Midas M32R Digital Mixing Console for Live and Studio with 40 Input Channels, 16 Midas PRO Microphone Preamplifiers and 25 Mix Buses

Simply because the design teams at Aston Martin*, Bentley*, Rolls Royce*, and other leading manufacturers are skilled at introducing innovative technological advancements while simultaneously maintaining the feel, essence, and intangible qualities of their cherished brands. And in essence, that’s the challenge we too faced when creating the M32R console. So in order to create a future-forward design that took the MIDAS legacy even further, we enlisted the help of Rajesh Kutty, a leading industrial designer known for his work with celebrated luxury auto manufacturers such as Bentley, etc.

Kutty started by examining the design elements that have made MIDAS consoles so highly sought after – from the straightforward, logical layout to the unparalleled usability and ergonomics. These are characteristics that live sound engineers around the world have come to rely on, and are key aspects of the MIDAS legacy.

With these design elements in mind, Kutty set forth to create a styling that would be modern, innovative, futuristic, and stunningly elegant.

Many different construction materials were tested. Countless design variations were explored. And in the end, a styling was chosen that represented the perfect marriage between aerodynamic artistry and uncompromising performance. The design is both ultramodern and distinctly classic at the same time.

While the MIDAS M32R design, styling, and construction will surely turn a lot of heads, it’s the sound that matters most to engineers and performing artists. And that’s where M32R shines even brighter – as the latest in a long line of pristine-sounding MIDAS consoles, it descends from a celebrated lineage that literally set the standard in electrical design and sound quality. Ever since MIDAS consoles first found fame 40 years ago with acts like Billy Joel, Yes, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd and others, the MIDAS legacy has always been about uncompromising quality and the ultimate in sound reproduction.

Backing the analogue input section are audiophile Cirrus Logic multi-channel 192 kHz capable A/D converters, which boast a 114 dB dynamic range, ensuring impressively low distortion and low noise performance.

The MIDAS preamplifier design eliminates typical imbalances of gain-setting stages, thereby improving the common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) and harmonic distortion to an almost immeasurable level. The constant high-frequency bandwidth topology assures excellent stability, RF rejection and noise performance at all gain levels, contributing to its transparent, open and dynamic sound. But it doesn’t end there, over the years many mix engineers have found that this robust and overload-tolerant design takes on a whole new dimension of sound when driven hard, the pristine audiophile reproduction giving way to just the right combination of harmonics, a warm and organic sound heard by millions of concertgoers and recorded for posterity on countless live albums over the years.

Since pristine sound always begins with the microphone preamplifier, the first point where your signal enters the console, M32R features genuine MIDAS microphone preamplifiers, which faithfully reproduce every sonic detail so no part of a performance will ever be missed. Transparent and pristine sound, low noise and high common-mode rejection are all hallmarks of this classic design.

The microphone preamplifiers are the very same ones used in the industry standard MIDAS XL4 and HERITAGE 3000 consoles, which many consider to be the greatest analogue live consoles ever built. Over the past decade, the XL4 and HERITAGE 3000 have been utilised by countless top artists including Bon Jovi, Alanis Morrisette, AC/DC, Coldplay, Kid Rock, Metallica, Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, Christina Aguilera, Sir Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, and many more.

The M32R draws from this same legacy to bring you an elite professional level of audio quality and performance.

M32R is your “mind-to-sound” interface – the intersection of creativity and production.

Whether you’re accustomed to digital mixers or not, the M32R’s intuitive user interface offers a fluid mixing experience that instantly feels like home.

From the first moments of use, the workflow unfolds in a way that strips away obstacles, distractions, and hesitation.

M32R’s 5" day-viewable color TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) display shows the setting parameters you need when you need them.

Selected for its high-contrast performance and outdoor visibility, TFT is ideal for concert and open air festival venues. Flanked by high-precision, context-sensitive tactile encoders, the screen comes to life and immediately reports in high definition all adjustments applied to a wide range of parameters.

Intelligent design puts control of vital functions such as Effects, Metering, Routing and much more 1 or 2 button presses away.

