In terms of really big shows, sometimes size does matter, especially if your channel count needs hover in the 100 (or more) input range. These also tend to be designed for flexibility, with a good measure of futureproofing. In fact, you may just be a firmware update away from an entirely new set of features and functionality, Meanwhile, on the hardware side, add-on I/O cards and DSP expansions can keep your investment current and up to date. With that in mind, we uncovered a bountiful selection in a range of configurations and design approaches to fit any application, for installation or portable/touring requirements.
Allen & Heath dLive S7000
- Max Channels: 128 w/full processing + 32 FX returns
- Mix Engine: XCVI 160×64 FPGA core
- Max Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
- Channel Faders: 36
- Onboard I/O: 8 analog in/8 analog out, AES in/out, 2 GigaACE, 2 DX link, 2 network, video out, two 128×128 expansion slots
- Remote I/O: DX012, DX32, DX164-W, DT164-W (Dante), DX168 (, DT168 (Dante), GX4816. Six MixRack engines with onboard I/O (32×16, 48×24, 64×32)
- Other Frame Sizes: 28-fader S5000, 24-fader C3500, 20-fader S3000, 20-fader C2500, 12-fader C1500, 12-fader CTi1500
- Connectivity: Dante, Waves, fibreACE, gigaACE, superMADI
- Footprint/Weight: 52.2 x 28.7″; 90 pounds
- Notes: Internal DEEP Processing FX suite. Support for “surfaceless” mix applications, compact remote controllers, GPIO interfacing. Shure and Sennheiser wireless integration.
Avid S6L-48D
- Max Channels: 192; (300+ processing channels)
- Mix Engine: E6L-192, E6L-144 or E6L-112 engine
- Max Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
- Channel Faders: 48 + 2
- Onboard I/O: 8 XLR analog in, 8 analog XLR out, 8 AES in, 8 AES out
- Remote I/O: Stage 64 (64×32), Stage 32 (32×32), Stage 16 (16×8 + 4 AES out), Local 16 (8×8 + 8 AES out)
- Frame sizes: 32+2, 24+2, 16+2 also offered
- Connectivity: AVB (copper or fiber); optional MADI cards
- Footprint/Weight: 76 x 31″; 212 pounds
- Notes: Large plug-in complement; direct Waves and AAX plug-in control from the console; 128 tracks of built-in Pro Tools recording/playback with Virtual Soundcheck; optional Dugan Automix and Aviom A-Net cards; VENUE | On-Stage and VENUE | Function Map iOS control apps
Cadac CM J50
- Max Channels: 192 max; 96 with full processing
- Mix Engine: Proprietary DSP platform using 32/40-bit floating point SHARC processors
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 20
- Onboard I/O: 16 XLR analog in, 8 analog XLR out, 8 AES in, 8 AES out
- Remote I/O: CM-SR64 (56×32), CM-SR40 (32×8), CM-SR24 (16×24) — all with 8 AES3 in, 8 AES3 out
- Frame sizes: No other CM J-Series frames
- Connectivity: MegaCOMMs transfer up to 128 in/128 out to stagebox(es)
- Footprint/Weight: 35.6 x 30.2″; 87 pounds
- Notes: 23.5″ HD touch screen; 56 configurable output buses; cue-based automation; Dugan Automixer post-fade insert for Waves
DiGiCo Quantum 852
- Max Channels: 384 input channels with full processing
- Mix Engine: Dual-engine; 7th-gen FPGAs
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 52 max
- Onboard I/O: 12 XLR inputs, 12 XLR line outs plus 12 AES/EBU I/O, 16 MADI ports, Optocore
- Remote I/O: Dante DQ-Rack, MADI MQ-Rack, SD-Rack, SD-Mini Rack, SD-Nano Rack; D2 Rack; D-Rack; Orange Box; Waves SoundGrid
- Frame sizes: Fixed, but other Quantum range models offered
- Connectivity: MADI, Dante, Opticore and numerous DMI card connectivity pathways
- Footprint/Weight: 69.6 x 42.3″; 265 pounds
- Notes: Three 21.3” hi-res daylight-readable touch screens; KLANG-fabrik 3D integration; specialized versions for theater and broadcast also offered; 128 insertable Mustard processing strips; 32 Spice Rack effects; up to 64 stereo effects; dual redundant power supplies
Lawo mc236 Mk II
- Max Channels: 256 DSP channels (160 inputs and 96 summing buses); total I/O capacity of 864 channels with 96 groups
- Mix Engine: 40-bit, floating point Ultra High Density native-IP A__UHD Core
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 32
- Onboard I/O: 16 mic/line ins, 16 line outs, 8 AES3 ins and outs,
- 8 GPIOs plus local MADI port (SFP)
- Remote I/O: A__stage64 WAN-capable audio-to-IP stagebox, A_mic8 Node, A_digital64 AES3 Node, A_madi6 Node
- Frame sizes: 48- and compact 16- fader frames offered
- Connectivity: Three redundant IP ports — ST2110, AES67, RAVENNA
- Footprint/Weight: 32-fader version is 50×32”; 123 pounds
- Notes: Dual 21.5” touch screens; Waves SuperRack SoundGrid plug-in integration; integrated loudness metering; multiple surround format support — DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS with diverse panning and surround aux bus.
