Best
Studio Mixer For Live Recording
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Overall: Best for Professionals Who Are Looking For The Most Advanced Wireless Technology
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Best Feature: Comes With Built-In Tri-Mode WiFi Router
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TedScore™: 10/10
Best
Overall Digital Mixer
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Overall: Best for Professionals Who Do Big Concerts
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Best Feature: Has An Intuitive And A Very Interactive Interface
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TedScore™: 10/10
Best
Portable Mixer
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Overall: Best for Musicians looking For An Easy-To-Setup Digital Audio Mixer
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Best Feature: Can Connect Up To 10 IPads Simultaneously
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TedScore™: 9/10
Gotten lost in the sea of digital mixers? Don’t fret; **help is at hand**!
Most digital mixers are very flexible because they have a lot of stereo inputs and stereo outputs. But they can be quite complicated…
In this article, we will talk about all the factors involved in choosing a digital mixer, as well as the list of the best digital mixers we have selected for you.
With no further ado, let’s mix some music!
How we picked the best digital mixers
Here are the things that we considered while picking the best digital mixer for you:
Budget
Digital mixers tend to be more expensive than analog mixers. They provide an input channel, USB connectivity, wireless control, and other additional features to give you the best sound quality.
Not all of us can afford these channel digital mixers, so we have included some budget-friendly digital mixers (also known as cheaper mixers!). However, if you are a professional and need the most advanced digital mixer, we have also included the more expensive ones.
Channel count and type
The number of channels in an audio mixer is also called frame size, and we have selected the mixers with the best frame size. The larger the frame size, the more input signals it can handle without issue.
For example, you can connect 24 audio inputs to the mixer with a frame size of 24; hence, it is better to have as many input channels as possible.
We have also taken care of the mixer channel type. For example, if a digital mixer has 24 audio inputs, we have ensured that in our opinion, it has enough mic preamps.
Features
There are many digital mixers in the market. They all have different sets of key features. Channel digital mixers have features like:
- Ability to save and recall
- Synchronising with a lighting controller
- Complete automation
- Multitrack recording
- Handling playback tracks from the computer
In the digital mixers given below, we have selected the best digital mixers for live sound with the best features to provide you with the best experience.
Onboard processing
Digital mixers can process a large number of audio signals. This is one of the most important factors when choosing the best digital mixer in 2023. We considered how many processors the mixer has and its effects and quality. More internal effects result in the best mixes for you.
Customer experience
The best truth comes from the users who have used the products. We have researched the internet to find the customer experiences of the digital mixers we have mentioned in this article.
Only the best customer experience products were chosen, so you don’t have to worry about their reputation.
Now let’s answer a few questions about channel digital mixers.
Digital Mixers Q&A
Do I still need my audio interface if I have a digital mixer?
No, it is not required. A digital mixer can work as a built-in audio interface for you.
Digital mixers have USB outputs that allow you to send audio inputs to your computer or other output devices, which results in better flexibility.
Not all mixers have this feature, so check before you buy.
Are digital mixers more difficult to use than analog ones?
Both digital and analog mixers have their advantages and disadvantages. However, there are numerous parallels between the two.
An analog mixer is indeed easier to use and learn than digital audio mixers. You’ll have to sit down and figure out many things if switching from an analog to a digital mixer.
Does the sound on a digital mixer sound harsh compared to an analog one?
Digital and analog mixers all do the same thing, but how they do it is the main difference.
Some analog mixes have a beautiful warm sound, and that’s why they’re still loved in this primarily digital world. However, it doesn’t mean that all digital mixers sound harsh.
How Do Digital Mixers Work?
The working of a digital mixer is actually very simple. The three steps that digital mixers take to operate are as follows:
Routing
As the name implies, the input signals are directed for the internal effects or to the internal buses. A bus is responsible for output channelling after receiving the input signal.
Mixing
In the case of audio mixing, a summing amplifier comes into the picture. A summing amplifier works on a very fundamental algorithm and processes the input.
Final Step
Finally, all the equalisation and compression modules come into play. They work on the sound it receives to improve it, whilst you can customise many things here.
Digital mixers are advanced enough to handle both analog and digital signals. A sound card does the job of converting analog signals into digital signals for the mixer.
Then, this digital signal is changed, and the effects are added.
Finally, at the stereo output, it is changed back to an analog signal for your audience (or whoever) to hear.
Choosing Your Audio Mixer
Home Studio
For a home studio, you can work without a digital mixer. You can use an audio interface and/or a DAW. This doesn’t mean channel digital mixers are a waste in such cases. They will provide you with extra benefits.
Therefore, if you want to buy a channel digital mixer for your home studio recording, consider its ability to connect with external processors.
