AES-NYC: Phoenix Audio Announces Nicerizer Junior Summing Mixer
by The Press Desk   17th October 2013

Come by and say hello to Junior, Nicerizer Junior that is, he's a 16 input, 4 output summing mixer. All 16 channels have our Class A discrete buffer amps with detented/panning control and 4 outputs which have our signature Class A discrete output amps (found in all Phoenix units) coupled with our custom wound transformers. They're available immediately and are priced at $1999.

Booth 3157 - we also have the new N90-DRC/500 compressors on demo


The Nicerizer Junior was based on the Nicerizer 16 mk2 which was originally conceived because of the demand from customers for something that would “sweeten” the output from pro-tools and other DAW, and to make the final mix easier to distribute and handle. The Nicerizer Junior is designed to take the output out of the digital realm, and to add the Class A characteristics and feel before the final recording.The “Nicerizer Junior” uses our well proven and loved Class A output stage, but also has our latest breakthrough in transformerless Class A, Discrete Line Input Technology.The Nicerizer 16 is a 2U 19? rack mountable 16 input and 4 output Summing Mixer, that can be stacked and linked in any multiple and various configurations to give high quality, line-level, Class A, discrete buffering, summing and mixing

Specifications

16 channels of our Class A, discrete, truly balanced transformerless input stage.
Our proven and loved Class A, discrete, transformer balanced output stage (DSOP-2).
Individual pan control for each channel with detented/steppd pots for extra control (16 x Pan pots)
16 x Balanced Input via D-sub inputs, wired as Tascam DA88 standard. Can accept balanced or unbalanced input with no -6dB loss.
4 x mix busses (Stereo Mix Bus)


[email protected]

Interesting!!! Why four outputs?
...and why the panning knobs...?
...can channels be bussed to either set of outputs?

Why 4 outputs ? -

So you can do 2 different mixes with different degrees of color.
Send 2 outputs in a monitoring device & 2 into your DAW or whatever you like.
More is always better !!

Why panning ?

Analogue panning is better than panning inside your DAW, we believe that a summing mixer without panning isn't a proper summing mixer, the Nicerizer is essentially a mini console.


[email protected]

Mixbus insert?

No there are no inserts or aux's on this unit, it also doesn't have the monitoring or stereo width found on a the Nicerizer 16mk2.

The idea is to give you the best quality unit sonically and for it to be priced as aggressively as possible.

You have 4 outputs or two sets of stereo outs, so you can use these to send to hardware comps/EQ's, use to send to a monitoring box or just have 2 different setting for mixes. Each set of outputs act independently of each other.

Awesome Value!

What is the price?

$1,999

Thanks...looks like you can capture two versions of the same mix by running different levels / outboard on the outputs...not as versatile as being able to bus channels to either output (which is something I've been looking for) but looks awesome nonetheless!

Sr. Is $2295 right not, not a good deal at all!

I want this too!! that way you can use half the channels for drums, send that to a drum bus compressor, etc, using output A, then feed that back into 1/2 of the remaining 8 channels to sum with the rest of the mix, then send all THAT to mix bus processing from output B. For now the only way I see is to use 2 summing boxes. But hardly anyone makes 8 channel boxes...errgh! I want an 8 channel 2 bus JR for $899!

this looks nice though good luck with it!

Exactly. Could be cool.

i think maybe the neve has it

I think for a cutdown version it is too overpriced. The full version of nicerizer 16 with inserts on the mix bus, width control, etc. is now about 2250$ or something...so 250$ rebate for such a limited piece of gear is strange...correct me if I am wrong

I would love instead Phoenix will release new version of 8ch mixer which is now ceased to be produced at all as I understood.

I don't think so, as it doesn't appear you can dictate that only drums go to one stereo output. It looks like the two stereo outputs are mirrors of each other; Everything that goes to one of them also goes to the other.

I can confirm that ALL 16 channels go to both sets of outputs simultaneously, the main idea behind having 4 outputs as opposed to 2 outputs (as on the Nicerizer 16mk2) was that you could do 2 different mixes on the same unit in terms of level/colouration/saturation etc OR send one set of outputs back into your DAW and another to different source like a hardware comp etc.

