Phoenix Audio Scion 16-Channel Analog Summing Mixer
The Newest Evolution of the Legendary Tone Machine
Analog Summing In The Digital Age
Recording software companies often boast about their “mixer,” but discerning engineers won’t settle for in-the-box mixing when the dimension, punch, and articulation of analog summing can vastly improve their productions. Phoenix Audio’s Nicerizer series summing mixers have earned a legendary reputation for delivering outstanding analog tone.
A Summing Mixer (Not Amplifier)
The distinction between a stereo mixer and a summing amplifier is important when considering your hybrid analog/digital setup. The Nicerizer is a true mixer, offering a fuller range of features that bring critical elements such as circuit overdrive and panning back into the analog realm, outperforming their digital emulations. With precision detented pan knobs on each of the 16 channels, the Nicerizer delivers unmatched stereo placement and ease of recall, contributing to its huge, open sound.
Driving a Versatile, Class-A Input Circuit with Selectable ‘Drive Technology’
The Nicerizer features a modern Class-A circuit design. Its transformerless input stage delivers the full frequency spectrum with unrivaled clarity and punch. While transformers can slow down transients, Phoenix Audio’s electronically balanced input stage allows for a faster, more transparent sound. You can also engage the drive switch on any of the 16 channels individually to introduce fatter, more saturated tones through the discrete Class-A buffer amps and custom-wound output transformers.
Legendary Transformer-Balanced Output Stage
Once mixed, the stereo signal passes through Phoenix Audio’s renowned custom-wound DB694 output transformers and discrete DSOP-2 output amplifiers. These amplifiers, developed as a forward-thinking upgrade for vintage Neve consoles, represent the pinnacle of Class-A output design, providing a smooth transition from ultra-clean to beautifully saturated tones.
Analog Panning and Three Unique Stereo Color Buses
The Scion offers true analog panning on 21-position detented pots for greater control, allowing for far greater depth and separation than in-the-box panning. Additionally, it features three stereo buses offering unique tonal color options:
- Color: Classic Phoenix Audio transformer output, delivering the most colored sound with our newest evolution of Class-A discrete output amplifiers.
- Clean: The purest signal path, offering sparkling highs and robust lows without any artifacts coloring the signal.
- Mix: A creative control that allows you to blend between ‘clean’ and ‘color’ for a flexible output that can serve as a wet/dry control.
All outputs can be used simultaneously, allowing mix engineers to record three distinct mixes at once, offering clients a variety of sonic options.
Extra Features That Quickly Become Essentials
- Stereo Width Control: The Scion’s width control uses Mid/Side processing to manipulate the stereo image, allowing for a narrower or wider sound field.
- Balanced, Unbalanced: No Problem: The Scion’s 16 individual inputs can accept both balanced and unbalanced signals without the typical gain loss associated with most mixers, making it ideal for integrating guitar pedals or real-time MIDI synth recording during mixing.
- Stereo Bus Insert: Strap any balanced or unbalanced gear onto the main mix bus for added control—perfect for attaching a bus compressor or EQ.
- Independently Controlled Aux Output: Provides a separate output signal before hitting the output transformers, bypassing the output stage if desired.
- Bus Linking: Need more than 16 channels? With bus linking, you can create a 32-channel system, using the master and slave switch.
