Ultra compact digital mixer
Imagine carrying your band’s mixer and all the cables needed to connect to it in a backpack. Can a small digital mixer handle professional demands while being portable and lightweight? Sounds like an impossible task, but ultra-compact digital mixers have become the new normal.
For gigging musicians, lugging heavy musical gear is a daily struggle. “Compact” mixers are all over the place, but most are not small at all. This article focuses on ultra-compact digital mixers that are redefining mixing capabilities into portable, user-friendly gear that has become affordable for everyone.
Digital mixers have come a long way. It’s not only about changing from analog to digital. It’s a total transformation of the audio mixer as we know it.
Most guides that focus on “compact” or “small” digital mixers don’t meet the real needs of musicians. I have had this problem for years with all equipment labeled as small. Digital mixers in these guides and listicles often talk about mixers with more than 16 channels and a weight of over 10 lbs. These guides usually struggle to find mixers that are truly portable, small, and lightweight.
On Easymusicgig, we focus on solo, duo acts, and small bands of 4 or 5 members. In this article, we are concentrating on digital mixers with a footprint as small as a piece of paper and can be carried in a backpack or in one hand with other musical gear.
The modern musician needs music equipment that isn’t just portable. It has to be versatile with multiple functionalities and connectivity features. Modern ultra-compact digital mixers are exactly what small bands need: a compact powerhouse for easy gigging.
Ultra-compact digital mixers are changing the way musicians tour. They make live performances easier and better in many ways, previously impossible.
Carrying heavy, bulky gear like an analog 16-channel mixer is hard work. It has physical controls that can easily break if not protected by a flight case, which means more weight to carry. Ultra-compact digital mixers don’t usually have fragile parts and weigh only a fraction of a standard-sized analog mixer.
I used a 16-channel analog mixer with British preamps that had a wonderful, warm sound but weighed 12 kg. Now, I use the Behringer X Air XR18, which weighs only 3.2 kg and has a fraction of the volume of the previous mixer. I have back problems, and the change was amazing.
Bigger and heavier mixers need more time to carry and set up. The only physical work is plugging in the cables. No multiple columns of endless knobs. Small digital mixers have pre-set templates, also called scenes, that can be recalled in one click.
When mixing a band before a concert, we want the sound to be as good as possible for the audience. Small gigs don’t have mixers in the middle of the crowd like with big shows, it’s somewhere on stage. We can never hear what’s going on in the front unless a bandmate goes there and gives us special signs of what to do or, worse, shouts what to do.
This is no longer necessary when controlling a digital mixer with an app on a tablet. Now, you have the privilege to hear exactly what your fans hear with the help of wireless technology. Live music production has never been easier.
The small size of compact digital mixers makes them a breeze to carry around and put in the car or van.
Perfect for small stages where there is almost not enough room for the band. Small digital mixers can be placed almost anywhere in the car. Even on someone’s lap, if needed. Yes, their that small and light.
Even the smallest digital mixers have professional-grade features at a fraction of the price of large mixers. There is a small digital mixer for every budget.
Modern digital mixers are the Swiss army knives for musicians and sound producers. They can be all of this.
Determine how many channels you need right now and add 2 more. That is what you are aiming for. The good thing about small digital mixers is that a 16-channel version is only slightly bigger than the 8-channel one. Aim for more XLR or XLR/TRS inputs than ¼ inch inputs.
| Band Lineup | Number of channels |
| Solo act | 2-4 |
| Duo | 2-6 |
| Trio w/drums | 6-8 |
| 4-5 piece band w/drums | 8-16 |
The second most important input/output feature is the number of AUX sends. They will tell you how many independent monitors your band can use. For small bands, 2 monitors are OK, but for bigger stages, you may want 4 AUXs.
Tip:
A musician asks: “I could need more channels in the future, why buy a 6 channel mixer?”
Answer: Because it’s better to carry and pay less for a year or two and then buy another bigger mixer than carry the bigger one for 2 years without needing the extra channels.
