Published 18/3/08
U420 & U420D Audio interface/mixers
In today’s world of powerful DAWs and multiple external audio sources, there comes the need for flexible hardware that can integrate with a range of different systems and setups.
For example, a bedroom music producer’s rig will be completely different to that of a prolific Podcaster, and equally different to the setup of a hobbyist video producer. Mackie’s U Series products, launched at Frankfurt, have been designed to meet what Mackie call the “eclectic application needs” of the modern multimedia software and hardware user, and look to be especially useful to the desktop musician.
There are two products in the range, the U420 and the U420D, and they both offer audio interface, mixer and monitor-control functionality.
The U420 (left) has four stereo line inputs, with the option to plug in instrument-level and phono signals. Top panel controls are simple: each channel has rotary controls for gain, a three-band fixed-frequency EQ, an Aux send and the channel level control, while the central section offers a headphone level knob and a large monitor level control. Each input channel has a signal present LED and there’s eight-step metering in the centre of the device.
The U420D has a slightly different feature set from the standard U420. Channels one and two have phantom-powered mic preamps and their EQs have swept mid-range bands. Channels three and four feature both line and phono inputs and share a crossfader, which allows the user to create smooth segues between the two sources: a feature that’s essential for DJs.
Both units have a stereo Firewire audio interface built-in, which sends the mixer’s stereo output to the connected DAW, and returns the main stereo output from whatever software you’re using. This stereo return can be routed to the headphones and mixed with the mixer’s inputs for zero-latency monitoring, and it can be removed from the stereo mix to avoid feedback loops occurring when your DAW channels are armed.
The new U-series products should be shipping in June, costing 249 Euros and 299 Euros for the U420 and U420D respectively.
Below, Paul White takes a peek at the new products on Mackie's booth at Musikmesse.
Mackie + 44 (0)1494 557398
www.mackie.com
In today’s world of powerful DAWs and multiple external audio sources, there comes the need for flexible hardware that can integrate with a range of different systems and setups. For example, a bedroom music producer’s rig will be completely different to that of a prolific Podcaster, and equally different to the setup of a hobbyist video producer. Mackie’s U Series products, launched at Frankfurt, have been designed to meet what Mackie call the “eclectic application needs” of the modern multimedia software and hardware user, and look to be especially useful to the desktop musician.
There are two products in the range, the U420 and the U420D, and they both offer audio interface, mixer and monitor-control functionality.
The U420 (left) has four stereo line inputs, with the option to plug in instrument-level and phono signals. Top panel controls are simple: each channel has rotary controls for gain, a three-band fixed-frequency EQ, an Aux send and the channel level control, while the central section offers a headphone level knob and a large monitor level control. Each input channel has a signal present LED and there’s eight-step metering in the centre of the device.
The U420D has a slightly different feature set from the standard U420. Channels one and two have phantom-powered mic preamps and their EQs have swept mid-range bands. Channels three and four feature both line and phono inputs and share a crossfader, which allows the user to create smooth segues between the two sources: a feature that’s essential for DJs.
Both units have a stereo Firewire audio interface built-in, which sends the mixer’s stereo output to the connected DAW, and returns the main stereo output from whatever software you’re using. This stereo return can be routed to the headphones and mixed with the mixer’s inputs for zero-latency monitoring, and it can be removed from the stereo mix to avoid feedback loops occurring when your DAW channels are armed.
The new U-series products should be shipping in June, costing 249 Euros and 299 Euros for the U420 and U420D respectively.
Below, Paul White takes a peek at the new products on Mackie's booth at Musikmesse.
Mackie + 44 (0)1494 557398
www.mackie.com
