ZED-6FX
6 Channel Live + Recording Mixer User Guide
Thank you for purchasing this Allen & Heath ZED-6FX.
We recommend that you read all of this user guide to get the best from your mixer and after
reading, please keep this safe for future reference.
Included in this package is:
ZED-6FX Mixer
IEC C5 Mains Power Cable. Please
check correct mains plug is fitted for your country.
This User Guide!
1. Get to know your mixer
1.1 MONO INPUT CHANNELS (M)
1. Mic Input Socket
uses a standard 3-Pin XLR socket for connecting dynamic or
condenser microphones.
2. Line / Inst Input Socket
uses a standard 1/4” (6.25mm) Jack socket for
connecting balanced or unbalanced signals such as guitars and other instruments.
3. Gain Control
adjusts the gain of the input preamplifier to drive the source
signal level. Gain ranges from 5dB to 60dB.
4. Instrument
activates the
Line / Inst input
circuit for electro-acoustic and
electric guitars, basses and other Direct Input instruments. When activated the
Mic Input Socket
is disabled.
5. lo-cut
(Hi-Pass Filter) is used for reducing Low Frequency noise such as handling
noise, popping, rumble and proximity effect in microphone signals.
6. HF EQ
(High Frequency) equaliser affects treble frequencies in the signal for
adding “brightness” and “definition” or for reducing “hiss” and “harshness”.
7. LF EQ
(Low Frequency) equaliser affects bass frequencies in the signal to
cover “boom” and “sub-bass” frequencies.
8. FX send
controls the amount of signal sent from the channel to the FX buss
and the
FX OUT
. The signal is post-fader (
MIX
) which means it’s affected by the
channel
MIX
control so it stays in proportion to the signal going to the
MAIN MIX
.
There is no master level control for the
FX OUT
.
9. PAN
adjusts signal from a mono input channel between the left and right
busses and subsequently the main outputs.
10. MIX
rotary fader controls the amount of signal to the left and right busses.
11. Pre-Fade Listen (PFL)
switches the channel input signal to the headphones
for checking before adding it to Mix. The
PFL
signal is taken after the
EQ
but
before the
MIX
control.
The
LR Meters
display the channel input level when the
PFL
switch is activated.
1.3 MASTER SECTION
1. MAIN OUT L & R
are line level outputs for the main stereo mix using standard XLR output
connectors and are impedance balanced for rejection of unwanted interference.
2. 48V
switches industry standard 48V (phantom power) to all the microphone inputs for use
with condenser microphones and active D.I. boxes req48V.
3. POWER LED
indicates that the mixer is switched on.
4. LR Meters
display the level of the
MAIN MIX
or the mono
PFL
signal if activated by any of
the
PFL
switches.
5. MAIN MIX fader
is the master volume control for the main stereo mix.
6. PFL (Pre-Fade Listen) LED
indicates when a
PFL
switch has been pressed on one of the
channels.
7. PHONES level
controls the volume of signal to the
PHONES output
.
Warning!
To avoid damage to your hearing do not operate headphones or sound system
at excessively high volume. Continued exposure to high volume sound can cause frequency
selective or wide range hearing loss!
!
8.
PHONES output
uses a standard 1/4” (6.25mm) jack socket.
1.2 STEREO INPUT CHANNELS (ST)
ST1
and
ST2 Inputs
use standard 1/4” (6.25mm) Jack sockets for balanced or
unbalanced line level stereo sources such as professional keyboards, drum ma-
chines and other pro audio equipment.
ST1
and
ST2 Gain Control
adjusts the input level to the channel.
HF
and
LF EQ
are the same for
ST1
&
ST2
as they are for
M1
&
M2
and are set at
the same frequencies.
BAL
adjusts the relative level between the left and right stereo signals as they
are sent to the left and right busses and subsequently the main outputs.
2.1 “Zeroing”
It’s good practice to “zero” your mixer and turn down relevant channels before
connecting any devices as this prevents potential damage to speakers or other
equipment.
