How to Choose the Best Digital Mixer on Any Budget

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Shopping for gear has never been as simultaneously exciting and complex as it is today, and digital mixers are no exception. We should know: we have to keep track of so many! On the flip side, this allows us to get up close and personal with the gear we carry to help our audience navigate the seemingly limitless number of options. After careful review, Sweetwater’s studio scholar, tenacious technologist, and guitar guru Mitch Gallagher has crafted a comprehensive collection of the best digital mixers for any budget. Check it out!
00:00 - Intro
00:46 - Things to Consider
01:08 - I/O
01:40 - Channel Count
02:09 - Ease of Use
03:00 - Expandability
03:42 - Multitrack Recording
04:15 - Monitoring Options
04:41 - Sound Quality
05:06 - FOH Engineer & Location
06:07 - Weight & Size
06:23 - Price
06:43 - 11 Mixers We Carry at Sweetwater
06:50 - Behringer X32
07:44 - Behringer Powerplay P16-M
08:37 - Soundcraft Ui24R
09:45 - Midas M32C
10:20 - Midas DL32
11:06 - Zoom LiveTrak L-8
11:52 - Allen & Heath Avantis
13:00 - TASCAM Model 12
14:08 - TASCAM Sonicview 24XP
15:13 - PreSonus StudioLive 32R
16:20 - QSC TouchMix-30 Pro
17:15 - Behringer WING
18:10 - Behringer X Air XR18
18:55 - Outro
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[@sweetwater]

What studio gear are you looking to lock in next? Tell us in the comments below, and don’t forget to swing by Sweetwater for a closer look at these digital mixers 👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/How_to_Choose_the_Best_Digital_Mixer_on_Any_Budget

[@revp01]

Great video Mitch. Thx. I’m an M32/C, XR/MR18 user. Couldn’t be happier with them for studio, band rehearsals, live mixing and tracking, audio interface for my key rigs and backing tracks. Excellent quality and ease of use. Looking forward to upgrading to WING and it’s maybe future iterations.

[@BSP1822]

Just picked up a wing for our church about a month ago. Love it!

[@ShahabTolouieOfficial]

UI24r has been fantastic for our Trio. We use it the same as Mitch explained here. In a rack with splitters so we can either send each channel untouched, or just a main stereo with FX for smaller gigs. We record every concert multitrack to a thumb drive. Each of us has total control over their IEM. Our sound engineer walks around the room with his tablet and has everything under control, while we have hardwired LCD with mouse and keyboard as a backup in case of signal loss which by the way has never been needed within the three years we're using this system. The preamps sound awesome and we have spare channels and Aux's for guest musicians and possible future expansions. Awesome system indeed 😊👍🎸🎶

[@neekomax75]

Same here, but with a 5 piece! We haven't gotten a splitter yet for just using it as a monitor mixer, but I think that's next. Great piece of gear!

[@ShahabTolouieOfficial]

@@neekomax75 yes indeed, it is a joy to use. The splitter is a good addition too. We bought five Behringer splitters (DI4800A) for a total of 20 physical channels. This model is great since each input has a direct out right by its side on the front panel (to FOH), and another output on the back which goes to the mixer in our case. It all fits in a shallow 6U rack. On one side all the input/outputs and PSU. The back side is occupied by the mixer and IEM transmitters. Good luck to you and cheers 👍🎸🎶

[@RayR]

Good stuff as usual Mitch. Also your looking sharp in the suit.

[@Itaketoomanypics]

I’ve used the avantis it’s a beast and love it and using waves network expansion to a laptop for recording in logic was a breeze

[@karyn_davidcuellar6128]

Awesome video like always. Been using the x32 for years never had problems with it.

[@flashchrome]

Very good vid. Thanks for sharing.

[@tubaguy87]

Had a chance to use an Avantis the last cpl weekends. Visibility and workflow was super.

[@shawnja91]

Our church just got a Behringer x32 compact....and it's a beast

[@christopherjobe2260]

I’ve owned most of these and the M32C/S32 combo imo is the absolute winner here for most budget situations with demanding needs and travel & environment conditions. I am closely watching the development of the Wing rack that’s quite far along in its development but until it’s proven to be more reliable than the console version the M32C steers the ship.

[@obijuan8466]

My Presonus StudioLive 32SX is a beauty!

[@ScottsSynthStuff]

I have the X32 you show at the beginning of the video. It runs my home studio and acts as my 32 channel audio interface. I love it, I just wish they would either enlarge or get rid of the "cell phone holder" on the bottom right of the mixer, which is utterly useless, as it's sized to hold the tiny cell phones from 2012, when the X32 was released.

