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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

I recently procured this mixer for a job in Cambridge. My original design for this particular job included a used Behringer X18 Air. I have been familiar with those systems since they were first released. Buying one used and in good condition typically costs under $600, depending on the seller.While browsing the zZounds website, I came across this particular mixer by chance. I then went to YouTube to look for reviews. To be honest, there were only two videos that fully walked through the interface and one unboxing video. Nevertheless, all three reviewers gave positive feedback. Of course, I also read through the comments section to gain additional insight. However, you can only learn so much from comments and videos.Clearly, I decided to take the leap and purchase it. I did not expect it to arrive by Saturday afternoon, but once it did, I immediately set it up and explored the workflow.There is a lot to like about this mixer. It features 16-channel XLR/TRS combo inputs, three AUX XLR outputs with one FX bus, four subgroup outputs, and two Left/Right XLR main outputs. It also includes Bluetooth functionality, with channels 13/14 doubling as Bluetooth inputs for streaming music from an Android or iOS device.The mixer includes an RJ45 connection for control, along with both USB Type-B and USB Type-C ports. I assume these are intended for the built-in 2x2 USB interface, which makes it ideal for livestreaming and podcasting. This mixer does not support multitrack recording, but that was not something I was specifically looking for.The “faders,” or lack thereof, are not motorized faders but instead LED touch strips. This reminded me of the original Korg Triton, which had a modulation strip below the pitch bender. The screen is relatively large and easy to read without straining your eyes. The physical buttons and overall operating system layout are logically arranged and intuitive to use.The onboard DSP is fairly standard but well implemented. It includes gain control, a compressor with adjustable ratio and threshold settings (rather than a simple one-knob compressor), a 3-band EQ, a high-pass filter, and built-in effects.On the day of the event, I was honestly prepared for this mixer to fail. Shockingly, it did not. It performed flawlessly. I was initially skeptical about the sensitivity of the LED faders, but they worked reliably throughout the event. I was also able to use the Alto Mix App to control the console remotely without any issues.I used this mixer for a hybrid conference event. I routed audio through AUX 1 into the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme and then routed the audio into Zoom. I fully expected to run into major issues, but the mixer handled everything without a problem. I was able to route input signals into Zoom while simultaneously routing far-end audio back through the mixer so attendees in the room could interact with participants joining remotely. I was genuinely surprised at how well the mixer handled the entire workflow.I also want to mention the FBX button, which functions as a feedback eliminator. I was running eight microphones simultaneously, and the FBX feature helped manage feedback effectively. That said, I want to emphasize that it does not completely eliminate microphone feedback. If a microphone gain is set too hot or handled aggressively, feedback will still occur.This console does lack a noise gate, low-pass filter, and touchscreen interface. From a budget perspective, that is likely one of the reasons why it is priced around $699. Personally, I can live without a touchscreen, and I rarely use a low-pass filter or noise gate anyway. I do wish Alto had considered including Dante or AES support with a digital snake option.The Alto Mix App could also use some improvements, particularly by adding DSP parameter control, but that is a relatively minor complaint and largely subjective. Overall, I am genuinely struggling to find any major deal-breakers with this console.For someone learning how to use a digital mixer, this unit is an excellent choice. It is also ideal for small bands and smaller houses of worship operating on a strict budget while still wanting a digital solution under $800. This mixer works well for both experienced users and beginners alike. There is enough here to satisfy both types of users while still delivering reliable performance. I do hope that this is just a one off, I do genuinely want to see this company develop a digital mixing line with higher IO Counts, multi-track, touch screen, FX Buses, and maybe more advance feature that only you see in high end consoles. I am curious to see where Alto goes with this product. Time will only tell.

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Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

Pros great price built like a tank nice touch feeders. I even have fun with the effects cons. It’s like a pizza without no toppings. It’s missing a few things. Maybe they could upgrade it in the firmware.