We are putting more digital audio mixers and consoles into churches than ever before because now there is a great digital mixer system to fit practically any ministry budget. We have compiled a list of eight of the best digital audio mixers based on the recommendations of our staff technology experts. Here are the digital mixers that churches are buying from us and installing right now.
The best rack-mount digital mixer
Since its introduction, Yamaha's TF Series of digital audio mixers have been a hugely popular choice all over the world for live sound productions thanks to their powerful capabilities housed in an easy-to-use and intuitive form factor. With the TF-RACK mixer, Yamaha has taken everything that users love about the TF series and loaded it all up into a rack-mountable chassis suitable for portable applications like mobile churches or traveling live sound productions.
The best cost-effective mixer system
Allen and Heath SQ-5 is a 17-fader audio mixing console built for AV events such as corporate, live product, and house of worship. The SQ-5 offers high resolution audio quality playback with ultra-low latency of <0.7ms. In addition, the mixer board features a touch screen equipped with DEEP processing audio plugins, designed for flawless analog gear emulation. This high quality sound mixer is a powerhouse for any event where digital mixing combined with visual presentation is required. Larger SQ consoles have more faders if needed.
The best digital mixer- 32 channels or less
Yamaha TF Series
The Yamaha TF Series digital consoles offer powerful and intuitive features that mix engineers around the world will love. Yamaha developed these audio mixers to have an intuitive interface that's easy to learn if you're a beginner, but advanced enough to ensure that professionals have everything they need to get the job done right. With that in mind, the heart of the TF sound mixer is centered around Yamaha's TouchFlow Operation™, which is optimized for the onboard touchscreen panel, allowing control of most functions and parameters with the use of already familiar touch-based gestures such as swiping and pinching. If you use a smart phone or tablet, you will feel right at home on the high-quality TF mixer audio system.
Other powerful features of this mixer include onboard effects, motorized faders, easily recallable presets and scenes, recallable D-PRE™ microphone preamps, optional Dante networking via the NY64-D Dante expansion card (sold separately), and wireless mixing options via PC or mobile devices. Pair the TF mixer with Yamaha Tio 1608-D 16-Input x 8-Output Dante Stagebox (sold separately) and you have a flexible and powerful system.
The best digital mixer - 48-64 channels
Allen & Heath's Avantis (ANH-AVANTIS) Digital Mixing Console is the third mixer powered by Allen & Heath's 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine providing a virtually infinite mix headroom and class-leading latency at an ultra-low 0.7ms. This standalone 64 channel / 42 configurable bus console has dual Full HD touchscreens with Continuity UI that seamlessly connects physical and touchscreen controls for the fastest, most intuitive workflows. The full-metal chassis is lightweight and strong, providing performance and reliability with aesthetically designed sleek curves. The Avantis sound mixer is well equipped with 12 XLR analogue inputs, 12 XLR analogue outputs, plus AES (Stereo In, 2x Stereo Out), plus two additional I/O Ports that allow true flexibility by connecting to the entire range of Allen & Heath audio expander hardware.
The best digital mixers - 64-128 channels
The CL Series digital 48kHz Centralogic™ mixing console features a touchscreen display and is designed for use with RIO3224-D and RIO1608-D. Stereo + Mono/LCR, 24 Mix + 8 Matrix outputs. 8 Omni inputs, 8 Omni outputs, 3 MY-card slots, and built-in Dante™ interface. Up to 8 Rio I/O units can be controlled and auto-configured from one CL console. Control port for PC and/or Wi-Fi connection. 5 in/5 out GPI. 8U Stereo Effects Rack, 16U GEQ Rack, 8U Premium Rack, Nuendo Live and Dante™ Virtual Soundcard license included.
Allen & Heath C-Series
Allen and Heath C-class is available in several control surface configurations for dLive MixRack with 12, 20, or 24 faders, USB stereo recording. Included are 12-inch touchscreens which are built to support the Harmony UI, for functionality such as gesture controls, multimode EQ views, and widgets for FX and scenes. Despite all these great features, the sound consoles remain portable, allowing it to work with the dLive MixRack in environments where space is at a premium.
The best digital mixer - Over 128 channels
The SSL Live Series is a Benchmark of live digital sound mixers. There are two models available in the SSL Live console range, the larger L550 and the more compact L350, L200, and L100. Both mixer consoles are perfectly equipped for applications in Touring, Installation, Houses of Worship and Theatre. Both audio mixers offer the same immaculate, huge SSL sound and the same superb operator experience.