Midas HD96-24
- Max Channels: Up to 144; 120 mix buses
- Mix Engine: 64-bit Graviton Mk 2 engine
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 28
- Onboard I/O: (8) XLR ins, (8) line outs, (4) AES in/out pairs
- Remote I/O: DL251; DL231; DL 252; DL151; DL152; DL153; DL154; DL155
- Frame sizes: Compact HD96-AIR also offered
- Connectivity: HyperMAC and AES50
- Footprint/Weight: 40.5” x 28.3″; 95 pounds (less case)
- Notes: 21” touchscreen; 24 VCA groups; install and tour versions available; dual redundant power supplies
Solid State Logic L650
- Max Channels: 288 (240 full, 48 dry)
- Mix Engine: Optimal Core Processing (OCP)
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 36
- Onboard I/O: 32 SuperAnalogue mic/line inputs, 32 line outputs, 4 pairs inputs/4 pairs outputs AES/EBU digital
- Remote I/O: ML 32.32 Analog Stagebox; D32.32 AES/EBU Stagebox; BL 11.D MADI Concentrator
- Other frame sizes: L450, L550 Plus, L350 Plus
- Connectivity: MADI (coaxial and fibre), Dante, Blacklight II, optional SSL X-Light
- Footprint/Weight: 47 x 35″; 198 pounds
- Notes: 19” touch screen; integrated control of L’Acoustics L-ISA immersive system and Meyer Sound immersive loudspeaker systems via SpaceMap Go APP; redundant power supplies; SOLSA software for offline editing/storage of console setups
Soundcraft Vi7000
- Max Channels: 128
- Mix Engine: 40-bit floating point
- Max Sampling Rate: 96k Hz
- Channel Faders: 44
- Onboard I/O: Local Breakout box with 16 XLR in/out + AES pairs
- Remote I/O: Vi Stagebox (64×32); Compact 32×16 Stagebox, Mini 32×12 and 16×8 Stageboxes
- Other Frame Sizes: Vi5000
- Connectivity: Optional Dante, A-net, Ethersound, Cobranet, MADI and more
- Footprint/Weight: 68 x 28.5″; 139 pounds
- Notes: FaderGlow and Vistonics rotary control/screen interface; Studer vMix automixing; onboard BSS and Lexicon processing; optional UAD plug-ins
StageTec AVATUS S
- Max Channels: Up to 800, configurable
- Mix Engine: 40-bit floating-point DSP
- Max Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
- Channel Faders: Modular, with 12 to 96 faders
- Onboard I/O: Configuration-dependent
- Remote I/O: Fully integrated into NEXUS router
- Other Frame Sizes: 12 to 96 fader controllers
- Connectivity: MADI, Dante, StageTec Nexus optical
- Footprint: 48-fader version is 79” x 36″
- Notes: Eight 21” multi-touch displays; Nexus audio network integration; Waves plug-in server integration
Studer Vista 1 Carbon
- Max Channels: Up to 240 inputs and outputs
- Mix Engine: Infinity DSP
- Max Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
- Channel Faders: 32 or 22
- Remote I/O: Compact StageBox, D21m modular I/O cards
- Other Frame Sizes: 32- and 22-fader models offered
- Connectivity: AES67/Dante, Dual-MADI, AES/EBU, CobraNet, Aviom A-Net option cards
- Footprint: 32-fader version is 57.2” x 29″; 130 pounds
- Notes: Vistonics and FaderGlow user interface; optional UAD-2 LiveRack plug-ins
Yamaha RIVAGE PM5 (CS-R5)
- Max Channels: 288 inputs, 72 mix buses, 36 matrices
- Mix Engine: External DSP racks — DSP RX-EX, DSP-RX, DSP-R10
- Max Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
- Channel Faders: 36 + 2
- Onboard I/O: Analog 8-in/8-out; AES/EBU 4-in/4-out; (2) MY slots
- Remote I/O: RPIo622, RPIo222; Dante-equipped interfaces include: RIo3324-D2, Rio1608-D2
- Other Frame Sizes: CS-R10-S, CS-R10, CS-R3, CSD-R7
- Connectivity: TWINLANe, Dante
- Footprint/Weight: 57” x 25.3″; 92.4 pounds
- Notes: (3) 15” touch panels, dual redundant power supplies; Nuendo Live recording software; RIVAGE StageMix iPad control app; modeled Rupert Neve Designs plug-ins
https://usa.yamaha.com/products/proaudio
