Phonic Summit Digital Mixer

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2009 prolight+sound: Introducing the new Summit design 02/16/2009
By PHONIC CORPORATION

Phonic unveiled their Summit Digital Mixer to great reception at the recent Winter NAMM session in Anaheim, California. Immediately after the show, Phonic engineers got to work in refining a few features and the overall appearance of the unit. Based on a few customer comments, the Summit’s design has been refined to make it even more user friendly, more versatile, and give it just that extra bit of style.

Phonic is nothing if not flexible. Throughout the years we have always responded to customer suggestions, and take quite considerable heed to these comments. The new Summit design is simply the latest example of Phonic giving the public exactly what they need.

The Summit’s three-layer fader design has been simplified into a two-layer design. This means users are able to use the automated faders to adjust the levels of either their Main channels (of which there are sixteen) or the Auxiliary and Group mixes (of which there are eight of each). This should take a lot of the guess-work out of adjusting AUX and Group levels.

Where users would have previously found four balanced XLR outputs for the MULTI outputs, they will now find eight balanced 1/4” phone jacks. This addition was a no-brainer really, as users will now be able to make use of eight separate group or AUX mixes simultaneously. XLR jacks will still be available on the Summit for the Main outputs, Control Room and the digital AES/EBU in and out.

NAMM showgoeres were so impressed with the graphical user interface (GUI) built into the Summit that we found no need to change its design. All functions can be easily accessed and adjusted by using the display’s touch-screen and a few of the onboard controls. Beyond adding a separate brightness control to the face of the mixer, little has been changed on the GUI.

We have, however, changed a few access buttons for the digital display. Where there were once access buttons for each function on the face of the Summit, Phonic has opted to change these to enable users to select any one of the AUX mixes. This will enable users to apply EQs, EFX and dynamic processing much more efficiently. The ‘meter’ and ‘view’ buttons are still included, meaning users can jump still immediately to the level meter or channel view functions.

Attendees of the 2009 prolight+sound show in Frankfurt, Germany will get an exclusive look at the new design of the Summit mixer. Check it out in booth 4.1 J21 of Messe Frankfurt between April 1 and 4. For more updates on the Summit, stay connected to www.phonic.com.