Audient Zen - High Resolution Analogue Console

[BarbieDoll]

Audient Zen 8 min vid from Musikmesse

[Musikmesse] Audient - Zen video - Audiofanzine

[eternally]

Have you guys already seen the new pics on the audient website?!
Zen and the Art of Mixing Technology - Audient

[emkay]

Hello Steve

I think the ergonomics of your console are great for the small project studio. Especially to be able to reach everything from a sitting position interests me. I have a few quick questions that may not have been covered yet that are less technically oriented.
What materials are used in the construction of the Zen? Metal frame? Surface materials etc?
Faders? Alps? P and G's?
Weight of the Zen?
Is the power supply separate?
Thanks in advance.
looking forward to a "hands on" at a dealer near me. BTW, I've been considering the Matrix and the DM 2000VCM, but I'm holding off "til I can audition the Zen


all the best.

[steve_flower]

Hi Emkay,

Thanks for you questions.

Originally Posted by emkay

What materials are used in the construction of the Zen? Metal frame? Surface materials etc?

It is a metal frame, with a wooden armrest. The fader panel is painted and the main control panel uses the same polycarbonate overlay material as the ASP8024. The overlay has proven to been incredibly durable and really easy to clean.

Originally Posted by emkay

Faders? Alps? P and G's?

Alps

Originally Posted by emkay

Weight of the Zen?

~30kg I think but we'll confirm that in the manual very soon.

Originally Posted by emkay

Is the power supply separate?

It's an internal power supply, which is passively cooled.

Originally Posted by emkay

Thanks in advance.
looking forward to a "hands on" at a dealer near me. BTW, I've been considering the Matrix and the DM 2000VCM, but I'm holding off "til I can audition the Zen

No problem, I hope you get on well with the demo! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers,

[emkay]

Originally Posted by steve_flower

Hi Emkay,

Thanks for you questions.



It is a metal frame, with a wooden armrest. The fader panel is painted and the main control panel uses the same polycarbonate overlay material as the ASP8024. The overlay has proven to been incredibly durable and really easy to clean.


Alps

~30kg I think but we'll confirm that in the manual very soon.

It's an internal power supply, which is passively cooled.


No problem, I hope you get on well with the demo! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers,

Steve

Thanks for your response.
Greatly appreciated

all the best

[Lindell]

Without reading thru the whole thread; Will there be a 16 ch expander?

[Tube World]

Anyone yet hear this unit in action?

[chwalsh]

I am the US distributor. The 16 channel version with micpres and motor-fader automation is $15,140.00. It will be available in stripped down versions (w/o automation or micpres). The 32 channel version should be out by years end.

Thanks,

Chris

[SonOfSteven]

Very nice little console, I was actualy expecting it to be more expensive. I think the price is very reasonable.

[GearHunter]

You know what I like about Audient? And what I have ALWAYS liked about Audient? They make useful gear at the right price. The price-point vs the high-level of performance is always great with Audient. The gear always sounds excellent, works well (good ergonamics) and it's never the most expensive gear in the store.

They don't make something and put it out there and hope people buy it-- they look at what studios need and what kinds of budgets are there and then they make gear that answers the call.

Always great bang for the buck.

The Zen is a perfect example of Audient's smart marketing. Can't wait to get my hands on it, and I'm psyched to be a dealer for it. Already have a couple clients interested.

[AudioWarehouse]

Originally Posted by GearHunter

You know what I like about Audient? And what I have ALWAYS liked about Audient? They make useful gear at the right price. The price-point vs the high-level of performance is always great with Audient. The gear always sounds excellent, works well (good ergonamics) and it's never the most expensive gear in the store.

They don't make something and put it out there and hope people buy it-- they look at what studios need and what kinds of budgets are there and then they make gear that answers the call.

Always great bang for the buck.

The Zen is a perfect example of Audient's smart marketing. Can't wait to get my hands on it, and I'm psyched to be a dealer for it. Already have a couple clients interested.

Ditto !

[SonOfSteven]

As soon as some 1 uses this console please share your thoughts with us ?

would love to read a review of it.

[pixelhead]

Will the Automation be available on ASP24 also?

[bukakabo]

Anyone yet hear this unit in action?

[GearHunter]

There's a full brochure available now. PM me and I'll fire you the pdf.

[GearHunter]

Originally Posted by bukakabo

Anyone yet hear this unit in action?

I know there's one at KMR in London on demo right now. There will obviously be one at AES NY.

[bukakabo]

Any one in GS that was at the DEMO?

[Ozzy]

Hey guys,

anyone know the state of play with fx returns?

Am I being blind or are there not any? Seems strange to have to use channel inputs on a low channel count desk.

Oz

[johanpop]

Originally Posted by degas

i would like a board like this, with eq, without pre amps (or optional), total recall (motorization is not necessary), without (or optional) transport.

A nice, daw-friendly mixing desk.

And i would like it cheap!
Heh

yes please!

