| Content | The immense flexibility of software mixers notwithstanding, there's nothing like the in-your-face punch, articulation, and dimensionality that a quality analog summing mixer can impart to your productions. The Phoenix Audio’s Nicerizer Series summing mixers rock proprietary Class A circuitry and smart features that make them legendary analog tone machines for a digital world. A 16-channel DAW summing mixer in a 2RU 19″ rackmount chassis, the Nicerizer 16 Mk2 puts critical elements such as circuit gain staging and panning back into the analog realm where they handily outperform their digital emulations.
Hi-fidelity transformerless input stage
With their Nicerizer summing mixer, Phoenix takes a decidedly modern approach to Class A circuit design. The company's proprietary transformerless input stage delivers the full frequency spectrum with crystal-clear clarity and punch. Transformers tend to slow things down a bit — which can sound amazing in certain cases; but then slew rates take a hit, delivering sluggish transients and limiting your tonal palette.
Driven conservatively, Phoenix Audio's electronically balanced input stage serves up ultra-clear high-fidelity sound. If you're after fatter, more saturated tones, engage the +8dB switch individually on any channel to drive the circuit hotter for a punchy in-your-face sound that only discrete Class A buffer amps can deliver. The Nicerizer 16 Mk2 captures articulate, full-bodied input signals, allowing you to drive the output stage for an immense range of pure Class A tone, from modern audiophile clarity to vintage-flavored warmth.
Masterful transformer-balanced output stage
Phoenix Audio couples their custom-wound DB694 output transformer to a fully discrete, proprietary DSOP-2 output amplifier, itself a direct descendant of the renowned TF1 amp that Phoenix chief designer David Rees developed as an upgrade for vintage Neve 80 Series console modules. Outperforming the TF1, the DSOP-2 represents a pinnacle of Class A output circuit design, offering a seamless tonal range from ultra-clean to gorgeously saturated. With its big iron and massive headroom, you can drive the DSOP-2 to taste. Crank the Nicerizer's output stage to elicit beautifully saturated tones; back off for a cleaner high-fidelity sound, or dial up any flavor in-between.
The Width control
Once you've used the Nicerizer, you'll realize how valuable its unique control set is. The Width control incorporates elements of mid-side processing to narrow or widen your stereo image with the twist of a knob. If you haven’t used a width control before, trust Sweetwater: you're in for a treat! The Nicerizer's Width control offers a degree of spacial manipulation that can instantly tighten up a sprawling arrangement or unlock hidden dimensions in a mix.
Balanced/unbalanced
If your inputs come from a variety of sources, you're bound to be dealing with both balanced and unbalanced signals. No worries! The Nicerizer’s 16 inputs can accept either — without any of the gain loss all too common with many mixer inputs. This amazingly useful feature lets you easily execute many functions that are fast becoming standard practices, such as looping through guitar pedals or recording MIDI-driven synthesizers in real time while mixing.
Stereo bus insert
Today, it's quite common while mixing to strap a compressor or other processor across the mix bus, and the Nicerizer 16 Mk2's stereo bus insert makes it easy. Monitor punchy, loudness-optimized mixes and get a head start on mastering while you're still mixing.
Independently controlled AUX output
Just before it hits the output transformers, the Nicerizer mults an output signal and routes it to a dedicated front-panel level control. This independently controlled AUX output lets you drive external monitor amps or simply bypass the output stage to send a transformerless sound to your recording device.
2-track Return
Another feature borrowed from large-format consoles is the 2-track Return input that lets you monitor an external output source through the Nicerizer's onboard headphone amplifier. Incredibly convenient, and great for A/B comparisons!
The Monitor Select switch
The Nicerizer 16 Mk2 features a unique Monitor Select switch, which lets you easily monitor single pairs of channels (1–2, 3–4, etc.), in addition to any of the Nicerizer's other stereo ports. Infinitely handy for a variety of workflows, this switch is the mixer's secret weapon, ready for all sorts of creative uses, from individual stem work to comparing mixes to direct comparison of multiple analog sources.
The Monitor Select switch Toggle
Once you’ve chosen which input pair you want to monitor via the Monitor Select switch, the Toggle allows you to monitor either the Left or Right channels in mono on both channels via the headphone amp, or to monitor in stereo. Critical analysis of your audio signals has never been easier.
