New COMPACT Line of Mixers Designed for Computer Recording

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Soundcraft's newest micro-mixer, the COMPACT 4, is perfectly suited for many applications requiring simple mix facilities, but it really comes into its own when used for recording vocals and music onto a computer using a soundcard.

Several features have been specifically incorporated for this. First, it's simple to route an input straight to the record output merely by selecting the record button on the channel.

Second, a wide variety of input sources are catered for on this diminutive four-input mixer. These include microphone, line, and a special direct input (DI) for guitars and keyboards, plus stereo inputs for keyboards, CD/tape, or turntable (with RIAA equalization). This DI input matches the input impedance of the mixer to the output impedance of the instrument ensuring optimum professional-quality audio capture.

Third, listening while recording is made easier thanks to a special blend control that allows users to control the mix of the computer playback and signal of the track being recorded which are blended for the artist headphone output.

Using an external analog mixer for computer recording means zero-latency monitoring. In other words, musicians can listen to their tracks being recorded simultaneously with the playback from the computer, free from the inherent signal delay of the computer soundcard and host processor. A larger model, the COMPACT 10, is also available and features four mono and six stereo inputs, with additional 1/4-inch line input jack sockets on four of the stereo inputs.

Other standard features on the COMPACT include three-band EQ on the inputs, along with professional 48V phantom power for condenser microphones, dedicated balanced and unbalanced record and playback connections, independent engineer and artist headphone outputs, and monitor outputs. The dual headphone feeds provide a level of monitoring normally only found in large commercial studios.

All monitoring is in true stereo, rather than the mono-summed monitoring so what one hears is as it will be on the final master.

MSRP:

• COMPACT 4 - $149.99
• COMPACT 10 - $299.99

For more information, visit their web site at www.soundcraft.com.