Allen & Heath ZED-10FX

The ZED-10FX folds a full live-and-record signal path into a mixer small enough to carry in one hand. Four mic/line channels run Allen & Heath's low-noise preamps with switchable 48V phantom power for condenser and dynamic mics, and two of those channels add high-impedance instrument inputs so a guitar or bass plugs straight in. Every mono channel carries 3-band EQ with a sweepable midrange to carve problem frequencies before they reach the room.

A built-in 2-in/2-out USB interface streams the stereo mix to a laptop for recording or podcasting and returns playback to the desk, while the onboard digital effects add reverb and delay without an outboard rack. Balanced XLR main outputs with insert points feed the PA, and two stereo TRS inputs plus an RCA pair take in backing tracks or a media player. It runs on an external supply and is ready for stage, studio, or stream.