You should consider how many inputs you need, which depends on the number of devices you want to connect it with and factors like how many mic preamps you want to connect.For recording, you should prioritise something with better routing and more audio signal paths. Consider using multiband parametric equalisers for fine-tuning sound in your studio.
You can ignore mix effects and sound processors if you are going to use external mic preamps. Below we have listed the recommended digital mixers for your studio.
Ultimately the the best digital mixer for a home studio should offer unparalleled versatility and convenience.
Live Concerts
Live performance requires much more advanced channel digital mixers. In live concerts, you have a full band and your sound system.
You need to ensure that the live mixer is compatible with it and has enough input channels to process your band’s instruments and improve the live sound mixing in return.
It should have enough input if you want to connect instruments like guitars and basses in your live concert. Always choose the mixer with more inputs than you need. This comes in handy when your band grows.
The best digital mixer for live performance should offer musicians and audio engineers a seamless and professional experience during live shows. This cutting-edge mixer should allow for precise control over every aspect of the audio, from EQ and dynamics to effects and routing. Its intuitive interface and user-friendly design should also make it accessible even to those with limited technical expertise.
For a live concert, it’s also a good idea to choose a digital mixer with sound processing and effects built in. These key features make it a very portable setup.
5 Best Digital Mixers For The Home Studio
Behringer X Air XR18
BEST FOR: Professionals who are looking for the most advanced wireless technology
FEATURES: Comes with built-in Tri-Mode WiFi router
Behringer X Air XR18
- It is easy to set up and control
- This mixer has many impressive features, including the usual things like phantom power
- Works both as a mixer and an audio interface
- It is very lightweight
- Different digital mixing software for Android and iOS
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The Behringer XR18 is one of the best hardware mixers for your studio. This digital mixer has many amazing key features and gives a very clear sound quality. In this price range, no other mixer can compete with this one.
The XR18 has 18 stereo input channels and is a 12-bus digital mixer. It has excellent Midas preamps. This mixer can improve the cohesion of your mix and also live sound.
It has built-in WiFi, which can support four devices at once. You will not face any audio signal dropout in any way. Its build quality is one of the best out there on the market.
Highlights
- It has an internal switch mode power supply
- It has rack ears and a protection jumper
- It is compatible with UltraNet
Behringer X32
BEST FOR: Music producer and sound-engineer
FEATURES: Built-in effects are amazing
Behringer X32
- You can work at once with 40 simultaneous inputs
- It has 8 main outputs, 6 auxiliary outputs, and RCA jacks
- Amazing studio recording user interface
- Lacks de-esser
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
This amazing channel digital mixer has the best look and touch on the market. It has a fabric covering that keeps it free of dust and debris.
This mixer is very easy and flexible to use. That is why multiple people in a studio can use this simultaneously with no issues at all. Sound engineers also use this mixer because of its excellent results.
It also has a perfect size and weight. It weighs just 20 kg, so it will best fit your studio. The main thing about this mixer that has been praised extensively on the Internet is its smooth workflow. You can produce music in minutes with this mixer without facing any lag in any of the key features.
Highlights
- It has 16 bus mixes
- You can mix on iOS or Android devices easily
- Every channel has a 4 band EQ unit
Allen & Heath QU-16
BEST FOR: Someone looking to record in the studio and also perform live
FEATURES: Has a very compact size
Allen & Heath QU-16
- Each channel has motorized faders
- Cat-5 cable for all audio connections
- It has a direct-to-disk multi track studio recording
- No DCA faders
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
With such a compact design, the Allen & Heath QU-16 has a lot to offer. It comes in a 19-inch rack-mountable chassis and works on the technology from the iLive series. It weighs 10 kg, making it one of the most portable audio mixers with loads of features than most mixers.
The Allen & Heath QU-16 offers a set of 16 XLR and TRS inputs. This helps reduce the need for converters. It gives you a set of 7 monitor outputs, controlling them via a motorized fader.
You will get dedicated controls for all the key features. The rest of the additional features can be accessed via the touch screen on the live mixing console.
Another advantage of this Allen & Heath live mixing console is its ability to recall. It is useful for many artists, especially the ones on tours.
Highlights
- It comes with touch screen
- It has 16 mono and 3 stereo inputs
- It comes with 16 buses
- dSNAKE remote audio port
- It has 4 FX engines
PreSonus StudioLive 32SX
BEST FOR: For someone looking for an all-in-one digital mixing console, user interface, and control surface
FEATURES: Comes with a dual-core PreSonus FLEX DSP Engine
PreSonus StudioLive 32SX
- Comes with a three-year warranty
- Has one of the best music studio recording software
- Very flexible and customizable
- Excellent to record audio
- No dedicated stage box
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
PreSonus StudioLive 32SX not only has motorized faders but also has many other features. It has a very smooth and logical workflow. You can control this digital mixer wirelessly. It also has an Ethernet port, which can directly connect to your Mac or PC.
