Need a 16 channel board to record with

[Scoops]

Greetings

I have my old Mackie Onyx 1602
I can record 16 channels simultaneously out of this

Unfortunately, my Mackie is starting to show signs of aging, and the Firewire drivers are only supported up to Win 7, so I am looking for a new board.

I need a board that can do live 16 channel sound mix and send 16 channels to a DAW for recording.

There not much out there, but I have found 3 that have caught my eye

• Presonus Studiolive AR
• Tascam Model 24
• Soundcraft Signature MTK

Does anybody have experience with any of the three that I have mentioned, OR, any other suggestions

Thanks

 

[thumbknuckle]

The Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18 will do that.

Soundcraft Ui24R.

 

[JRA]

I need a board that can do live 16 channel sound mix and send 16 channels to a DAW for recording.

The Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18 will do that. Soundcraft Ui24R.

i had several years experience with the XR18 and thought of it as having some cool features, but: i've used a couple of Ui24Rs for the last few years and i've been very impressed with the superior sound (it's a soundcraft!) and ease-of-use for a digital piece in that price range. i use them live and for recording.

all i got! --- i'm sorry that i have no experience with the pieces you listed. good luck finding the right mixer!

 

[AGCurry]

Peavey PV20?

 

[filmtex]

Mackie DL-16 with iOS, Android OS and Mac OSX apps work great. They just updated them in the past week. I have been using that and a Soundcraft UI-16 for a while and like both of them. THe Mackie exports all 16 XLR inputs via USB, unlike the Soundcraft which only has 12 actual XLR inputs.

 

[frnjplayer]

Mackie DL-16 with iOS, Android OS and Mac OSX apps work great. They just updated them in the past week. I have been using that and a Soundcraft UI-16 for a while and like both of them. THe Mackie exports all 16 XLR inputs via USB, unlike the Soundcraft which only has 12 actual XLR inputs.

The UI16 only outputs a stereo signal to the USB port. Unfortunately thats the board I have so I can't tell which ones will send out 16 individual tracks until you get into full boards like the x32.

 

[Pedalnetics]

One thing to decide: do you want a physical board, or are you OK with having to control it with an app?

The X32 Rack is am amazing rack-mounted mixer. The X32 software is worlds different than the Xair Behringer stuff. I hope I never have to touch that Xair software ever again...

I ran an X32 Rack for a church, with an iPad Pro as my console app. It worked absolutely awesome.

The 3rd party Android app, Mixing Station, is even better than the official iPad X32 app.

I know it'll send at least 16 to the usb, and allow you to send 16 channels back. It might actually do 32/32, but I never had to use that (just popping in my head that I think it was an option).

If you want a physical board, a full X32 is awesome, or it may be worth looking at some of the discontinued X32 stuff: the Compact and the Producer models. Smaller, but the same functionality.

The Midas Q32 is the exact same as the X32 from everything I've heard/used, and it too is an amazing board. I do like the tilted top console/screen better, but I dont think it's worth the extra price.

 

[DirtDog]

Look also at the Presonus 16R. I’ve been happy with mine. But needs a computer for the control surface.

 

[silky smoove]

Another option is any 16 channel board plus a 16 channel converter.

 

[filmtex]

The UI16 only outputs a stereo signal to the USB port. Unfortunately thats the board I have so I can't tell which ones will send out 16 individual tracks until you get into full boards like the x32.

Exactly, that's why I bought the Mackie. It works great as a 16 ch USB interface.

 

[Frank Tuesday]

I've got an XR18 for IEM setup. We can also record multitracks via USB. Is the X32 much nicer in every way? Yes, but you can find used XR18s for $300 if you're patient.

 

[And I]

If you want a tactile mixer vs an app, I have used a presonus studiolive digital board and I really like it.

I've also used and have been impressed with the behringer xr18, if you don't care about a tactile mixer.

 

[filmtex]

If you want a tactile mixer vs an app, I have used a presonus studiolive digital board and I really like it.

I've also used and have been impressed with the behringer xr18, if you don't care about a tactile mixer.

StudioLive mixers are great. I used a 32 StuidioLive IIi for several dozen shows last year and exported multitracks to a thumb drive several times. Highly recommended. And their StudioOne DAW is a fine piece of work as well. BTW they are celebrating 25 years and are based not far away in Baton Rouge, LA.

 

[Scoops]

Thanks all for the input. Here's some additional information

I donated this board to a church.
With the shelter in place that occurred, the church wanted to record our services and put them on YouTube.
We are doing so somewhat well.
Church realizes this is a good road to go down so they want to improve the equipment and recording capabilities.
So far, we've built a new computer, rewired the 20 year old sound system to include monitors and 2 Bose L1's, and added some new mics.

I suggested that we utilize just a audio interface, and use the computer to control sound, but the elders want a tactile board that can multi track. This is a small church, and doesn't have the budget for something like an X32

This is why I was asking about the 3 units in my original post.

 

[Scoops]

Another option is any 16 channel board plus a 16 channel converter.

This was a consideration and I had spec'd out a Focusrite, but it was asked if it would be cheaper just to buy a new board as the Mackie I gave them is @16 years old, and starting to fail.

 

[WoodyJ]

I'm using a pre-owned Allen & Heath ZED R-16 Firewire that I found on Reverb.com. It is worlds better and more user-friendly than the old Mackie 24-8 mixer that it replaced.

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