Ableton Forum

Hi fellas.

In previous searches for sound cards, I've most of the time ended up concluding that the majority doesn't seem to have enough inputs for my needs. Well, some of them have enough, but they're more or less all in a price range I'm not willing to step into.

Have been looking into mixers lately and came across Allen & Heath's Zed-14. Seems to fit my needs, and Allen & Heath's reputation makes me suspect (or at least hope) that the sound quality might be decent, even for a "budget mixer" like this one.

Considering picking one up in NYC next month. At $400, it would certainly be a cheap solution to my constant rewiring issues. If only I can manage to fit it in my suitcase...

Anyone have any experience with it? And if positive: where should I head to pick one up in NYC?

Thoughts are welcomed.

Cheers
Marius

just to warn you, that is only a stereo sound card

Hmmm... Good point. Though I rarely record more than one thing at a time, so it might still do the trick. It's the constant rewiring that's doing my head in.

It can only record 16 bit files (not 24 bit) and is USB 1.1 (not 2.0) which would be deal breakers for me.

Reviewed a while back in sound on sound
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct07/a ... hZED14.htm

Bummer. Only 16 bit is certainly a deal breaker.

Thanks for the heads up on that one.

/M

I bought the Zed-12FX a couple of weeks ago. It's basically the Zed-14 minus a stereo channel but with an effects processor included.

I can confirm what's been said already: the audio interface is only 16-bit, uses USB 1.1 and only handles stereo.

So don't buy it if your main intended use is as an audio interface.

As a mixer, though, it's excellent. And that's what I bought it for. The FX are very good indeed. And, for me at least, the 100mm faders are a real luxury compared with the desks I owned before.

It's quite difficult to find a decent quality mixer that's also a decent quality multi-track audio interface. The Yamaha MW range are 16-bit and they're all stereo only.

Tascam's (relatively) new M-164UF looks attractive - 24-bit, 16 channel recording, etc. But I was put off by the lack of any inserts and the strange inputs available generally - eg, some of the inputs are phono only, which would is fine for record decks and suchlike but it ought to provide the option to connect regular jack leads as well.

Phonic's Helix has all the connectivity and features you could wish for. It scores on all the points mentioned above. But ... it's a little bit of the Behringer ilk reputation-wise.

Nice to hear your thoughts. Wasn't aware of the 12FX. Will look into it.

And yes: using it only as a mixer is probably a solution. Won't solve all my issues doe, so I guess a new sound card is probably slightly more imminent.

Think I'll have to start looking at the Firefaces again..

M

Are there any better options?

the best about the zeds is actually the mixing desk part.. which has an astonishing quality for the given price... the soundcard inbuild isnt from the highest quality..
A RME multi or fireface sounds significant better...

however.. a good product nevertheless.. you cant expect the best converters and a decend mixing desk for that price... and the mixing desk part is allwright.

heard good things about the zed r16

but i have a FF400 and it has done me well