Allen & Heath ZEDi-8

My task were to play small band (e-drums, e-guitar, bass, keyboard) and solution was to get a Mixer. Getting 4 parallel (independent) inputs are not easy, as it is not exact number that you get on tag (8-channel = 4, 6 channel = 3, etc.) In the beginning I was looking on Yamaha, MG06, MG10 and other many options available. And to my surprise there are ZED series from Allen & Heath for very competitive price.
Winning points towards ZED are following:
- 2 Hi-Z inputs - no DI box required for guitar connection
- EQ on 4! channels (4 independent channels)
- PFL on all channels
Those just a few to mention.

Initially I have ordered ZED6FX mainly lead by positive comments. But during first test I understood that FX engine didn't that usable with guitar and my set overall, it fit more towards mic use (vocals), which is not my use case.
If you use PG Spark amps and controls (like me) there are endless effects options and more creative possibilities. So I decided to switch to ZEDi8 which doesn't have built in FX engine but have one big key difference - build in 2x2 USB Audio Interface - and this is a game changer!

It is important to highlight that in ZEDi8 USB interface is an independent (!) channel not combined with other channels (like for example in ZEDi10 it's combined with ST2 - pay attention if you looking on it)

I am know happy owner of all-in-one ZEDi8 - mixer and audio interface.
Great build quality and feel of knobs. Some comment mentions about odor - not at all, and plastic external frame, which to me is more pro than con, considering that it will play a role of bumper.

Regarding built in Audio Interface - all work fine with Garage Band, Cubase. But there is a trick if you are using with your iPhone or iPad - do not connect directly to the phone/pad port but trough USB hub, otherwise you will get only sound out but not in.

As said previously USB interface it is independent channel (no EQ) so you can also mix in audio from your iphone or iPad with connected MIDI controller - that is huge advantage. So you get total 5 independent channels in this Mixer which is amazing for it's price.

Absolutely recommend it!

- Hi-Fi quality mixer for home musicians
- USB interface
- perfect as Headphone Amp
Unlike other small, low channel mixers, this has perfect sound quality, and it is also a USB interface in one solid case. Plus! > it serves as a great headphone amp as well, and a very good one for the money.
Nice design, clear layout, enough functions for a serious musician.
Cant think any cons, even the price is reasonable.

I use this small mixer at home but whenever I need it for gigs, it is super easy to take as well. The instructions it comes with are very detailed and clear yet fit on a couple of pages, so I just plugged it in and started using it to its full capacity. Perfect for recording in your DAW - I am not sure if it is my personal taste but I even like the sound and performance on Ableton slightly better with it than with my Roland SPD-SX as an interface.
It is a small mixer and on the EQ side you don't get much but since I use it with synthesizer and an my iPad - drum machine (seekbeats) and synth apps - Moog 15 and Animoog, I don't really need an EQ on the mixer.
Tried it with my bass and it works great - I am not a bass player though so I can't give too much info on this topic but the sound was crystal clear both in headphones, speakers and DAW.
Used it as well to record vocals - again great quality - no problems at all.

i use many old sound cards in my retro pcs and i would have bought earlier... it helps a lot, great sound quality. the headphone is not mono of course - just the previous reviewer cannot use the mixer. very good pairing with the adam t5v.

big con to the cheaper mixers: you can set the input level well, not just mix the output.

i found smaller issues:
* the usb interface is not so sophisticated, it works well, has great sound - but the sound level looks different to the mixer levels itself. eg the playing headroom is too big - i set ~50% of the volume to a good "average" input, but at the recording i had to overdrive the inputs to get the right recording level.
* after disable the speaker output, it is not completely muted. a little bit confusing, for the headphone you got two level output volume, for the speaker just one.