[GearHunter]

Once you put an eq on there that would sound good enough to use, the price might not be cheap any more.

[aluman]

This product looks very interesting but this thread is quite unactive.

It's the cheapest hybrid solution for moving faders automation after outboard (not bus compression) as far as I know.

The only thing I regret about this console is that there are no HP and LP filters because even if you use outboard compression and EQ, you would not patch a dedicated hp filter when EQ is not necessary. If you use Pultec kind of EQ for instance.
Maybe I'm not clear but what I mean is that if I have 16 channels at mixdown I would usually use EQ on some of the tracks but HP filters on almost all of them.
So, at least one HP filter on all the channels (even a fixed one at 75 hz) would have been a good solution for avoiding plugins for filtering matters.
I wouldn't mind if they skipped they compressor instead.
But for the rest it looks promissing and well build.

Does anybody here on GS have an experience with the faders automation on the Zen?

The concept is very nice but does it work smoothly?
This feature is the only reason I would buy this desk.

Matrix and Shadow mix are out of my budget.

So, anyone using this Zen around here?

[RonT]

No daw controller.....:( almost had me!

[salomonander]

no DAW suppot. not total recall....but its supposed to implement perfectly into a hybrid setting? give me a break...
so i load up my project and then spend half an hour to recall my volume, aux, send levels and pans from a photograph or recall sheet? the SSL matrix does a whole lot better for almost the same price. ...guess that's why nobody talks about this :-)

[pixelhead]

Originally Posted by RonT

No daw controller.....:( almost had me!

Originally Posted by salomonander

no DAW suppot. not total recall....but its supposed to implement perfectly into a hybrid setting? give me a break...
so i load up my project and then spend half an hour to recall my volume, aux, send levels and pans from a photograph or recall sheet? the SSL matrix does a whole lot better for almost the same price. ...guess that's why nobody talks about this :-)

From reading the info the site is has DAW support. or am I missing something here?

From Audient Site.

Zen is a thoroughly modern, yet classic analogue mixing console combining DAW I/O integration with moving fader automation, transport control and the sonically pure signal path you would expect from Audient.

Audient’s newly developed moving fader automation integrates effortlessly with your DAW software providing precise, fully featured automation of moving faders, mutes and transport control - taking advantage of the computer’s power for recording and processing while enjoying the sonic benefits and superior workflow of the analogue domain.

[aluman]

Originally Posted by salomonander

the SSL matrix does a whole lot better for almost the same price. ..

Well it's not around the same price.
At Funky Junk site:
Audient Zen MF is at €8791.62 ex VAT
SSL Matrix is at €13442.84 ex VAT

I'm just wondering about this moving faders system....

[steve_flower]

Just to clarify the DAW integration. The console uses HUI to hook into the automation functionality provided by your DAW. So, while it is not a control surface, you do get to use the familiar interface to automate your faders and cuts. The DAW effectively replaces the prohibitively expensive CPU from a traditional analogue console automation system.

Let me know if you are interested in checking out a Zen and I'll get it arranged.

[steve_flower]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

Hey guys,

anyone know the state of play with fx returns?

Am I being blind or are there not any? Seems strange to have to use channel inputs on a low channel count desk.

Oz

Hi Oz,

As for Fx returns, most people will use the Alt input switch int the cue sections to bring this back into the console, so you don't use up your faders.

The manual goes into a lot of detail about the routing flexibility on Zen:
Zen - Audient

All the best,

[omoanya]

I'm also looking long and hard at the zen - I'm doing mostly instrument over dubs and vocal recording. But i want a to provide a nicer mix environment for my clients. I have built a small, but high quality production room in NYC with only 4 or so simultaneous tracking channels, but ive got 3 6176's and a2d2, a few really nice mics, couple of lavry a/d's and a even a weiss d/a (got a great used deal). My room was floated and tuned properly and with some KRKS and old Ns10's, I've been getting astounding results using a PTLE/waves rig as a recorder/mixer alone. i dont think people realize how great an LE system can be if you move beyond Digi's mediocre pres, converters - i find my results are better than some of my colleague's all-hd itb systems, of course i only need to track a 4 or 5 channels at a time so i can afford to invest more into less.


But now I am looking for my first analog board, one that will keep the integrity of my pristine signal path and also, make my small room visually appealing as well as great sounding and the Zen is really looking good - I am extremely happy with my comp/pre's and need an analog board with no pre's, only eq's and some control over protools, it seems like the Zen may be the answer --- (im also considering adding a really nice clock, after hearing the vast difference that a Grimm made on an HD rig ...)

I am not quite clear on the DAW control, i know theres midi control of the board by the DAW, is there also transport control on the Zen ? Also, is there any method for recalling the board's EQ settings on a mix ?

[aluman]

There is no eq on this desk.

[aluman]

Steve!

I don't know if you are still around here.

I'm very interested with the Zen but wanted to know if you're still planning to release a 32 ch version?
If yes, when and how much do you think it will cost?