BUYING GUIDE - MIXING CONSOLES
Affordable Medium-Format Analog Mixing Consoles
The best bang for the buck in a live analog mixing console is the Allen and Heath GL series. The feature set for the price cannot be beat; not to mention they are workhorses through and through. You can get the 2400 which is a simpler format, or the 2800 which includes a lot of functionality. Other options in mixing consoles are the Soundcraft GB series or the LX7ii. Midas has been known to make some really killer consoles, of course the last time I used a Midas was right before the Uli takeover. Hopefully not much has changed. I used to run a Midas Verona a few years ago, and it was a great sounding and certainly useable console.
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One of the reasons why I think the GL series is the best analog console choice for the money:
The Allen & Heath is modular & easy to work on. It also is way more robust of a mixing console because of this.
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A different brand (we'll leave nameless).
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The picture of the mixing console to the left, is a picture of an Allen & Heath GL2200 (their lowest priced console in that series). I was called by a church to come and repair this console because it had been through quite a bit of abuse by its previous owners before it was donated to the church that owns it now. There had been liquid spilled on it, and 2 faders appeared to have had something very heavy dropped on them. If this had been the other brand (pictured above right), the liquid would have spread across several channels because it has nowhere to escape; whereas the Allen & Heath I repaired to the above left, it dripped directly to the bottom metal plate and dried. This console really is a dream if you ever have to repair it. Most affordable mixing consoles have 1 or 2 component boards where every thing is attached. The GL series on the other hand is what we'd consider as modular. This means that each channel and section of the console has its own board that you can quickly disconnect from a ribbon cable (that's the white cable running the length of the console) so that you don't have to take apart the entire unit just to get to a small section. The faders also are all distinct and separate. Normally a console this size (32 channel) would have taken me a whole day to repair, but I was done in 3 hours with this one. This also means that if one section of the console goes out, everything else still works independently. Being that it is modular, you can also just purchase the module you need if it is abused beyond repair (without having to lose the use of the console because it is still in pieces). One more thing: in the several years I have installed and used this series, this is the first one I have had to repair (and only because it had been abused). Very impressive!
Affordable Small-Format Analog Mixing Consoles
Allen and Heath wins again with their ZED series smaller format consoles (I promise I have no affiliation with them whatsoever). I have personally used the ZED series quite a bit in different situations, and each time, it didn't disappoint. The mic pres sound killer, and the options are all you really need for smaller church environments. More traditional types of churches that only use a few channels would really feel at home with the ZED. Incredibly smartly designed with just the right amount of features is what sets this console apart from the others. Mackie and Yamaha comes to a close second, but I will mention that some of Yamaha's smaller format consoles have that goofy mute button that lights when the channel is on, and frankly, the microphone pres on board just don't sound as good as the ZED's. The Mackie 1604 VLZ4 remains a well used affordable favorite among some. There's always the Midas Venice U or F series (I personally haven't used the new ones yet), but it is quite a bit more with very little difference in the quality of sound (although I will say that I love the EQ on Midas consoles), and the new Venice's offer recording I/O's.
Affordable Medium-Format Digital Mixing Consoles
Needs vary. You really need to research what would fit your needs the best.
Allen & Heath Qu-32, & dLive
Presonus Studio Live
Mackie DL32
Midas M32
Soundcraft SI Impact & Performer
Yamaha TF Series
Behringer x32
Presonus Studio Live
Mackie DL32
Midas M32
Soundcraft SI Impact & Performer
Yamaha TF Series
Behringer x32
**Just So You Know - I am not in any way affiliated with any companies mentioned. My selections on what the best gear is, is from direct personal experience with said items. I have nothing to gain by recommending any piece of gear, other than the piece of mind knowing you'll be getting reliable stuff that works.
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