A&H Zed R16 Firewire Mixer - Page 3

tsvisser · 27th July 2008

Oh I definitely look at the ZED as a "mixer with more", so my critique is coming from the perspective that there could be a true all-in-one product and how it falls short from that, but despite the negative sounding tone of that criticism, I do think that this product is exciting and surely head and shoulder above previous analog mixers with firewire interface.

deuc647 · 27th July 2008

I really like the concept of this mixer/controller, but not having the faders where i last left them sux. Im sure they could come up with some simple snapshot of the fader positions like the tascam m3700 did..............i miss that console

computa · 27th July 2008

how it sounds is most important thing to me. i could care less about controller options or motorized faders, etc. if the sound is right, it will be a hit.

SidGuatama · 27th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Oh I definitely look at the ZED as a "mixer with more", so my critique is coming from the perspective that there could be a true all-in-one product and how it falls short from that, but despite the negative sounding tone of that criticism, I do think that this product is exciting and surely head and shoulder above previous analog mixers with firewire interface.

I hear ya!

dougb415 · 27th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidGuatama

I have been patiently saving for a Toft ATB. Combine that with the cost of 16 channels of AD/DA conversion, and I was looking at roughly $5,500 to $6,000. For me, the ZED would be a perfect alternative for (what I'm assuming will be) a lot less money.

I'm guestimating the US cost will be somewhere around $3500. I sure hope they start showing up by August.

SidGuatama · 28th July 2008

That's about what I'm anticipating. $2k is a nice chunk of leftover cheddar for other gear.

UnMix Studio · 28th July 2008

So it's not the same as this, but just Firewire?
Allen & Heath ZED420 | Sweetwater.com

Either way this looks promising. I was just getting ready to go "Hybrid" with a summing buss, new converter for that analog summing, but this seems to be the route I'll be going hands down.

Now, what's up with the price. The USB version cost $1499 so how much more will this be?

soundrage · 28th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnMix Studio

So it's not the same as this, but just Firewire?
Allen & Heath ZED420 | Sweetwater.com

Either way this looks promising. I was just getting ready to go "Hybrid" with a summing buss, new converter for that analog summing, but this seems to be the route I'll be going hands down.

Now, what's up with the price. The USB version cost $1499 so how much more will this be?

$2,000?

That USB unit looks like it has 100mm faders. Why did they put 60mm faders on the firewire unit?

UnMix Studio · 28th July 2008

yeah the faders are bigger.

well, its 1500 Uk so that's $2353 U.S guess they'll probably round the price at $2500 or $2000 if they nice to us. Would mind the same price as the USB if it's the same features except for the Firewire. Either way it's nice and I'll be getting one.

sirthought · 28th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnMix Studio

So it's not the same as this, but just Firewire?
Allen & Heath ZED420 | Sweetwater.com

Now, what's up with the price. The USB version cost $1499 so how much more will this be?

Look closer at the mixers. There are links to their page in this thread if you need it. The ZED 420 is very different from the ZED R16. The USB functionality doesn't behave the way they claim the FW will.

I'm guessing this is going to come in over $3K. I wish it were more around $2K.

Saudade · 28th July 2008

hey tsvisser...mayb if you're leanng more towards a ctrl surface/interface hybrid and less to having hardware analog/digital pathways at mixdown, and at a lower price,...you should check out the soon to be released Alesis MasterControl

.

I like it that it has built in talkback which is an often neglected feature...but its looks are just...well.....too kiddish for me

SidGuatama · 29th July 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnMix Studio

So it's not the same as this, but just Firewire?
Allen & Heath ZED420 | Sweetwater.com

The USB connection on the ZED420 only has 2 channels I/O as opposed to 18 channels with the firewire on the R16.

tubeydude · 2nd August 2008

Anybody have any new info on the r16 yet? I'm dying to hear something...anything...

androne · 5th August 2008

This thing is on stock:
http://www.dv247.com/invt/52824/

Who has one and tested its sound ?

soundrage · 5th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by androne

This thing is on stock:
http://www.dv247.com/invt/52824/

Who has one and tested its sound ?

Interesting....

Doesn't that come out to be $3500 US?

Jake Gilla · 8th August 2008

What happened to the A&H guys?

If y'all are still lurking around, do you still have the same routing flexibility using the digital I/O as you would with FW? I have an audio interface and I like the flexibility of this thing, but would rather just hook it to my existing harware, especially with the lack of direct outs.

So can you work with this thing inline style with ADAT like you would withe FW. I.E. pipeing audio back in for use with inserts and eq.

