M-1000 Digital Line Mixer from Roland

Front Panel (Click for a close-up)

Rear Panel (Click for a close-up)

At AES, Roland announced the M-1000 10-channel Digital Line Mixer. This 1U rackmount mixer is designed to give musicians a convenient way to mix up to four stereo S/PDIF signals--plus two analog inputs--with 24-bit/96kHz sound quality and convenient automatic sample rate conversion. The DM-1000 can even mix audio from a PC via its USB port, while Word Clock I/O makes it easy to integrate with other digital gear.

Up to four stereo S/PDIF inputs can be mixed--along with a stereo analog input--using simple rotary controls. The resulting signal can then be output digitally or via the analog Master and Monitor outputs. The M-1000 even takes care of sample rate conversion automatically. And with 24-bit/96kHz sound quality and 56-bit internal processing, the M-1000 can be used in home studios and professional studios alike.

Unique to the M-1000 is the built-in USB port. Using a single USB cable, digital signals can be routed from a computer to the M-1000, where they can be mixed with other input channels. The results can then be sent back to the computer for recording. The M-1000 also integrates perfectly into professional studios thanks to its Word Clock I/O, with clock sources selectable among Internal, Word Clock, Digital In and USB (At 96kHz, it is not possible to send audio in and out simultaneously via USB). Multiple M-1000's can even be cascaded to create the ultimate digital mixing system.