How to multitrack record a digital mixer

Last checked 2026-11-07

Most digital mixers can record every channel to its own track. How they do it differs a lot: over USB to a computer, to a card or stick in the mixer, or to an iPad or iPhone. This page lists what each mixer can do, and each guide shows the settings and routing step by step.

Facts come from the makers' own manuals and spec pages where we could find them. Where only a forum or a retailer says it, we say so. Where nobody says, we write "not stated" or "unknown" instead of guessing. Researched November 2026; check your mixer's manual and firmware before a show. Sources and method.

What each mixer can record

"Over USB" is what the mixer sends to a computer, iPad or iPhone. "With no computer" is what it records by itself. Words like card out and class compliant are in the glossary.

What each digital mixer can record, over USB and with no computer
Model	Over USB	With no computer	Mac	iPad	iPhone
Behringer X32With the X-USB or X-LIVE card. Full size, Compact, Producer, Rack and Core.Read the X32 guide	Up to 32 in and 32 out through the card, at 44.1 or 48 kHz, 24-bit. With no card, no multitrack USB audio.	X-LIVE card: 8, 16 or 32 channels to two SD cards. X-USB card: none. The console's USB stick port records stereo, 16-bit WAV.	Works with no driver (maker), though Behringer's own OS lists are years old.	Not documented by the maker, and not tested yet.	Not documented by the maker, and not tested yet.
Midas M32 and M32RWith the DN32-USB or DN32-LIVE card.Read the M32 guide	DN32-USB: 32 in and 32 out, 48 kHz, 24-bit. DN32-LIVE: 32, 16, 8 or 2 channels.	DN32-LIVE card: the same SD recorder as the X-LIVE. The console's USB stick port records stereo, 16-bit.	Works with no driver (maker).	Not documented by the maker, and not tested yet.	Not documented by the maker, and not tested yet.
Behringer WING, WING Rack and WING Compact Read the WING guide	2 x 2 up to 48 x 48, 24-bit. The console runs at 44.1 or 48 kHz; USB at 44.1 kHz is not stated.	WING-LIVE card: 64 channels on two SD cards. Front USB stick: 2 or 4 tracks.	One forum user reports it works with no driver; Behringer doesn't say.	Reports differ; not tested yet.	Not tested yet.
Behringer XR18 and Midas MR18Also the X18. Midas's own manual gives the MR18 the same USB specs and systems.Read the XR18 guide	18 in and 18 out, or 2 x 2, at 44.1 or 48 kHz (48 by default). Each USB send has its own source and tap point.	None for multitrack.	Works with no driver (maker).	Yes, iOS 7 or later (Behringer for the XR18, Midas for the MR18).	Not named by the maker. ShowRecorder (the app this site makes) has recorded all 18 XR18 channels on an iPhone.
Behringer XR12 and XR16, Midas MR12MR12 facts come from retailers, not Midas.	No USB audio interface, so no multitrack over USB.	Stereo WAV, 2 tracks, to a USB stick.	No multitrack: no USB audio interface.	No multitrack: no USB audio interface.	No multitrack: no USB audio interface.
Allen & Heath SQ-5, SQ-6, SQ-7 and SQ-Rack	32 in and 32 out, 48 or 96 kHz.	SQ-Drive: 16 channels at 96 kHz or 32 at 48 kHz, 24-bit WAV, to a fast USB drive (the maker says most sticks are too slow). Or stereo.	Class compliant (maker).	Not named. Allen & Heath says no driver is needed on any system that supports class-compliant audio. Not tested yet.	Not named. Allen & Heath says no driver is needed on any system that supports class-compliant audio. Not tested yet.
Allen & Heath Qu-5, Qu-6 and Qu-7The new Qu.Read the Qu guide	32 in and 32 out over USB-C, 48 or 96 kHz.	SD card: 16 channels at 96 kHz or 32 at 48 kHz. USB stick: stereo.	Class compliant.	Allen & Heath says tablets and phones can work, but not every device is tested or officially supported; set USB Stream Mode to Multitrack. Not tested yet.	Allen & Heath says tablets and phones can work, but not every device is tested or officially supported; set USB Stream Mode to Multitrack. Not tested yet.
Allen & Heath Qu-16, Qu-24, Qu-32, Qu-SB and Qu-PacQu Classic.Read the Qu guide	48 kHz. The Qu-16 sends 24 channels; the Qu-24, Qu-32, Qu-SB and Qu-Pac send 32.	Qu-Drive: 18 tracks to a USB drive.	Works.	iOS sees it as class compliant, says an Allen & Heath staff member on their forum. The iPad isn't named; not tested yet.	Not named; not tested yet.