SidGuatama · 8th August 2008

I'm kind of in the same boat in this respect. After reading the manual, what I understand is that the only real difference is that the stereo main mix is not accessible via ADAT. Other than that, the individual channels function the same way they would in Firewire mode.

AlienHealth · 13th August 2008

Hi all,
Mike here from A&H. Yes you are correct in thinking that the ADAT inputs and outputs can be used by the channels in the same way as the FireWire interface. There is a switch on the back that sets it to FireWire or ADAT mode. If set to ADAT then the digital converters on the channels 1 to 16 are routed to the ADAT I/O optical connectors 1 to 16. The ADAT I/O can then be routed in the channel strip as required – the send can be pre insert or post EQ and the return can be pre insert or pre-fader, allowing a number of different ways of working.
If the switch is set to FireWire, then the converters on channels 1 to 16 are routed to the FireWire bus channels 1 to 16, you get the additional 17 & 18 master stereo channels (2 track 1 send and digital master return), plus you get 8 ADAT inputs and outputs available for routing to & from in the DAW.
We supply a control panel application which sets the ZED-R16 sample rate, buffer size, and clock source via the FireWire connection, but if ADAT is used without the FireWire connected then a switch on the back sets the sample rate to either 44.1 or 48kHz. At the moment there is no clock source hardware switch, so the ZED-R16 will be the master clock source unless changed using the FireWire connection from a computer, so you can either sync from the ADAT out on ZED-R or tell it to sync from ADAT in using the FireWire connection.

Thanks for all the comments on ZED-R16. In answer to some of the general questions about the concept:
ZED-R16 was conceived as a compact but pro quality recording mixer. The main aim was to provide the quietest, most linear and beautiful sounding pre-amps along with a very powerful wide ranging equaliser with parametric mid sections on 16 channels hooked up to a high quality 18x18 converter card. Everything else was designed around these priorities – I thought that if we are to provide an analogue interface to digital recording systems, then the analogue bit needs to be pretty amazing. This then dictated the number of auxes, the use of 60mm faders (which are actually very smooth and useable), and the lack of on board automation such as motor faders and automated mutes etc. The MIDI controller concept is really an additional feature on the ZED-R, similar in concept to our pro-DJ desks with MIDI control for live DJ software applications, or keyboard synths with MIDI knobs & sliders – so in addition to the MMC transport buttons we have 20 faders, 12 rotary knobs and 12 switches that can be mapped to provide tactile control over DAW functions rather than “mousing” everything. I can see the limitations if an automated mix is required, but it’s still possible to run repeated passes using controller “pick-up” to tweak the position on each mix pass. So the design cost was spent mainly on the pre-amps, EQ, converters and the routing flexibility which harks back to the old days of in-line recording studio mixers – still familiar to so many users. Also it’s built like a tank and will last for years!

DrAlienSmith · 13th August 2008

Hi AlienHeath,

Thanks for the continued updates on the Zed R16. This looks to be my dream desk to be honest, I think the features this has are quite unique so I'm very keen for these to arrive in Australia (mid September apparently).

In the manual thats online for the Zed R16, there are no pics of what the software control panel looks like. Is there any chance you could post some screenshots?

Alan

AlienHealth · 13th August 2008

There is a bit in the user guide about this subject, it's on page 38. However, we haven't gone into lots of detail in the user guide, because the control panel application allows the user to set the sample rate, buffer size and sync source for the audio streaming controller inside ZED-R16, but this setup depends largely on the spec of the computer being used.
We will go into more detail about the control panel settings soon, with more application information, and info on matching the settings to different computer systems' performance, which we'll put on the website.
Cheers,
Mike

mikeynyuk · 15th August 2008

I'm excited! But where are our beta testers

....the only question that matters now is.....How does it sound?. Over on the N series thread they just keep on going on about how great it sounds and how great the workflow is. I think the workflow should be superior on the ZED, like a proper inline desk, but we need some unbiased user reports?

UnMix Studio · 16th August 2008

Ok, why are we still talking about this if there's no sign of price or U.S release date? Is this suppose to tease the U.S people. tutt

Come on Allen & Heath, is there any plan for U.S release or this is a UK exclusive product?

tubeydude · 19th August 2008

Testing 1...2...3...

Is this thing on?

Can I get more info on this Zed R16 thingy in my headphone mix?

Our last close encounter with an Alien proved helpful. We have much to learn...

Sound?
Cash?
When?

Rednose · 19th August 2008

I'm wondering how much better these pres and eq would be compared to the Mix Wizzard.
Would it be worth the upgrade?
At this point the MW pres and eqs are passable if I need extra tracks.