[@40EastTrill]

I have one as well and use it the same way. As soon as the video started I said "He's starting off with my baby" 😂

[@Palvader]

I appreciate your using the X32 as a great example! Due to inflation, it is less expensive now then when it came out in 2012 (and the M32, in 2014)!

[@stevedoesnt]

Will an of these read/write automation without digital conversion?

[@moss2309]

You might be interested in the 1010 Music Bluebox digital mixer & recorder. 12 Channels, effects, awesome routing, MIDI controllable, Compressor, 3 Effect sends.

[@TraneFrancks]

Really nice ad for Music Tribe. I do like Behringer and Midas stuff, but the video really did feel like an ad for their parent company.

[@LovesEarthPeace]

I love mixers! so much fun!

[@albertopalos9093]

Upgrade you all!! The best choice now is the Allen & Heath SQ series 😉 with a 96 KHz sample rate

[@mnretrogamer7189]

Sonicview is better.

[@ArchipelagoEnt]

Mitch is amazing.

[@InRoB-Music]

I‘m impressed in keith mcmillen k-mix! Why you don‘t show this amazing gear?

[@djspecialpaul]

A nice video ... a video tip - please do some videos about d&b Audiotechnik ... they build amazing PA Systems.

[@cletuswa]

The LiveTrak L-8 (and the L-12, which I bought then returned) doesn't allow SD card multitrack recording pre-compressor (even though the L-20 does), which makes the compressors unusable during recording. Also no remote control, no pre-fader listen, and no specifying if aux mixes are pre-/post-fader (post-fader is very useful for a separate livestream vs in-house mix whereas pre-fader is best for monitor/headphone mixes). Maybe they can fix some of those issues, or else hopefully Behringer, Soundcraft, or PreSonus will release something better in that price range. Right now the Allen and Heath CQ series seems to be the best for my use case, but I don't really want to give up physical faders.

[@Mikepo587]

You’re right about that but I actually it doesn’t do it will be in the post but it does do a pre I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have never had a problem if it’s for personal use don’t wanna use a DW if you could towns in person when you get your own equipment should never problem but if not then you can Want something else because yeah money it’s ridiculous these things shouldn’t even cost especially zone more than $200 but if they working zoom properly they’re pretty good

[@Mikepo587]

Get that reversed but it works just not afterwards but you get the result you heard as doing it on the final mix

[@PeterLazar]

Rack mounted mixers on the stage , using iPad are amazing. BUT connecting a headphone to solo and tune channels is a real pain.

[@JBF-GST-Tanda]

How about using a set of wireless IEM as the engineer's phones?

[@kalvinmiller8233]

My next purchase

[@gretareinarsson7461]

My only problem is to wether to buy a mixer for my synths to feed them into daw or if interface is enough

[@VegasDominic]

That flower shirt Mr Gallagher, is amazing ❤😊

[@heangra3029]

I want to see a video compare Behringer X32 Mixer VS Soundcraft Si Performer 3 Mixer Thank you so much for your experience ❤

[@JBF-GST-Tanda]

Frequent user of both console. Personally I suppose that Behringer is more versatile and convenient with more intuitive full-graphic user interface, a wider range of FX algorithms, realtime control software on PC/Mac, native support for USB multitrack audio IO and P16 monitor boxes etc. Soundcraft's user interface is too outdated with just a teeny tiny touchscreen with almost no graphic feedback. It can't be remote-controlled by a computer. It requires an additional card to run USB multitrack. The only major advantage of Soundcraft is stability - Behringer can glitch a bit after some years of heavy use. However by purchasing a real Midas M32 this problem can be solved.

[@zaakemichael9294]

I have an A&H 32 channel mixer but it's power supply got spolit . How can get one.

[@JoeStopkaMusic]

Very good presentation Mitch!

[@andrewgoulson]

TASCAM Sonicview baby!

[@sonosapiens2383]

Xr18 and 01v96i user...two great mixers.

[@FOHGeek]

Yeah. Considering the technical parameters, 01v96i is even more powerful than the latest DM3

[@esterestere363]

I’m looking for a 32-Channel mixer with DB25 I/O.. does it exist?

[@JBF-GST-Tanda]

Yamaha 01v96i with analog/AES expansion card

[@karitoivonen1518]

Mainly I use Soundcraft ui24r, but sometimes Yamaha 01v (made 1998) !

[@andifich1]

In my opinion there is nothing other to go with than an Digico SD series or better Quantum series 😉✌🏻✌🏻 And by the way, weight is never an exclusion criterion, because there are flipcases for a reason. It doesnˋt matter how heavy a mixer is. Put it in a flipcase and you wonˋt have any problems with. And with a flipcase you always have your mixer table with you in the right hight for yourself.

