3 Best 24-Channel Mixing Consoles for Churches

When answering the question, “What is the best XYZ piece of gear?”, whether it is a microphone, camera, or mixing console, I always respond, “Well, that depends.” I’m not trying to be difficult, it’s just that “the best” is really relative and depends on 4 things.

1. Budget
2. Talent
3. Environment
4. Compatibility

All of these elements are connected, so let me take them apart for you.

Church Tech Gear Budgets

Budget is an easy one and always a factor when deciding what is the “best.” There is a wide range of budget considerations in the analog and digital world when considering a microphone mixer or other digital mixers. Budget will almost always dictate what is spent, but the other factors come into consideration quickly if the “bean counters” are only looking at dollars.

Church Talent

Talent is a factor you want to consider regarding “workflow,” even though I’ve read somewhere that the Church isn’t a talent agency. How easy the console/mixer is to operate and what is the skill level of your operator? Are the operators volunteer? Are they paid staff or contract audio engineers? Can a volunteer operate if a paid staff person is out sick? How easy is the console to set up? Presets and scenes are not magic. They are just helpful tools, so understanding the experience level of the talent operating the equipment is key to finding the “best” mixing console for your church.

Your Church Environment

You would never buy a console capable of 128 mixing channels for a strip mall start-up church. Conversely, you wouldn’t try to do a service for a 4,000-seat church band, orchestra, and choir, with a 16-channel portable mixer. So, the environment where the equipment will exist that should be evaluated in order to determine what is “best” would encompass the venue, available inputs, digital snake protocol, live mixing needs, monitors, broadcast, recording, or a combination of the above.

Compatibility With Current Church Sound Gear

You might ask, “What does this have to do with my decision?” Every church I have designed for always has leftover used equipment. Some gear can be re-used, and some would better be served as a doorstop. But the used sanctuary mixer could be used in the youth room, children’s room, broadcast mixer, etc. But more importantly, how the “best” mixing console that you’re looking to purchase will interface with your current setup is really important to determine before making a purchase.

So, the above factors of price, talent, environment, and compatibility all work together to help determine what is actually best for you.

The Best 24-Channel Mixing Consoles For Churches

Now to the moment you have all been waiting for…here is my lists of consoles for your consideration. I have broken them down by type and number of channels.

Category Factors:

• Analog, Analog/Hybrid
• 24 channels
• 48 kHz Sampling Rate

Good – TASCAM Model 24 Mixer / Interface / Recorder

This console is a great choice for a studio or a small live house of worship environment. It’s an analog/hybrid console that slipped into the analog category by the sheer number of features. It is a 24/22 USB interface with 24 channels recording directly to an SD Card. It has 16 microphone pre-amps, which is great for a small church setup. If you consider all of the hybrid features and the affordable price point, this is a great choice.

Pros – 24 channel multi-tracking direct to SD Card, DAW Integration, 24 in 22 out USB interface, stereo inputs 21/22 have ⅛” RAC stereo in as well as bluetooth and a built-in FX buss.

Cons – Only 16 mic inputs, no subgroups, 3 band EQ, 1 sweepable mid, using the 4 stereo inputs you lose 4 XLR mic inputs.

Top Reviews of the TASCAM Model 24 Mixer

• “A great-sounding, easy-to-use 24-track multitrack recording solution.” – Sweetwater
• “The Model 24 boasts a classic analog mixer-style design that’s both intuitive and immediate.” – Sweetwater
• “100mm faders provide precise control.” – Sweetwater
• “Familiar EQ and Aux controls for tweaking your tracks.” – Sweetwater
• “Generous complement of I/O including 16 high-grade mic preamps.” – Sweetwater
• “Flexible routing and onboard effects.” – Sweetwater

Better – Allen & Heath ZED-428

In the better class is the Allen & Heath ZED-428 mixer. ZED has an entire series from the ZED 18, which has 2 mic inputs, to the ZED 436, which has 32 mic inputs. (18 different mixers with and without USB hybrid connectivity). This mixer has a 2-channel USB in/out, with a 4 band EQ taken from the A&H big brother GL-2200, w/ hi-mid lo-mid sweepable filters, hi-pass, and an EQ in/out switch, 6 auxes (2 pre 2 switchable pre/post, 2 post), 2 Matrixes, which is all excellent for mixer in this price point.

Pros – British sounding EQ, mic pre-amp with 69 dB of gain, 6 auxiliaries, 2 matrixes, signal and peak indicators on every channel.

Cons – All connectors are on top of the mixer.

Top Reviews of the Allen & Heath ZED-428

• “Great sound quality and features for the price.” – Sweetwater
• “The ZED-428 is a great mixer for live sound or recording. It has a lot of features and sounds great.” – Amazon customer
• “The USB interface is a great addition, making it easy to record directly to your computer.” – MusicRadar
• “The 4-band EQ with swept mids gives you a lot of control over your sound.” – Sound on Sound
• “The 6 aux sends are very handy for routing your signals to different destinations.” – Producer Mag

Best – Soundcraft GB4 24-channel Analog Mixer 

The best in class is the GB4 from Soundcraft. This console has many features found on larger consoles that were common back in the day before the age of digital. Those features include mute groups, back up power supply, and there are 8 auxiliary ports (4 pre, 4 post). Also, included is an extensive talk-back section that can be routed to all groups and/or auxiliary 1-2, 3-4, 5-6. Dual mode operation allows you to configure as FOH or monitor desk, group/aux swap, etc., allowing the control knobs and the faders to be swapped.

Pros – 8 Aux’s, 4 matrixes, PSU link option for back up power supply, dual mode operation, desk, mute groups

Cons – No USB interface

Top Reviews of the GB4 from Soundcraft

• “Excellent sound quality and build quality.” – Sweetwater
• “The GB4 is a great-sounding mixer that is built to last.” – Amazon
• “The 24 mic preamps are superb, and the EQ is very musical.” – MusicRadar
• “The built-in USB interface is a great addition.” – Sound on Sound
• “The price is very reasonable for a mixer of this quality.” – Producer Mag

In my next article on top mixers, I’ll cover 32-channel mixing consoles. Stay tuned!

Here are 10 articles laying out different tips for those using mixing consoles in churches:

• #10 – Signal Flow At The Front End of the Mixer
• #9 – Not Knowing The Signal Flow In The Mixer
• #8 – Improper Gain Staging
• #7 – Abusing EQ On The Channel Strip
• #6 – Adjusting House EQ to Correct Lapel Microphone Feedback
• #5 – Misuse of Compression
• #4 – Overuse of Plug-ins
• #3 – Mixing Levels With A Sound Meter
• #2 – Not Listening to the Monitor from the Musician’s Position
• #1 – Mixing on Snapshots Alone

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