This mixer board comes with 33 faders. You can also store StudioLive mixes and your studio recordings to fast-track your virtual sound checks. It also has great software, which gives you total control over all its features at your fingertips.
Highlights
- It has 32 stereo input channels
- It has 2 fader layers
- Customizable 16-channel monitor mixes
- It has 24 DCAs
Soundcraft Ui16
BEST FOR: For singers and songwriters
FEATURES: Best Budget Mixer
Soundcraft Ui16
- Very easy to set up and use
- Controllable using WiFi
- Easily transportable
- Need to polish the software
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
It is a very compact size mixer that looks very sturdy. You can easily create mixes and control them wirelessly from your phone, tablet, or laptop just by connecting the microphone and amplifiers to this.
This mixer is also simple to use, as the controls on the screen are identical to those found on analog mixers. The most impressive thing about this mixer is making everything accessible through its app.
Its software is also very easy to use and can be opened on any device with access to the web.
Highlights
- It has a 16-channel mixer
- It has a surfaceless user-friendly interface
- It comes with lexicon reverb, delay, and modulation effects
- 12 XLR inputs
5 Best Digital Mixers For Live Performance
Midas M32
BEST FOR: Professionals who do big concerts
FEATURES: Has an intuitive and a very interactive interface
Midas M32
- Functions perfectly
- It has a very bright and large screen
- It has an elegant design
- Produces an excellent sound stereo mix
- Little expensive
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Midas M32 is one of the best mixing consoles on the market. Audio engineers love this console as it has the most amazing design with the best-in-class audio performance abilities. Midas has long-term experience producing professional musical instruments, which can be justified by looking at this mixer. It also offers great USB connectivity, many instrument inputs, and a superb real time analyzer.
Its algorithms, high-quality screen, and functionality guarantee the most amazing live mixes for you. Its ability to route signals is one of the most important features of this device. It has the best technical parameters for studio recording and improving live sound. Overall, it’s an incredible console for live mixing.
Highlights
- Has 40+ input channels
- Comes with 30 microphone preamps
- 25 mic-buses
- Has an integrated USB audio interface
Mackie DL-1608
BEST FOR: Musicians looking for an easy-to-setup digital audio mixer
FEATURES: Can connect up to 10 iPads simultaneously
Mackie DL-1608
- It's a compact, lightweight machine
- It can work even when it's dark
- Almost everything is wireless
- Has s16 mic inputs
- Requires an external power supply
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Mackie DL-1608 has the best WiFi controllability without any dropouts. It offers a 4-band EQ and 12dB/octave high pass filter. Its polarity inverse button can go up to 180 degrees on a channel.
This digital mixer has a nice stereo reverb and delay. It provides you with one of the best bundles of presets. It has broken the market because of its smooth iPad dock application. Being compact and portable, it can give you a very nice mixing experience. It’s also excellent at creating headphone mixes and useful for personal monitoring.
You get 17 physical controls, 16 LEDs on the mixing desk, and a 1/4-inch headphone output jack. The headphone jack is controlled via the rightmost knob. Each channel comes with an EQ unit. They have also provided auxiliary, delay, and reverb sent, each for every channel on the box.
Highlights
- 16 channel console
- 4 band EQ on the master output
- Works via iPad
Zoom LiveTrak L-12
BEST FOR: Someone looking to live sound mixing on a podcast
FEATURES: It comes with 5 headphones output with their cue mix each
Zoom LiveTrak L-12
- Great preamps
- Easy-to-use and learn
- Has /a talkback system
- Great audio quality stereo output
- Recorded files are given the same name
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Superb in live performances and live mixing, the LiveTrak L-12 is a machine with great sound that have many standout features in this digital mixer.
It can record on SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, giving you 512 GB of recording storage. You can also interface easily with your iPhone or iPad using the Class Compliant mode.
It performs well logically and even has great scene systems. This mixer’s global effect has physical knobs for setting the type of effect and its parameters.
Overall, it’s a great product that can do almost everything needed for a live performance by improving your live sound mixing.
Highlights
- Has 16 built-in effects
- Can simultaneously record 14 tracks
- Multiple channels with CLR connectivity
- Has a dedicated EFX return channel
Yamaha TF1
BEST FOR: Production companies and bands who want to make their music
FEATURES: Come with the best in class QuickPro Presets
Yamaha TF1
- Loaded with great features
- Has GainFinder feature
- Very smooth pre fader action
- Amazing preset bundle
- No option to patch the input
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Many sound engineers love this console, and the TF in the name stands for TouchFlow. With TouchFlow, the company has provided everything you need in just one touch on the touch screen display. It also comes with eight FX processors. However, the input channel can control only two FX processors at a time.
