Celebrations are in order – Heritage Audio’s Synth Buddy just got a… buddy? Expanding on from the Synth Buddy’s 10-to-1 routing passive switcher, the new Mix Buddy flips the script. Rather than a switching device, this routing hub is designed to connect your synths, samplers and drum machines, and it acts as a mixer.
Mix Buddy has a total of 19 inputs and eight outputs, allowing you to connect a wide range of kit into one central hub. The Mix Buddy then allows you to wield, mix and flick between a your wide arsenal – it’s essentially a compact, versatile mixing station for those keen to jam and experiment without the restriction of hooking things up to a DAW. As a result, it’s perfect for the studio or the stage.
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Each of the 19 inputs boast an “extremely low noise, high class audiophile grade” of Heritage Audio’s JFET technology, derived from the Toshiba 2SK JFET series. While there’s no restrictions to what instruments you can hook up, certain channels on the Mix Buddy were designed to suit specific instruments – the eight Hi Gain inputs may be best suited to passive basses and more vintage sounds, while while Unity Inputs, will suit more modern synths, drum machines and active basses.
Of the eight outputs, one boasts a Heritage Audio 73 active DI with custom transformers, while four include stereo high-gain channels and three stereo unity channels. The goal was one of marking a “new milestone in instrument amplification” technology, putting a heavy focus on tone. Every instrument level channel on the Mix Buddy can also be switched between stereo and mono + thru settings, entirely transforming your sound.
The set up allows users to choose between mic/line level, while also having a transformer-less output for monitoring. Elsewhere, there is also a single mic preamp channel with a JFET input stage, offering up to 70dB of gain.
The Mix Buddy also has effects routing capabilities, with each aux send path boasting its own dedicated global send and return controls. This means it can incorporate a chain of effects pedals in mono or stereo.
Elsewhere, there’s also a full microphone preamp, allowing you to transform your voice into another instrument in your mix. You can also route your voice through the Mix Buddy’s AUX effects loop, essentially allowing you to send your vocals directly though any effects pedals you might have connected to the Mix Buddy, too. There is a global mute switch, if you ever need to cut the noise entirely.
Source: MusicTech