DCA (Digitally Controlled Amplifier) groups allow control over several signals at once without actually mixing them into a subgroup bus. M32R’s 8 DCA groups let you control multiple signals via a single fader, such as the entire drum mix, the horn section, or the backup vocalists, etc.

DCA control affects the FOH mix, while allowing the individual buses to remain unchanged. The result is a customizable workflow that provides maximum flexibility, but still allows individual buses and subgroups to serve the purpose they were intended for, such as zone sends, broadcast feeds, etc.

Legendary 40-year old British company TURBOSOUND , famous for producing some of the world’s best speaker systems, have teamed up with MIDAS to seamlessly integrate mixer and speaker systems. We call it “Acoustic Integration”.

The M32R’s ULTRANET bus allows streaming up to 16 channels of pristine digital audio to an array of TURBOSOUND iQ speakers – all on a single CAT5 cable, along with control data to set sound presets remotely.

Furthermore, iQ Series loudspeakers feature “True Physical Modelling” of some of the most popular speakers, which can be easily remote controlled via the M32R, allowing the sound engineer to apply different speaker models in real time from the comfort of the mixing desk.

“Acoustic Integration” is the next live sound revolution.

We’ve included 16 breathtaking FX “Plug-Ins” in the M32R, giving you access to a total of 50+ effects that would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars in hardware.

This generation of high-end FX “Plug-Ins” is based on True Physical Modeling of classic audio hardware. We essentially “rebuilt” classic analogue gear in the digital domain and included models of legendary processors such as Urei’s 1176*, Teletronix LA-2A* and Fairchild 670* compressors as well as the legendary Pultec* EQP-1a and EQ5 equalisers etc. We also included a cutting-edge 5-band multiband compressor.

The M32R’s routing is extremely robust and flexible. Output signals and XLR outputs are now treated separately, allowing signals from AES50 sources or expansion cards to be routed directly to the M32R’s analogue outputs.

For example, you can use the outputs from an M32R for directly routing back PA or monitoring signals from a main or FOH console. Plus, output tap points can be set as pre- or post-mute for greater usability with your P16 personal monitoring mixers. This is very useful in situations where you don’t want mute groups to interrupt your signal flow.

In our pursuit to lead the industry in every possible aspect, we decided to design the world’s most reliable motor fader. We dove deep into materials science, employing semi-precious metals that offered the durability we desired. We took painstaking care to design a motorised fader that would provide continuous performance night after night, year after year.

After spending a great deal of time working with metal vendors, we developed precision components that off er high linearity, robustness, and smooth feel during operation. We needed ultra-straight high-grade steel guide rods with smooth polished surfaces – and we got them. We worked closely with our manufacturing partners to maintain the tolerance of our parts, always choosing the most suitable materials and controlling the processes to ensure consistent moulding quality and eliminating the warping and deformation caused by shrinking as the parts cool.

True, none of this was easy - we spent many long hours developing the MIDAS PRO FADER design. However the results speak for themselves.

MIDAS PRO FADERS are rated for up to 1,000,000 cycles – three times that of other leading manufacturers.

Each M32R comes loaded with all of the connectivity, I/O and functionality you need, right out of the box – but it doesn’t end there. Onboard USB 2.0 connectivity delivers a full 32 x 32 channels of audio and MIDI to your DAW. Integrated multi-channel digital audio interfaces connect to remote stage boxes and/or the P16 Personal Monitor System. Native Ethernet control enables remote operation by computer, iPad or iPhone over a wired or wireless network, across the room – or across the planet!

Dual AES50 network ports featuring KLARK TEKNIK SuperMAC technology support up to 96 inputs and 96 outputs over shielded (STP) CAT5 cable, allowing remote stage boxes and sharing signals among several connected M32Rs and other MIDAS, KLARK TEKNIKTEKNIK and AES50-equipped products.

Ethernet, USB and MIDI are all standard features on M32R.

An additional expansion slot is also included, so that the M32R can connect to current and future digital audio networks and link protocols via a wide range of expansion cards including USB, ADAT*, MADI and Audinate Dante*.

