Yamaha MG16XU

We use this desk in our church building, which also hosts an open-mic youth project. We generally use 8 of the 16 input channels (for a mixture of mics and instruments), and we output via a graphic equaliser and amp to a pair of HK wall-mounted speakers. And it sounds really great! We're delighted with this desk.

We currently use 2 of the 4 AUX outputs - one for a stage monitor, and one to provide sound to a creche room. In the future we hope to use a 3rd AUX output to run a induction loop for those wearing hearing aids.

Most of the people using this mixer are not experts. In fact, some are absolute beginners. However, it is a very easy mixer to use, and the very logical layout of its controls helps immensely.

We don't often need to use the FX, but when we do, they work great.

Recently we've started recording from the desk. That's possible directly via the USB connection. This outputs the 2 channel (i.e. stereo) mix which is going to the speakers. The necessary PC drivers can be easily found on the Yamaha website. Even if you connect using DAW software, only the 2 channel (i.e. stereo) output is possible. I imagine you'd have to pay a lot more for a mixer that outputs each channel separately. The USB connection can also be used for playback, and produces a better sound than using an audio cable with jack connectors.

Hope that's helpful. We bought ours in March 2016, and over 3 years later we still consider it one of our best purchases. I should have written this review much sooner, but hey... better late than never ;o)