User guide

Allen & Heath User Guide for XONE:DX with Serato ITCH 1.7 16
MIXER SECTION
The Xone:DX mixer section allows control of all four deck channels simultaneously, regardless of which
deck layer is chosen. THRU mode may also be selected on each channel, allowing the playback of exter-
nal audio sources such as turntables or CD players.
FX1 AND FX2 ASSIGN
The Xone:DX features two effects processors FX1 and FX2. When the FX1 or FX2 but-
tons are pressed, the channel’s audio will be routed to the designated effects processor.
The FX buttons are post fader, hence any adjustment made to the trim, EQ or fader con-
trols will affect the audio being sent to the effects processor.
Selecting both FX1 and FX2 on a single channel will route the output from FX1 into the input of FX2,
chaining the effects processors together. If both FX1 and FX2 are selected for a single channel, any other
channels with FX1 selected will automatically be routed into FX2. The FX2 light will flash to indicate this
forced chaining of the effects processors. To disengage the effects chaining, press all of the non-flashing
FX2 lights below the selected FX1 lights.
ADJUSTING GAIN / LEVEL
The LEVEL knob at the top of the channel strip allows you to boost or cut the volume of
the track before you control it with the up fader for mixing. It is best to have the level of
the track adjusted so that in the loudest part of the song the 0dB blue light on the chan-
nel meter is lighting up but is not permanently lit. Setting the LEVEL so all tracks are
metering in this manner makes it easy to balance the mix between them with the EQ and
faders. Pressing CUE on a channel will display the tracks volume on the master channel meters.
TIP: Using this technique will allow you to bring any of the channel faders fully up, making it impossible
to push an individual channel too loud in relation to the other channels.
If you adjust the gain level too high, the limiter in ITCH will activate to attempt to prevent the audio clip-
ping or distorting. When activated, the limiter light will appear at the top of the ITCH screen to alert you
to decrease the gain level.
EQUALISING
EQ is used to boost and cut specific frequencies. The Xone:DX features 3-band EQ with
low, mid and high frequency controls. The knobs go from full cut (or kill) when turned all
the way left, unity when facing straight up, and +6 dB of boost when turned all the way
to the right.
EQ is used to balance the sound of tracks that have been mastered differently, to make a
track sound “right” on your particular system, or for creative mixing techniques. With
EQ, less is usually better - when boosting do so sparingly. Cutting frequencies is also
usually better than boosting them. For example if you have a track with too much mid
range, rather than boosting bass and treble to compensate it is better to cut back the
mid range. Every speaker system and room has a different frequency response so you will
need to adjust your EQ to suit.