A&H or Soundcraft?

[Loggerhead]

Let me preface this with stating I barely know anything about live sound, but I am learning. I teach high school and also direct the musicals. We are using 8 Sennheiser ew-112 wireless lapel mics for our lead singers. We perform in a smaller (500 seat) auditorium with pretty good acoustics. We are looking at purchasing a smaller mixer (have a 32 channel Yamaha that is just too big) for our show. Looking at:

1. Allen and Heath ZED 14, $399
2. Soundcraft EPM 8, $299

I like the Allen & Heath with the USB (I run the accompaniment through my computer) but it only has 6 XLR and I would have to run 2 mics through the "stereo in" as mono. They are wireless, so I think they provide enough power to do it. The soundcraft would have 8 xlr, but no USB. I can still run the computer through the stereo in though.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks

 

[mshilarious]

I wouldn't even mess with USB for a live show. And I wouldn't leave myself short of XLR inputs, with no room for growth. I'd get something like the A&H 14:4 or the comparable Soundcraft, both are quality brands.

Also think about the future, a good multichannel mixer will serve an auditorium well for many years long after USB is obsolete.