Allen & Heath has unveiled its smallest format mixers to date, the ZED-10 and ZED-10FX, which are part of the ZED range of USB-equipped mixers for live performance, recording and production.
ZED-10 and ZED-10FX feature two innovative ultra high impedance discrete Class A FET (Field Effect Transistor) inputs, which allow an instrument to be plugged directly into the mixer, emulating the valve/tube input circuitry commonly found on instrument combos or amplifiers.
There is also a 26 dB gain boost switch, which caters for instruments with very low output pickups.
The ZED-10 can also manage up to four microphones and two stereo sources with MP3 player compatibility, provides separate two-track record outputs and a stereo playback input for two-track replay or interval music from a CD player, XLR main stereo outputs with inserts, comprehensive monitoring with headphones and separate monitor speaker outputs, 48V microphone phantom power, and DI level switching for sub mixing.
There is also a USB send and return for PC or Mac recording, playback and effects.
Equipped with a three-band swept-mid EQ on mono inputs and a two-band EQ on the stereo channels, the ZED-10 has a wealth of features, including high gain low noise pre-amps, two aux sends (one pre and one post fade) for monitors and FX, and a separately switched stereo bus, which can be routed to from any channel creating a selective recording bus, monitoring bus or stereo clean feed output.
The ZED-10FX has the same feature set as the ZED-10, and in addition, has a built-in FX processor with TAP tempo delay settings and a 24-bit/48kHz conversion rate.
The ZED-10FX uses digital effects algorithms derived from Allen & Heath’s pro touring digital mixing system, ranging from classic reverbs and cascaded delay plus reverbs to shimmering flanger and chorus effects.
“Not only are the ZED mini mixers versatile for such a small console but they also offer Allen & Heath’s top rate professional quality in both construction and sound. The vertical board construction and internal universal PSU are unique in products at this price point, putting the ZED-10FX and ZED-10 in a truly professional class of their own,” comments Product Designer Mike Griffin.
The ZED-10 and ZED-10FX will be available in April, 2010.