The MIDAS DL16 digital stage box closes the gap between stage and FOH (Front of House) by placing 16 fully-programmable, remotely controllable high-end MIDAS mic preamps and 8 analogue, balanced XLR returns at the stage end. Connecting over a single shielded (STP) CAT5 cable, up to three DL16 or MIDAS DL150 stage boxes can be daisy-chained to deliver 48 channels in and 24 out to the stage. Dual AES50 ports on the M32R allow up to 96 input channels to be connected and routed in the same system.

• AES50 network ports featuring KLARK TEKNIK SuperMAC technology for ultra-low latency (in-ear compatible)
• Up to 100 m networking capability via CAT5 cable (not included)
• Dual AES50 ports, each for cascading up to three DL16 units – no merger or router required
• Precise LED metering plus 7-segment displays for signal control on stage
• Phones output assignable to any of the inputs/outputs for on-stage monitoring
• Connectivity for P16-M Personal Monitoring System for in-ear applications (not included)
• Dual ADAT outputs for use in splitter mode and stand-alone digital multi-core applications
• MIDI in/out for bidirectional communication between FOH console and on-stage MIDI devices

A versatile powerhouse of a live console, the M32R also provides robust studio functionality. Record and play back up to 32 tracks which run on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 operating systems or Mac computers via integrated USB 2.0 connectivity. M32R supports both 44.1 and 48 kHz sample rates at 24-BIt, allowing you to record up to 32 tracks of live audio directly to your computer for mixing down later. Take advantage of M32R’s built-in FX engines to augment your DAW’s plug-in collection, or to free up valuable computer resources.

M32R’s recall capability makes it easy for both project and professional studio engineers to stay organised by storing projects as scenes, either internally or externally on a USB stick.

The DN32-ADAT Expansion Card allows you to digitally integrate your M32R with any equipment featuring ADAT I/O. This includes stand-alone recorders, digital audio workstations, and other digital mixers and signal processing gear. The DN32-ADAT card provides 32-channels of ADAT inputs and outputs on its 8 fiber-optic Toslink* connectors. The card features 24-bit signal transmission and operates at both 44.1 and 48 kHz sample rates, maintaining your signal integrity. The DN32- ADAT card also has a BNC word-clock in/out capability allowing it to sync with an external clock, or provide the clock signal for other devices. External clock synchronisation is possible through the BNC connection, as well as any of the 4 Toslink inputs.

By installing the DN32-DANTE card in place of the DN32-USB card, your M32R will interface with Dante networks using virtually any 100Mbit/s or Gigabit Network infrastructure with DSCP-based QoS – providing dependable multi-channel audio that may coexist with other IP-based data traffic. The DN32-DANTE card utilises 24-bit signal transmission with sample-accurate synchronisation and low latency, ensuring the highest audio integrity. And a secondary input allows you to set up a seamless, redundant network. Full remote control of the M32R is possible using the integrated Ethernet switch. When the DN32-DANTE card is connected to a computer, Audinate’s Dante Controller application gives you full control over configuration and signal routing among your Dante-enabled devices.

Front of House is wherever you and your iPad are – thanks to the new M32 MIX App for iPad. Just plug in a wireless router via Ethernet cable to the M32R, and then wirelessly connect up to 10 iPad devices, which is especially handy for custom monitor mixes.

The M32-MIX App lets you control all 32 mic inputs, 8 Aux inputs and 16 buses – plus the FX stereo returns and the Matrix, Main, and DCA levels. Select a fader bank on the iPad, slide the virtual faders and M32R’s motorised faders instantly mirror your action. Additionally, thanks to the Sends on Faders functionality, your iPad now controls 16 independent monitor mixes. The M32-MIX App gives you the flexibility and mobility to make running sound a breeze!

Download the free M32-MIX App from the Apple App Store.

M32-Q is also available for Android devices, allowing you to set up your personal monitoring mix with the MIDAS M32R Digital Mixing Console. Compatible with Android (2.2 or higher) mobile devices, each artist can run their own M32-Q Android app to adjust and tweak their personal IEM or wedge monitor mix with an interface similar to the iPhone app. The app includes an assignable MCA (Mix Control Association) feature for monitor mixing simple enough to be adjusted during performance. Assign any input or combination of inputs to one of the 4 MCA controls inside M32-Q Android and instantly get “more me,” “less band,” “more click track…” with a single sweep of your finger.