Yamaha has done an impressive job in providing a great quality mixer for live sound with this machine. They have included some great features like the effects mute buttons and the gain finder. Overall, it is a powerful digital mixing console that is also very easy to use.
Highlights
- Comes with 32 mono, 2 stereos, and 2 return inputs
- Has 16 channel faders
- 34 x 34 audio quality input interface
Mackie DL32S
BEST FOR: Performing in small places like a church
FEATURES: Can also work excellently as a DAW interface
Mackie DL32S
- 100% wireless total control
- DSP processing is amazing
- It is very compact
- Great for studio recording professional music
- Extremely versatile mixer
- It cannot be frequently updated
When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Mackie DL32S comes with a 32-channel of amazing mixing and has been a revolutionary product by this company. It is easy to use, which makes it very convenient. The best part is that you can do anything from the free app on your phone.
It comes with a direct-to-drive multi track system that helps improve the recording and playback performance. Its strong DSP system, along with 28 buses, helps in better efficiency of the product. It also comes with USB connectivity, which is a big plus.
A design that is so flexible and can be controlled from a distance. You can work from a single mixer placed anywhere in the venue, like a remote control device. You can do that by using the built-in WiFi networking and support for multiple platforms. This keeps your DL32S safe in a rack or on stage.
Highlights
- It is a 32-channel digital mixer
- 32 x 32 USB recording
- Has 4 stereo FX processors
- 4-band PEQ
Best Overall Mixer: Midas M32
Midas M32 is our clear winner of the best digital mixer in the market. It has everything one needs to make their music the best. This mixer will blow your mind.
The console is very well designed and has many functions that you can control easily. You can access them in two ways:
- On the control screen menu
- Through the view button that is there with every section for quick access.
If you are new, learning this channel digital mixer with additional loaded features may take some time, but it’s worth it. It also comes with a mind-boggling 10-year warranty by Midas. Isn’t it amazing? Of course, it is.
The preamps on the Midas M32 are very clear and warm. It also has a great feel to its quality. It is sturdy and doesn’t look like something which can break easily. This product will give you the most flexible routing experience with world-class sound.
It also has a 100-band RTA. It works with headphone channels and bus EQs, which helps view real-time EQ settings. You also get 16 new plugin effects built into the system. On top of that, they provide a five-band multi-band compressor.
All the buttons are very well categorized and spaced to avoid confusion and improve the clarity of the console board.
You can easily install and update the firmware of this console. You do it by downloading the new firmware into the pen drive and then attaching it to the console.
All in all, a fabulous bit of kit that I’d totally go out on a limb and recommend to anyone.
Best Digital Mixer
Summary
It isn’t easy to choose the best mixer when technology is advancing daily. New features and mixing consoles are being launched all the time, promising all sorts of new features. But try not to get bamboozled by them all.
Look for the best factors and rely upon our reviews to decide which digital mixer to buy.
Whether you want to perform on stage, record your music in the recording studios, or need a mixer for church, we have selected the best digital audio mixers after extensive research.
We hope you will make the best out of your music with the help of our article!! And remember to drop a note in the comments below telling us what you ended up purchasing.
Haha, does it come with an ‘auto-mix’ feature so I can take a break and grab a drink? Kidding, just trying to lighten the mood. 😉 But for real, that Midas M32 sounds like a beast!
While the article provides an insightful overview of digital mixers, it seems to oversimplify the comparison between analog and digital sound quality. Digital mixers have come a long way in terms of technological advancements, offering an array of features that analog mixers cannot match. However, the assertion that digital sound is ‘harsh’ compared to analog is a subjective opinion and not necessarily a factual one. Various factors contribute to the sound quality of a mixer, including the design, the converters used, and the processing capabilities. It would be beneficial for potential buyers to understand the nuances of these factors instead of generalizing the sound quality based solely on the type of mixer.
just wanted to say this guide’s a lifesaver! been super confused about all the digital mixer stuff out there and this breaks it down so well. Super excited to check out the recommendations for home studios. Keep up the awesome work!
Glad it helped you out. Just be sure to consider what you really need before you buy. These things can get pricey.
Hey Hugh Richardson, great rundown on the digital mixers! I’ve got a small setup at home for my podcasts and music production. Been thinking about upgrading to a digital mixer to streamline my workflow. My question’s about the compatibility with different DAWs. Do most of these mixers play nice with whatever’s current, or are there specific ones that are more universally compatible? Trying to avoid a major headache if I invest in one that doesn’t jive well with my software setup.