Allen & Heath ZED-16FX 16-Channel USB Mixer, 10 DuoPre Preamps, 16 FX

Allen & Heath ZED-16FX: 16-Channel Live and Recording Mixer with Onboard Effects

The Allen & Heath ZED-16FX is a 16-channel analog mixer with ten DuoPre mic preamps, a built-in 16-effect engine, and a stereo USB interface, built for full-band live sound and recording. Sixteen channels combine ten mono mic/line inputs with three stereo channels, enough for a complete band plus playback and effects returns. It is the effects-equipped console in the larger ZED range; the ZED-18 offers the same channel class without onboard effects. Ten quality preamps, four aux sends, and built-in reverb make it a capable centerpiece for a gigging band or a busy worship stage. It scales up the ZED formula without losing portability.

Ten DuoPre Preamps with 69dB Gain

Ten mono channels each carry a DuoPre mic preamp delivering up to 69dB of gain with phantom power, so a whole band gets individual mic channels. The two-stage DuoPre design splits the gain to keep noise low even at high settings, so quiet mics reach level without hiss. That transparent headroom lets drums, vocals, and acoustic instruments all sit cleanly in the mix. Ten mic channels mean a drum kit, a couple of vocalists, and instruments never share an input. The preamp count is what puts the ZED-16FX into full-band territory.

Built-In 16-Effect Engine

An onboard 16-effect engine provides reverbs and delays directly on the console, so vocal ambience and slap delay are available without patching in a rack unit. Live, that keeps a full-band rig fast to set up and simple to run from one surface. The effects sit on a return so the dry mix stays clean and the wet blend is dialed to taste. For a worship team or a gigging band, built-in effects mean professional-sounding vocals without extra hardware. It is ambience on tap at the mixer.

MusiQ EQ and Four Aux Sends

Each mono channel carries a 3-band swept-mid MusiQ EQ that adapts its Q to the amount of boost or cut, keeping tonal moves musical across a busy stage. Four aux sends let the engineer build independent monitor mixes and feed effects or outboard processors, which is essential when a full band needs several monitor feeds. The swept midrange helps carve space for each instrument in a dense mix. Together the EQ and aux routing give real control over a sixteen-channel stage. It is enough to mix a real band well.

USB Recording and Rack-Ready Build

A built-in stereo USB audio interface running at 48kHz records the main mix to a computer and returns playback over one cable for capturing a show or streaming a service. Stereo main outputs plus monitor and headphone outputs feed a PA, stage monitors, and a control-room cue. The rugged Allen & Heath chassis is rack-mountable with the optional ZED-18-RK19 kit, so the console installs permanently or travels in a rack. That combination of recording and touring readiness suits venues that do both. One console covers the stage and the capture.

Who the ZED-16FX Is For

The ZED-16FX is aimed at live sound for bands and mid-size events, recording and rehearsal studios, houses of worship, and AV and multipurpose venues. It suits users who need ten mic channels and onboard effects in a mixer they can still move and rack-mount. The DuoPre preamps and 16-effect engine make it serious enough for recording as well as live, and four aux sends handle full-band monitoring. It mounts with the optional ZED-18-RK19 kit for install. For a full band that wants effects built in, it is a strong, portable choice.