Allen & HeathZEDi-8 - Compact Hybrid Audio Mixer/USB Interface (AH-ZEDi-8)

I'm using the ZEDi-8 with my computer so I can use good XLR mics for speech recording (narration and communication). I'm not personally doing any music with it, at least not yet, so I don't really need more than a single mic input, occasionally 2 if I want to interview someone in the same room. I had previously been using a the little Behringer Xenyx 302USB model, which was fine for the price (1/4 the cost of the ZEDi-8) and I'd still say that's also a very good mixer for the price. I upgraded because this supports 24-bit audio (only 16 for the Xenyx) and allows me to separate audio so I can also use this for conference calls without echo that can occur if mic and speakers are not on the same line.Aside from being mostly easy to set up (you do need to download their drivers, and the URL in the included instructions was wrong as of June 2021, should be: https://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/zedi-8/ ), the sound quality is shockingly good. I had expected it to be slightly better than the Xenyx, but in a "if you listen closely you can tell the difference" kind of way, because I'm using it at home, not under the ideal conditions of a recording studio. I figured the background noises from computer fans and poorly insulated walls would dwarf the quality differences between mixers. I was very, very wrong. I had always liked and been happy with the Xenyx, but now I realize I never knew how good I could have had it.The ZEDi-8 was much better than the Xenyx, even for working in a home office that is not well insulated for audio work. The noise floor on the ZEDi-8 is so incredibly low, the dynamic range gave me about 8-10 dB more range compared to the Xenyx. I could turn up the gain so noise was at about -70dB and then speaking in a normal voice would drive up to about -12dB. That's 58dB of dynamic range (vs. 48-50 with the Xenyx) without even trying! I suspect with effort, I'll improve that further. That's a HUGE difference and easily detectable even to the casual ear.I think the main reason is not the 24-bit connection (though that might help some), but just a unit that physically produces very little electronic noise. Amazing. I highly recommend it, at least for spoken voice work (but these same benefits should apply to music too).

This was my first 'real' mixer, and connects to a Tascam Mixcast 4 with no issues. It's used to route mic signal from an Art Pro MPA II and line-in from a Spark Mini, and connects to my PC with some truly flexible routing options. My most-used setting is M1/M2/AUX/FX, with monitors set to 'phones'. This lets me route either wet or dry (mono) mic and music signal to any DAW, and the M1/M2/L/R setting lets me capture the entire board in stereo as needed.It's not the prettiest mixer, but it's not what makes it so versatile. Even through a recent upgrade to a Mixcast 4, the ZED gets used for most of my routing, and since I prefer the saturated sound of the MPA it does a good job of translating that sound to the M4, even at a lower bitrate.If you're just starting out in music production or podcasting, this is a good first mixer that you'll use even after you move on to more advanced and expensive units. Don't overlook this one for it's looks, it will remain a workhorse in any home studio or small venue.

Considering the features included, this mixer is an incredible value for the money. It sounds fantastic, and with 4x4 USB connectivity, it comes in at about 1/5th of what an Apogee Quartet costs. With the appropriate cables, it connected immediately to iPad and MacBook and was useable both in and out with several different DAWs.Many high-end features such as channel inserts, individual channel mutes, and channel faders have been left out, but their absence isn’t really noticed in a home studio context. The features it does include such as AUX and FX busses, DI on 2 inputs, and built-in effects work fabulously.Gripes? Very minor ones. While the unit connects perfectly to iOS devices, it does not charge them while in use. Also, there is no Mute function on the Main XLR outputs, so if you want to use the onboard Monitor outputs to drive a second set of reference monitors to check the mix, you’ll have to turn off your main monitors manually or use an external monitor controller to mute them ($60-$100 for a decent passive unit). As it is, I use the monitor outputs to drive a headphone distribution unit.For small live setups, home studio use, podcasting, or streaming, I can’t recommend the ZEDi-10FX enough, it’s a fantastic unit. It’s solid and well-built, and above all sounds great!