Real World Gear: The Latest Compact Consoles & Mixers

ProSoundWeb

ENHANCED LISTING

Jade Payne (FOH/monitor engineer – Khruangbin, Bikini Kill) with the ultra-compact dLive CTi1500 control surface.

Allen & Heath dLive CTi1500
allen-heath.com

dLive is Allen & Heath’s flagship mixing system. The power of dLive emanates from the XCVI core, pioneered by the Allen & Heath R&D team using next-generation FPGA technology, with 36 parallel virtual processing cores generating enough power for 160 x 64 channels of processing at 96 kHz. From the ultra lightweight, rack-mountable CTi1500 up to the largest S7000, all dLive surfaces are fully compatible with dLive C Class and S Class MixRacks.

Seven control surfaces and seven MixRacks, support for leading audio networking protocols like Dante, MADI, and Waves, plug and play ME personal monitor mixers, an array of compact TCP/IP network remotes, I/O expanders, iPad and Android apps, and Mac and PC online/offline editor software all combine to rethink and redefine the ultimate in scalable and versatile audio mixing systems.

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: All dLive systems utilize the XCVI FPGA core to calculate over 10,000 cross points per sample, while the FPGA router has capacity for 3,000 x 3,000 audio paths. XCVI (25 billion operations per second) allows dLive to deliver 128 processing inputs and 16 stereo FX returns, a configurable 64-bus architecture, variable bit depth for exceptional precision and noise performance and more.

OF NOTE: CTi1500 has been engineered across the board to ruthlessly strip out as much weight as possible, while ensuring tour-grade structural integrity and a first class user experience. Engineered with Titanium side panels, new alloy metal work and a “superleggera”-inspired chassis, CTi1500 weighs only 25.4 pounds (under pounds in flight case).

KEY SPECS
Faders: 12 faders, 6 layers (72 fader strips)
Mix Inputs: 160 (128 plus 16 stereo FX returns) with full 96 kHz processing
Aux/Group: 64 mix outputs with full processing
Matrix: User configurable 64 bus architecture | FX: 16 stereo | DCA: 24
Mains: LR, LCR, LR+Msum, LR+M and 5.1 Mains mode
App: dLive Director for macOS and PC; dLive MixPad iOS; dLive OneMix iOS; Custom Control for macOS/PC/iOS/Android
Screen: 12-inch capacitive touch screen with gesture control
Local I/O: (control surface) 6 XLR mic/line inputs, 6 XLR line outputs, stereo AES input and stereo AES output, 2-track USB
Physical: 25.4 x 17.4 x 13.3 inches, 25.4 pounds


STANDARD LISTINGS

Avid VENUE S6L-16C
avid.com/S6L
Faders: 16 channel faders plus 2 assignable faders in the master live module
Mix Inputs: Up to 192
Aux/Group: Up to 96
Matrix: Up to 24 x 24
FX: 400 plugin slots
DCA: 48
Mains: LCR
App: VENUE | On-Stage monitor mixing app, VENUE | Function Pad app
Screen: Requires user-provided external touch screen
Local I/O & Stage Boxes: 1 XLR mic/line input and 2 XLR outputs; Stage 48, 32 and 16 stage boxes, also Local 16 stage box
Additional Models: VENUE | S6L-48D, S6L-32D, S6L-24D, S6L-24C

Yamaha RIVAGE PM5 & PM3
usa.yamaha.com
Faders: 38 (12+12+12+2)
Mix Inputs: 120
Aux/Group: 48 (DSP-RX), 72 (DSP-RX-EX)
Matrix: 36 (DSP-RX-EX); 24 (DSP-RX)
FX: 45 types, up to 384 / 512 instances depending on DSP configuration
DCA: 24 | GEQ: 48
App: StageMix (iPad)
Screens: Three 15-inch touch screens
Local I/O: 8 + 8 analog XLR, 4 + 4 AES/EBU
Stage Box: DSP-RX-EX; DSP-RX
MY Cards: Dante, MADI, Aviom, many others
Also: Neve inserts, TC and Eventide FX, SILK mic preamp

