Andy Rigby-Jones is a highly acclaimed DJ-mixer designer, having lent his expertise to renowned brands such as Pioneer DJ, PLAYdifferently, and Allen & Heath. With a career marked by innovation, he has left an indelible mark on the industry, designing mixers that have become integral tools for DJs worldwide.
His latest offering from Union Audio is a compact 4-channel analog mixer that caters to both seasoned professionals and budding enthusiasts and is a testament to his precision engineering and sonic excellence and craft.
Here’s an in-depth look at what the Elara.4 brings to the table:
The Layout – Union Audio Elara.4 Mixer
Upon unboxing the E.4, I’m immediately struck by the build quality, sleek design, and hardy construction. The layout and design boast an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Each element of the mixer, including the channel fader, buttons, knobs, and controls, radiate quality and are thoughtfully arranged for immediate accessibility. The sturdy build instills confidence, making it well-suited for demanding live club environments, mobile DJs, and even an electronic music live setup.
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Mixing
Channel Strips
Each channel strip features an AUX input for external EFXs, an RIAA Trim, a Line In select, a set of EQ controls for nuanced sound shaping, Cue button, and each channel has its own associated 10-bar LED meter and channel fader. Each control feels responsive and accurate with plenty of physical space to move from knobs and controls without accidentally hitting another control.
Channel Faders
Each channel fader is crafted of a TKD conductive plastic and is damped for accurate volume control. I appreciate this as it makes the channel faders feel precise and sturdy vs. an overly loose channel fader that can easily be bumped and ruin a mix.
Channel EQ
The channel EQ houses the High, Mid, and Low controls. The Low is set at 200Hz, the Mid at 1.1kHz, and the High at 2kHz. Each control allows for approximately -20dB of cut and up to +6dB of boost. This allows for near-frequency isolation. Combine that with the EQ/Isolator high-pass filter, creating fun and exciting mixes and sweeps.
Crossfader
The feel of the cross-fader is clean and accurate. Especially with the adjustable X Fade Control to control the slope space between the two channel signals in the mix. This way you can mix either long fades or super short cuts, depending on the setting of the X Fade Control setting. I love this option as it gives you more control and accuracy over your mixing vs. setting the crossfader to the middle and using the channel strip faders to mix. There’s even an X and Y crossfader switch to assign to either the left or the right of each channel fader.
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EQ/Isolator
The EQ/Isolator has variable crossover control and is designed to enhance the channel EQ and allow for some really fun and creative sound manipulations (UA calls it “Sound Sculpting”). The high pass fader (HPF) attenuates all frequencies below the cut-off point, with a swept frequency range from 18Hz to 1.8kHz. It features Variable-Q (quality) and a two-pole (12dB/octave slope) response. The Variable-Q automatically increases the filter’s resonance at higher cut-off frequencies for that classic analog filter sound, without the danger of excessively boosting lower frequencies and blowing that Funktion-One sound system at Berghain.
Basically, you set the Isolater feature between either 150Hz to 1kHz and then control the sweep with the Cue knobs on the Channel Strips. I’m a fan of the tactile feel of the Cue control, and the accuracy, coupled with the intuitive layout, which is a fun mixing experience between two tracks or a live change, in my opinion.
Other Standout Features
Sound Quality
What truly sets the Elara.4 apart is its amazing and pristine sound quality. The analog signal path delivers warmth and clarity, capturing the nuances of the bass, mids, and highs. The low noise floor (the background noise level or electronic interference present in the audio signal when no sound is being played) ensures that the mixer “remains transparent”, allowing the true character of the audio sources to shine through.
In terms of volume control, if you’ve used a Rigby-Jones mixer before, you’ll instantly “feel” that signature sound character and know how to set your gains for optimal mixing and sound output. There was plenty of headroom when it came to mixing lower-volume tracks, which is great for vinyl DJ’s and even electronic music producer setups.
Connectivity and Routing
The Elara.4 boasts a comprehensive range of inputs and outputs, including balanced XLR, Record Out, Booth Out, Aux Return/Insert, Aux Out, Insert On, and on channel strips one and two an RIAA and Line input, and on three and four two line inputs. The mixer’s routing options provide flexibility for various setups, making it an ideal choice for diverse gear configurations.
Versatility
I use the Elara.4 for mixing with a traditional vinyl or CDJ setup, synths, drum machines, and effects pedals. The incredible sound quality and intuitive layout make it much easier to jam with than a traditional MI mixer. Plus, I prefer the sound quality of the Elara.4 to say a larger MI-manufactured mixer.
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Overall
I’ll cut to the chase and say that this is one of my all-time favorite mixers—I love the Union Audio Elara.4 Analog Mixer. It represents the pinnacle in analog engineering, this mixer achieves a sublime balance of features, build quality and sonic excellence. With a user-friendly design, the EQ/isolator features, and versatile connectivity options, it stands out among 4-channel analog mixers, particularly in its compact form factor. It serves as a testament to Rigby-Jones and Union Audio’s dedication to providing mixing tools that inspire creativity and enhance the DJ audio experience.
Pros
- Amazing sound
- Sturdy and quality build
Cons
- Maybe the price point
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