Mixing desk recommendations

[Crimsonfox]

I need some recomendations for a replacement mixing desk because sound equipment is somewhat of an unknown to me and I don't know what brands are decent and reliable.

 

We currently have a Stagecraft Spririt SX (like this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2TkAAOSwTQdjdOAj/s-l1600.jpg) with 20 channels but it has developed an intermittent crackling issue which we need to get rid of. We can get it to go away by wiggling the faders or cables sometimes but it's requiring way to much looking after now.

 

We currently are using the mix and sub outputs that go out to 4 speakers (2 front, 2 back) and can utilise the majority of the channels during drama productions so capability wise, I think we're looking for a like-for-like as opposed to adding/reducing features.

[Andycat]

We have Allen and Heath here, a QU32 but newer models are available. I also personally have a Mackie DL16s. Both very different, but most importantly. both controllable via app which is great for soundchecks/events.

[Davit2005]

I was looking at the Zoom L-20 for home studio. It has some decent sounding monitoring options to feed different monitors, might be worth a look if you don't need more than 20 inputs. It too uses an app but I think it is only available for iOS at the moment. The Behringer XR18 might be another option, the new version has wired port and built in Wifi for remote access although the built in WiFi is not great reportedly. The Zoom L-20r is a smaller version but has limited control without using the app. Edited February 8, 2023 by Davit2005

[Chris_Cook]

Last time I looked we considered the Soundcraft Signature, and the Midas DM16. We went for the DM16 but I would have preferred the signature as the EQ has more bands. If you use it with lots of mics, a good EQ section really makes a difference if you know how to use it.

 

We also have a Behringer x32 at a different school and that has done us really well, but not everyone knows how to use it. You can get a lot more features in a smaller and lighter package. Being able to mix from a tablet/laptop/phone can help speed things up if your mix position isn't optimal.

 

You won't really get a bad mixer these days, but its worth thinking about your use cases so its not overly complicated, and also bear in mind that at the cheaper end of the market either the faders or PSU will die and it won't be worth repairing. These mixers need replacing much more frequently than the full size versions.

[Crimsonfox]

Thanks for the responses, the Soundcraft Signature looks like a good option, similiar to what we have so people can get used to it easier and seems like a good price.

[Andrew_C]

I'd aim for Soundcraft or Allen & Heath analogue desks for simplicity and quality. Behringer if you want to head towards digital - lots of ways for the fiddling fingers to screw up though.

[Aprice]

I like the X32 personally, there's a couple of variations of models out there now.

[DavR]

We recently replaced an old Behringer PMP-6000 with a Mackie ProFX16v3 16-Channel mixer. No complaints, and can connect it to the PC as a USB sound input, if you wanted to record the audio from the desk.

 

We looked at the Soundcraft Signature series as well, but found they were coming out as quite a bit more expensive.

 

The guy who runs our sound desk for events and productions was dead set on getting another powered Behringer, but we couldn't get hold of one in the UK. I'm not displeased we went down the unpowered route tbh - people here have blown far too many speakers up with powered mixers in the past.

[nicholab]

Desk worth a look

 

yamaha tf1

Soundcraft si impact

behringer x32 / compact

allen and heath qu 24

 

I used the Yamaha and the soundcraft I preferred the work flow on the sound craft. A digital desk give you a lot more tools and cost are not much dearer than an analog. It’s really handy to have effects, compressor and gates available.

[Tom_M]

Behringer X32 for a School. I believe it also supports Dante & allows a stage box to be provisioned using Ethernet.

Studios etc are moving more towards that than traditional (full) tie-lines.

[nicholab]

I believe most of those desk support digital stage boxes.

 

That would also be worth pricing up. Yamaha needs a dante card added to support the network interface.

[Andrew_C]

Digital patching / effects are all very well, but how much support do you have time to give this? Sure - if the support is in place - otherwise KISS.

[nicholab]

The SI impact has different used account so you can control access. Being able to recall setting is very useful. Having experienced of using a Allan and Heath GL4000 large 40 channel desk I find the transition easy.

[PotNoodleTech]

Got older allen and heath analogue desks here and they work great - reliable and very good sound quality

 

(yes....not alll mixing desks sound the same). #rabbithole

[RobFuller]

We currently use a Soundcraft Ui16 mounted in the stage rack (good old dell server rack), it's been solid and very easy for to us and students alike. Being touch only and limited inputs (you can stack the larger Ui 24 series by the way) has its drawbacks for us now performing arts are growing and getting more professional with each show.

Looking to upgrading a 'real desk' for faster operator controls when live mixing. Considering a Allen Heath SQ5 , anyone have some feedback on Allen Heath desks regarding build quality/workflow?

[nicholab]

It a school you want to be able to password protect certain aspects of the desk or have a USB with the saved settings.