Saudade · 26th August 2008

Allen & Heath ZED R16 Recording Console, 16 Channel, 4-bus, FireWire and ADAT Optical I/O | Full Compass

tubeydude · 30th August 2008

Alien heath...any other A & H rep...

No new info? I'd love to hear about the:

driver stability.
driver configuration (stand alone app?)
dice II firewire chipset compatibility
(does it need a TI chipset on my DAW?)
(does it have the same issues as some of the other early Dice II FW devices?)
preamp sound quality?
availability?

Come on... give us some info... you're killing me...

Ol' Betsey · 30th August 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubeydude

Alien heath...any other A & H rep...

No new info? I'd love to hear about the:

preamp sound quality?

My guess, but remember it's only a guess, I may be totally wrong but I suppose he's gonna say the pre-amps are great?

R.

Jake Gilla · 1st September 2008

Still waiting to hear more myself.

I would love to be convinced from a mixwizard 16:2's to a zed. Any reps have more to say?

studjo · 1st September 2008

a bit off topic but I mixed a jazz festival this weekend on a A&H GL2400 while it wasn't the best of all console ever made it was a joy to use. The mic pre is pretty neutral and the EQ works. I had to crank it up at some sources pretty hard and the artifacts were tolerable. I think it's a great piece of audio equipement for a very reasonable price. I still prefer this stuff for live applications to the digital solutions.

Jo

UnMix Studio · 1st September 2008

This is suppose to be on sale today. Any beta testers?

27th July 2008	#62
deuc647 Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,981	I really like the concept of this mixer/controller, but not having the faders where i last left them sux. Im sure they could come up with some simple snapshot of the fader positions like the tascam m3700 did..............i miss that console __________________ Carlos Henard

13th August 2008	#78
AlienHealth Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 238	Hi all, Mike here from A&H. Yes you are correct in thinking that the ADAT inputs and outputs can be used by the channels in the same way as the FireWire interface. There is a switch on the back that sets it to FireWire or ADAT mode. If set to ADAT then the digital converters on the channels 1 to 16 are routed to the ADAT I/O optical connectors 1 to 16. The ADAT I/O can then be routed in the channel strip as required – the send can be pre insert or post EQ and the return can be pre insert or pre-fader, allowing a number of different ways of working. If the switch is set to FireWire, then the converters on channels 1 to 16 are routed to the FireWire bus channels 1 to 16, you get the additional 17 & 18 master stereo channels (2 track 1 send and digital master return), plus you get 8 ADAT inputs and outputs available for routing to & from in the DAW. We supply a control panel application which sets the ZED-R16 sample rate, buffer size, and clock source via the FireWire connection, but if ADAT is used without the FireWire connected then a switch on the back sets the sample rate to either 44.1 or 48kHz. At the moment there is no clock source hardware switch, so the ZED-R16 will be the master clock source unless changed using the FireWire connection from a computer, so you can either sync from the ADAT out on ZED-R or tell it to sync from ADAT in using the FireWire connection. Thanks for all the comments on ZED-R16. In answer to some of the general questions about the concept: ZED-R16 was conceived as a compact but pro quality recording mixer. The main aim was to provide the quietest, most linear and beautiful sounding pre-amps along with a very powerful wide ranging equaliser with parametric mid sections on 16 channels hooked up to a high quality 18x18 converter card. Everything else was designed around these priorities – I thought that if we are to provide an analogue interface to digital recording systems, then the analogue bit needs to be pretty amazing. This then dictated the number of auxes, the use of 60mm faders (which are actually very smooth and useable), and the lack of on board automation such as motor faders and automated mutes etc. The MIDI controller concept is really an additional feature on the ZED-R, similar in concept to our pro-DJ desks with MIDI control for live DJ software applications, or keyboard synths with MIDI knobs & sliders – so in addition to the MMC transport buttons we have 20 faders, 12 rotary knobs and 12 switches that can be mapped to provide tactile control over DAW functions rather than “mousing” everything. I can see the limitations if an automated mix is required, but it’s still possible to run repeated passes using controller “pick-up” to tweak the position on each mix pass. So the design cost was spent mainly on the pre-amps, EQ, converters and the routing flexibility which harks back to the old days of in-line recording studio mixers – still familiar to so many users. Also it’s built like a tank and will last for years! __________________ ALLEN&HEATH t: +44 (0)1326 372070 f: +44 (0)1326 377097 w: www.allen-heath.com

15th August 2008	#81
mikeynyuk Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tenerife, SPain Posts: 177	I'm excited! But where are our beta testers....the only question that matters now is.....How does it sound?. Over on the N series thread they just keep on going on about how great it sounds and how great the workflow is. I think the workflow should be superior on the ZED, like a proper inline desk, but we need some unbiased user reports?

