has 36 buses I have no clue. You can't have 24 mono buses or 6 mono matrices. It's like saying Behringer Wing has 96 channels. It has 48, but they can either be stereo or mono. It doesn't have 96 mono channels. And Mitch says that correctly there, so why use different logic when comparing specs?

Also weird that he mentions that SQ5 is compact and rackmountable, not mentioning that both X32 and M32 has those form factors as well

All in all, a very weird presentation of the mixers

[ScottsSynthStuff]

I use the X32 (from Sweetwater!) in my home studio. Not because I need digital mixing capability, but because it gives me 32 channels of clean audio to feed into my DAW, at a price far below what you would pay for a 32 channel audio interface. On top of that, you get all the capabilities that the mixer gives you - that's just an added bonus.

[jdavi]

The Midas M32 has very warm preamps, and is very user friendly.. yamaha mixers can be a bit heavy menu diving but it's very reliability.

[keithrichards]

QU-32 user here - sound wise (preamps and converters) I still didn't find nothing better in the same range. Did a complex acoustic live recording these days for a label, using the USB direct to Pro Tools, flawless and absolute pristine sound, people just don't believe that I used just a QU-32.

[thetruckmobilerecodingunit]

I have the Presonus StudioLive 32S and I am VERY HAPPY with it and what it does and how it sounds and it's price. 50 years ago, in 1972 when I worked in a gold record Recording Studio, this much recording power would have cost millions. Sweetwater is The Place To Buy From

[ronengel]

I’ve had Behringer, Tascam, and Presonus digital mixers an now I’ve got a Soundcraft Expression 2 and I love it, nice preamps, great eq and compressors and Lexicon reverbs. It’s the best sounding mixer I’ve ever had. I’ve also got a Ui16 and a Ui24 both of which are great as well.

[joejurneke]

Love this guy. He does such a terrific job!

[hibbasc]

I've mixed on all of these with the exception of the WING and the SQ5 and TF5 bubble to the top for me. The TF5 is incredibly easy to use. I was able to configure/program it with multiple (completely different) scenes for an auditorium install referring to the manual only once to figure out the key combo to get to the DCA's. Super fun mixer to work on. The preamps in the SQ5 just sound over the top amazing, and it too is easy to use and very well-laid out. The more I use those, the less I like the X32 interface/workflow. Either way - it's great that we have so many options including some not mentioned (e.g. Soundcraft).

[EnochGitongaKimathi]

I have had the original Presonus StudioLive 32 since 2017. I used it at Live events FOH and Monitor Mixer; as well as a studio mixer, interface and controller.
It is time to upgrade to 96kHz, a better display for better outdoor use and USB4/TB4 support. AVB Milan support!

[thetruckmobilerecodingunit]

I have the PreSonus 32S and I love it!

[stephendverner]

I love that 3 of the 6 mixers are from Behringer/Midas.

I mix weekly on the X32 at my theatre and M32 at church. Both are great.

[petterrong]

1:31 Why did you point towards the assignable controls section of the X32 while claiming it has "4 on-board digital processors" when 1. It has 8 processor slots (just like the M32) and 2. The assignable controls section has nothing to do with those FX processor slots, other than the fact that it can be mapped to control parameters of the FX units?

[yookalaylee]

I've used the MIDAS, Behringer, Yamaha, and A&H. Midas is by far the best for the money.

[molotulo]

I love my Tascsm model 24, but i would have spent several extra thousands of dollars for an awesome mixer.. love my tascam...great mixer...just wish i had 35 plus channels

[songdre]

I have the Presonus Studiolive 32sx in my Studio.

[chrisdore]

Thanks Mitchell! Would you please do a review of rack mount digital mixers? That would really help bands who travel and don't have roadies or a dedicated FOH engineer or monitor mixer!

[tonyhudspeth]

hi guys great video ..can you do the same for studio mixers please
kudos as usual to mitch and his presentation

[iamchandlar]

FAIR WARNING: I have 3 of the Midas M32R Mixers I use for my live audio gigs. One needs a power supply... The wait for the power supply is 1-3 YEARS. Consider that when purchasing

[luisramonpachecoclaudon]

Buen día
Hacen envios a México de una mixer digital Midas M32?

[serhiy]

When are we going to get some new mixers?? All of these are at least 5 years old

I'd want to see the next version of M32 with a larger touch screen and individual gain controls/multi function knob for each of the channels on the board. Same as what we had with Midas Pro2 series