[NAMM] Allen & Heath Xone:DB4

Other key features are multi-channel USB audio with MIDI, analogue and digital I/O, input source matrix, OLED display screen, and USB for recalling user set ups.

The heart of the Xone:DB4 is the Quad FX Core DSP engine, enabling each channel to have its own FX bank and BPM detection system, which adjusts all time-related FX and loops to the tempo of the music. There are 5 basic studio quality FX types, comprising delays, reverbs, modulators, resonators and damage, plus each FX type has a patch library of different effect variations that can be assigned to the relevant control. Each FX bank has a dedicated expression control and a rotary pot to set the wet/dry level, whilst further effect tweaking can be performed using the global controllers in the FX master section.

In addition to the FX, each channel has a built-in looper, with selectable loop length from 1/64 beat to 4 bars using the rotary encoder. No matter what loop length is selected, the Xone:DB4 will always record the maximum of 4 bars, so the loop can be expanded or shrunk. With a layout similar to the Xone:92, there are also two filter banks on either side of the main mix channels.

Each music channel can select any of the available stereo audio sources: Analogue Line 1–4 (switchable to Phono on 2 – 3), Digital 1–4, or USB 1–4. Additionally, the Mic/Auxiliary channel can be routed through channel 1 for further processing.

Each music channel has a 3-band EQ that can be configured as standard asymmetric EQ (+6/-25dB), total Kill (+6dB/OFF with a 24dB/octave slope), or reconfigured as a High-Pass/Low-Pass filter system with adjustable resonance. The EQ knobs incorporate an illuminated pointer that changes colour as a visual aid to show which type of equalization has been selected.

There is a Mic/Auxiliary input to the left of the main mixer section, providing 2-band EQ, gain, cue, and mix level. This can also be routed to channel 1 if you wish to add FX to this channel. To the right of the main mixer is the master section, with main mix level, booth level, and headphone monitoring system.

The OLED display is designed to be visible even in bright sunlight, and displays each channel FX selection and current BPM, as well as being an interface for the Menu set up functions. The mixer offers user defined settings, such as meter mode, BPM range, USB audio routing scheme, display brightness, in addition to the built-in FX library, and these settings can be saved to a USB key for recall on another unit, such as in a fixed club installation.

There is a built-in, multi-channel USB2 soundcard allowing replay and recording from computer-based audio software for 4 stereo sends and 4 stereo returns. All controls (except Mic and Phones level) send MIDI data but the mixer can double up as a MIDI controller via the MIDI shift button, which allows the Loop and FX selection controls to send MIDI data without changing the mixer settings.

The Xone:DB4 has a new aluminium chassis. Other features include assignable deck starts, crossfader and upfader curve controls, 13-point level metering, digital output, analogue balanced outputs for main mix and booth, and a record output with adjustable level.

For more information, visit www.xone.co.uk.