Cadac FType, Jtype - Fully modular, fully customisable mixing desks optimised for theatre use. Lots of outputs, exceptional audio quality. Automation varies according to type, from none to complete flying-fader automation. The desk of choice for a big musical. Takes up a lot of space, ie seats, expensive and comes in any colour so long as it's beige. Takes some adapting to after using other consoles as all the knobs are upside down!

Midas Heritage - The 3000 series is a popular desk because of it's large flexible outputs section which is similiar to a monitor desk in that all outputs are essentially auxillaries. Dynamic VCA and mute assignment, but fiddly automation system. Not very intuitive to use at first. 24 outputs.

Yamaha PM5000 - very straight-forward desks and offers little in way of automation features.

Large-format Analogue Mixers

Analogue mixers are becoming rarer as Digital mixers often offer more features for less money in less space.

Cadac are the only company who specifically make consoles designed for theatre use, and are very useable and high quality but also very expensive. Recording studio consoles (SSL, Neve etc) do not work in a way that is suitable for live use, and broadcast consoles are generally too small with hardly any outputs. Most mixing desks found in theatre are designed for music concert useage, often have features useful for theatre as a by-product, and so desks are often chosen for the features that meet the requirements of a particular show, though designers often have a favourite desk that they'll use wherever possible.