Product details
Eight Mic Inputs and 22-Track Recording in One Desk
The MGX16 is the larger of Yamaha's two digital consoles: eight combo mic/line inputs, sixteen 60 mm faders, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and a gate, compressor and EQ on every channel alongside REV-X reverb, delay, amp simulation and the Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip. It runs at up to 96 kHz with under 0.4 ms of latency.
It records 22 tracks in and out over USB-C, carries a second USB port for a 2-track stream feed, and captures up to 16 tracks straight to a microSD card with no computer connected. For a band that wants a proper multitrack of every rehearsal and gig, or a studio and content setup that also has to mix live, this is the one desk that covers both.
At a Glance
What You Get
- 22-track USB-C recording and playback on the main port at 32-bit, plus a second USB-C port carrying 2 tracks in and out — multitrack to a DAW and feed a stream simultaneously.
- Standalone microSD recording, up to 16 tracks, with 2-track playback. No laptop required.
- Eight combo mic/line inputs plus four TRS and four RCA line inputs — enough for a small band with a lightly miked kit, or a multi-guest podcast with playback sources.
- 4.3-inch touchscreen with four screen knobs and a TOUCH AND TURN encoder, sixteen faders and sixteen SEND knobs.
- Full channel processing: gate, compressor and EQ per channel, plus Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip, Multi-Band Compressor, Compander, Ducker, Delay, Pitch Fix, Guitar Amp Classics and REV-X reverb.
- Bluetooth 5.0 audio input, a Sound Pad channel, eight mono mix buses, 2 XLR and 8 TRS outputs and four headphone outputs.
- Software included: Cubase AI, WaveLab Cast and Steinberg Plus licences plus the Basic FX Suite. 419 × 96 × 319 mm, 4.7 kg, PA-300 adapter supplied. Optional RK-MGX16 rack kit.
Digital or Analog? The Honest Comparison
The MGX16 sits at the top of our mixer range on price, and it earns that in capability rather than input count — worth being clear about before you buy.
Choose the MGX16 if you record, stream, or repeat setups
Multitrack recording to a computer or a card, per-channel gate and compression, a full effects suite, Bluetooth playback, and settings you can store and recall instead of resetting the desk every session.
Choose an analog MG if you need lots of microphones
The MGX16 has eight mic inputs. An MG16XU has ten and an MG20XU sixteen, both for considerably less. If your job is a fully miked stage and the recording is an afterthought, the analog desk is the better buy.
Want the same capability in a smaller, cheaper body? The MGX12 is the identical engine with four mic inputs, twelve faders and 18-track recording.
MGX16 or MGX12?
Same engine, same screen, same processing and the same software bundle. The difference is inputs, faders and track count.
| MGX16 (this console) | MGX12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mic/line combo inputs | 8 | 4 |
| Input channels | 8 mono + 4 stereo | 4 mono + 4 stereo |
| Faders / send knobs | 16 / 16 | 12 / 12 |
| USB multitrack | 22-track | 18-track |
| Analog outputs | 2 XLR + 8 TRS | 2 XLR + 6 TRS |
| Line inputs, Sound Pad, FX returns | Identical — 4 TRS + 4 RCA line, 1 Sound Pad, 2 FX channels | |
| Buses | Identical — 8 mono mix, 1 stereo, 2 FX, 1 cue | |
| Screen & processing | Identical — 4.3-inch touchscreen, 5 encoders, full DSP suite, REV-X | |
| microSD / Bluetooth / latency | Identical — up to 16-track microSD, Bluetooth 5.0 in, under 0.4 ms at 96 kHz | |
| Size / weight | 419 × 96 × 319 mm, 4.7 kg | 335 × 96 × 319 mm, 3.9 kg |
FAQ
Q. Can it really record without a computer?
Yes — up to 16 tracks to a microSD card, with 2-track playback from the same card. Note that the USB path goes further, at 22 tracks; the card is capped at 16.
Q. Is eight mic inputs enough for a band?
For a four-piece with a lightly miked kit (kick, snare, overhead), bass DI, guitar and two vocals — yes, just. A fully miked kit alone eats four to six. If your channel list runs past eight microphones, look at the analog MG16XU or MG20XU instead and record the stereo mix.
Q. Does the digital processing add noticeable delay?
No. Under 0.4 ms from input to stereo out at 96 kHz — inaudible, including on in-ear monitors.
Q. What are the two USB-C ports for?
The main port carries the full 22-track stream to and from a computer at 32-bit. The sub port carries a 2-track feed at 16-bit — typically a stream or a second machine capturing the mix while the main port multitracks.
Q. Can it be rack-mounted?
With the optional RK-MGX16 kit, yes.
Why Buy from YMS?
YMS For Music is an authorised Yamaha Premium Retailer. Every console is genuine Yamaha stock with full manufacturer warranty, sold and supported by people who use these desks on real jobs.
Digital or analog is the biggest decision here and it depends entirely on how many microphones you need. Tell us your channel list and we will tell you honestly which one to buy. Demo units in Bengaluru and Mangaluru, secure delivery across India.
Specifications
Overview
| Model | Yamaha MGX16 |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital mixing console with multitrack recording |
| Series | MGX Series |
| Finish (this listing) | Black |
Inputs & Channels
| Analog Inputs | 8 combo (mic/line), 4 TRS (line), 4 RCA (line) |
|---|---|
| Input Channels | 8 mono + 4 stereo + 1 Sound Pad + 2 FX |
| Bluetooth | 1 audio input (Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP) |
| Mix Buses | 8 mono |
| Stereo Bus | 1 |
| FX Buses | 2 |
| Cue Bus | 1 |
Outputs & Control
| Analog Outputs | 2 XLR, 8 TRS |
|---|---|
| Phones | 4 TRS (100 mW + 100 mW @ 40 ohm) |
| User Interface | 4.3-inch touch screen, 16 x 60 mm faders, 16 SEND knobs, 5 rotary encoders (4 screen knobs, 1 TOUCH AND TURN) |
Recording & Playback
| USB TO HOST | 2 x USB Type-C (MAIN 32-bit / SUB 16-bit) |
|---|---|
| USB Main | 22-track recording, 22-track playback |
| USB Sub | 2-track recording, 2-track playback |
| microSD Card | Up to 16-track recording, 2-track playback |
| Sampling Frequency | 44.1 kHz - 96 kHz |
Processing
| DSP | Gate, Compressor, EQ, Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip, Guitar Amp Classics, Pitch Fix, Ducker, Multi-Band Compressor, Compander, Delay, REV-X reverb |
|---|---|
| Signal Delay | Less than 0.4 ms (input to stereo out @ 96 kHz) |
| Dynamic Range | 125 dB typ. DAC to stereo out; 115 dB typ. input to main out |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | Less than 0.002%, 20 Hz-20 kHz @ +4 dBu |
| Equivalent Input Noise | -128 dBu typ. |
| Gain Range | 86 dB |
General
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 419 x 96 x 319 mm |
|---|---|
| Net Weight | 4.7 kg |
| Power | DC 16V / 2.4 A, PA-300C AC adapter (100-240V) |
| Power Consumption | 38.4 W |
| Included | Start Guide, Safety Guide, Steinberg software licence cards (Cubase AI + WaveLab Cast, Steinberg Plus), Basic FX Suite licence card, PA-300 AC adapter |
| Optional | RK-MGX16 rack-mount kit |
No HDMI on this model - HDMI input and pass-through is an MGX16V feature. Specifications from Yamaha official MGX series product data.
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