Allen & Heath Unveils New Zed Model At NAMM 2008

Allen & Heath will unveil a fifth model in the new ZED range of small format, USB-equipped mixers for live performance, recording, and production, at the forthcoming NAMM show in Anaheim, CA, in January 2008.

The new ZED-24 stereo mixer provides 23 independent sources to the mix, 10 independent outputs, 4 aux sends (2 pre and 2 post fade), a USB send and return (for PC or Mac recording, playback and effects), a unique dual stereo input capability, and advanced monitoring facilities.

In addition to 16 mono channels there are 4 stereo channels, each with a main stereo input on jack sockets, and with the ability to take additional stereo inputs from phono sockets or from the USB audio input, enabling the engineer to control and route any source. ZED-24 features a responsive 3-band swept-mid EQ, with an optimised slope for equalising individual instruments. The ZED-24 also features the new DuoPre™ pre-amps, which use a two stage design with carefully controlled amounts of gain in each stage, offering lots of headroom.

ZED's USB output can be configured to allow different signals to be sent to USB, from the LR master, the matrix or the aux busses, with the USB return signal available as a stereo return. Cakewalk's SONAR LE music production software is bundled with the mixer, to enable the user to perform many different tasks, for live performance, live recording, studio recording, or studio mixing.

The NAMM show will also be the official debut for the ZED 4 bus series — ZED-420, ZED-428 and ZED-436 mixers — which were previewed at the PLASA show, and the first time that the Xone:42 DJ USB mixer has been shown outside of the UK.