Many digital mixers come with built-in Wi-Fi or have connections for external routers for wireless control. They are controlled by apps that work with tablets, smartphones, and computers. Some of these apps can be controlled by multiple devices. This is helpful for personal monitoring, where each musician can make adjustments with a smartphone.
Some digital mixers offer Bluetooth wireless control, primarily for music playback and basic controls like volume.
Most compact digital mixers have integrated professional-grade effects and processing capabilities that can be customized with user-friendly interfaces. The smallest digital mixers have at least 2 effects processors. Most have 4 effects groups.
Modern digital mixers can offer these connections:
The user interface differs from model to model. The Behringer X Air XR18 has a stagebox design with no physical controls and can only be controlled by an app. This could be a downside for those with a low budget, since you need to invest in a tablet.
The Zoom LiveTrak series mixers, on the other hand, have physical faders and many pads and knobs for quick access. These mixers don’t need a Tablet, all controls are on the mixer.
Some compact digital mixers have physical controls that can be used to make quick adjustments during a show. These controls, especially faders, take up space on the mixer, making them larger than other digital mixers.
Musicians who always want to be able to use physical controls should look for this type of digital mixer. This is a hybrid approach where we have app and physical control of the mixer.
Digital mixers with built-in touchscreens (or normal screens) allow for adjustments on the device itself. This is convenient when on stage, but if there are no wireless capabilities, it can be limiting. Most digital mixers with built-in touchscreens also have Wi-Fi capability for flexibility.
Modern musical gear is leaning towards the all-in-one solution. Small digital mixers are no exception. When buying a digital mixer, you often get an audio interface and recorder. How cool is that! All you have to do is plug in an SD card or USB stick.
Some small digital mixers like the Behringer X Air XR16 have only stereo recording, which can be fine for some. If you are looking for multi-track recording features, the Behringer X Air XR18 is a good solution.
Most ultra-compact digital mixers have built-in preamps that deliver studio-grade quality. In the past, they could only be found in high-end mixers. Before purchasing a small digital mixer, have a look at the built-in preamps. Many are similar in quality but with different characteristics.
QSC TouchMix-8
Professional compact digital mixer with 7 inch screen
This ultra compact digital mixer is packed with professional grade features that will satisfy any small band or solo/duo performers. The built-in 7″ touchscreen is helpful for making fast adjustments from the stage. For precise mixing the QSC Touchmix 8 can be controlled with any tablet or phone.
The Touchmix User buttons can be configured to do anything you need for a specific situation. Users like to use it for muting all channels and activating a stereo input for audio playback during breaks with a single press of a button.
Additional special features include the Real-time analyzer and the Room tuning wizard which help automate setup. If you are looking for the slimmest top-quality ultra compact digital mixer, the QSC Touchmix-8 is hard to beat.
Behringer XAir XR18-18 channel digital mixer
Best buy overall ultra-compact digital mixer
Now available for 10 years, the Behringer XR18 has become a classic amongst ultra compact digital mixers. It uses the same technology as the now legendary Behringer X32. Musicians love it for its simple stagebox design and wide range of features.
16 MIDAS designed preamps is what makes this mixer shine. The four effects engines with a comprehensive library of effects, and endless routing possibilities are simple to use. Having in mind that the Behringer XR18 is a mid-priced digital mixer and all the pro features that it has, it is a true winner.
All of the mixers from the Behringer X series are only app controlled by computer. tablet, and phone. Behringer has its own free XR App but most users use the Mixing Station App which runs much smoother and is easy to use.
Another feature to avoid is the built-in wifi module. Any external router will work just fine for most situations.
QSC TouchMix-16 channel digital mixer
Best overall Professional ultra compact digital mixer for live bands
The QSC Touchmix 16 is a top class extra small digital mixer with all the bells and whistles a sound technician can ask for. It has all the Touchmic 8 has plus 8 more XLR mic inputs (16 altogether), additional 2 x XLR (6 altogether), 2 stereo TRS AUX outputs, but just slightly larger and heavier.
