Studio Equipment charts

Notes: Ten-channel version of one of the most cost-effective mixers on the market. Great sound, good EQ and handy built-in effects. Check out the 12-channel version if you prefer faders for level control.

Supplier's notes:
The Allen & Heath ZED-10FX mixer is an amazing little desk for small band mixing. It is ultra portable for carrying to the gig, and can be used for recording live or in the studio. It comes with configurable USB audio in/out making it easy to capture stereo recordings.

Guitars can be plugged in directly to the mixer using the specially designed high-impedance inputs, while the mixer has two stereo inputs for MP3/CD players or keyboards. Equipped with professional XLR stereo outputs and a flexible monitoring section with headphone and speaker feed outputs. We've added a set of fabulous effects to give shimmering reverbs and enhance your sound.

USB AUDIO FLEXIBILITY
Getting audio to and from a computer easily is now a common requirement for live sound and music production. The way this has been implemented on ZED is super-flexible and super-easy! No longer do you need to fiddle around the back of your PC to get to the soundcard inputs, only to find that the levels are all wrong and noisy. Just plug in a USB lead to your ZED, select the USB routing on the mixer and the device on your computer and that's it! CD quality audio to and from your PC or Mac. Switches and connection through jack socket terminals provide different send/return configurations:-

SEND OPTIONS:
1) Main Mix Left + Right (Post master Level)

2) Aux + FX bus (Aux is a pre-fade send, FX is a post-fade send)

3) Record Bus Left + Right (Separate stereo bus to Main Mix)

RETURN OPTIONS:
1) To Playback input (through jack socket break contacts)

2) To Stereo 2 channel (through jack socket break contacts)

ZED-10FX features a responsive 3-band, swept mid frequency EQ design which utilises MusiQ - with optimised slope (or Q factor) for equalising individual instruments.

ZED-10FX has an essential selection of 16 time-delay effects, designed for small groups who don't want to carry around an effects unit with their gear but who still want great quality FX at their gigs and on their recordings. Our DSP engineers worked hard, crafting and refining beautiful reverb algorithms to enhance every performance. These effects are available nowhere else at this price point - this quality and integration is only available from the ZED-FX. ZED effects are easily controlled using 3 buttons with 9 display LEDs. For example, the ideal delay time can be quickly tapped-in, or the perfect amount of reverb on the lead vocal can be dialled-in. There is one-stop navigation and editing - in fact, it's just as easy as using effects pedals. To alter effects parameters, the TAP button is held down and the up/down buttons pressed to adjust the specific parameter for that effect, for example, the decay length on PLATE, or the depth on CHORUS.

ZED-10FX's pre-amps are similar in design to our MixWizard range of mixers, but with a twist! Inputs 3 & 4 have a high impedance jack input capable of taking either a normal line level or a low level input from a guitar pickup. These newly designed inputs have been crafted with the aim of replicating the sound of a classic guitar or instrument tube pre-amp in a combo or head amp. An extremely high input impedance ensures loading on pick-ups is minimal and a Class A FET (field effect transistor) circuit powered from 48V is employed to give the valve-like gain stage. There is a gain "Boost" switch associated with the guitar inputs which boosts gain by 26dB to cater for instruments with very low level outputs and the overdrive characteristics of the guitar inputs are very similar to a valve (tube) circuit, being asymmetric and soft. All this makes for a wonderfully natural sound to be reproduced from the instrument, full of warmth and character.

The ZED-10FX is bundled with IK Multimedia's AmpliTube X-GEAR software, giving access to superbly modelled amps and effects.

Notes: The Vermona Filter Lancet is a compact but versatile stand-alone multimode filter for your desktop. It's the right weapon against static sound and boredom and made for any kind of audio signal. The filter section itself has 3 modes: low-pass, high-pass and band-pass. The last one works with a slope of 12 dB per octave whereas low- and high-pass are 24 dB filters.

You can give the filter some extra punch with the Balls knob, known from Kick Lancet. It pushes low and high frequencies of the signal before being filtered. And of course the resonance is self-oscillating.

Other than the filter section of Mono Lancet, the Filter Lancet is not based on (Moog-) cascade circuitry. It was inspired by the filters of the Vermona M.A.R.S. respectively DAF-1 and Action Filter.

Without modulation the Filter Lanced would still be a good filter but kind of boring. So it is equipped with a LFO, an envelope generator, an envelope follower and a CV/pedal input. The LFO has 2 frequency ranges and goes up to 250Hz - that's fast. At low frequencies the LFO can be re-triggered by gate- or audio signals. It has sample & hold and five waveforms: saw up and saw down, square, sine and triangle.

The envelope generator can be triggered by the input signal or an additional audio signal as well as by a gate voltage. If triggering it via gate it works as an attack-sustain-release envelope. With audio triggers its mode is attack-decay. The envelope follower transforms the contour of the input signal into control voltages that can serve as modulation source.

The LFO modulation intensity can be set separately from modulation intensity of envelope generator and envelope follower on the VCF- as well as on the VCA section.

The Filter Lancet features a drive circuit right in the input section to add subtle shades of overdrive up to solid distortions.

The Filter Lancet is packed with useful features. It's a great and powerful addition to any synthesizer including Mono Lancet with or without Modular Dock. But Filter Lancet also is designed for stringed instruments. It creates standard effects like WahWah and tremolo with ease and even adds a palette of extraordinary sounds to any effect repertoire.

