ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 DJ Mixer

DJ Mixer

ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 is an all-analog DJ mixer, built without compromise, with an extremely intuitive layout and designed by engineer Andy Rigby-Jones in collaboration with the renowned DJ and producer Richie Hawtin over two years of testing carried out at major electronic music events and international clubs by artists, DJs, and sound engineers.
Assembled in England by DigiCo and Allen & Heath, ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 is a 6-channel mixer plus two stereo returns, presented in a classic desktop club chassis, made of a special steel alloy with excellent resistance. Unique features such as a drive control on the input preamplifiers, hybrid filters/EQ on each channel, a dual cueing system, the possibility of interconnection to combine two mixers into a single system, and the presence of balanced Tascam DB25 connectors make this mixer an optimal product for the most demanding clubs and a true creative tool for the recording studio, for live electronic music performers, and for all DJ Producers who do not like to compromise when it comes to audio quality.
ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 is a mixer based on pure analog circuitry, adopting technologies typically used in high-end studio consoles: from fully balanced buses to zero-crossing detectors, for immediate and artifact-free filtering and routing during activation and use of the various filters and equalizers. On the 6 channels there are stereo line inputs on RCA jacks (L and R), but alternatively, sources can be taken from the two "DSub In" connectors using the RCA Line/DSub push-button switch. There are two inputs on TASCAM DB25 connectors for a total of 8 stereo channels: 6 inputs and 2 returns. These connectors will facilitate fixed installations in clubs and recording studios, allowing direct connection to audio interfaces or professional patch-bays. High-performance RIAA preamplifiers are integrated into the inputs of channels 3, 4, and 5, activatable by a special red button located near the RCA inputs; these are optimized for club use thanks to a special rumble attenuation circuit and are accompanied by a special screw for connecting turntable ground. In addition to the Trim (gain) potentiometer, each channel has a rotary "Drive" control for signal saturation, usable both in music production phases and during a live set given the harmonic distortion induced by saturation, which is a source of possible creative effects. On the channel strips of the 6 channels there is a particular hybrid filtering system composed of two filters, a low-pass and a high-pass, and a semi-parametric equalizer with a wide bell curve that allows intervention on the mid-range thanks to the two rotary frequency controls (70Hz/7kHz) and asymmetric gain (cut/boost) (+8/-20dB). The 60mm travel vertical faders for managing the volume of individual channels are dual-rail, "studio" quality. Each channel has a dedicated meter composed of 10 LEDs. The Aux potentiometers allow sending the signal of individual channels to the two stereo Send outputs (Aux 1 and Aux 2) available on 1/4" Jack connectors, and therefore to the input of any external effects processors, or for particular monitoring situations. Aux 1 can be configured on each channel in pre or post-fader mode using the appropriate buttons; Aux 2 is internally set to post-fader.
ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 is also equipped with two stereo inputs for as many return channels to which the outputs of external multi-effects or other sources can be connected. These two channels, located on the left of the console, are provided with TRIM and Drive controls, a rotary Level potentiometer for volume management, a button for sending to the cue, and a 4-LED meter for visual level monitoring. Both Return channels can be filtered by a single high-pass (low cut) and conveyed via a specific switch to the Master Filter input.
The Master Filter is a filtering section applicable to one or more mixer channels, which can be routed to it via specific eponymous switches. The Master Filter includes a high-pass filter with cutoff and resonance controls and a low-pass filter. This filtering section can be used for classic "sweep" effects (rotation of cutoff controls) during performances, or pre-set to apply immediate cuts (Kill) on the high or low frequencies of the signal routed to it.
In ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1, a particular dual cueing system has been adopted, which sees two CUE buttons on each channel: A and B. Cue A sends the signal to the headphones connected on the right side of the mixer, while Cue B sends it to the cueing section on the left. The two cue buses are completely independent of each other, two separate output channels, both equipped with two 1/4" Jack and mini-jack headphone sockets, split function, Cue/Mix blending, and rotary volume control. The summing in ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 uses a fully balanced system normally integrated into high-end analog studio consoles, which guarantees a high dynamic range, greater than 110dB, with a natural attenuation of artifacts and disturbances such as hum, background noise, and crosstalk. On the Master channel, a 3-band equalizer with asymmetric gains (-20/+6dB) is available to be used as a creative tool, or as a normal EQ for compensating frequency levels.
There are two stereo Master outputs with independent rotary volume controls: "1" on XLR connectors, "2" on 1/4" TRS Jack connections. The Booth output uses 1/4" TRS Jack sockets and, in addition to the classic independent rotary volume control compared to the two masters, can count on a two-band equalizer (bass and treble). The Record output on a 3.5mm TRS mini-jack connector, with a nominal output level of -2dB, is located in the upper right corner on the Model 1 console. External recorders can be connected to this, which will receive the Master signal (pre-fader, post Master Eq) of the mixer as input. The DSub output allows the connection of the Master, Aux 1, Aux 2, and Cue B outputs to a patch-bay or an audio interface via a single standard TASCAM DB25 cable. The two 9-pin DSub Link In and Link Out connectors (for RS232 cables, for example) allow cascading multiple ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1s, for two-mixer performances, or to expand the number of channels of your console. Connected to each other, the mixers can share the same amplification system, therefore the Master and Booth outputs and the cueing system (see the included manual). For power, ALLEN & HEATH PLAY DIFFERENTLY MODEL 1 requires an external power supply (24V, 90W). Inside the instrument, 24V is converted by high-frequency switching technology to +/-20V. Thanks to the two sockets for connecting as many power supplies (PSU), something usually only available in high-end consoles for live concerts and broadcasting, you can work in absolute tranquility, as the mixer's power will be guaranteed even if one of the two power supplies, or one of the two power lines to which you connect them, encounter problems.

Specifications

• Maximum Output Level: +28dBu balanced; +23dBu unbalanced
• Output Impedance: 50R balanced, 68R unbalanced
• Residual Noise: -100dBu (22Hz/20kHz)
• Dynamic Range: >112dB
• Frequency Response: 20Hz/40kHz, +0/-2dB
• Distortion (THD+N): 0.008% from Line In to Mix 1 out, 0dBu Unity Gain
• Inter-channel Crosstalk: < -100dB
• Left/Right Crosstalk: -80dB 1kHz
• Power Consumption: Max 50W

Dimensions

• Length: 370 mm
• Width: 320 mm
• Height: 115 mm
• Weight: 5.4 Kg