Audio Mixing Desk Hire

Mixing Console Hire Auckland

Professional Audio Mixers for Events and Productions

Edwards Sound has been supplying professional audio equipment to Auckland events since the 1960s. Our mixing console hire fleet covers everything from a compact eight-channel analogue desk for a small presentation to a full 48-channel digital console with remote stagebox for a major concert or corporate production. Every mixer in the fleet is professional-grade equipment from Soundcraft, Allen and Heath, and Yamaha — the same brands specified on touring productions, broadcast facilities, and installed venues worldwide.

Whether you need a simple analogue mixer for a school assembly, a digital console with iPad remote control for a corporate conference, or a high-input-count touring system for a large live event, Edwards has the right desk and the expertise to match it to your event correctly.

All mixing console hire packages include cables and are available for self-collection or delivery and setup by an Edwards technician.

Choosing the Right Mixer

The right console depends on four things: how many inputs you need, how experienced the operator is, whether the event requires scene recall and digital routing, and what the budget is.

As a general guide — up to 8 inputs and maximum simplicity: the Soundcraft EPM8. Up to 20 inputs with effects and USB recording: the Yamaha MG20XU. Up to 32 inputs with digital recall and MADI stagebox: the Soundcraft Expression 1. Up to 56 inputs with DMX lighting integration: the Soundcraft Performer 2. Up to 40 inputs with full professional digital capability: the Allen and Heath SQ5 with AR2412. Up to 56 inputs with the same capability: the Allen and Heath SQ7 with AR2412. Up to 80 inputs with 96kHz recording and dLive-grade preamps: the Allen and Heath SQ7 with GX4816.

If you are unsure which console suits your event, contact our hire team — we will recommend the right system based on your input list, your operator's experience, and your production requirements.

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Analogue Mixers

Soundcraft EPM8 — Compact 8 Channel Analogue Mixer

Hire code: MX8S

Six mono XLR microphone inputs with Soundcraft's GB30 professional preamps, two stereo line channels, 3-band EQ with sweepable mid, two aux sends, TRS insert points, and balanced XLR outputs. Clean, quiet, simple, and rack-mountable at 5.6kg. The right desk when the input count is small and reliability and simplicity are the priority. Also the mixer included in Edwards' ARTEC passive distributed speaker packages.

Suitable for: Small presentations and corporate meetings, boardrooms and meeting rooms, school assemblies, events requiring up to 6 microphone inputs alongside a stereo line source.

Yamaha MG20XU — 20 Channel Analogue Mixer with Effects and USB Recording

Hire code: MX20Y

Twenty input channels, sixteen discrete Class-A D-PRE microphone preamps, one-knob compressors on channels 1 to 8, 24-programme SPX digital effects, four aux sends, four group buses, and a 2-in/2-out USB recording interface at 24-bit/192kHz. The most capable analogue console in the fleet — professional audio quality in a straightforward analogue format with no digital complexity. USB recording captures the main stereo mix directly to a connected computer.

Suitable for: Live bands, corporate events, school productions, presentations with multiple microphone inputs, events where USB recording of proceedings is needed, operators who prefer analogue over digital.

Digital Mixers with MADI Stageboxes

Soundcraft Si Expression 1 + STB16 Stagebox — 32 Input Digital System

Hire code: MX16D

The most approachable digital console in the Edwards fleet. The Expression 1's 1 Control = 1 Function design means every parameter has its own dedicated physical knob — no layering, no menus, no complexity. Combined with the STB16 MADI stagebox connected via a single Cat5 cable up to 100 metres, the system provides 32 mic and line inputs with four hardware Lexicon FX processors, TOTEM one-touch aux mixing, FaderGlow colour-coded faders, and iPad remote control via Wi-Fi. A 50m Cat6a MADI cable on reel is included.

Suitable for: School productions and drama events, small corporate events and conferences, presentations with up to 32 sources, events where a digital desk is needed but operator simplicity is equally important.