Customers are raving about the QSC products. A majority of musicians are using the Touchmix digital mixers with QSC K series active speakers. This combination of QSC goodness makes a lot of music professionals and their visitors happy year after year.
For small to mid-sized gigs, QSC is probably the most compact high-end commercially known PA manufacturer.
Behringer X AIR XR12
Best budget small digital mixer with 4 effects groups
As you see, even the smallest Behringer XR digital mixer has Midas designed preamps. Four of them is suffice for solo or duo acts. Heck, why not go wild and use TRS jacks for inputting electric guitar, bass, and the likes and you’ve got the most affordable ultra compact digital mixer for an entire small band.
Throw in four effects groups and wireless app control and you’ve got yourself the cheapest ultra compact digital mixer with features never seen in this price range before.
Zoom LiveTrak
L-6
Smallest live and streaming digital mixer for solo and duo acts
This is the newest digital mixer on the list. The USB-C port for power is what catches the eye. Actually, there are 2 USB-C ports: one on the right side and one on top. This way you can run power from the right side and have the mixer connected to a computer
The Zoom Livetrak L-6 can be used with four AA’s for up to 3 hours of power or a USB battery for extended portable use. This feature makes the Zoom Livetrak L-6 the ultimate busker’s mixer.
This little monster keeps surprising you as you look under the hood. On the right side is a micro SD slot where you can record up to 10 tracks plus the full stereo mix on microSD cards up to 2TB.
Zoom likes putting soundpads on their small digital mixers and the Livetrak L-6 is no exception. 4 soundpads can be used for triggering backing tracks or samples.
This ultra compact digital mixer is obviously targeted to solo and duo performers, buskers, and small acts with keyboards. This is where the 4 stereo channels (3rd and 4th stereo channel can be used for mono instruments) and MIDI on such a small unit come in handy. Mobile podcasters will love this mixer.
Zoom
LiveTrak L-8
Best for live sound (duo, trio) and podcasting
The Zoom Livetrak L-8 is equipped with enough inputs to mix a small band where every musician has their own effects since the mixer itself only has one effects engine. Another disadvantage for the touring musician would be the lack of wireless control, which is the standard for all the Zoom Livetrak series digital mixers. The Livetrak L-20, though, can be upgraded with an adapter for this, but it doesn’t fit into this ultra-compact group of mixers.
On the other hand, the Livetrak mixers are great units for home studio and broadcasting applications. Multichannel recording and features like soundpads and headphone outputs (no need for buying additional multichannel headphone amps) stand out. Let’s not forget to mention that the Zoom Livetrak L-8 also works with AA batteries. The smartphone connection TRRS jack comes in handy when having remote podcast interviews. The Mix-Minus function automatically prevents echo and feedback to and from the caller.
The Zoom Livetrak L-8 is for artists who need a tool that can cover both broadcasting and live performance tasks with a device that can fit in your backpack.
Zoom LiveTrak
L-12
Best mid-priced mixer for live and studio needs
If the Zoom Livetrak L-8 is aimed towards musicians who also need a mixer that can double as a podcast mixer, the Zoom livetrak L-12 is the mixer that combines live and studio applications. With its 8 mic preamps, 2 stereo (L/R) TRS (or 2 x RCA) inputs, and 5 powered headphone outputs studio recording is where this mixer shines.
For gigging bands who want a mixer that can also work as a compact studio and for larger broadcasting needs, this small digital mixer is the perfect choice. Having in mind that it it’s price is much lower than the QSC or the Allen & Heath mixers could be the main factor for choosing it.
Behringer Flow 8
Best budget ultra compact digital mixer for solo and duo performers
The Behringer FLOW 8 can be used for all the things the bigger mixers on this list can be used for: Live mixing, studio and live multi-channel recording, and podcasting! If you are a solo performer or play in a duo or even a simple trio this small digital mixer may be all you need.
You get a compact mixer that can be controlled onboard with physical controls or you can use the FLOW mix app for wireless control from any position in the venue. This mixer uses bluetooth connectivity instead of WiFi which comes in handy when playing backing tracks or music during breaks.
