Best Digital Mixers: X32, WING, TF and the 10 Worth Buying
Digital mixers - live and studio
One box that mixes the show, records every channel and runs the monitor mixes. Here are the ten that own the category, and the honest answer to the X32 question.
Replaces
$6K of gear
FOH console + multitrack interface + monitor system
Ranked from Sweetwater's hot-selling digital boards, $800 to $4,200 - the platforms venues, churches and project studios actually standardize on.
Related: best powered PA speakers, best in-ear monitor systems and best portable PA systems.
One purchase, three jobs
A modern digital mixer is a live console, a multitrack recording interface and a monitor-mix system in one box. Churches, venues, cover bands and project studios buy them for exactly that reason: the $2,000-3,500 spent here replaces $6,000 of separate gear. It is also why this category sells out around every seasonal rush.
The 10 mixers
1. Allen & Heath SQ — Allen & Heath - $3,999
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,999
2. Soundcraft Si Impact 40 — Soundcraft - $3,960
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,960
3. Midas M32R LIVE Digital Mixer with Stage Box — Midas - $3,625
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,625
4. Yamaha TF5 48 — Yamaha - $3,599.99
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,599.99
5. PreSonus StudioLive 64S 64 — PreSonus - $3,499.99
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,499.99
6. Behringer WING 48 — Behringer - $3,499
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,499
7. Midas M32 LIVE 40 — Midas - $3,295
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $3,295
8. PreSonus StudioLive Series III SE 32 Digital Mixer — PreSonus - $2,999.99
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $2,999.99
9. PreSonus StudioLive Series III SE 16 Digital Mixer with 16 Channel Stage Box — PreSonus - $2,819.99
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $2,819.99
10. PreSonus StudioLive Series III SE 24 Digital Mixer — PreSonus - $2,499.99
Live price and stock at Sweetwater; full specs on the product page.
Check the price at Sweetwater → · $2,499.99
Quick comparison
| Mixer | Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Allen & Heath SQ | Allen & Heath | $3,999 |
| Soundcraft Si Impact 40 | Soundcraft | $3,960 |
| Midas M32R LIVE Digital Mixer with Stage | Midas | $3,625 |
| Yamaha TF5 48 | Yamaha | $3,599.99 |
| PreSonus StudioLive 64S 64 | PreSonus | $3,499.99 |
| Behringer WING 48 | Behringer | $3,499 |
| Midas M32 LIVE 40 | Midas | $3,295 |
| PreSonus StudioLive Series III SE 32 Dig | PreSonus | $2,999.99 |
The X32 question, answered honestly
Behringer's X32 platform and its Midas M32 sibling own this category for a reason: the ecosystem is enormous, every rental house stocks them, and any engineer you hire already knows the layout. The WING is the modern successor with more of everything. Buy something else only if you have a specific reason — Yamaha's TF for its ease, Allen & Heath SQ for its preamps and 96k engine, PreSonus for the DAW integration.
The feature that matters most: virtual soundcheck
Every mixer here records multitrack to a computer over USB. That means you capture Sunday's service or Friday's set, then play it back through the console next week and mix as if the band were on stage. Nothing improves a live mix faster, and it is the single best argument for going digital at all.
Studio use is the sleeper feature
A 32-in USB mixer is also a tracking interface for a whole band with zero extra hardware. Drums on eight mics, bass, two guitars, keys and three vocals — one cable to the laptop. If you record bands rather than just yourself, this beats buying an 8-preamp interface plus an ADAT expander on both price and workflow.
FAQ
What is the best digital mixer for a church?
The Behringer X32 or Midas M32 family remains the default: volunteers can learn it from a thousand tutorials and every guest engineer knows it. Yamaha TF is the easiest to learn from zero.
Can a digital mixer replace my audio interface?
Yes - every board here streams its channels over USB as a multitrack interface. For tracking full bands it is usually cheaper than an interface with the same input count.
X32 or WING?
WING is the successor: more channels, better preamps, modern touch workflow. X32 wins on price, ubiquity and the used market. For a first serious board, X32 money goes a long way.
What is virtual soundcheck?
Recording the multitrack of a real show, then playing it back through the console later to refine the mix without the band present. Every mixer on this list does it over USB.
Sources
Sweetwater · Meshplugins guides
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Prices and availability are accurate at the time of writing and can change — the links go to the live product page. Affiliate disclosure: Meshplugins.com is a participant in the Sweetwater affiliate program. If you buy through the links on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes which gear we recommend — every pick here is chosen on merit.
Who's behind this
Ivan Meshcheriakov · IvanFromRnD
5+ years ago I moved to LA with zero connections and started building from nothing — 14-hour days, meeting people and interning at studios. It took me 5+ years to meet and interview 100+ Grammy-winning engineers — then I turned it all into the Vocal Chain Bible.
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