Allen & Heath ZED-18 Analogue Mixer for Live Sound and Recording

The Allen & Heath ZED-18 Analogue Mixer for Live Sound and Recording has an incredibly advanced feature-set for a mixer at this level – it gives musicians, venues and hire companies access to 10 full mono channels and 4 stereo channels in a compact, rack mountable format. Configurable USB audio in/out makes it easy to capture stereo recordings.

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-18 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-18 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.

Allen & Heath ZED-18 Analogue Mixer for Live Sound and Recording Features

- 10 mono channels
- Neutrik mic XLR
- Neutrik ¼-inch jacks
- Channel insert
- Super wide gain 'DuoPre' mic line input
- 3 band EQ with MusiQ
- 4 auxes
- Illuminated mute
- Sound image pan
- Illuminated PFL & peak warning indicator
- ALPS 100mm faders
- 4 stereo channels with 2-band EQ
- Stereo returns & playback
- All inputs with level control
- 12 bar meters
- Mono/stereo function on auxes 1&2
- Monitor output section
- Alt stereo output source
- Configurable USB stereo audio in/out
- Global +48V phantom power
- Rack ears available

Allen & Heath ZED-18 Analogue Mixer for Live Sound and Recording Specifications

Input:
- Mono channel (XLR) Input +6 to –63dBu for nominal (+17dBu in max)
- Mono channel Line Input (Jack socket) +10 to –26dBu (+30dBu maximum)
- Insert point (TRS Jack socket) 0dBu nominal +21dBu maximum
- Stereo Input (Jack sockets) 0dBu nominal (control = Off to +10dB)
- Stereo input (phono sockets) 0dBu nominal (control = Off to +10dB)

Output:
- L, R & Mono Outputs (L&R XLR, Mono Jack) 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum
- Aux Outputs (Jack sockets) 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum
- Alt Outputs (phono sockets) 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum
- Rec Outputs (phono sockets) 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum

Frequency Response:
- Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 30dB gain +0.5/-1dB 20Hz to 20kHz
- Line in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain +0.5/-1dB 10Hz to 30kHz
- Stereo in to Mix L/R out +0.5/-1dB 10Hz to 30kHz

THD+n:
- Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 0dB gain 1kHz +10dBu out 0.004%
- Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 30dB gain 1kHz 0.014%
- Line in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain 0dBu 1kHz 0.005%
- Stereo in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain +10dBu 1kHz 0.003%

Headroom:
- Analogue Headroom from nominal (0Vu) 21dB
- USB in & out headroom from nominal (0Vu) 14dB
- USB Audio CODEC (Coder/Decoder)
- USB Audio In/Out USB 1.1 compliant 16bit.
- Sample Rate 32, 44.1, or 48kHz

Noise:
- Mic Pre EIN @ max gain 150R input Z 22-22kHz -127dBu
- Mix L/R out, L/R faders = 0, 22-22kHz ZED-18 -86dBu

Physical:
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 464 x 98 x 465 mm
- Weight: 8.5 kg