FOCUSRITE MixMaster audio Engineering
Single Mastering Unit
The MixMaster is an analog stereo audio processor designed for mastering applications in project and home studios. The review unit we received came with the optional 24-bit and up to 96kHz analog-to-digital converter for direct digital connection to a DAT or CD recorder. While the MixMaster is made specifically for mastering stereo mixes, it is useful any time you want to maximize the level and "punch" of single- or two-channel audio. MixMaster's complete tool set contains all you'll ever need for this task and will free up other analog or digital processors you may have connected.

The two-rackspace unit has both balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4" input and output connections on the rear panel as well as direct inputs for mixing external audio sources with the output signal. There is extensive LED metering: a single meter that reads both input and output levels (although there is no indication of which is being metered, so pay attention to whether the button is set for "in" or "out"); separate gain reduction indicators for the stereo expander, spectral compressor and peak limiter; stereo phase and separate overload indicators for the compressor and equalizer processor sections. All of this metering makes for quite a light show when the unit is hard at work.
Chained Processors
A block diagram in the wonderfully written user's manual shows that the MixMaster has five stereo processors or sections: Stereo Expander, Spectral Compressor, Stereo Parametric Equalizer, Image Width processor, and Peak Limiter. The order of the processors shown in the diagram is consistent with the front panel layout of controls. There is no way to "re-order" the chain of processors, and in actual use, I found little reason to require it. For each processor there is a lighted, hardwired bypass switch, and a global bypass button takes the entire unit out of circuit. Note that setting up a processor requires the respective section to be engaged for the LED meters to read. I find this unfortunate, especially for live sound work where I would like to get a ballpark setting beforehand (using active meters) and then switch in the section on the fly to fine tune.

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