Yamaha MG20XU 20-Channel Analogue Mixer with Effects and USB

Yamaha MG20XU 20-Channel Analogue Mixer with Effects and USB is the 20-channel analogue desk for a working band, a small venue or a church that has run out of inputs on something smaller. Sixteen D-PRE preamps, eight one-knob compressors and built-in SPX effects get a full band through the desk cleanly with nothing bolted on the side. The USB interface then hands the whole mix to a laptop for recording or streaming.

Sixteen D-PRE preamps across 20 inputs

Twelve mono channels take a mic or a line source, and four more switch between a mic and a stereo line pair. Every mic-capable channel runs from a D-PRE preamp with +48 V phantom power for condensers, and a PAD switch tames a hot source before it reaches the gain stage. A peak LED lights when the post-EQ signal is within 3 dB of clipping, so you see trouble before you hear it.

Three-band EQ with a sweepable mid

Each channel carries 15 dB of cut or boost at three points. The high band is a 10 kHz shelf, the low band a 100 Hz shelf, and on the mono channels the mid is a peaking band you sweep anywhere from 250 Hz to 5 kHz. That sweep lets you dig a boxy 400 Hz out of a floor tom or find the honk in a vocal mic instead of guessing. Stereo channels get a fixed 2.5 kHz mid.

Eight one-knob compressors

Eight channels have a compressor driven by a single knob that sets gain, threshold and ratio together. Turn it up and the threshold moves from +22 dBu down to -8 dBu while the ratio climbs from 1:1 to 4:1, with attack around 25 ms and release around 300 ms. It is a fast way to sit a vocal or a bass in the mix mid-show without touching a menu.

SPX effects and a 24-bit, 192 kHz USB interface

The SPX processor supplies reverb and delay from the desk itself, fed from one of the aux sends and returned to the mix. An optional FC5 foot switch toggles the effect return so a singer can drop the reverb between songs. USB gives you two channels in and two out at up to 24-bit, 192 kHz, and the box includes download details for Steinberg Cubase AI plus a licence for the Cubasis LE iOS app.

Four aux sends, four groups, twin 12-segment meters

Four aux sends, one of them feeding the internal effects, leave three for monitor mixes or outboard. Four group buses let you fold drums or backing vocals onto one fader before they hit the stereo bus, and there is a separate monitor output plus a headphone output. Two 12-segment LED meters read from -30 dB up to peak, and crosstalk between channels is rated at -78 dB.

Rack-ready metal chassis

The chassis is metal, the rack-mount kit is in the box, and the desk weighs 7.1 kg at 500 mm deep. It runs on 100 to 240 V mains and draws 36 W, so it travels between countries as easily as between gigs.

Specifications