Allen & Heath
Allen & Heath AH-ZED12FX Multipurpose Mixer w/ FX
★★★★★
XLR48VPhantom powercondenser
A feature-packed compact mixer with 6 mic preamps, built-in effects, and USB recording for live and studio use.
View price on Amazon
Affiliate Disclosure: Studio Supplies may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. This helps support our editorial team.
Notice a mistake? Let Us Know
Overview
Key Features
DuoPre XLR Microphone preamps, including 48V Phantom power for condenser microphones and up to 69dB of gain. Each preamp uses two gain stages to provide a full and accurate sound across the entire gain range with enough power for even the most gain hungry mics.
A 100Hz High Pass Filter on every mono input allows unneeded low frequencies to be removed, then the 3-band MusiQ EQ with swept mid frequency uses carefully selected frequencies to ensure your sound sculpting is always musical. Cut or boost highs and lows with shelving EQ and use the mid frequency selection to choose exactly where to adjust the mid frequencies, especially useful for vocals, guitar and other instruments with a rich mid-range.
A built-in, studio quality multi-FX unit provides 16 different, tweakable FX types including reverbs, delays and modulation with tap tempo to keep everything in time. These are not your average compact mixer FX either, using algorithms developed entirely in-house by our DSP experts rather than an ‘off-the-shelf’ chip.
A routable stereo-in stereo-out USB connection makes it easy to record the whole main mix or just the channels you need and enables a stereo return from the connected device to be routed back to the mix. It’s also class compliant and does not require drivers, meaning not just Mac and Windows computers can be connected, but also many mobile devices such as tablets or even smart phones.
Optional rack ear kit [ZED1402-RK19] securely fits the mixer into a standard 19” rack or flight case.
6 Mic, 6 Line/ Inst, 3 Stereo (2 Left, 2 Right ), 2 USB Audio, 1 FX Return
Specifications
Brand
Allen & Heath
Model
AH-ZED12FX
Mono Channels
6 Mic/Line
Stereo Channels
3
USB Audio
2 channels (stereo in/out, class compliant)
FX Return
1
Preamps
DuoPre XLR with 48V Phantom Power, up to 69dB gain
EQ
3-band MusiQ with sweepable mid frequency
Effects
16 types (reverb, delay, modulation) with tap tempo
High Pass Filter
100Hz on every mono input
Optional Rack Kit
ZED1402-RK19 (sold separately)
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- DuoPre preamps deliver up to 69dB of gain with a full, accurate sound across the entire range.
- Built-in multi-FX unit with 16 Allen & Heath-designed algorithms eliminates the need for external effects processors.
- Class-compliant USB interface works without drivers on computers and mobile devices for easy recording.
- 3-band MusiQ EQ with sweepable mids provides precise tone shaping on every mono channel.
- 100Hz high-pass filter on each mono input helps clean up rumble and low-end mud at the source.
👎 Cons
- Does not include a rack mount kit — the optional ZED1402-RK19 ears must be purchased separately.
- USB interface is limited to stereo in and stereo out, so multitrack recording of individual channels is not possible.
- At 6 mono channels, larger bands or productions may outgrow it and need a bigger console.
- No motorized faders or digital recall, so settings must be noted manually between sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many input channels does the Allen & Heath ZED12FX have?
The ZED12FX offers 6 mono mic/line channels, 3 stereo input channels, 2 USB audio channels, and 1 FX return — providing enough connectivity for small bands, podcast setups, and studio mixing.
Does the ZED12FX include built-in effects?
Yes, it features a studio-quality multi-FX unit with 16 different effect types including reverbs, delays, and modulation. These are Allen & Heath's own algorithms, not generic off-the-shelf processing, and include tap tempo control.
Can I record directly to a computer with this mixer?
Yes, the ZED12FX has a class-compliant USB audio interface that provides stereo-in, stereo-out connectivity. No drivers are needed, and it works with Mac, Windows, and many mobile devices including tablets and smartphones.
Does the ZED12FX provide phantom power for condenser microphones?
Yes, the DuoPre XLR microphone preamps include 48V phantom power, allowing you to use condenser microphones directly with the mixer.
Can the ZED12FX be rack-mounted?
Yes, an optional rack ear kit (ZED1402-RK19) is available separately to securely fit the mixer into a standard 19-inch rack or flight case.
Related Products