Soundcraft Vi1000
soundcraft.com
Faders: 20
Mix Inputs: 96
Aux/Group: 24 mono/stereo
Matrix: 16 mono/stereo
FX: 4
DCA: 16
Mains: LCR
App: VISI IOS
Screen: Vistonics II
Local I/O: 16 XLR I/O, 2 pairs AES/EBU I/O, 2 Dante
Stage Boxes: Mini, Compact, VI Series
Expansion Slots: 2
Also: Automatic mic mixing; FaderGlow; can act as remote for larger consoles
Physical: 13.8 x 31.6 x 33.2 inches (H x W x D), 55 pounds
Additional Models: VI1000, VI2000, VI3000, VI5000, VI7000

Studiomaster digiLivE 16
studiomaster.com
Faders: 9
Mix Inputs: 16 channels
Aux/Group, Matrix: N/A 36
FX: Up to 8 assignable effects modules
Mains: LR master bus
App: iPad iOS via digiLivE Blackbox app
Screen: 7-inch touch screen
Local I/O: 12 mic inputs (8 XLR/4 combo XLR), 2 stereo inputs, 2 master outputs (left/right balanced XLR), 6 smart outputs (assignable balanced XLR), AES/EBU output (XLR), S/PDIF input/output (RCA phono), 2 USB interfaces
Stage Boxes: digiRACK 3216 (32 inputs/16 outputs), digiRACK 1632 (16 inputs/32 outputs)
Also: Networking via included WiFi module; AD/DA – 192 kHz/24-bit; 40-point float point, SHARC processor
Physical: 18.9 x 14 x 5.7 inches (H x W x D), 11 pounds

Behringer X32 Compact
behringer.com
Faders: 17
Mix Inputs: 40
Aux/Group: 16
Matrix: 6 | FX: Virtual FX rack | DCA: 8 Mains: LCR
App: X32 Edit for PC or Mac, X32 Mix for iPad, X32 Q personal monitor mix for iPhone and Android
Screen: 7-in color TFT
Local I/O: 16 XLR inputs, 8 XLR outputs, 6 line in/outputs, AES out
Stage Boxes: S16, S32, SD16 and SD8
Also: P-16 personal monitoring system connectivity; 32 x 32 USB interface; DAW remote control
Expansion Slot: 1, pre-installed X-USB card, optional USB/Firewire, MADI, Dante and ADAT | Physical: 8.5 x 20 x 24.6 inches (H x W x D), 34 pounds
Additional Models: X32, X32 Producer, X32 Rack

Midas M32R
midasconsoles.com
Faders: 25
Mix Inputs: 40
Aux/Group: 16
FX: 8
DCA: 8
Mains: LCR
App: M32-Mix IOS
Screen: 7-in
Local I/O: 32 XLR In, 16 XLR Out, AES/EBU Out, AES 50, UntraNet I/O, 12 TRS I/O, RCA I/O
Stage Boxes: DL16, DL32
Also: 32×32 USB I/O, 500 internal show automation structured cues
Expansion Slots: 1
Physical: 10.1 x 25.1 x 24.1 inches (H x W x D), 55 pounds

Allen & Heath SQ-5
allen-heath.com
Faders: 17
Mix Inputs: 56 (48 plus 8 stereo FX returns) with full 96 kHz processing
Aux/Group: 12 stereo mix (aux or group) + main
Matrix: 3 | FX: 8
DCA: 8 | Mains: LR
App: SQ MixPad for macOS / PC / iOS / Android. SQ4You for iOS and Android
Screen: 7-in capacitive touch screen
Local I/O: 16 XLR inputs, 2 stereo TRS inputs, 12 XLR outputs, 2 TRS out, stereo AES out
Stage Boxes: GX4816, DX012, DX32, DX168, DT168 Dante, DX164-W, DT164-W Dante, DX Hub, AR2412, AB168, AR84.
Physical: 17.3 x 20.3 x 7.8 inches (W X D X H), 23.1 pounds
Additional Models: SQ-6, SQ-7