Allen & Heath CQ-12T, CQ-18T and CQ-20B	CQ-12T 16 in, 16 out. CQ-18T 24 in, 22 out. CQ-20B 24 in, 24 out. 48 or 96 kHz.	SD card: as many channels as USB at 48 kHz; 16 at 96 kHz on the CQ-18T and CQ-20B. USB stick: stereo.	Works.	Yes, says Allen & Heath staff, with Stream Mode set to Multitrack.	Not tested yet.
Allen & Heath Avantis and Avantis Solo	No USB audio interface. Multitrack needs an option card (Dante, Waves, MADI or gigaACE).	Stereo only, as 24-bit 96 kHz WAV.	No multitrack over USB.	No multitrack over USB.	No multitrack over USB.
Soundcraft Ui24R Read the Ui24R guide	32 in and 32 out, 48 kHz. Bit depth not stated.	22 channels to a USB stick (FAT32, up to 32 GB). The file format is not stated by the maker; a 2017 review says WAV or FLAC.	Works with no driver (maker).	Not stated by the maker; not tested yet.	Not stated by the maker; not tested yet.
Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK and 22 MTKDiscontinued.	12 MTK: 14 in, 12 out. 22 MTK: 24 in, 22 out. 44.1 or 48 kHz, 24-bit.	None.	Uses Core Audio; current macOS not listed by Soundcraft.	Yes, with a camera adapter (maker).	Not tested yet.
Yamaha TF1, TF3, TF5 and TF-Rack Read the TF guide	34 in and 34 out, 48 kHz only, 24-bit.	Stereo WAV to a USB hard disk or SSD (not a stick).	Class compliant (maker).	Not stated by the maker; not tested yet.	Not stated by the maker; not tested yet.
Yamaha DM3 and DM3 Standard	Up to 18 in and 18 out, 48 or 96 kHz.	Stereo WAV or MP3 to USB storage.	Yamaha says its driver is required.	Not supported by Yamaha, and not tested.	Not supported by Yamaha, and not tested.
Yamaha MG10XU, MG12XU, MG16XU and MG20XUThe newer Yamaha MGX12 and MGX16 differ: Yamaha says iPhone and iPad recognize them, with up to 18 in on the MGX16 at 44.1 or 48 kHz.	Stereo only: 2 in and 2 out, up to 192 kHz.	None.	USB Audio Class 2.0 compliant (maker).	Yes with a camera adapter, stereo only (maker). A USB-C iPad: not tested yet.	A USB-C iPhone: not tested yet.
PreSonus StudioLive Series IIIConsoles, 32R, 24R and 16R.	64 in and 64 out (Native) or 34 x 34 (Compatibility), 44.1 or 48 kHz. 16R: 18 or more, depending on firmware.	Consoles: 34 tracks to an SD or SDHC card (up to 32 GB; SDXC not supported). Racks: stereo only.	Works.	Class compliant (PreSonus support); the 64 x 64 mode crashes some iPad apps.	PreSonus lists the iPhone in a general statement; not tested by us.
Mackie DL32S, DL16S, DL32SE and DL16SE Read the DL32S guide	32 in and 32 out (DL16S: 16 x 16), 48 kHz.	None.	Class compliant. DL32S/DL16S: current macOS not listed by Mackie; SE: macOS 10.15 or higher.	Not tested yet.	Not tested yet.
Mackie DL32R Read the DL32R guide	32 in and 32 out, 48 kHz.	Up to 32 tracks with current firmware (older units may show 24 until updated; our reading), 16 or 24-bit at 48 kHz, as one multichannel WAV per take, split into files under 2 GB, to a spinning USB hard drive formatted by the DL32R (no thumb drive, no hub). The drive and a computer can't be used at the same time.	Class compliant; current macOS not listed by Mackie.	Yes, with a camera adapter (manual).	Not tested yet.
Zoom LiveTrak L-12, L-20 and L-20R Read the L-12 and L-20 guide	L-12: 14 in, 4 out. L-20: 22 in, 4 out. 44.1 or 48 kHz only; no USB audio at 96 kHz.	SD card: 14 tracks (L-12) or 22 (L-20), WAV up to 24-bit 96 kHz (L-12: 12 tracks at 96 kHz).	Install Zoom's driver.	Yes, named by Zoom, with the rear Class Compliant Mode switch on (we suggest setting it before power-on) and a Lightning camera adapter. USB-C: not tested yet.	Yes, named by Zoom, with the rear Class Compliant Mode switch on (we suggest setting it before power-on) and a Lightning camera adapter. USB-C: not tested yet.
Pioneer DJ DJM-A9, V10, 900NXS2, 750MK2, 450 and 250MK2DJ mixers. Every USB send is a stereo pair.	6 stereo pairs (12 channels) on the A9, V10, 900NXS2 and 750MK2; 4 pairs (8 channels) on the 450 and 250MK2. What each pair carries is set in Pioneer's Setting Utility; the FX Send pair is fixed.	None for multitrack. Pioneer's DJM-REC iPhone app records the stereo mix.	A9: no audio driver needed (maker), class compliance not stated. The other five need Pioneer's Mac driver (maker).	No multitrack support from Pioneer. The A9 manual says not to connect mobile devices to its computer USB ports; the other five need a Mac driver.	No multitrack support from Pioneer. The A9 manual says not to connect mobile devices to its computer USB ports; the other five need a Mac driver.