I agree it would be cool if you send certain channels to certain outputs, this was similar to the concept behind the Nicerizer 8 which has now been discontinued as it wasn't very popular, guess its to be expected that people are interested when its no longer available.

In terms of pricing, whether something is value or not is always a matter of debate, however the reduced summer pricing on the Nicerizer 16mk2 of $2399 has now ended and the price has gone back to $3299 (though its possible there might be one or two units available at dealers) and the US map price of the Nicerizer Junior is $1999 (possible dealers will be a little generous to their valued customers on that).

The Nicerizer Junior isn't just a cut down version as it has an extra set of outputs which means a total of 4 channels of class A discrete output amps and 4 custom wound transformers.


[email protected]

Hi Robin,

Thanks for your comments. It is a pity that nicerizer summer sale is over..:(
Anyway, I would appreciate your personal thinking on below two options I have in mind..

1. Nicerizer Junior
2. Roll Music Systems RMS216 Folcrom plus 2 pres from you (dsr-1 500-series e.g.)

So the question is what makes nicerizer sound so sweet? Is it output amps mainly? Or summing architecture? Both? etc.
In case of using passive summing from a 3rd party and 2 pres of Phoenix Audio I feel It can be more versatile it terms of controlling the amount of colour. Of course the nicerizer has some other features like 2 stereo outs(and much more in nicerizer 16 like width control, inserts, monitoring) but here I talk about sound in general.

Thanks for sharing your ideas

Cheers

Hi VCM,

In terms of which summing package I would say is preferable, I would say that the Nicerizer is the better option for the following reasons :

The Nicerizer is a basically a mini console in terms of its sound and how it works, being an active product it uses a high gain voltage earth summing system which gives greater headroom and bigger perspective of depth, giving the HF more AIR and the LF a more rounded tighter feel .

The Nicerizer 16mk2 has 16 class A discrete buffer input amps which effect the sound and you can get a nice soft type of distortion from these. It has also 2 class A discrete output amps and 2 custom wound transformers which means you can drive the unit harder and get more overall coloration/tone over your sound. Typically people like to drive these pretty hard (above +20db) and they find they get a really pleasing tone found on a large format console but in a 2U rack. Also the advantage of analogue panning can't be dismissed as it will help create a greater feeling of space & width in your tracks.

Sonically the Nicerizer Junior is identical but has the advantage of 2 extra outputs which makes it a little more flexible and stepped pan pots for easier recall. If your after a Nicerizer 16mk2, its possible one of the dealers still has stock and we can assist you in locating it if its the mk2 your after.



[email protected]

Hi VCM,

In terms of which summing package I would say is preferable, I would say that the Nicerizer is the better option for the following reasons :

The Nicerizer is a basically a mini console in terms of its sound and how it works, being an active product it uses a high gain voltage earth summing system which gives greater headroom and bigger perspective of depth, giving the HF more AIR and the LF a more rounded tighter feel .

The Nicerizer 16mk2 has 16 class A discrete buffer input amps which effect the sound and you can get a nice soft type of distortion from these. It has also 2 class A discrete output amps and 2 custom wound transformers which means you can drive the unit harder and get more overall coloration/tone over your sound. Typically people like to drive these pretty hard (above +20db) and they find they get a really pleasing tone found on a large format console but in a 2U rack. However the ability to drive the unit at what level you like would enable you to choose the degree of color you might want on a particular mix and so you can be very flexible if you need to be. Having multiple outputs on the Nicerizer Junior is particularly useful for this type of purpose and allows you to almost create two separate mixes.

Also the advantage of analogue panning can't be dismissed as it will help create a greater feeling of space & width in your tracks.

Sonically the Nicerizer Junior is identical but has the advantage of 2 extra outputs which makes it a little more flexible and stepped pan pots for easier recall. If your after a Nicerizer 16mk2, its possible one of the dealers still has stock and we can assist you in locating it if its the mk2 your after.



[email protected]