The Midas M32 Live is an extremely flexible digital mixing console with a high-contrast 7" TFT screen and 25 high-quality Midas Pro motorised faders. The console features 32 XLR and six TRS aux inputs, 16 XLR and six TRS aux outputs, and a set of dedicated monitor outputs (TRS and XLR). On the digital side, the M32 Live has two AES50 ports, an ULTRANET P16 port for headphone distribution systems, and a 32-I/O USB audio interface installed in an expansion card slot. The console also boasts internal 40-bit floating point signal processing and eight true stereo effect engines that give the user access to high-quality signal processor emulations. There are also eight DCA and six mute groups as well as 25 time-synchronised mix buses, and wireless remote control is additionally possible via the M32 mix app for iPad.
Although primarily developed for live applications, the Midas M32 Live is also an excellent recording console that can function as a DAW remote as well. The digital console is equipped with the very same 32 high-quality Midas Pro preamps found in the legendary Midas XL4 and HERITAGE 3000 consoles, which many consider to be the greatest analogue live mixers ever created. The pre-installed Klark Teknik DN32 Live expansion module provides 32 inputs and outputs via USB 2.0 for recording and playback. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that two integrated card slots enable independent recording and playback of up to 32 bi-directional channels via SD and SDHC cards. This means that events can be recorded, virtual sound checks carried out, and backing tracks added without the need for a computer.
The Midas M32 Live's 32 high-quality input channels and flexible connectivity options via AES50, ULTRANET, and optional expansion cards make this digital mixing console an excellent choice for bands and live sound engineers alike. In addition to a logically organised and uncluttered user interface, the quick and easy access to all important parameters and functions ensures an optimum workflow. For example, the scenes, the mute groups, and the "Assign" section with a total of 36 programmable buttons and encoders are located directly next to the master section. An additional benefit comes in the form of the "View" buttons that are strategically placed across the M32 and which provide immediate information on all essential parameters of specific functions on the console's large main display.
Founded in London in 1970, the company initially produced guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets, but then specialised in the development and manufacture of audio mixing consoles and is now one of the leading suppliers in this field. In the late 1970s, Midas made giant custom consoles for Pink Floyd's tours, and Frank Zappa also used a custom-made Midas recording console for his 1980 world tour. Legendary product series such as PRO40, XL, and HERITAGE have become the industry standard. The Midas flagship XL4 toured the globe with legends such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones and is still considered to this day to be the ultimate analogue live mixer. In 2009, Midas was acquired by Music Tribe. The development team, now based in Manchester, remained in place, while production was moved to the Music Tribe plant in Zhongshan, China.
Thanks to the M32 Live's expansion slot, there is no need to worry about connectivity. In addition to the pre-installed DN32-Live, Klark Teknik offers a wide range of optional expansion modules (MADI, Dante, and ADAT) to allow the the Midas M32 Live to be seamlessly integrated into various digital live sound, recording, and broadcast setups. The DN32 Dante card connects the M32 Live to Dante networks for 32-channel audio with 24-bit depth, and a secondary port also allows the creation of a redundant network. With the DN32-MADI card, the M32 Live can be integrated into MADI networks, transmitting up to 32 channels via multimode optical fibre cables (max. 500m) and standard 75-ohm coaxial cables (max. 100m). The DN32-ADAT card in turn provides 32 channels at a maximum of 48kHz via eight Toslink connections.
The AES50, also known as "SuperMac" among sound engineers, is an open-source, royalty-free Audio over Ethernet protocol that allows 48 bi-directional channels to be transmitted at a sample rate of 48kHz and with low latency via a CAT5 cable over a distance of up to 100m. The AES50 ports on the M32 Live can be used with the Midas DL16 digital stagebox, for example, to accommodate 16 remote-controllable, high-quality Midas preamps and eight analogue XLR returns directly on stage. Using a single AES50 port, it is possible to daisy-chain up to three DL16 units for a total of 48 input channels and 24 return paths without an additional router.