Flatbed mixers, also known as desktop or compact mixing consoles, offer an intuitive, hands-on solution for blending multiple audio sources with ease. These versatile audio mixers feature a traditional flat layout with faders, EQ controls, and input channels, making them perfect for quick adjustments during live or installed setups.
Our range includes analogue and digital flatbed mixers with options from 6 to 24 channels, built-in digital effects (DFX), compressors, USB connectivity, phantom power, and multi-band EQ. Many models support rack mounting, while ultra-compact versions with touchscreen or app control via Wi-Fi provide modern flexibility without sacrificing performance.
Ideal for a wide variety of applications, these PA system mixers excel in small to medium venues such as schools, community halls, places of worship, conference rooms, pubs, retail spaces, and mobile DJ or band setups. They are equally suited for background music systems, live presentations, karaoke nights, corporate events, and simple voice reinforcement where clear, controlled sound is essential.
Whether you need basic microphone and line mixing or advanced features like priority inputs and digital processing, our flatbed audio mixers deliver reliable, low-noise performance that integrates seamlessly with power amplifiers and loudspeakers. Built by trusted brands, they combine practicality with professional sound quality for demanding commercial audio installations.
Discover the perfect compact mixer to bring clarity and control to your next project.
6 Channel Mixing Console with DFX.
10 channel mixing console with compressor.
8 channel mixing console with DFX and compressor.
12 channel mixing console with DFX and compressor.
24 channel mixing console with DFX and compressor.
A flatbed (desktop) mixer is a compact mixing console with faders and EQ on the top panel so you can mix mics and music by hand. It is used in schools, halls, worship spaces, conference rooms, pubs and small live or DJ setups — not as a hidden rack zone mixer.
A flatbed mixer is for live, hands-on control: channels, EQ and effects in front of the operator. A rack pre-amp / zone mixer is for installed BGM and paging, often in a cupboard, with priority and zone routing. Choose flatbed for events and stages; choose a zone mixer for a multi-room shop or hotel.
Analogue desks are simple, cheap and instant to use. Digital desks add effects, compressors, USB or Wi-Fi/app control and, on larger models, scene recall and stageboxes. If one person will mix a service or band every week, digital pays off. If you only need a mic and a playlist, analogue is enough.
Count every microphone and music source you want at once, then add spare channels. Compact 6–8 channel desks suit a lectern plus backing tracks. 12–24 channels suit a band, worship team or conference with several mics. Digital desks often advertise “inputs” that include USB or app sources — check mono mic count, not just the headline number.
These are mixers, not mixer-amplifiers. They output line level to a power amplifier or active speakers. If you want one box that drives 100V ceiling speakers, look at mixer-amps instead of this range.
USB is usually a stereo record/playback link to a laptop — useful for recording a service, playing walk-in music or using the desk as a simple audio interface. It is not the same as a multi-track computer studio unless the mixer specifically supports that.
Phantom power (48 V) is required for condenser goosenecks and overheads; dynamic handhelds usually do not need it. Built-in digital effects (reverb, delay) help vocals in a hall. Compressors help keep speech and singing even. Neither replaces a proper loudspeaker system.
Some compact desks have optional rack kits so they can sit in a 19-inch rack when you are not mixing from a table. Most still need the lid or a desk for comfortable fader use. Digital compact mixers with touchscreens or app control can live in a rack more easily.
They can feed BGM, but they are overkill if nobody will touch the faders. A rack mounted zone mixer is tidier for all-day retail music and paging. Use a flatbed mixer where someone needs to mix live speech, karaoke or a band as well as playback.
Commercial Audio Solutions distributes analogue and digital flatbed mixers from brands such as Soundcraft, Allen & Heath, LD Systems, Wharfedale Pro and Behringer. Call 01663 767888 or email sales@commercialaudiosolutions.com with how many mics, whether you need USB or effects, and whether the desk will sit on a table or in a rack.