[@FVDaudio]

Avantis ✨✨👌🏻👌🏻

[@adampavelec857]

No love for the A&H CQ-20B?

[@tobiaswinter1358]

My thought exactly! It has so many great features most competitors are lacking

[@abimaelmartell]

Is the Behringer Wing still having Ghost Touch issues out of the factory?

[@AllenPendleton]

I have 2 and both are just fine.

[@abimaelmartell]

@@AllenPendleton Thanks, did you buy recently?

[@dallasphill]

They fixed the screen issue about 2 years ago!

[@marclewism]

Mackie is very easy to use. its really cheap too

[@magnussoderman6676]

No DM3 ?

[@sound_xajay]

Why are you not taking flow 8 mixer its also good for budget mixer ❤

[@FOHGeek]

It's more like a podcasting audio interface... Powerful but also limited. Nice for web livestreams, karaoke or conference rooms, but any application needing more than 4 mics (e.g. band performance) will be impossible.

[@sound_xajay]

@@FOHGeek ok 👍

[@psalmygenius6033]

I can be lucky for someone to bless me with a digital mixer either old or new....I will forever be grateful....or you bless me with a prayer to have one...I will appreciate it alot

[@robertschnobert9090]

Oh boy

[@JediObiDave]

they need to remove the cell phone holder lol

[@HowardBaileyMusic]

I feel like I'm even further away from knowing which console I want & need 😵‍💫

[@markogudlek1001]

And where is Allen & Heaths CQ mixers???

[@DaveMcCall]

We would have loved to include the CQ mixers (those are amazing and really pushing the category forward), but there weren't any of the CQ-18T available when we were shooting this video (the one we would have featured). Definitely a good option. Hopefully the concepts and principles presented in the first half of the video are helpful in choosing models that weren't specifically mentioned as examples in the rest of the video. There are many more good options that we just didn't have time to talk about.

[@discolarry808]

Behringer was the best product but when they made sweet water the only place to get them they went down hill no service or repairs for weeks or month 😊

[@dongwarrenmusic]

All behringer! Long live the king of budget gears. 😂 From small guitar pedals to everything anything, you name it. They have it all. 😅

[@MrDinovoice]

Qsc 30 is such a great mixer the smalest with big screen and one of the best feuters easy to use . hava also 8 model . A&H cq copied qsc

[@jamesburke2311]

1010Bluebox and external mic pres trumps all these 🤣

[@apologeticajosecarlos]

We need NEW DIGITAL MIXERS from ALL BRANDS. Made from 2024 as a start point.

[@jeremythomas2865]

No love for the Yamahas?

[@YeshuaMuzic]

I was going to say the same thing. Not even the TF series.

[@christopherjobe2260]

Not until you’re talking about CL’s. The prosumer platforms are quirky to say the least

[@YeshuaMuzic]

@@christopherjobe2260 The CLs are way too expensive 🫰.

[@DaveMcCall]

We would have loved to include the Yamahas, but they weren't available when we shot this video. They're great mixers.

[@yannyloyer7177]

I love pm10 rivage. but their like 180k

[@HeavyKevy-eg3ej]

Sweetwater please come to Canada long and mquade sucks just saying

[@jamescave7102]

And another in Atlanta GA.

[@yannyloyer7177]

I like my lm . good service .I know all the guys . nothing against sweet water. just saying

[@Mikepo587]

Beauty of it is to buy a brand-new Ferrari for the same price or rent a studio sorry LOL had to laugh when they make these things with the actual work like DVD players provides killing a bug because at $19 then we’re talking but these things are great but also ridiculously

[@pellepop100]

”Make sure you have enough channels to handle your internal effects”. What?

[@hhh.b_b.v]

But not beringer

[@robertschnobert9090]

Behringer is best quality

[@garethde-witt6433]

Let’s face it in the end they are all the same.

[@XIIMonkeysMusicGroup]

Similar. Not the same. They have different I/O and some use Dante, AVB, Ultralink or other protocols. Some have external Midi control, some don't.

[@AllenPendleton]

At this point the x32 is like 12 years old and at end of life. No one should be going for an x32 now.

[@EmomBerks]

Your opinion is false

[@silvercoulter]

yeah I can’t believe the wing is such a dud. Like dudes just release a new version that’s better.

[@devonrdlee]

12 years old and it's still my number one pick in that price point.

[@metaldemonseanknels]

I wouldn’t go for an x32 because it’s Behringer lol

[@Fenix.sound.]

X32 берут только по одной причине. Его цена.

[@yannyloyer7177]

I want a yamaha pm10 rivage. gonna have to save up for a while lol