Flexible LED metering
Following the Monitor Select switch, the Nicerizer's LED meter display gives you constant visual confirmation of your operating levels. Another big-console feature, the flexibility afforded by the metering being selectable for each channel as well as the main outputs makes the Nicerizer 16 Mk2's metering setup indispensable for gain management as you finalize your productions.
Phoenix Audio Nicerizer 16 Mk2 Features:
- 16-channel DAW Summing Mixer in a 2RU 19-inch rackmount chassis
- 16 channels of discrete Class A balanced transformerless input stage
- Discrete Class A transformer-balanced DSOP-2 output stage
- Phoenix custom-wired transformers on both outputs
- Individual detented pan controls on each channel
- 16 balanced XLR inputs accept balanced or unbalanced inputs with no -6dB loss
- Unbalanced 1/4-inch TRS insert sends on all Busses, including master Stereo Mix Bus insert
- +8dB Boost button on each channel
- Master mix bus output level control
- Stereo LED level monitoring, switchable for each channel and Stereo Mix Bus
- Stereo/Mono External/Headphone monitoring output is switchable to each channel, external input (via 2T Return), AUX and main output (L, R, and Stereo)
- Main Outputs on balanced XLRs
- Unbalanced 1/4-inch TRS jacks for AUX outputs with front-panel level control
- 2-track stereo mono inputs on 1/4-inch TRS balanced jacks
- Bypassable Class A stereo Width control with lossless bass (pannable from mono to 25% Wider)
- Maximum Output Level of +26dB
- Generous headroom available on all channels
- Wired with PTFE silver-plated mil-spec cable
| UF8 is SSL’s latest studio controller, designed for today’s DAW-based production workflows and ultrafast turn-around times. An expandable 8-channel advanced DAW controller, UF8 connects engineers, producers and artists directly to the creative process, offering absolute command of their workflow and significantly accelerating the speed of audio production and content creation.
UF8 is the culmination of SSL’s 40+ year legacy of mastering production workflows and studio ergonomics built into generations of classic SSL consoles. This depth of understanding of studio production, combined with decades of engineering excellence, delivers a premium finish tactile USB controller that distills SSL workflow and quality. | Working inside the box? Sweetwater would like to recommend a summing mixer that will seriously up your game: the Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Shelford Edition. If you record and mix entirely within your DAW, you’re hampered by the inability to leverage the sonic advantages of high-quality analog outboard gear. Enter the 5059 Satellite. The 5059 gives you 16 channels — each with individual level and pan, plus insert and bus-2 send buttons. You get two stereo buses with RND’s proprietary Silk Texture controls, giving you effortless integration with outboard equipment, total control for two separate stem mixes, and the facility to dial in harmonic enhancement in two distinct flavors.
It’s a Neve
In serious audio circles, Rupert Neve needs no introduction. Large-format Neve consoles from the 1970s are considered by many to be the pinnacle of analog mixer design. Boasting the same design heritage and sonic perfectionism that went into the boards used to record countless hit records, the 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer graces your tracks with legendary Rupert Neve warmth, punch, and presence. With 16 channels of Rupert Neve designed Class A alchemy and flexible tonal and routing options, the Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer will take your DAW-based studio’s sound to a whole new level.
Dial in the Silk
The Rupert Neve Designs’ 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer’s continuously variable Texture controls with Silk and Silk+ modes let you fine-tune the harmonic ratio and tonality of each of 5059’s stereo buses. The Silk mode adds sparkle to your tracks by introducing alluringly airy transformer saturation in the high frequencies. Silk+ mode accentuates saturation in the low frequencies, adding density and thickness to the source — particularly desirable when you’ve got a dry, lackluster mix. Distinctly different sounding from equalization, Texture saturates the output transformers, adding sweet, musical even-order harmonics to your source material for authoritative, radio-ready mixes that blast right out of the speakers.
Flexibility: it’s a beautiful thing
The dual stereo outputs of the Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer are perfect for creating stem mixes, which you can enhance using the 5059’s Silk/Texture controls, then process through bus compressors or other devices via the inserts, finally feeding into the inputs of another mixer or your interface. You can send any input to stereo bus 1 or 2, and create two very different-sounding mixes from the same 16 channels. These are just some examples of the amazing flexibility you’ll enjoy when integrating the 5059 into your recording rig. Smartly attired in classic Shelford livery, the Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer is housed in a rugged, fan-cooled 2U steel chassis for dependable, no-compromise professional performance year after year, in the studio or on the road.
