At the NAMM next week Allen & Heath will be launching the iDR-16 MixRack and iLive-R72 rackmountable Control Surface from the iLive digital mixing series. Also the global launch of the ZED-10 and ZED-10FX from the ZED Series of USB-equipped mixers for live performance, recording and production and the US launch for the Xone:DX MIDI USB controller.
Allen & Heath has added two new models to the iLive digital mixing series, the iDR-16 3U MixRack and iLive-R72 rackmountable Control Surface, which together provide a space saving, lightweight digital live mixing system, bringing the same power, sonic performance and flexibility of the larger touring iLive systems to a significantly lower price point.
With these additions, the iLive Series now includes a total of 6 Surface and 5 MixRack variants, which can be mixed and matched in any combination, and share the same firmware, so that show files are transferable between systems via a USB key.
This latest incarnation of the iLive digital series is truly a breakthrough. We’ve packaged the same iLive technology in an ultra compact rackmount solution,” explains Allen & Heath’s MD, Glenn Rogers. “It’s incredible to think that you can easily walk into a gig with the system under your arms and your settings on a USB key in your pocket, and run a 64 into 32 mix with full processing from a small rack mountable surface at FOH, with the mixer on stage!”
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 26dB 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 2-track record outputs and a stereo playback input for 2-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.
“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 designer, Mike Griffin.
Allen & Heath and Serato Audio Research have announced the US launch of the Xone:DX, a new Plug’n’Play DJ controller, the result of close collaboration between the two companies. The DX, another development in Allen & Heath’s Xone:D range of controllers, is a 20-channel USB soundcard and features total integration of the brand new 4-deck Serato ITCH software.
Boasting the ability to send up to 168 individual MIDI control messages, a 20-channel 96kHz/24-bit USB 2.0 soundcard, two dual layer deck simulators, and RIAA/phono inputs for external decks, as well as the central 4 channel mixer section which directly manipulates the DSP mixing within the computer, the Xone:DX is the most versatile, high specification professional DJ controller to date. A full version of the new Serato ITCH software is supplied with the DX, providing unique 4-deck control, and a comprehensive set of digital DJ FX, as well as looping and time-stretching.
“Serato has always been an admirer of Allen & Heath’s DJ hardware and we’ve watched the development of the Xone:D series of controllers with keen interest. In our opinion, Allen & Heath design some of the best music production software controllers in the professional field,” explains Serato MD, Steve West. “Rather than a partnership to simply bundle our products, we wanted to collaborate with A&H at the drawing board stage, and design a product that would fully manipulate the new version of ITCH.”