AudioMedia - December 2008 - (Page 57) Zaxcom | FUSION print with processing – especially given that I’m often the one to post mix – so I didn’t much explore the EQ and compression available on the review unit, but I did make good use of the adjustable HP filters and limiters on inputs as well as the bus output limiter. I must make mention of the phenomenal job Zaxcom has done with the Fusion’s shielding and balanced circuitry – in one instance, a proximate Blackberry sent interference straight to my phones, yet not a blip was registered on the output mix feeds, or on the recorded tracks. Despite using the Fusion to simultaneously record multiple sources to discrete tracks (mirrored between its internal CF card and an external Avastor hard drive via the Fusion’s built in FireWire interface), mixing to a real-time DVD recorder in stereo and outputting two different cue mixes, in the context of the Fusion’s total capabilities, I was still in meat-and-potatoes land. To illustrate, in my work I had no cause to take advantage of the Fusion’s multiple digital input SRCs, configure custom metering screens, or craft embedded scene/take/notes metadata (beyond simple naming and frame rates), take advantage of its full-featured TC interface (beyond Record chase) or its user-configurable GPI triggering. In my spare time I did manage to branch out to some other features, including M-S monitoring, assigning a quad-mic surround set to one fader, and even plugging in a USB keyboard for faster data entry. + mixer cross points and + user parameters (as highlighted in Zaxcom lit), make the Fusion overpriced and overkill for the target ENG market. In the opening, I mentioned the glacial pace of evolution in the adoption of new ENG audio tools. I specifically referenced attitudes, which are often correctly and/or necessarily based on, ‘if it ain’t broke‘, ‘the need for speed‘, and, of course, tight budgets – you can connect those dots. That said, there most definitely is a market for this stunning mixer/recorder; I’ll just self-revise it to start at the rental house and reality show level and then upwards into financed independents, nd and rd film units, and any other full production units where mobility, flexibility, and centralised audio control are essential. In those applications – and including those requiring high-resolution surround recording – the Fusion truly has no equal. ∫ > Truth be known, I already had a little experience on a Deva V years ago – and pretty good knowledge of pre/post crosspoint matrix routing and processing software (Lectrosonics DM, in my case) didn’t hurt either – but I mostly ‘used the force’ and was quite happy to have found the menu system, data entry, preset storage, and navigation to be thoroughly intuitive. I also put the Fusion to work on a variety of ENG and production gigs including at a live taping of the PBS television show, The Kalb Report, and a live forum called, Battle for the Youth Vote , presented at The George Washington University in partnership with CBS News – on both of the above, I used the Fusion’s discrete tracks to later post CBS and XM radio versions; I also tracked all sources during a Billy Joel performance at the National Press Club – that one just for the sport of it, since it was broadcast live. The Zaxcom preamps were very high quality, with very little noise and a good, if not forgiving, amount of headroom. Like most, I tend not to TELEFUNKEN AUDIO MEDIA AD 27/9/08 I N F O R MAT I O N £ US$7,995 (base list) A Zaxcom, Inc., 230 West Parkway, Unit 9, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444, USA One could mount an argument that its high price tag (especially when outfitted with optional cables, 17:29 Page 1and eight recording tracks), or its batteries, effects, Conclusion T +1 973 835 5000 W www.zaxcom.com E info@zaxcom.com A UK Distributor: Everything Audio Ltd. T +44 (0) 208 324 2726 W www.everythingaudio.co.uk AUDIO MEDIA DECEMBER 2008 57 http://www.zaxcom.com http://www.everythingaudio.co.uk http://www.unityaudio.co.uk http://www.unityaudio.co.uk
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.