Allen & Heath ZEDi10 Mixer 🎛 Review

Highlights:

The build quality is durable, not as good as a Mackie (the knobs could be better) but for the price, a nice experience and its size is small enough not to be prohibitive to travel with if necessary. It's not backpack sized but still portable enough and even seems to have a handy handle on the side for easy carrying.

The preamps are clean all the way through the entire 60db of gain. This is 🔑. With clean preamps, we have the foundation we need to have a great audio mixer.

The resolution of the audio meters is pretty good with an 8 LED meter that allows you to get a decent idea of where your peak level is at any given time.

It has a power switch on back and although it seems like it's in reverse with up being off and down being on, it's a really nice feature that not all lower priced mixers have. Better than having to unplug it and plug it back in every time you want to use it.

Standard EQ options which can be nice if you are using the mixer in a live setup.

Headphone output with its own volume control. This seems like it adds a little noise at the upper levels which is disappointing because you want to hear exactly the quality of the audio that you are sending into the mixer. Just know that if you are hearing in the headphone output, it's not translating into the recording.

4 in, 4 out 24bit/96khz USB 2.0 with true multichannel output to your DAW including bi-directional audio (audio in and out). This means you can connect up to four XLR microphones and input those mics into audio recording software such as Audition or Audacity with each channel of audio onto its own track. This allows you to edit each channel of audio, each microphone, independently in post production.

Also very importantly, you can hear the audio you are sending into the ZEDi10 while also monitoring the audio that is coming into the mixer at the same time. Not all mixers allow for this two way (bi-directional) monitoring.

Overall, as the most affordable, multichannel mixer on the market at $199 (U.S.), I was happy with this mixer's performance. I wasn't happy with how much gain the mixer requires in order to push a good signal through the USB to the computer however I was very impressed with the dynamic range of the preamps in that you can record at relatively low levels into your software (peaks around -26db) and bring up that audio to Loudness standards (-19LUFS mono), essentially raising the audio more than 20db in post and still get incredibly clean audio.

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#ZEDi10 #AllenandHeath #mixer #audio #Sony #a6500

[ManyGuitars]

Finally...an intelligent guy without narcissistic tendencies, making the presentation about the equipment instead of himself. Clear but plain spoken so those of us technologically challenged can at least follow the bouncing ball. Thanks.

[trbrooker]

Really great review, I just bought one! In the UK the power switch orientation is natural and the 'correct' way for us. All our light switches and power switches operate in the opposite direction to the US.

[Guava_noise]

Really good review - refreshing to see someone giving the verdict at the beginning of the video too

[amsmarle]

Thanks for a great clearly spoken review... produced in plain english for someone such as me who is new to mixing and recording

Really appreciated

Alan

[ItsaCatsLife]

'Off = Up' /'On = Down' is how all power and light rocker style switches work in Australia and as far as I recall, the UK. Reasoning being is that the OFF position typically has a red dot on the top of the rocker which can only be seen with the switch is in the 'Down = On' position. IOW: Safety.

[fbgtr]

This mixer is astonishing. I've had it for a week now. My acoustic guitar recorded with my condenser microphone and in my room sounds much better than before! (and I was using an expensive card and mixer). I also recorded electric bass with the DI input and it's marvelous. We have a winner here.

[Fgunja]

I've had this thing for...years and years, put it through hell and possibly close to 600 shows, used it for home recordings...I think it's time has finally come, maybe if it's just cleaned properly but...guess what... I'm putting an order in for a new one whooo!!! I'm not surprised, there is really no alternatives for the working muso at this price point

[malcolmharris]

Really great review, Ray.

Just waiting for my new Zedi10 to arrive and so this was a post-purchase check. Feeling extremely confident now!

[MannyLeyva]

I was about to get the new Rode RODECaster Pro for $599 but you sir have convinced me otherwise. I don't really need that much of equipment for LiveStream. The Allen and Heath ZEDi-10FX will do.

[johnmcc]

Thanks for the review! I was torn down between this and the Yamaha MG10XU, but I'm not too concerned about built in FX and also multi-tracking on this one is a very nice touch. Thanks again

[danielgrenier]

BEWARE of the USB side of this thing. Know that in M1, M2, M3, M4 mode, the Mixer's EQ is NOT recorded in your DAW (ditto effects on the Zedi10 FX version) only the DRY (pre-EQ) signal is recorded. In M1, M2 Aux and FX mode, NO EQ is recorded either (ditto effects on the i10FX). EQ (and effects) will only be recorded in M1, M2 L & R mode and they will actually be recorded on both, tracks 3&4. For example, if you have a guitar in slot 1, the EQ and Effects will only be recorded on tracks 3 & 4 in your DAW and track 1 will remain DRY throughout. Not sure why it behaves this way but it is just weird and very confusing.

[goodnoisemusic]

Been considering buying one, thanks for the effort in making such good review!

[petersams]

On/Off is backwards on this mixer. Most A&H consoles use a push button switch, recessed. Build quality seems great, similar to larger GL, GS, series with each pot having a retaining nut securing it to the surface. The preamp gain is similar as well but the USB output has to be low to not allow clipping the AD converters. More expensive units use a hard limiter before the AD but hard to tell at this price point. Looks like a nice analog front end for a podcast or project studio, USB out to a channel is nice. If you need more complex look at the Behringer XR18 or X18, 18x18 usb bidirection, tablet or PC/OS controlled.

[Dandelunar]

Hello, Is the AUX OUT stereo or mono? I plug headphones and only listen one side of the headphones, once I pull it out a bit then I can listen both. is mine broken?

[patricioibarrag]

Hi Ray, here from Chile. I just bought the Zedi10 and I'm trying to setup this thing so I can talk from a microphone connected to the mixer but hear my voice from the computer speakers. Is this possible can you explain to me how to do this? Thanks!

[ChristopherPerezAHCG]

Half the value of a Ray Ortega review is in the outstanding video quality and production levels. Of course the info was also excellent as always. If/when I need to step up to a mixer, I will hit your link; thanks!

[profugodenadie]

Eh! Ray como estas?I have zed A&H board, but I dont know how to use it...yeah... y need to do a stream show, is it useful for that?! thanks

[emmanueltanze]

Hey Ray, wondering if you think the recording quality of this is better than one of the UAD interfaces. I understand this is more of a mixer and just so happens to also be an interface, but wondering if latency issues are solved with DSP based interface versus this.

[Arsonloke]

I have a zed10fx and I have the same issue with having to turn up my gain higher than I am comfortable with. The audio is nice and clean but the waveform is small.

[ejpentertainment]

Thanks to Brian Frushour and the good ppl at Sweetwater for recommending this mixer to me for my own podcast and thank you Ray for giving a great in depth review of the Zedi 10... I'm eager to set mines up now... one quick question i do have is how do you record a regular phone conversation into this mixer? im unsure of what channel i would plug my cell phone into... thanks again