Midas M32R vs. M32C + DL32: Choosing the Right M32 Rig

The Midas M32 platform is everywhere: clubs, churches, corporate ballrooms, side stages and touring fly packs. It's popular because it combines Midas PRO preamps and a deep feature set with a workflow most engineers already know. The M32R and the M32C share the same mixing engine, so the choice between them is about form factor, I/O and where the engineer wants to stand.

The shared engine

Every M32 model runs the same core:

• 40 input channels (32 mono channels plus 8 aux returns)
• 25 mix buses: 16 buses, 6 matrices, and main left/right and mono
• Eight stereo effects engines
• 8 DCAs and 6 mute groups
• Two AES50 ports for Midas stage boxes
• Remote mixing with M32-Edit on a computer and M32-Mix on iPad

Because the engine is the same, a show file built on one M32 can be loaded on another. That's a big reason riders specify "Midas M32 series."

M32R: the compact console

The M32R is a full mixing console in a small footprint.

• 16 Midas PRO mic preamps and 8 XLR outputs on the back
• 17 motorized faders — 16 channel faders plus a main fader
• Full control surface with screen, encoders and dedicated channel strip
• AES50 ports to add a stage box like the DL32 for 32 more inputs on stage

Choose the M32R when:

• The engineer wants physical faders and a real console at FOH or side-stage
• The input count fits 16 local inputs, or 48 with a stage box
• The mix position is small — a club booth, a riser at the back of a ballroom

M32C: the rack-mount engine

The M32C puts the M32 engine in a compact rack-mount chassis without a full control surface. You mix from M32-Edit on a laptop or M32-Mix on an iPad, or use it as a remote engine.

Choose the M32C when:

• There's no room for a console — or no position with a sightline to the stage
• An engineer wants to mix from the floor with a tablet, walking the room
• You're building a fly pack that has to fit in a single rack case
• A monitor engineer wants a dedicated monitor engine in a rack beside the stage, controlled from a tablet

Because the M32C relies on stage boxes for I/O, it's almost always paired with a DL32.

DL32: the stage box that ties it together

The DL32 replaces a heavy analog multicore with one shielded Cat5e cable:

• 32 Midas PRO preamps and 16 XLR outputs
• AES50 connection to any M32 console or M32C
• Two AES50 ports for redundancy or cascading a second stage box

Put the DL32 on stage, run one cable to FOH, and you have 32 inputs and 16 returns for wedges, side-fills and processors. For setup details, read AES50 and the Midas DL32.

Common configurations

Recording and virtual soundcheck

The M32 platform supports multitrack recording over USB through the console's expansion card. With every input recorded, an engineer can play the multitrack back through the console the next day — a virtual soundcheck — and refine the mix without the band. Bring a laptop with your DAW and confirm the card configuration when you book.

What to ask for when you rent

• Console model, plus number of stage boxes
• Cat5e shielded cable lengths for AES50 runs, plus a spare
• iPad or tablet for remote mixing (or bring your own)
• Firmware version, if you're loading a show file
• Talkback microphone, lamp and power
• Any outboard, playback or recording interface

If you're bringing a scene from another M32, read our guide to bringing your show file to a rental console.

We rent the M32R, M32C and DL32 across Greater Los Angeles. Send us your input list and we'll recommend the right configuration.