Sound Check Weekly: Church Sound & Pro Audio News - August 17, 2026 ProAudioEXP.com

Week of Monday, August 17, 2026

This edition covers new digital mixing platforms, church sound installations, volunteer-focused console design, and practical preparation for reliable Sunday services.

Product Releases and New Gear

Violet Audio dMix 128 Now Shipping

The Violet Audio dMix 128 is now shipping as a high-capacity digital mixing and matrix platform for live production, installed sound, broadcast, streaming, and corporate AV.

The system provides 128 mixing channels and 88 buses through an FPGA-based processing engine. Violet Audio specifies ultra-low latency, browser-based HTML5 control, redundant power supplies, 32 mic/line inputs, 24 line outputs, MADI connectivity, AES67 networking, and optional Dante connectivity. Control is available from a computer or tablet without requiring a dedicated control surface.

The dMix 128 is also expanding into broadcast and networked production. Its current software supports SMPTE ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP and AMWA NMOS standards for device discovery, connection management, and channel mapping. The platform is positioned for installations that require flexible routing and remote management.

CLP Audio and Staging selected the dMix 128 as its primary live platform. The West Virginia production company cited the system’s channel capacity, routing, browser control, and network integration as relevant to its live production operations. This is a significant use case for churches evaluating whether a central audio engine can support worship, streaming, recording, and special events.

M&W Pro Audio D24 and D32

M&W Pro Audio announced the D24 and D32 digital mixers in June. The D24 includes 24 Lyric mic/line preamps. The D32 includes 32. The D32 also supports a detachable stagebox configuration.

Both consoles use large touchscreens, touch-sensitive electronic faders, color-coded channels, custom screens, and an illustrated on-screen manual. The D24 uses thirteen 70 mm faders. The D32 uses seventeen 100 mm faders.

The most relevant feature for church teams is the 10-channel Simple mixer mode. It is designed specifically for new church volunteers, conference operators, and other users who do not need immediate access to every advanced routing and processing function.

A technical director can prepare the full console for the service, then present volunteers with a smaller operational view. The volunteer can work with the essential channels and controls while deeper routing, system configuration, and advanced processing remain available to experienced staff.

M&W states that the D24 and D32 are expected to become available in late fall 2026. Churches should confirm delivery schedules and support arrangements before planning a replacement project.

Church Installations and Case Studies

Church on the Queensway Uses d&b SL-Series

Church on the Queensway in Toronto replaced an aging point-source system with a d&b audiotechnik SL-Series XSL installation designed and integrated by Soundbox.

The approximately 3,000-seat sanctuary previously required excessive level at the front of the room to reach the balcony. The new system was specified to improve consistency, speech intelligibility, and sightlines while reducing stage spill.

The installation includes:

• Four XSLi12 modules.
• Twelve XSLi8 modules.
• Four KSLi-SUB subwoofers in a center cluster.
• Y-Series point-source fills.
• 10S-D balcony delays.
• Twelve d&b 40D amplifiers with ArrayProcessing.

The sixteen XSLi modules are flown as left and right arrays, with eight boxes per side. The system’s pattern control and cardioid/rear-rejection behavior also support theatrical productions. The church reported quieter stages and increased gain before feedback for productions using numerous wireless headset microphones.

The project demonstrates a practical installation principle: design coverage first, then select processing, amplification, and console workflows that support the coverage plan.

Free Baptist Church Bethel Updates Its PA

Free Baptist Church Bethel in Drachten, Netherlands, updated the audio system in its Fonteinzaal with a system designed and installed by Audio Acoustics.

The new full-coverage system uses Adamson S7 line arrays, IS7p point-source cabinets, and S119 subwoofers. Lab.gruppen D Series amplifiers power the system.

The S7 is a two-way, full-range line-array cabinet. The S119 uses a 19-inch driver designed for extended low-frequency output and power handling. The IS7p cabinets provide additional point-source coverage where required.

The church evaluated multiple PA brands with Audio Acoustics before selecting Adamson. The installation reflects the continued demand for systems that support music-heavy worship services while maintaining coverage for speech, youth events, and special programming.

