Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX – Live and Studio Mixer with Digital FX and USB

Product Overview

The Allen & Heath ZED60-14FX is a 14-input live and studio mixer with eight mic/line channels, two Hi-Z instrument inputs, two stereo line channels, 16 onboard digital effects, and a USB audio interface. Designed for live performance and home recording, it uses the same DSP effects algorithms found in Allen & Heath's flagship digital consoles, and the preamp circuit is derived from the MixWizard series. The ZED60-14FX live mixer with Hi-Z inputs and digital FX is particularly well suited to small bands, singer-songwriters, and recording engineers who need direct instrument connectivity, onboard effects, and computer recording in a single, self-contained unit.

Product Description

Channels 1 through 6 accept balanced XLR microphone signals and balanced or unbalanced 1/4" TRS line signals. Channels 7 and 8 add Class A FET Hi-Z instrument inputs on 1/4" TS jacks for direct connection of electric guitars and basses. This input circuit is designed with a soft overdrive characteristic that imparts a warm second-harmonic character when driven hard, suitable for instrument tracking without a DI box or amplifier simulator.

All eight mono channels include 3-band EQ with sweepable mids and a 100 Hz high-pass filter. The two stereo channels (ST1 with 1/4" TS and RCA; ST2 with 1/4" TS) have 2-band shelving EQ. The 16 onboard digital effects include reverbs, delays, doubler, flanger, and chorus, with a dedicated FX send and return routing structure. The DSP algorithms are the same as those used in Allen & Heath's high-end digital console range.

A record bus allows all ten channels to be individually routed to the stereo recording output, which feeds both the RCA tape output and the USB port. A listen button per channel removes that channel from the main and record busses, routing it to the headphone bus — a useful feature for monitoring individual channel signals before adding them to the mix during live recording.

Main outputs consist of balanced XLR stereo outputs with 1/4" TRS insert points on each channel, allowing outboard limiters or EQs to be inserted at the master bus. A balanced 1/4" aux output and a separate FX bus output round out the output section. The USB 1.1 interface supports 16-bit stereo audio at up to 48 kHz to Mac or Windows computers running DAW software. The mixer is built with vertically mounted per-channel circuit boards, a construction that simplifies servicing if a single channel requires repair without requiring full disassembly.

Key Features

• 8 Mic/Line Channels — Balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs with low-noise, high-gain MixWizard-derived preamps on channels 1–8.
• 2 Class A FET Hi-Z Instrument Inputs — Channels 7 and 8 provide direct guitar/bass input with soft-overdrive character, eliminating the need for DI boxes in many scenarios.
• 3-Band Swept-Mid EQ — Sweepable midrange (120 Hz – 4 kHz) and 100 Hz HPF on all mono channels; 2-band shelving EQ on stereo channels.
• 16 Onboard Digital Effects — Reverbs, delays, doubler, flanger, and chorus using Allen & Heath flagship console DSP algorithms.
• Record Bus per Channel — Individual routing of each channel to the stereo record bus (USB and RCA tape out) for flexible live recording.
• Per-Channel Listen Button — Removes a channel from the main and record busses and routes it to headphones for isolated monitoring during a live recording.
• XLR Main Outputs with Insert Points — Balanced stereo main outputs with 1/4" TRS inserts for master bus outboard processing.
• USB Audio Interface — 16-bit stereo audio at up to 48 kHz via USB 1.1 to Mac or Windows DAW.
• Vertical Per-Channel Circuit Boards — Construction method that allows individual channel board replacement without full mixer disassembly.
• 48V Phantom Power — Applied globally to all inputs when switched on.

Typical Applications

• Live Sound — Small venue FOH mixing for bands, solo artists, and acoustic acts where Hi-Z inputs and onboard effects reduce the required equipment count.
• Recording Studio — Instrument and vocal tracking in home and project studios, with direct guitar input and USB computer recording.
• Broadcast and Conference Room — Compact mixing for radio broadcasts, podcast production, or small conference room audio reinforcement.

Technical Specifications

FAQ

What makes the Hi-Z inputs on channels 7 and 8 different from a standard line input?

The Hi-Z inputs use Class A FET circuits that present a high-impedance load suitable for guitar and bass pickups. They also have a soft overdrive character that adds a warm, harmonic quality when driven, similar to how a tube amplifier input responds. Standard line inputs are not optimized for this impedance or character.

Can I use a condenser microphone on the Hi-Z channels?

Channels 7 and 8 do accept XLR mic signals in addition to the Hi-Z input. Phantom power applies globally when switched on, so condenser microphones can be used on these channels.

Does the record bus capture the effects or only the dry signal?

The effects bus can be routed to the record bus, so you can choose to include the onboard effects in your recorded mix if desired.

Is the USB interface suitable for multitrack recording?

No. The USB interface provides stereo 2-in/2-out only. For multitrack recording, a separate audio interface or a digital console with multitrack USB capability is needed.

What does the listen button do and how is it useful in a live recording scenario?

The listen button removes the selected channel from the main and record busses, routing it only to the headphone output. This lets you audition a channel's signal and adjust its EQ or gain before adding it to the main mix or recording, without affecting what is being sent to speakers or recorded.

Does the ZED60-14FX require drivers for USB operation?

On most current Mac and Windows systems, the mixer operates as a class-compliant USB device without additional drivers. Check Allen & Heath's OS compatibility documentation for your specific operating system version.

What warranty is included?

Allen & Heath products include the manufacturer's limited warranty. Creation Networks provides post-purchase support and warranty assistance.