Allen & Heath Launches the Xone: DB2Digital Fix Mixer

	The new Xone:DB2.

Allen & Heath has unveiled the Xone: DB2, the latest model in its Xone: DB digital mixer range. The DB2 is a fully digital, state-of-the-art DJ mixer, incorporating two powerful multi-FX engines, and retaining all the essential elements of the flagship Xone:DB4 but at a price point that places it at the forefront of the highly competitive effects mixer market.

The DB2 has four input channels, each of which has a full input matrix that can select from four analogue, four USB, or two digital sources. The DB4 style "Trimodal EQ" has been included, which can be configured as a standard asymmetric EQ (+6/-25dB), total Kill (+6dB/OFF with a 24dB/octave slope), or a High-Pass/Low-Pass filter system with adjustable resonance. Each channel has a single routing switch that sends to the main mix, or to either of the two FX sections, and this control also assigns the crossfader.

There is a single microphone channel, which can also be switched to stereo line, providing two-band EQ, gain, cue, and mix level. Similar to the main input channels, this can also be routed to either of the FX units or direct to the main mix. Beneath the Mic channel is the headphone monitor system, and to the right of the main mixer is the master section, with main mix level, booth level, and the two FX sections.

Each FX engine has five basic studio quality FX types - based on the iLive pro-touring FX system and optimized for DJ use - 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. There is also a filter on the output of each FX bank, and each has a dedicated expression control and a rotary pot to set the wet/dry level, whilst further effect tweaking can be performed using the encoders beneath the OLED screen.

The OLED display is clearly visible even in bright sunlight, and displays the FX selection and current BPM, as well as being an easy and intuitive interface for the Menu set up functions. The mixer offers many user defined settings, such as meter mode, BPM range, USB audio routing scheme, display brightness, in addition to the extensive built-in FX library.

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

Like the DB4, the DB2 also has an X:LINK socket to allow easy integration of the new Xone:K2 software controller.

The Xone:DB2 also sports a stylish, lightweight aluminum chassis designed to make touring easy. Other features include crossfader and upfader curve controls, multi-point level metering, digital output, analogue balanced outputs for main mix and booth, and a record output with adjustable level.