Notes: State-of-the-art analog modelling and multi-band vocoding are finally available in a compact, portable instrument. With 37 keys and 128 user-rewritable programs, the microKORG synthesizer/vocoder is perfect for the performer, producer, computer musician or beginner looking for an affordable synthesizer. The new microKORG delivers the quality sounds and features you expect from Korg at a price that will astound you.

The microKORG boasts the same dual-oscillator DSP synthesis engine found in Korg's critically acclaimed MS2000 and offers a wider selection of waveforms than any other modelled synth. Oscillator 1 features a total of 71 waveforms. These include traditional analog waves like saw, pulse, sine and noise, plus more unique choices like Vox wave and cross wave. Together they provide a cool selection that can be modulated to produce an extensive range of timbres. In addition, 64 exclusive DWGS waveforms from Korg's classic DW-8000 enable the microKORG to reproduce a broad collection of imitative sounds. Sounds like bells, electric pianos, guitars, basses and more that would be difficult reproduce on an analog synthesizer. You can also apply Ring and Sync modulation from Oscillator 2 to create the kind of complex timbres that are the true sign of an advanced synthesizer.

4 filter modes are available, offering -12 dB (2-pole) low pass, high pass and band pass configurations plus an extra steep -24 dB (4-pole) low pass setting. All include resonance. 2 classic ADSR envelope generators and two MIDI-syncable LFOs provide the power to shape your sounds. Add a virtual patch matrix that lets you create advanced modulation settings U routing the mod wheel to control filter cutoff or pulse width, using an LFO to control panning or amp level, etc. U and you have performance that is unheard of from a synthesizer in this price range.

The microKORG includes an 8-band vocoder with many advanced features. You can capture and freeze the formants of your voice, and then play it across the keyboard, or shift the formant frequency to make your voice sound male, female, like a child or just plain wacky! Best of all, the microKORG comes with its own microphone so you can start having fun right away.

3 types of modulation effects (chorus/flanger, phaser, ensemble), 3 types of delay effects (stereo, cross, L/R) and a 2-band equalizer add the finishing touch to the microKORG. The delays can be synchronized with the arpeggiator or to an external MIDI clock U a great feature for live performances or for laying down tracks. All effects can be edited to create your own, unique sounds.

Korg have used all of the microKORG's synthesis power in the creation of 128 great-sounding presets. They cover a wide range of the latest musical styles plus many vintage favourites. Sixteen vocoder Programs are also included. The pitch bend wheel, modulation wheel and 5 other knobs provide flexible realtime control over filter cutoff, attack, release and other important parameters. The edit mode allows you to fully edit the existing sounds, or to create your own new ones.

6 types of arpeggio patterns (UP, DOWN, ALT1/2, Random, Trigger) are built in, with control over tempo, gate time, swing, and up to a 4-octave range. You can turn individual steps on or off within a pattern, providing the feel and functionality of a step sequencer.

2 external audio input jacks are provided, so you can run other instruments, CDs and more through the microKORG's filter and effects, allowing you to process sounds in truly creative ways.

The microKORG's compact size is perfect for the musician or DJ looking to add a synth to his or her setup when space is tight. It's also a great choice for use in a computer-based music setup. The five realtime knobs on the front panel can transmit MIDI messages (control changes), so they can be used as controllers for software synthesizers. Use the 37-note velocity-sensitive mini-keyboard for controlling other gear or for recording and editing with your sequencer. And thanks to battery-power, the microKORG is the ultimate portable controller when used with a laptop computer!

There's no complex menu structure - all parameters are located on the panel for easy access to any function. A large dial and LED illuminated buttons provide easy program selection even on a dark stage. With its beige-gold body, wooden side panels and retro-influenced design, the microKORG has a look that's both vintage and funky.

Notes: The Allen & Heath ZED-14 is a fantastic entry-level mixer for small bands, solo performers or AV applications. Its comprehensive feature set, compact size and fine lines combine to make it one of the best small mixers around. Provided with 6 mic or line inputs, 4 stereo inputs with EQ, there are an incredible 157 controls on the front panel of the ZED-14.

This is a mixer for anyone, from entry-level to professionals, who appreciates fantastic sound, rugged build quality and imaginative feature sets. It'll be equally happy running your gig on stage, recording live or mixing down in your studio at home.

USB AUDIO FLEXIBILITY
Getting audio to and from a computer easily is now a common requirement for live sound and music production. The way this has been implemented on ZED is super-flexible and super-easy! No longer do you need to fiddle around the back of your PC to get to the soundcard inputs, only to find that the levels are all wrong and noisy. Just plug in a USB lead to your ZED, select the USB routing on the mixer and the device on your computer and that's it! CD quality audio to and from your PC or Mac. Switches and connection through jack socket terminals provide different send/return configurations:-

SEND OPTIONS
1) Main Mix Left + Right (Post-fade)
2) Main Mix Left + Right (Pre-Fade)
3) Auxes 1-2
4) Auxes 3-4

RETURN OPTIONS
1) To Stereo 3 channel

ZED-10 features a responsive 3-band, swept mid frequency EQ design which utilises MusiQ- with optimised slope (or Q factor) for equalising individual instruments.

Based on the proven pre-amps from the hugely successful PA series, ZED-14 has DuoPre pre-amps, which use a two stage design, with carefully controlled amounts of gain in each stage. When amplifying the signal from the XLR input, the gain range is huge - 69dB of range to be exact - and is very evenly distributed around the gain control, meaning better control of signal level. Most of the gain comes from the first stage, so unwanted noise is kept to a minimum. Line level signals are simply plugged into the second stage of the pre-amp by using the line input jack socket, which has the great advantage of less noise when using the line input and also matching to a higher input impedance.