Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX Compact USB Effects Mixer

Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX Compact USB Effects Mixer

The Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX is a compact analogue mixer for live bands, houses of worship, rehearsal rooms and small venues. It combines eight microphone inputs, two stereo line channels, a set of 16 built-in digital effects and stereo USB audio in a desk with proper 60 mm faders, so mixing feels like a full-size console rather than a cut-down compromise. The preamps are based on the design used in Allen & Heath’s MixWizard series, with high gain and low noise for vocals and acoustic instruments.

Two of the mono channels carry Class A FET high-impedance guitar inputs, so electric guitar and bass can plug straight in without a DI box, with level switching and a gain boost to suit different instruments. Everything routes to balanced XLR main outputs, with a separate record bus feeding both the 2-track RCA outputs and the USB connection to a computer.

Key Features

• Eight mic and line inputs with MixWizard-based preamps and 48 V phantom power
• Two stereo line channels for keyboards, playback devices and instruments
• 60 mm professional faders on every channel and the main mix
• 16 internal effects: reverbs, delays, delay and reverb combinations, flanger and chorus
• Two Class A FET high-impedance guitar inputs with DI level switching and gain boost
• Stereo USB audio in and out for recording and computer playback

Channel EQ and control

Each mono channel has a responsive three-band MusiQ equaliser with a swept midrange, plus a 100 Hz high-pass filter to clear stage rumble and handling noise before it reaches the mix. The stereo channels carry two-band shelving EQ. One pre-fade aux send feeds stage monitors, a separate FX send feeds the internal effects engine, and every channel can be switched to the record bus independently, so the recording mix does not have to be identical to the room mix.

Recording over USB

The configurable USB connection sends a stereo mix to a Mac or PC at 16-bit, 48 kHz and returns stereo playback into the desk, which covers live show recording, rehearsal capture and backing-track playback from the same unit. Because the record bus is switchable per channel, an operator can drop a channel or the effects out of the recording without changing what the audience hears.

Built for regular gigging

The ZED60-14FX uses vertically mounted, individually serviceable channel circuit boards, Neutrik XLR and jack connectors, and a steel chassis sized for a small desk or stage-side position at 345 mm wide. Comprehensive monitoring, with a headphone output and monitor feed alongside the main meters, makes it easy to run a show solo from one position. Inserts on the main mix let an external compressor or graphic equaliser be added when the rig grows, and an optional rack ear kit is available for installations that mount the desk in a 19-inch rack.

For small acts that want real faders, real preamps and effects in one compact desk, the ZED60-14FX is a complete front-of-house in a single box.