[Techie-v2]

We have a A&H qu16 which is relatively straight forward to use, if you use it regularly, has been in place for 4 years but doesn't get moved around a lot.

The company who assist with our production once a year bring an SQ5 and have done for the last 4 years, its part of their hire stock so gets a great deal of use so must be built strong and, according to the engineer is much more intuitive than the qu. To use an example, if working with a stage box, on the qu, he says you can only patch channel 1 on the desk to input 1 on the stage box etc but on the SQ you can patch and channel 1 on the stage box to any channel on the mixer. This might not be important to most people but it makes the world of difference to them!

[nicholab]

That a good point you might have not have multicore deployed in your school. You could hire in a digital multi core for shows for the extra channels.

[SamanthaD]

First question is - analogue or digital? Is the desk going to be used by competent engineers who can be trained and understand signal flow or by novices that need a simple system?

 

I would say nowadays digital is the way to go. Even if it is more complicated initially the ease of being able to set a default show up, save it and back it up to USB means when someone calls you to say "it's not working" getting it back to a useable, known datum is really easy (just load default show and away you go again). Likewise if you have repeated events that require a slightly different setup you just save that show under a different name, then load as needed (our Great Hall has a default show for standard lectures and a graduation show file when the lectern is put away and the graduation mics come out. Takes less than a minute to set the desk up.)

 

Brand wise there's been some good recommendations - though I've fell out of love with Soundcraft as I've been waiting for over 2 years for a SI Impact desk that now I'm being told they can't get hold of. The Yamaha TF range looks very basic with all the controls hidden inside menus. The A&H Qu range is ok but you mention the groups feeding front and rear, unless you're doing sudo-surround mixing I'd probably just put these onto 2 separate matrix mixes which some lower end digital desks can't do (you could use post fade auxes to the same effect, but it's not quite as clean when it comes to stereo panning etc).

 

For the money the Behringer X32 really isn't that bad. Once you've got your head around the digital way of working it's surprisingly analogue in feel with all the encoders and visual feedback, and most users should be able to pick it up fairly quickly. If you've got money and want better audio quality then the Midas M32 is essentially the same desk, just with better preamps and some would say a better build quality over the X32, but it runs on the same software so still quite easy to use.

[nicholab]

I would always go digital as your desk can create a custom layer/layout you can have a simple layout for the less skilled user.

 

Both the si impact and TF1 can do custom layers I used both liked both. I was never required to do AES 50 patching.

 

X32 compact would be worth a look.

 

I like digital as it means I get all the compressor, gates and groups i am used to on a big desk with lots of outboard.

[slugshead]

My old school had Three Allen and Heath SQ Desks.

 

Main hall - SQ 7

Recording studio - SQ 7

"portable" - SQ5 in a flightcase with the cutouts.

 

Equip them with Dante cards and you can do some SUPER neat stuff. The Main hall could go back to the recording studio and you can live record from the main hall as though it's an extension of the studio

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I need some recomendations for a replacement mixing desk because sound equipment is somewhat of an unknown to me and I don't know what brands are decent and reliable.

 

We currently have a Stagecraft Spririt SX (like this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2TkAAOSwTQdjdOAj/s-l1600.jpg) with 20 channels but it has developed an intermittent crackling issue which we need to get rid of. We can get it to go away by wiggling the faders or cables sometimes but it's requiring way to much looking after now.

 

We currently are using the mix and sub outputs that go out to 4 speakers (2 front, 2 back) and can utilise the majority of the channels during drama productions so capability wise, I think we're looking for a like-for-like as opposed to adding/reducing features.

 

From your description i don't think your current desk is faulty as such.

On Analogue mixers, intermittent crackling tends to be either a duff cable (easy to replace) or dirty pots/faders.

 

A really good clean tends to get rid of it in my experience.

You can start out with blowing the faders through with compressed air. Minimise the fader and blow out bottom to top, then max the fader and blow top to bottom. You should see immediate gains by doing this, but if needed a little contact cleaner sprayed in there should free up any further muck.

 

Certainly worth half an hour to see if it saves money.

[PotNoodleTech]

Wow reading this thread has made me realise how out of touch we are with the modern stuff! Me old Zed 24 aint got no fancy shmancy stuff :-/

[nicholab]

My old school had Three Allen and Heath SQ Desks.

 

Main hall - SQ 7

Recording studio - SQ 7

"portable" - SQ5 in a flightcase with the cutouts.

 

Equip them with Dante cards and you can do some SUPER neat stuff. The Main hall could go back to the recording studio and you can live record from the main hall as though it's an extension of the studio

 

Some desk don’t need a Dante card form day one. They have the interfaces with suitable outputs for most uses.

 

Just remember that the stage box/can be over a £1k each!

Edited February 15, 2023 by nicholab

[SamanthaD]

Dante cards can be £1k each as well, then you need the network infrastructure to support it. Agree it can be really cool but adds a HUGE layer of complexity.