Allen & Heath ZED-10FX and Multitrack Recording

Before you start

The ZED-10FX is a compact analogue mixer with a built-in effects section and a USB audio interface. The USB connection is not designed as a conventional multitrack interface that sends every mixer channel to separate tracks. Instead, the mixer sends a stereo mix to the computer over USB, so a typical recording session captures a left and right pair rather than isolated per-channel audio.

Check the exact documentation for your mixer revision before buying cables or planning a session. Confirm whether the computer already has a suitable driver, and connect the mixer directly to a USB port rather than through an unpowered hub. If phantom power is needed for condenser microphones, connect the microphones before switching phantom power on, and switch it off before disconnecting them.

The process runs locally between the mixer and the recording computer. You need the mixer, a compatible USB cable, a computer with recording software, and the audio sources connected to the mixer.

Step-by-step instructions

Set the master fader down and keep channel faders low before connecting the mixer to the computer. This prevents a sudden loud signal from reaching headphones or speakers during setup.

Connect the mixer to the computer with a USB cable. In your recording software, create a stereo audio track and select the ZED-10FX USB device as the input. Some systems may expose it by a generic name, so identify the device by checking the available inputs after the mixer is switched on.

Set the project sample rate and buffer size. A smaller buffer reduces delay while monitoring, but may cause clicks on lower-powered computers. A larger buffer can be used during playback or mixing if the recording computer struggles.

Bring up the channel gain while the source is playing at its intended level. Use the channel meter or the recording software meter to keep the loudest section below clipping. Bring up the channel fader, then the master fader, so that the stereo USB output reaches a usable level without going into the red.

Record a short test take. Play it back and check that the level is stable, the left and right balance is sensible, and any mixer effects are present only if you intended to record them. The effects section affects the sound that is sent to the USB mix in normal use, so record a dry signal unless the effect should be permanent.

Check the output

Open the recorded file in your audio software and confirm that audio is present on both channels where expected. Inspect the waveform for clipping and listen to the take at a moderate volume. The result should be a stereo recording that matches the mixer's main mix, with no unexpected effects or channel imbalance.

Keep in mind that the typical recording result is a stereo file, not a set of separated multitrack stems. If the project requires individually editable channels, the ZED-10FX alone may not provide that routing. Your software and operating system may also set the practical audio format and stability, so check the recorded file's sample rate and bit depth in the project settings.

Common problems and next steps

If the computer does not show the mixer as an input, reconnect the USB cable and test a different port. Avoid using an unpowered hub, and close other software that may be using the audio device. On some systems, the mixer must be connected before the recording application is launched before it appears in the input list.

If the recording is quiet, noisy, or distorted, first correct the gain before changing faders. Weak gain can force you to raise levels later and bring up background noise, while excessive gain produces clipping. Set gain with the loudest expected signal, then adjust the channel and master faders.

If clicks, dropouts, or sync errors appear, increase the buffer size. If you need lower delay while monitoring, raise the buffer only as much as needed and close unnecessary programs. Keep the recording software's input and output devices matched to the mixer where possible.

When multitrack separation is essential, plan for a different interface that provides separate USB outputs per channel. The ZED-10FX can still be useful for live sound, monitoring, and capturing a stereo mix, but do not expect the USB connection to isolate individual mixer inputs into separate tracks.