Fellowship Church Installs DiGiCo Quantum338 Consoles

Fellowship Church’s Grapevine, Texas campus upgraded its 4,200-seat auditorium with two DiGiCo Quantum338 consoles, supplied and integrated by Clark.

One console serves front of house. The other serves monitor mixing. The Quantum processing engine provides the capacity required for large input counts and consistent service operation.

The installation is particularly relevant to churches using volunteer-led production teams. Fellowship identified fast operation, clear navigation, and ease of use as important requirements. The goal was to provide professional processing capability without making volunteers manage unnecessary technical complexity.

Industry Trends and Announcements

Volunteer-Friendly Operation Is Becoming a Design Requirement

Churches increasingly need professional consoles that can be operated by volunteers with different levels of experience. A system may be powerful enough for touring production, but that capability is not useful if volunteers cannot locate channels, recall scenes, or identify a routing problem.

The M&W Simple mixer mode addresses this requirement directly. Fellowship Church’s Quantum338 installation addresses it through an intuitive high-capacity workflow. Both examples point to the same conclusion: interface design and training access are now part of the system specification.

Reachable Large-Format Mixing

Large-format mixing is becoming more accessible through browser control, custom views, simplified screens, and scalable processing engines. The dMix 128 extends this trend into installed sound and networked audio by separating the processing engine from the control device.

For church technology leaders, this can support several operating positions:

• A technical director can manage advanced routing.
• A volunteer can operate a simplified scene.
• A worship leader can monitor selected levels from a tablet.
• A streaming operator can receive dedicated outputs.
• A systems integrator can manage network audio and remote diagnostics.

Coverage Remains the Primary Installation Concern

The Queensway and Bethel projects both emphasize coverage. A new console cannot correct a poorly designed loudspeaker system. Prioritize prediction, aiming, fill placement, delay alignment, and system tuning before adding processing complexity.

Assistive listening coverage should also be checked from the audience area. Verify that the signal is available at the required seats, that the feed is intelligible, and that the system remains usable when the main mix changes.

Product Recommendations and Training Resources

Church teams should match training to the console installed in the building. Start with fundamentals, then train on the specific brand and workflow used at FOH or monitor world.

The Ultimate Live Sound School 2nd Edition covers live sound system design, equipment, console operation, monitor mixes, effects, troubleshooting, mixing, recording, and streaming. It is structured for church sound teams and venue crews that need a common operating foundation.

Browse the Live Sound course collection for console-specific training, including:

• Allen & Heath SQ Series
• Allen & Heath Qu Series
• Midas M32
• Behringer X32
• PreSonus StudioLive Series III

The Digital Mixer Courses collection is the correct starting point for checking available brand-specific training. DiGiCo and Soundcraft users should verify current course availability through the collection or the site search before assigning a training path.

For advanced channel processing and mix decisions, use the Premium Courses collection. Relevant options include Masterclass-EQ, Masterclass-Compression, and Masterclass-Mixing.

Quick Hits for Church Tech Teams

• Practice scene recall. Build a training scene that volunteers can recall without changing the protected system configuration.
• Back up show files. Store current console files on at least two separate devices. Label files by date, service type, and console firmware version.
• Review firmware before Sunday. Do not install a major update immediately before a service. Test the update during a controlled rehearsal.
• Use consistent fader layouts. Keep vocals, speech, instruments, playback, effects, monitors, and outputs in predictable locations.
• Separate scenes from snapshots carefully. Define which parameters should recall and which should remain under manual control.
• Check assistive listening feeds. Walk the seating area. Confirm level, intelligibility, battery status, and coverage.
• Document monitor mixes. Record bus assignments, pre/post-fader status, output destinations, and nominal levels.
• Train by workflow. Teach volunteers how to start the system, recall the service scene, mix priority channels, identify clipping, mute safely, and escalate faults.

About David Wills

David Wills is a professional audio engineer and educator with more than 30 years of industry experience. His work has included projects associated with Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Chicago, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Through ProAudioEXP, David provides practical video training for musicians, producers, audio engineers, church sound volunteers, and church technology leaders. The instruction focuses on repeatable system operation, troubleshooting, signal flow, mixing, and professional audio results.