Studio Assessment Task

Allen and Heath Zed-R16:

The Allen and Heath Zed-R16 is a sound mixer manufactured by English sound mixer company Allen and Heath, based in Cornwall. It has professional sound quality through the instruments, vocals and digital audio workstation of choice and it is equipped with 16 input and output channels, along with 16 XLR input and output channels in the mixer.

With its defined sound quality, it can be used to pick up feedback from built-in speakers because depending on which DAW program you use for your music, the quality of the sound is spot on for those who want to listen what you recorded. What falters is that the audio feedback can pick up hissing noises that will affect the eardrums of the listener, and would want to turn it down to decrease the sound of the hisses.

In addition to it, there's also a Firewire option where it's similar to a USB cable, except that it comes with the sound mixer itself, meaning that the Firewire built-in will pick up the signal of the audio feedback straight from the computer. However, this built-in will be out-of-date due to the fact that it can't access newer products for the DAW programs such as Logic, Soundtrap and Ableton.

Packed with audio faders, two fully parametric mids, high and low shelving EQ channels, two aux buses and two monitoring signal paths, the Allen and Heath Zed-R16 is in good use and is resistant to damage for those who want to listen to their music back in the best sound quality possible. It also works in a rehearsal session or a live session because a live music fan will hear the music on stage with each input either inserted through an XLR cable or an audio jack.

In terms of the high budget, music programmers will get the Zed-R16 for £1,900. In comparison to the API 1600-II, these music engineers will get their hands on that sound mixer with or without those expansions for a cheaper and affordable price.