19th August 2008	#84
Rednose Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,433	How much better than the Mix Wizzard? I'm wondering how much better these pres and eq would be compared to the Mix Wizzard. Would it be worth the upgrade? At this point the MW pres and eqs are passable if I need extra tracks. __________________ www.sonicpalacemusic.com www.myspace.com/sonicpalace

1st September 2008	#89
studjo Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 2,399	a bit off topic but I mixed a jazz festival this weekend on a A&H GL2400 while it wasn't the best of all console ever made it was a joy to use. The mic pre is pretty neutral and the EQ works. I had to crank it up at some sources pretty hard and the artifacts were tolerable. I think it's a great piece of audio equipement for a very reasonable price. I still prefer this stuff for live applications to the digital solutions. Jo __________________ www.studjo.ch http://soundcloud.com/studjo/sets

27th July 2008	#61
tsvisser Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu HI Posts: 1,805	Oh I definitely look at the ZED as a "mixer with more", so my critique is coming from the perspective that there could be a true all-in-one product and how it falls short from that, but despite the negative sounding tone of that criticism, I do think that this product is exciting and surely head and shoulder above previous analog mixers with firewire interface.

27th July 2008	#63
computa Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,613	how it sounds is most important thing to me. i could care less about controller options or motorized faders, etc. if the sound is right, it will be a hit.

28th July 2008	#66
SidGuatama Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: STL Posts: 18	That's about what I'm anticipating. $2k is a nice chunk of leftover cheddar for other gear.

28th July 2008	#67
UnMix Studio Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New York Posts: 385	So it's not the same as this, but just Firewire? Allen & Heath ZED420 \| Sweetwater.com Either way this looks promising. I was just getting ready to go "Hybrid" with a summing buss, new converter for that analog summing, but this seems to be the route I'll be going hands down. Now, what's up with the price. The USB version cost $1499 so how much more will this be?

28th July 2008	#71
Saudade Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birthplace of the Soundblaster Posts: 631 Thread Starter	hey tsvisser...mayb if you're leanng more towards a ctrl surface/interface hybrid and less to having hardware analog/digital pathways at mixdown, and at a lower price,...you should check out the soon to be released Alesis MasterControl . I like it that it has built in talkback which is an often neglected feature...but its looks are just...well.....too kiddish for me

2nd August 2008	#73
tubeydude Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 156	Anybody have any new info on the r16 yet? I'm dying to hear something...anything...

5th August 2008	#74
androne Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 379	This thing is on stock: http://www.dv247.com/invt/52824/ Who has one and tested its sound ?

8th August 2008	#76
Jake Gilla Gear maniac Join Date: May 2008 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 244	What happened to the A&H guys? If y'all are still lurking around, do you still have the same routing flexibility using the digital I/O as you would with FW? I have an audio interface and I like the flexibility of this thing, but would rather just hook it to my existing harware, especially with the lack of direct outs. So can you work with this thing inline style with ADAT like you would withe FW. I.E. pipeing audio back in for use with inserts and eq.

13th August 2008	#79
DrAlienSmith Gear Head Join Date: May 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 57	Hi AlienHeath, Thanks for the continued updates on the Zed R16. This looks to be my dream desk to be honest, I think the features this has are quite unique so I'm very keen for these to arrive in Australia (mid September apparently). In the manual thats online for the Zed R16, there are no pics of what the software control panel looks like. Is there any chance you could post some screenshots? Alan

16th August 2008	#82
UnMix Studio Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New York Posts: 385	Ok, why are we still talking about this if there's no sign of price or U.S release date? Is this suppose to tease the U.S people. tutt Come on Allen & Heath, is there any plan for U.S release or this is a UK exclusive product?

26th August 2008	#85
Saudade Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birthplace of the Soundblaster Posts: 631 Thread Starter	Allen & Heath ZED R16 Recording Console, 16 Channel, 4-bus, FireWire and ADAT Optical I/O \| Full Compass

30th August 2008	#86
tubeydude Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 156	Alien heath...any other A & H rep... No new info? I'd love to hear about the: driver stability. driver configuration (stand alone app?) dice II firewire chipset compatibility (does it need a TI chipset on my DAW?) (does it have the same issues as some of the other early Dice II FW devices?) preamp sound quality? availability? Come on... give us some info... you're killing me...

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