Behringer XR16
The best alternative to the Behringer XR18
Although the Behringer XR16 looks very similar to its big brother the XR18, some features differ more than you would expect.
First, there are only 8 mic preamps which might be enough for small bands. The second main difference is that the Behringer XR16 is not a multichannel audio interface. Instead, it can only record the stereo mix on memory sticks. Some may actually find this feature handy, but forget about post production.
The good thing about the whole Behringer XR series is that you get four groups of effects which is a huge plus for the XR16 and XR12 models. This proves that you can get great value for less money.
If you don’t need more than 8 mic preamps and a multichannel audio interface, but would like to do your band’s mix from the crowds perspective, the Behringer is a best buy gem.
Allen & Heath CQ12T
Best buy higher-priced ultra compact digital mixer
The Allen & Heath CQ series is comparable to QSC’s Touchmix series. Both series feature a combination of physical and wireless control with a built-in touchsreen. Many will agree that the Allen & Heath screen has a more user friendly and modern approach compared to the QSC’s standard mixer layout.
A stereo Bluetooth input is a helpful feature for modern gigging musicians who play backing tracks and music during set breaks. This mixer similar to the QSC models comes with 3 user-defined SoftKeys which can be programmed do do anything you need.
The feature that stands out with the CQ series is their sampling rate of 96 kHz which is the highest on this list and can mean a difference for some musicians.
The Allen Heath CQ12T is a great modern ultra compact digital mixer. Those who need more than 2 FX engines should consider the larger CQ18T model which also has more channles.
Allen & Heath CQ18T
Best alternative to the QSC Touchmix 16 (lower price with modern features)
The Allen Heath CQ18T comes with all the features as the smaller CQ12T plus these features:
For slightly larger bands (5-8 members) who prefer the Allen & Heath mic preamps and need a compact modern digital mixer, the CQ18T is the perfect solution.
I’ve included the table below to help you easily compare the listed products by price, from lowest to highest. The prices are meant to serve as a general guide rather than exact figures, since they can vary depending on the retailer or time of purchase. This is a good starting point for musicians with a budget in mind.
| Mixer | Price |
| Behringer Flow 8 | $199 |
| Zoom Livetrak L-6 | $330 |
| Behringer XR12 | $369 |
| Behringer XR16 | $429 |
| Zoom Livetrak L-8 | $450 |
| Behringer XR18 | $507 |
| Zoom Livetrak L-12 | $650 |
| Allen Heath CQ12T | $800 |
| Allen Heath CQ18T | $1100 |
| QSC Touchmix 8 | $1150 |
| QSC Touchmix 16 | $1700 |
A compact digital mixer is an extra-small and lightweight mixer that has all the professional-grade features that big mixing consoles have, but in a smaller format. Everything from top-quality preamps, amazing effects, input/output features, and wireless control, but at a price that everyone can afford.
Yes, absolutely! The smaller models are known to have the same preamps and digital processing as their bigger brothers.
Ask yourself a couple of easy questions:
After answering these simple questions, you can narrow your choice to 1 or 2 mixers from this list.
Ultra-compact digital mixers prove that small size and versatility can go hand in hand. They are small in size but big in functionality, offering studio-quality sound at the same time.
The Behringer XR mixers are only wireless-controlled. They are very compact and packed with features for those who don’t need physical controls. The QSC and Allen & Heath models are well-known, higher-priced brands that combine onboard and wireless control. All the mixers in this list are also audio interfaces, most of them multichannel. Zoom digital mixers do not offer wireless control, but are made for podcasting and studio work.
Whether you’re a solo artist, play in a duo act, or are in a 4-piece band, these small mixers will do the job easier than ever. Each digital mixer in this list offers unique features. All you have to do is select the right digital mixer that meets your requirements.
Here at Easymusicig, we try to make musicians’ performances easier, and these ultra-compact digital mixers do just that. They are not only lighter and smaller, but they also reduce setup time and are a big help for musicians with health issues like back pain. This way, artists can focus more on what they do best: play music.
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