The unique AREA.6 mixer brings filter, compression and CV control to your hybrid or Eurorack setup. And with Union Audio at the helm, you know it’ll sound good.
Union Audio AREA.6
Performance-oriented mixers for electronic musicians are growing in popularity, with many combining the functionality of studio mixers with the hands-on elements of DJ ones. So far, we’ve had Jellymix from Intellijel and Boredbrain’s Xcelon SL. Now, high-end DJ mixer company Union Audio is throwing its hat into the ring with AREA.6, a six-channel mixer with some very tasty-looking functionality.
Union Audio AREA.6. Note that this is a prototype model and the knob color is now different. · Source: Union Audio
“area.6 is about feel and control in a live context,” says Union Audio head designer Andy Rigby Jones. “It’s designed to let performers shape their sound instinctively and experimentally, without getting in the way of the music.”
Six Channels, Filter and Compressor
Union Audio knows a thing or two about performance mixers. Its elara.6 is a great example of this. Now it’s using that know-how and applying it to a more general mixer – although there’s very little that’s standard about AREA.6.
Union Audio AREA.6 · Source: Union AudioUnion Audio AREA.6 · Source: Union AudioUnion Audio AREA.6 · Source: Union Audio
To start, it can be used either standalone or as part of a Eurorack rig, with CV control used throughout in pretty creative ways. The all-analog mixer offers six stereo/mono channels, each with a tilt EQ for quick, DJ-style frequency tweaking, cue/mute, two auxiliary sends, and a filter. The combo lowpass/highpass filter has five controls, including frequency, resonance, filter select (HPF/LPF), drive (“the Drive control progressively clips the audio signal resulting in very significant harmonics”), and aux send, with CV in to sweep the filter across its full range.
There’s also a compressor with ratio, threshold and gain controls, plus negative compression for pumping effects. Don’t forget the audio sidechain in for targeting volume shaping.
CV Control and Outputs
Along with CV control over the filter, as mentioned, the new mixer brings welcome external modulation control over a number of other parameters. To start, you can use control voltage signals to control channel level, auxiliary, and pan. There’s also compressor CV out, with ranges from +5V (no compression) to 0V (full compression).
At the output, the mixer includes a mix out jack, two aux sends, left and right inserts, and two stereo returns.
Pricing and Availability
Union Audio says AREA.6 production units will be ready to ship in July. Price isn’t set yet but it’s looking to be in the region of €1200.
Andy will be at Superbooth showing off AREA.6. We’ll update this story with more information as it becomes available.
More Information
Union Audio homepage
More about Union Audio
More about mixers
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