Soundcraft Si Performer 2 + STB32 Stagebox — 56 Input Digital System with DMX

Hire code: MX32D

The Performer 2 steps up to 56 inputs, 22 faders, eight VCA groups, eight mute groups, and the feature that makes it unique in the Edwards fleet — a built-in DMX 512 controller. Sound and basic lighting from one desk, one operator. Up to 22 DMX addresses controlled directly from the console faders. The STB32 stagebox provides 32 remote XLR inputs via a single Cat5 cable, four hardware Lexicon FX processors, TOTEM one-touch aux mixing, FaderGlow, and iPad remote control. A 50m Cat6a MADI cable on reel is included.

Suitable for: School and amateur theatre productions, corporate events with live bands, medium-scale live music, any event where a single operator needs to run sound and basic lighting from the same position.

Allen and Heath SQ Series — Professional Digital Mixing Systems

The Allen and Heath SQ platform is Edwards NZ's primary professional digital mixing system. All SQ consoles run the same 96kHz XCVI FPGA processing engine with under 0.7ms latency, the same per-channel processing chain, the same eight stereo FX engines, and the same 48-channel Automatic Mic Mixer. The difference between packages is fader count, onboard preamp count, and stagebox capability.

Allen and Heath SQ5 + AR2412 — 48 Channel Digital System, 40 Inputs

Hire code: MXSQ5AR

The compact SQ — same 96kHz processing engine as the SQ7, same 48 channel count, same FX and AMM, in a lighter and more portable package at approximately 12kg. Sixteen motorised faders across six assignable layers, 16 onboard preamps, and the AR2412 stagebox adding 24 remote XLR inputs via a single Cat5e cable up to 100 metres — 40 total inputs. USB multi-track recording at 32 channels. Rack-mountable.

Suitable for: Mid-size corporate events and conferences, awards nights and gala dinners, live bands with up to 40 inputs, events where portability and a smaller console footprint matter alongside full professional capability.

Allen and Heath SQ7 + AR2412 — 48 Channel Digital System, 56 Inputs

Hire code: MXSQ7AR

The full SQ7 surface — 32 motorised faders, 32 onboard preamps, 16 SoftKeys, 8 Soft Rotaries — combined with the AR2412 stagebox for 56 total inputs across a single Cat5e cable. The most commonly hired professional digital system at Edwards for large corporate events and live band work. Remote control via SQ MixPad app on iOS, Android, and macOS. USB multi-track recording at 32 channels.

Suitable for: Large corporate events and gala dinners, live bands and corporate concerts, theatre productions, conferences with complex wireless microphone setups, broadcast and streaming events, any event where a full 32-fader surface and high input count are needed.

Allen and Heath SQ7 + GX4816 — 48 Channel Digital System, 80 Inputs with 96kHz Stagebox

Hire code: MXSQ7GX

Edwards NZ's highest-specification mixing configuration. The SQ7 paired with the GX4816 — a 48-input, 16-output stagebox running at 96kHz natively with dLive-grade preamps, the same preamp hardware used in Allen and Heath's flagship international touring consoles. Total physical input sockets: 80. Total output sockets: 32. End-to-end 96kHz audio for broadcast and recording applications. USB multi-track recording at 16 channels at 96kHz or 32 channels at 48kHz.

Suitable for: Major concert productions and touring shows, large theatre and performing arts productions, broadcast and streaming events requiring 96kHz recording, productions where preamp quality is critical, any event where the full capability of the SQ platform is required alongside maximum input count.

Not Sure What You Need?

Our hire team will help you choose the right console for your event — input list, operator experience, budget, and production requirements all factor into the recommendation. We can also supply mixing services alongside any console hire, with Edwards engineers available for events where you would prefer us to operate the desk.

Contact us at (09) 571 0551 or hire@edwardsnz.co.nz, or browse our full audio visual hire range for complete system packages including PA systems, microphones, and staging.