Rotary mixers, so hot right now!
We [I] wrote a couple of weeks ago about the AlphaTheta announcing the euphonia four channel digital rotary mixer, and how it might stack up against established hardware in that category. Well, here’s another rotary mixer with a twist: The Audiotonix kit-based DIY 2-channel rotary mixer.
The name Audiotonix might not be one that resonates with us DJs, but it’s the parent company of Allen & Heath, makers of the Xone series of DJ mixers. The mixer is a USB powered analogue rotary with classic styling and old school VU meters for the master output. It comes as a kit with three PCBs, and the only thing you’ll need to bring yourself is a soldering station.
While the kits will cost nearly £300 for the average customers, the scheme is designed to funnel that money into more kits for education, with discounts and free kits available, the more get sold.
Below is the full press release. It’s not made explicit in there of what is included, but I’ve confirmed with Audiotonix that the kit includes everything apart from the soldering iron, meaning it’s ready to be built as soon as you are!
Audiotonix go full STEAM ahead with new educational program
Global Professional Audio group launch kit-based DJ mixer project to help develop STEM and audio engineering and mixing skills
Chessington April 2nd, 2024 — Audiotonix has proudly announced that they will be introducing the first and only Audiotonix branded product, the STEAM powered DJ mixer kit, as part of a new educational initiative. Designed to engage the next generation of engineers, the self-assembly mixer provides students with new engineering and technology skills and provides schools and education groups with a practical project based on real world audio technology.
“The idea behind STEAM is simple” states James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix. “Our brands, and many of our partners and customers too, are struggling to bring new talent into our industry. If we want continued success then it’s our collective responsibility to help develop the next generation of engineers, starting whilst they are at school. To build more interest in engineering and help develop these core STEM skills, we have created a kit-based, USB powered, 2-channel DJ audio mixer that students can build and assemble themselves or as a team”.
Helen Culleton, COO of Audiotonix continues, “With the help of our global partners, schools, youth groups and charities will be able to get kits at a heavily discounted pricing or for free, and the aim is that, for all units sold, we reinvest all the monies back into building more kits that will get into the hands of students who wouldn’t normally get access to this opportunity. It’s a start, and our aim is to create further STEM and audio engineering initiatives in the future.”
The STEAM mixer itself is comprised of three printed circuit boards (PCB’s) with individual through hole components that need to be soldered in place. The mixer can be simply assembled with the supplied metalwork to make the finished, professional grade, DJ mixer. As its USB 2.0 (USB B) powered, STEAM is safe to build and easy to use in any location and jurisdiction. With dedicated instructions and video content on how to build and use, students will gain an understanding of how the different technical elements work together to create a product they can use to develop their creative skills too.
STEAM DJ mixer kits are available at £299.95 plus local tax. To find out more and to register you interest in participating in the program, please head to the Audiotonix website: www.audiotonix.com/steam
About Audiotonix
Audiotonix is a global market leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of professional audio mixing consoles and ancillary products. With innovative solutions from premium audio brands Allen & Heath, Calrec, DiGiCo, DiGiGrid, Fourier Audio, KLANG:technologies, Harrison, Slate Digital, Solid State Logic, sonible, and Sound Devices, our products are used extensively in live sound, broadcast, theatre production, installations, house of worship, film production, and recording studios globally.
https://www.audiotonix.com/audiotonix-go-full-steam-ahead/
My take
Although these are mainly aimed at schools and other educational environments, this just sounds like a ace project to work on if you have some soldering and electronics knowledge. The fact the kit comes with everything means it’s a great project that you’d be super proud to see finished. I’m curious to know what sort of quality the controls will be. It’s not like the Audiotonix brands are known to cheap out.
It’s not clear what the I/O will look like on the back panel, other than there being a USB-B port for power. The mixer itself is a super simple two channel layout. It doesn’t even have EQs or gains for the channels, but it does have a high pass filter on each, as well as left/right fade controls.
Oh, and it goes up to eleven. That’s one louder.
Your take
Does this kit interest you? Do you think this would be a good educational project?
The Audiotonix STEAM DIY two channel rotary mixer will be £299.95 plus local tax, but there will be discounts or even free kits for educational purposes.
