Keep the first impressions coming please!
I think the SL will pair very well with the Eventide H90, with 2 sets of stereo sends and returns.
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Got shipping notification. Should have it in a few days. Plan to pair it with the H90. Have the Jellymix, so will compare it against that.
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Could you possibly run some drum loops through the compressor and overdrive? I want to get an idea on how vibey/punchy it can be. Havenât heard a good clip of either and I think it was refined after Superbooth. Got one on preorder but Iâm way down the list.
Thanks for the first impressions.
Can you eloborate, if you use only the returns of for example the A bus, the signals which are routed to the A bus are not present at the main out, are they?
And what is the A and B volumes for, the volume of everything run to the A and B bus, or the volume of their returns?
Sorry for asking, but there is no manual yet
Iâll see if I can get some demo video/audio this weekend.
I had to re-do my modular rig to accommodate how I intend to use the mixer, and Iâm still putting things back together (with limited time to work on it during the work week).
For the routing question: each channel can be routed to the A mix bus, B mix bus, or Main mix bus.
At the output stage of the mixer, mix bus A and B are summed to Main.
Mix busses A and B are routed out the A and B insert sends on the back, but they are of course normalled to the returns, so if you have nothing connected to those itâs a straight shot through.
You have the volume knobs next to mix bus A and B next to the filter, so you have level control over those volumes being summed to Main.
The filter is assignable to mix bus A or B using the switch next to the filter. So you can filter A or B that way. BUT⌠pay attention to the âFLTR ALLâ switch under the master level control, with that flipped on, that little âfilter A or Bâ switch under the filter becomes ineffective and the filter applies to the master out (smart!).
So right now with my Eurorack mixer plugged into the B insert (but nothing from the send), if I have channels on the SL set to send to Mix but B, I wonât hear anything at all (since the B send is just not connected).
The advantage of using the B insert for my Eurorack summing mixer is that it doesnât tie up a mixer channel on the SL. And I also like how itâs kind of âset it and forget itâ - itâs level it set with the little Mix B knob, and I donât have to think about a fader.
I have my Eventide H90 connected to the two FX sends on the SL, and with parallel processing set on the H90 that lets me have two independent FX algorithms there.
A limitation of using Mix B for my Eurorack summing mixer is that there seemingly isnât a way to apply the H90 FX to my Eurorack sources. Iâll have to see if that is an issue in practice. Plus, I DO have additional FX in my modular case (that also wonât be usable for the SL sources) that are connected to my Eurorack mixerâs FX sends (Ghost, Cosmic Debris). If I do find it annoying not to be able to affect my Eurorack signals, I can move that mixer to a regular input channel.
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One (I think fairly minor) complaint I do have on the mixer is that not all of the controls are silent.
Changing the âmidâ control for the tile EQ introduces a little pop, but that isnât so bad since realistically that is a control youâll set-and-forget (and if you adjust it with the fader down you wonât hear it).
More glaring is the filter on/off button. Itâs reminiscent of the original Xone 92 filter on/off control (which also introduced a little pop, but in the past few years A&H released a re-issue of the Xone 92 that eliminated the pop, and the Xone 96 has never had this issue).
So if you want to use that youâll have to do what we did with those older Xone 92s and strategically plan to hit the button on a kick or something where it will be less audible.
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Just set it up. Tried it first with DN2 to Outbox 8. Nice flexible setup. Happened to get a Drumbrute Impact on the used market the same day. Sounds great hooking up all the individual outputs on the Drumbrute. Have not had much time to play around with it. The knobs are not very grippy and the pop coming from switching the EQ and filter are there as mentioned by @Ryan0751. Especially at high volume. Nothing too concerning.
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The knobs are the same ones as on their Eurorack mixer, so I knew what to expect (I donât mind them).
I just finished up my first hour long jam session on it, and Iâm very happy with it. There was one point where things were getting muddy and the tilt EQ made it super easy to just move one of the channels up higher with less bass, and then do the opposite on the other competing channel, and then it sounded great.
I moved my Eurorack sub-mixer to input bus A, and my TR-1000 to input bus B, therefore neither of those use up a mixer channel strip. The inserts really open up a ton of routing options. I canât wait to try it with my Octatrack and some of my Elektron boxes with the Outbox.
I donât think the pops will be a big deal in the real world. I found I just left the filter on the whole session. The detent in the middle is pretty pronounced, so it was easy enough to get back to no filter.
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How do the compressors sound?
What is the height of the mixer on the front near headphone jack? Specs say 2.8" but I suspect this is the back.
Thx for sharing!
Are the knobs screwed against the chassis?
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To my ears everything sounds great. Mind you, Iâm using studio monitors at the moment and havenât heard this on a big system.
The mixer is about 1.5" high in the front near the headphone jack (just measured).
The pots are metal stemmed, and attached to the faceplate. Overall build quality is very solid. As solid as the A&H Xone? Perhaps not quite that far, but close (I am thinking of some of the little toggle switches; but none of those are going to see huge amounts of regular use, then tend to be âset and forgetâ).
Faders are the same as the Xcelon Eurorack, so if youâve used that itâs the same.
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Thanks for the feedback.
To anybody whoâs already received one are the individual outs pre or post fader. Iâve heard there were talks about switching them to be post fader before shipping the first batch or they would maybe provide instructions on how to change it to post fader
They are pre-fader. Instructions to change them to post- fader have not been made available yet.
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I have direct confirmation that it will be possible to change from pre to post, it will require basic soldering skills, I´m sure the info will be released soon 
Er⌠is there a pop in the filter on/off button??? can you elaborate a little on this please?? 
Yes, when you engage/disengage the filter it makes a little pop sound. Not unlike the Xone 92.
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Well. that´s actually not good for me, yes I know about the Xone 92 issue, but that´s a dj mixer, I specifically ordered Xcelon SL for live performance, I still have to wait couple of weeks for mine, if the pop is like the one in that Xone then it will not work for me, thanks for the info!
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How do you intend to use the filter that is dissimilar to how itâs used on a Xone?
Itâs very much a DJ-style filter.
In any case, I found it not such a big deal to leave it on, and just flip the knob quickly back to the detent to quickly cut the filter off.
But yeah, I was a surprised to have it not be silent.
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