The Midas DL32 is a stage box with 32 signal inputs and 16 outputs as well as an ADAT interface and an ULTRANET connection for unparalleled control over every element of the user's audio production environment. Each of the 32 signal inputs features a remote-controllable microphone preamp, and signal transmission takes place entirely via a single CAT5 cable, meaning that one cable - running from the stage to the FOH mixing position - is all it takes to create a proper mixing setup for live events. If more than 32 signal inputs are needed, the user can cascade multiple DL-series stage boxes using the two AES50 SuperMAC connections on the rear panel. All of this together makes the Midas DL32 stage box a compact and flexible solution for signal transmission in a live performance environment.
The Midas DL32's signal inputs and outputs are all located on the front panel, and each one is clearly labelled and features an LED to indicate whether the 48V phantom power is activated. A "Mute All" switch is located on the far right, beneath which are two further LEDs that indicate whether each of the two AES50 channels is properly synchronised (if the ports on the rear panel are in use). The ULTRANET interface can be used to connect to the Behringer P16 monitoring system, allowing each signal on the Midas DL32 to be mixed individually. A range of other outputs to allow flexible setups to be created can also be found on the back of the DL32: The two optical ADAT outputs govern channels 17 to 24 and 25 to 32, while the AES/EBU outputs govern channels 13 to 14 and 15 to 16, respectively. A MIDI interface can additionally be found on the far right of the DL32's rear panel, which can be used to communicate with a Midas M32 console.
The Midas DL32 is aimed at live sound engineers looking for a compact stage box that will allow them to easily manage all of the relevant signals in a live setting. Mixing takes place digitally via ULTRANET, and for this purpose the optionally available Behringer Powerplay P16 can be connected directly via the corresponding connection on the rear panel to allow up to 48 individual monitor mixes to be created. In addition to enabling simple and flexible mixing, the Midas DL32 also features high-quality microphone preamps from the Midas PRO series, which has already proven itself at live events throughout the world, and last but not least, the stage box is rack-mountable (19"/3U).
Founded in London in 1970, the company initially produced guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets, but then specialised in the development and manufacture of audio mixing consoles and is now one of the leading suppliers in this field. In the late 1970s, Midas made giant custom consoles for Pink Floyd's tours, and Frank Zappa also used a custom-made Midas recording console for his 1980 world tour. Legendary product series such as PRO40, XL, and HERITAGE have become the industry standard. The Midas flagship XL4 toured the globe with legends such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones and is still considered to this day to be the ultimate analogue live mixer. In 2009, Midas was acquired by Music Tribe. The development team, now based in Manchester, remained in place, while production was moved to the Music Tribe plant in Zhongshan, China.
The first thing to do before connecting any cables to the Midas DL32 is to activate the "Mute All" switch on the front panel, which prevents signals coming through at inopportune moments and protects sensitive equipment from damage. Multiple DL-series devices can be cascaded by connecting the digital mixer as a clock master to AES50 socket A on the rear panel of the DL32, and for direct signal monitoring, the optionally available Turbosound iQ15 full-range speaker can be connected to the ULTRANET interface (this speaker also supports ULTRANET and can transmit data for digital mixing). And to make sure that the Midas DL32 is constantly up to date, firmware updates can be carried out via the USB port on the back of the unit.