Follow these steps to make sure you’re safe and you avoid thumps and bangs
when plugging equipment in.
Speakers should always be switched
ON LAST
and
OFF FIRST!
1.
Make sure the power switch on the rear of the mixer is set to “
OFF
”
2.
Connect the AC Mains Lead provided to the
AC MAINS IN
socket on the rear of the
mixer.
Check that the correct mains plug is fitted for your country and plug the AC Mains Lead
into a standard household mains socket.
3.
Turn channel
Gain
controls all the way down (left).
4.
Make sure
Instrument
,
HPF
,
PFL
and
48V
switches are not pressed in.
5.
Set all channel
EQ
and
PAN
controls to the centre position marked “▼”
6.
Turn all
FX send, AUX send
and
MIX
controls all the way down (left).
7.
Lower the
MAIN MIX fader
to “
∞
”.
8.
Turn down the
PHONES level
.
9.
Double check speakers or amplifiers are switched off!
10.
Connect speakers, instruments and other equipment.
11.
Switch on instruments and other equipment, then mixer,
THEN
speakers !
Speaker or amp volumes should be set according to manufacturer guidelines.
!
2. Good practice
3.1 Connecting Microphones
Dynamic or condenser microphones and DI boxes should be connected to the
Mic Input Socket
using a balanced XLR Microphone cable.
If you‘re using a condenser microphone, it will require
48V
Phantom Power to work.
Some active DI boxes may also require phantom power.
Avoid ‘hot plugging’ when connecting any equipment and make sure
AUX MASTER
and
MAIN MIX
controls
are turned down
before
48V
is switched on as this as may cause loud thumps and bangs!
3.2 Connecting Instruments and Line-Level Equipment
High-Impedance (Hi-Z) instruments such as electro-acoustic guitars, basses and other Direct
Input instruments should be connected to
Line / Inst Inputs
on channels
M1
&
M2
using a jack to
jack instrument cable, and do not require an additional DI box or preamp.
The
Instrument
switch must be activated to match extremely high impedance signals (10MΩ)
from instrument pickups.
Line level instruments such as keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines or equipment such as
external effect processors can be connected to
Line / Inst Inputs
on channels
M1
&
M2,
and
LINE
inputs on
M3
&
M4
for mono sources or
ST1
&
ST2
for stereo sources.
For channels
M3
&
M4
the
LINE/PAD
switch must be activated.
Follow the application examples in Section 7. for connecting devices to relevant input and outputs
.
4.1 Gain Structure
1.
Once you’ve connected your instruments and equipment you will need to set input levels before
you can mix the signals together.
2.
Gain structure is important to get the maximum signal level without undesirable distortion.
Setting gain properly helps to optimise signal quality and ensure that the signal to noise ratio
remains as low as possible.
3.
If you‘re using a microphone make sure the mic is placed at an appropriate distance to the sound
source. (Close for quiet sources, further away for louder).
4.
Press the
PFL
switch on the corresponding channel. This will allow you to hear the pre-fader
input signal and will show the signal level on the
LR Meters
.
5.
Sing, talk or play your instrument at a typical level of loudness.
6.
Slowly raise the
Gain Control
on the corresponding channel until you see a good signal level in
the
LR Meters
. Maximum peaks between “
0
” and “
+6
” on the meters are a good indicator.
7.
Connect professional monitoring headphones to the
Phones
output
and turn up the
PHONES
level
to a safe listening volume.
!
8.
If the signal sounds undesirably distorted at a low signal level, enable any pad switch on the
microphone, or move the microphone further away from the source and repeat the process.
Once you’re happy with the input signal level, you may wish to use
lo-cut
(Hi-pass Filter) and the
EQ
to enhance intelligibility or to remove unwanted frequencies, and improve the tonal balance of the
source sound, so keep the channel
PFL
switch enabled for now!
Section 4. continued overleaf...
4. Get the best sound
3. Connect mics, instruments and other equipment