The legend continues
Rupert Neve’s 80-series consoles had a huge, punchy, and authoritative sound that defined the sound of ’70s rock. From London to New York to Los Angeles and beyond, top studios were installing Neve boards as fast as they could. By 1977, with the introduction of the NECAM automation system, 80-series boards were the main component of the success formula for any recording studio with world-class aspirations. Mr. Neve’s current company, Rupert Neve Designs, continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge products that sound incredible and intelligently address the challenges of the digital age. With your Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Shelford Edition from Sweetwater, the legend continues.
Rupert Neve Designs 5059 Satellite Summing Mixer Shelford Edition Features:
- Classic Neve: Class A, all transformer-balanced, and awesome-sounding
- Zero crossover distortion and unmatched purity
- Custom transformers provide galvanic isolation and serve up "larger than life" sound
- Sets a standard for rackmountable summing mixers
- 16 inputs/channels (with level controls, pans, and inserts); 2 stereo buses
- Send any input to stereo bus 1 or 2, each with variable Silk/Silk+ Texture
- Dual Stereo Outputs let you split the input channels into 2 stems for further processing and mixing
- Stereo buss 1 and 2 each has its own XLR outs
- DB-25 line input, insert send/return connectors
- Rugged 2U fan-cooled chassis, clad in classic Shelford livery
| SPL MixDream Analogue Summing Unit
- Analogue outboard summing mixer
- Active Class A/60-volt stages
- 16 inserts for mixing external effects
- Individual and overall bypass relays
- Reduced of A/D conversions
- Efficient resampling individual tracks
- Latency-free monitoring
- Stereo expansion control for additional transparency
- Analogue peak limiter for gain optimisation
- Lundahl output transformers and inserts
- Adjustable insert levels, output levels and peak limiters
- Multiple units linkable for larger mixes
| BEHRINGER X32 RACK " Rack Mixer
- 32 Channels
- 16 XLR Mic/Line inputs
- 8 Stereo FX returns
- 25 Buses
- 6 Matrix buses with insert
- 6 Mute groups
- 8 DCA groups
- 8 XLR outputs
- 6 AUX inputs via 6.3 mm jack (optional: 2 via RCA)
- 6 AUX outputs via 6.3 mm jack (optional: 2 via RCA)
- Adjustable headphone jack
- 32 x 32 USB audio interface
- Talkback microphone input (XLR)
- 4-Band fully parametric EQ on each channel
- Adjustable delays on all channels
- Virtual effects rack with 8 FX slots
- Built-in stereo USB recorder
- Remote control via Ethernet
- 5" TFT display
- Compatible with the Behringer P-16 personal monitoring system
- Format: 19" / 3U
- Dimensions: 132 x 483 x 287 mm
- Weight: 6.5 kg
| The A-Designs Mix Factory takes a fresh approach to analog summing, delivering analog warmth with the depth and imaging needed to make your mixes truly stand out. Mix Factory inputs 16 channels and sums to balanced stereo outputs. All channels are fitted with gain controls, pan pots, and mutes. Two 8-channel groups are provided, each has an insert with mute button, and there is a master insert for all 16 channels. Mix Factory lets you switch between "clean," which bypasses the transformers, to "tonal," which introduces the harmonic enhancement of custom Cinemag output transformers. The Mix Factory is linkable, letting you expand to 64 or more channels. Take your studio to the next level with the A-Designs Mix Factory.
Benefits of the hybrid studio
Producer/engineer Tony Shepperd came up with the idea for Mix Factory, and it was brought to life by noted circuit design wizard Paul Wolff. Mr. Shepperd had been one of the modern engineers who subscribed to the "all-in-the-box" school of digital music production. At some point, however, he came to believe that digital and analog could very well coexist in the contemporary studio in a synergistic union that delivered additional "best-of-both-worlds" sonic benefits. This hybrid approach worked exceptionally well for Tony, taking his mixes to a new level. So much so that other engineers took notice and started asking him for tips. Today, most high-end recording facilities (including Sweetwater Studios) are hybridized in one sense or another. A-Designs' Mix Factory is a smart and cost-effective way to realize the many advantages of this approach.
A-Designs Mix Factory Features:
- 2RU 16-channel analog summing mixer
- 2 x 8-channel Groups
- All channels fitted with gain controls, pan pots, and mutes
- Switchable Cinemag output transformers
- Linkable, for easy studio expansion
- External power supply (included) switches between 120V and 230V
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