Your mixer not listed, or not tested? Ask us

Three ways to record every channel

To a computer over USB. The mixer acts as a USB audio interface, and a DAW records each channel to its own track. On a Mac, most of the mixers above need no driver.
To a card or stick in the mixer. Some mixers, or an option card in them, record many tracks to an SD card or a USB drive with no computer at all. Many others record only a stereo mix this way.
To an iPad, iPhone or Mac with an app. A class-compliant mixer can send its channels to an iPad or iPhone over a USB cable. Some makers say their class-compliant mixers work with an iPad or iPhone; the table shows which, and says "not tested yet" where nobody has checked.

Whichever way you record, you also choose where in each channel the recording is taken: before or after the gain, the EQ and the fader. Pre or post fader explains each tap point, with pros and cons.

The mixer powers nothing on the phone or tablet through its USB audio port. For a long show, use a powered USB-C hub, or a camera adapter that passes power through, so the iPhone or iPad charges while it records.

To record a gig on an iPhone or iPad with no laptop, see Record a gig without a laptop. To choose the app, the best app to multitrack record a digital mixer on iPhone and iPad compares nine of them.

Where ShowRecorder fits

ShowRecorder records every USB Channel from any class-compliant mixer, one WAV file per channel, on a USB-C iPhone or iPad. Names and colors from the mixer (Mixer Link) work only with the XR18 and MR18 and the X32 and M32. Its X32 and M32 support has run only against an X32 emulator so far.

Runs on a USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 or later) on iOS 26, or a USB-C iPad on iPadOS 26. Mac: join the TestFlight beta.

Glossary

Tap point: The place in a channel where the recording feed is taken: the raw input, before or after EQ, or after the fader.
+M: A tap marked +M follows the channel mute: a muted channel records silence. The XR18 shows these on each USB send.
Card out: On the X32, the routing page that picks what the USB card sends, in blocks of 8 channels.
AES50: Behringer and Midas's digital link to a stage box. On the X32, the AES50 blocks are the stage box inputs.
P16: Behringer's personal monitor output. On the X32 its 16 slots each have a tap point, so they can stage signals for card out.
Class compliant: Works without a driver: the computer, iPad or iPhone sees the mixer as a standard USB audio device.
2 x 2, 18 x 18, 32/32: How many channels USB sends to the computer and back. A mixer left at 2 x 2 sends only 2.
DAW: Digital audio workstation: the app on a computer that records and mixes, such as Reaper, Logic or Pro Tools.
Virtual soundcheck: Playing a recorded show back through the mixer's channels over USB, to set the mix with no band on stage.
CoreAudio: Apple's audio system on the Mac. A mixer that is CoreAudio compatible works on a Mac with no driver.

Frequently asked questions

Which digital mixers can multitrack record without a computer?

Some can, with a card or a drive: the X32 with an X-LIVE card and the M32 with a DN32-LIVE card (SD cards), the WING with its WING-LIVE card, the SQ to a fast USB drive, the new Qu and the CQ to an SD card, the Qu Classic to a USB drive, the Ui24R to a USB stick, the StudioLive Series III consoles to an SD card, the Mackie DL32R to a hard drive and the Zoom LiveTrak to an SD card. Many others, such as the XR18, record only stereo or nothing by themselves.

Can I multitrack record a mixer on an iPad or iPhone?

Often, if the mixer sends its channels over USB as a class-compliant interface. Some makers say their mixers work with an iPad or iPhone; the table shows which, and says not tested yet where nobody has checked. The XR12, XR16 and Avantis have no USB audio interface, so they can't.

Do I need a driver to record a mixer on a Mac?

Usually not: most mixers in the table work on a Mac with no driver. The Yamaha DM3 needs Yamaha's driver, and for the Zoom LiveTrak, install Zoom's driver.

How do I keep an iPhone or iPad charged while it records a mixer?

The mixer powers nothing on the phone or tablet through its USB audio port. For a long show, use a powered USB-C hub, or a camera adapter that passes power through.