‘POINT & SHOOT’ MIXING
16 October 2014
You wouldn’t think modern cameras would offer inspiration for the design of a digital console, but the team behind QSC’s new TouchMix borrowed the ‘point and shoot’ idea from the world of photography.
“The camera with all the sophistication and image quality that the pro photographer wants can also be the same camera that offers the simplicity of the preset enabling the average person the ability to get impressive results,” explains QSC product manager and veteran tour and audio engineer Jon Graves.
Based on this philosophy, the TouchMix design team – including industry icons Greg Mackie and Peter Watts – decided to combine the functionality of a powerful digital mixer in a pre-configured, easy to use package with a capacitive touchscreen replacing the majority of controls, giving novice users an easier way to control their mix but leaving an advanced function for more seasoned users.
The result is a user- and transport-friendly, affordable mixer with the features and functionality of a high end professional console for musicians, bands, production professionals and live performance venues. Previewed at NAMM earlier this year, the newly available range comprises the TouchMix-8 and TouchMix-16, both around the size and weight of a laptop with features including an on-board set-up wizard, advanced preset libraries and help menus to assist users with channel configuration, proper gain adjustment and effects selection.
TouchMix-8 offers eight quality microphone preamps (four with XLR/TRS combos) plus two stereo inputs along with L/R outs and 4 mono aux outs. On TouchMix-16 the complement is 16 mic (four with XLR/TRS) along with eight auxiliaries (two for IEM feeds). All input channels include full function gates, compressors, four-band parametric EQ and channel selectable phantom power. Four multi-effects processors offer reverbs, delay, chorus and pitch change plus a pitch corrector. Output processing includes 1/3 octave graphic EQ, delay, limiter and notch filters.
All presets, custom settings and mixer scenes can be saved to internal memory or USB. Up to 22 tracks (all inputs plus a stereo mix) can be recorded directly to USB hard-drive and mixed down on TouchMix or exported to your favourite DAW.
Price and Availability:
TouchMix is iOS-controllable and a USB wi-fi adapter is included along with a zip-up padded carrying case. TouchMix-8 and TouchMix-16 retail for AU $1499 and $2199 respectively.
More Info: qsc.com
Australian Distribution:
Technical Audio Group: (02) 9519 0900 or www.tag.com.au
Excerpts from PR
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