QSC TouchMix Pro 30?

[Arpangel]

My god, am I seeing things? what? 24 line inputs, 14 (!) aux outputs! In this size footprint, even the lack of hardware faders is worth putting up with for this.
I hadn’t even noticed this up until now, because of my "digital phobia" but this needs serious investigation, it’s like it was made for my set-up.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/qsc_touchmix_30_pro.htm?glp=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9J701Pua7QIVqujtCh1IqgC0EAQYAiABEgKZZvD_BwE

[CS70]

I use a TouchMix 8 (in its time recommended by Mike) and it's a really neat solution.

[Hugh Robjohns]

[Arpangel]

OK OK OK, I’m not a 100% these days, but I’m not paid to be on the ball, that’s what you guys are for.

[Hugh Robjohns]

We were.... and you poo-poo'd the idea... several times!

[Arpangel]

We were.... and you poo-poo'd the idea... several times!

I can’t ignore this Hugh, it just slipped me by, on top of what I just said, it even has the ability to record multi-track on to an external drive, zillions of effects, and it can be an interface, I’m just hoping it’s not too big, it needs to fit in my space, which is basically 19 inches wide, from the specs though, it looks like it’ll be OK.

[Hugh Robjohns]

But you don't want digital. You don't have the time to learn a complicated new thing. You absolutely must have physical faders. And XLR input and output sockets are much too inconvenient....

[Arpangel]

But you don't want digital. You don't have the time to learn a complicated new thing. You absolutely must have physical faders. And XLR input and output sockets are much too inconvenient....

I can’t let those things get in the way, 14 auxiliaries? and 24 hardware inputs, and, its rack mounting! That’s before we even talk about FX, and routing.
I’ll just have to make up adaptor leads, and AFAIK, from what others have said, it's one of the easier mixers to learn, plus, I’ll not be pushing it, I’ll just be using it as a basic mixer, I’m not into creating templates, networking, and DAW stuff.
I can have four of the aux as subs, and still be left with ten sends, that’s amazing and have many more inputs than I’ve got already, it will also do away with the need for a patch bay, a separate interface, and probably, it’ll enable me to cut back on hardware effects, just keeping my most used ones.
I just wish I could try one out, it’s a bad time just to jump straight in, I can’t even hire one.
I’m not going to rush this, I need to think about it, but it really does tick all of my boxes, plus many more, I just have to adjust to the lack of faders,

[Hugh Robjohns]

[Arpangel]

Hugh, I could even use a TouchMix 16, I’ve just looked at the spec, that’s got a total of ten hardware sends, two are stereo on the front panel, also it has combi-jacks on some inputs, enough to take my synths, and some of my effects are balanced anyway.

[CS70]

from what others have said, it's one of the easier mixers to learn

Well, it's not crazy hard but don't think you cant just jump in without reading the manual - at least if you do want to use effects and recording...

[Sam Spoons]

Or you could buy an X32 Producer and save yourself £600. It's rack mountable, 22 physical inputs and 14 outputs and it has real faders...

[Arpangel]

Or you could buy an X32 Producer and save yourself £600. It's rack mountable, 22 physical inputs and 14 outputs and it has real faders...

I could, but the physical size, especially the TM16, is attractive, plus, I don’t actually mix, on a mixer! I do it in my DAW, I may mix a bit while I’m playing, but that’s minimal, that’s why I’m even considering, going fader-less.

[Sam Spoons]

I do get where you are coming from Tony, I was an early adopter of the Mackie DL1608 (I still have it and it is still my goto for most of my gigs, or will be when we finally get back to them). I prefer faders for running large channel counts live and I do mix on the desk rather than ITB in the studio so the X32C is great for those jobs but for more modest channel counts live the DL is brilliant.

[Drew Stephenson]

I’m not going to rush this, I need to think about it,

Who are you and what have you done with Arpangel?

(Or is this a code? Have you been kidnapped? Wink once for yes.)

[Dave B]

I've had the 16 for years now and it went to get fixed at the beginning of the year - my own fault for storing it in a cold, damp garage rather than indoors. In fairness, the screen connector had gone and the unit could still work over wifi until I messed up.

They really are great units and I love mine to bits.

BUT ....

I got an XR18 as a backup whilst the Touchmix was away and have really been impressed. For the money, it's no-brainer.

The TouchMix 30 is a good bit bigger than my 16 and if I were to go for a bigger console, I'm not sure I'd got for that - I'd be very tempted by the A+H desks... But then I'd be looking at the remote stage boxes as well. Hmmnn.

Still - love my 16 to bits. You can mix a recording as well on it. I found that the official software to get the raw multitrack files too clunky so I wrote my own. But others have since said that they'd not noticed the issues I found .. so ..

[Mike Stranks]

Touchmix 8 early adopter here and user of all sorts of mixers since 1972...

From everything I've read from you Arp I think you'll struggle... in use you won't like the fact that it has no physical faders or any other adjustment controls.

If the digital light really has dawned I think you'll get on much better with an X32 derivative or an A&H Qu-whatever.

[Arpangel]

Touchmix 8 early adopter here and user of all sorts of mixers since 1972...

From everything I've read from you Arp I think you'll struggle... in use you won't like the fact that it has no physical faders or any other adjustment controls.

If the digital light really has dawned I think you'll get on much better with an X32 derivative or an A&H Qu-whatever.

Thanks folks, yes, I’m not rushing in, been watching a few videos about it, and trying to imagine just using the screen.
A major concern is that connector fault in damp environments, as you know, my studio is in a damp basement, so that’s not a good sign, although no problems so far, touch wood, with any of my other gear.
I’m very attracted by the sheer number of aux sends, and onboard FX, I am under the impression that you can use different effects on different channels, is this true of all digital mixers? that’s amazing to me, and would cut down on my outboard.
The only other mixer I’ve considered lately is the Korg Soundlink, but it’s not as flexible as the QSC, has 6 aux sends, and the FX aren’t on a per-channel basis, they are global.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I am under the impression that you can use different effects on different channels, is this true of all digital mixers? that’s amazing to me, and would cut down on my outboard.

The Pro30 has, I think 6 effects engines, so I presume you could generate up to six different FX and either use them as aux send-returns in the traditional way or insert them directly into individual channels/groups/mains much like a plugin in a DAW. Certainly most digital mixers allow their effects engines to be used in this kind of flexible way. However, I don't know the QSC console in detail, so you'll need to read the manual for a precise understanding of what's actually possible on that specific console.

[Arpangel]

I am under the impression that you can use different effects on different channels, is this true of all digital mixers? that’s amazing to me, and would cut down on my outboard.

The Pro30 has, I think 6 effects engines, so I presume you could generate up to six different FX and either use them as aux send-returns in the traditional way or insert them directly into individual channels/groups/mains much like a plugin in a DAW. Certainly most digital mixers allow their effects engines to be used in this kind of flexible way. However, I don't know the QSC console in detail, so you'll need to read the manual for a precise understanding of what's actually possible on that specific console.

Thanks Hugh, yes, I just assumed that all digital mixers enabled you to have different effects, on different channels, dependant on the number of FX engines you have.