Allen & Heath ZED-R-16
The Allen & Heath ZED-R16 combines an analog recording mixer with a FireWire soundcard, MIDI controls and "home-studio" routing, so you can build tracks in the studio, record live gigs, mix-down and remix.
"With the ZED-R16, I was looking to offer a product which addressed the world of digital recording," explains designer, Mike Griffin. "ZED-R16 offers an interface to that world but also offers great analogue functionality - where you can mix in digital or analogue.”
The ZED-R16 can be employed as a standard analog mixer while recording multi-track via FireWire or ADAT, a traditional inline mixer recording with send and return per channel via FireWire, or as a MIDI controller via switchable channel faders. It features 16 mono inputs, 2 stereo inputs, a high-quality dual mic pre-amp, 4-band fully-parametric EQ, 4 auxes, a stereo bus, 2 stereo returns, and 18+18 FireWire I/O and 8+8 ADAT I/O.
For studio work, there are control room speaker outputs, two separate artist monitor feeds, two analogue recording outputs in addition to the digital interface, and a dedicated internal condenser talkback mic. Each channel has its own independent soundcard channel, so instruments can be recorded simultaneously (pre or post EQ) into the sequencer separately. To minimise clock jitter and provide synchronicity between the ZED-R16 and other devices, the mixer is equipped with the professional JetPLL digital audio chipset.
ZED-R16 is equipped with a host of MIDI control options. In addition to the four dedicated MIDI faders, 12 rotary controllers, 12 switches and 5 dedicated transport switches, all channel faders can also be switched to become MIDI faders. As with all models in the ZED range, the ZED-R16 is bundled with Cakewalk Sonar LE music production software. In addition to multi-track recording, the ZED-R16 allows mixing down in analog, then recording back into the computer in digital.
Features:
EQ section
Complete with two swept, fully parametric mids, and high and low shelving EQ, the ZED-R16 has a sophisticated equalisation section without rival in this section of the market. It has much in common with our class-leading pro touring mixers. Forty years of analogue mixer design has given us an unparalleled knowledge of filtering.
Auxiliary sends
Two pre and two post aux buses can be used as feeds for headphone amplifiers in the studio, FX sends anywhere, or wedge foldback live. The talkback function is either routed to the aux or studio outputs, so is ideal for any environment.
ADAT
In addition to the Firewire input and output, the ZED-R16 has 4 ADAT optical sockets. The I/O routing on the ZED-R16 is identical for the Firewire channels and the ADAT optical connection. With a combination of panel switches, the mixer is capable of an incredible 26 simultaneous inputs and outputs. Feed the ZED-R16 from ADAT lightpipe equipment, or record directly out from 16 channels to 2 ADAT machines, or to another soundcard.
Build
The ZED-R16 has been designed using individual vertically mounted circuit boards with each rotary control fixed with a metal nut to the front panel - making a much more robust product that will resist damage and give years of reliable use. ZED-R16 also has professional 60mm faders for ultimate control over your levels.
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