The Zen 10 by Aqua Broadcast represents a refined approach to dynamic audio control, combining transparency with surgical precision across ten independent bands. Designed for environments where audio consistency is critical but processing must remain imperceptible, it stands as a versatile tool for broadcast engineers, podcast producers, and streaming professionals alike.
ZEN 10 — ZEN LEVEL AUDIO CONTROLLER
Presented at the Aqua Broadcast booth at NAB, the Zen 10 is a Zen Level audio controller featuring 10 independent bands of control, normally arranged in a 2×5 configuration, providing five bands of stereo control — that is, five bands with two channels each.
The two channels within each band can be arranged either as left/right stereo or as a matrix in which the L+R (left plus right) and the L−R (left minus right) are controlled independently, with the L−R always following the L+R.
Each band is equipped with an input drive control, along with a ratio control that operates separately for the L+R and the L−R signals. A return-to-zero control is also available, which activates whenever the audio has remained below the gate threshold for longer than a user-specified duration in seconds.
Each band features its own release gate threshold, release timing, Zen platform, and RMS punch. The Zen platform defines a unique range within which the audio operates freely — as long as the audio remains within that range, no processing occurs and no gain change takes place. Only when the audio moves outside that range does a gain change occur. This behavior is visually indicated on the meters: the yellow/amber color indicates that no processing is happening; green indicates that a gain change is actively occurring; and red indicates that the audio has fallen below the gate threshold and is therefore being ignored.
The Zen platform window is fully adjustable to any size between 0 and 10 dB wide. The RMS punch adds additional punch to the sound and is independently adjustable on each band.
For bands using L−R processing, dedicated controls are available that operate independently from the L+R processing. At the output stage, all bands are mixed together — representing the summation of bands 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 — while the L−R signals have their own independent injection levels.
The Zen 10 is a processor designed for a wide range of applications: as a pre-processor for broadcast, streaming, podcasting, or any other context in which audio requires control without drawing attention to the processing itself.
KEY FEATURES AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
- 10 independent bands arranged in a 2×5 configuration, with per-band control of input drive, ratio (L+R and L−R independently), release timing, gate threshold, Zen platform window (0–10 dB), and RMS punch
- Zen platform technology — a no-processing window ensuring gain changes occur only when audio exits the defined range, providing transparent and unobtrusive dynamic control
- Versatile application — designed as a pre-processor for broadcast, streaming, podcasting, and any environment where audio control must be effective yet sonically invisible
- Dual-channel matrix processing — each band supports both conventional left/right stereo operation and L+R / L−R matrix mode, with L−R tracking the L+R at all times
- Three-state metering system — yellow/amber for no processing, green for active gain change, and red for audio below gate threshold, providing clear real-time visual feedback
- Return-to-zero function — automatically resets gain control when audio remains below the gate threshold for a user-defined period, preventing unwanted gain pumping during silence
- Independent L−R injection levels at output — the summation of all five band outputs includes separate injection controls for the L−R component, allowing precise stereo width management
- Per-band RMS punch — an independently adjustable punch enhancement on every band, adding transient weight without compromising the transparency of the overall processing
- Gate threshold per band — each of the 10 bands carries its own gate threshold setting, allowing tailored noise gating behavior across the full frequency spectrum
- Scalable Zen platform window — the no-processing range is continuously variable from 0 dB (conventional limiting) to 10 dB wide, accommodating diverse programs material and operational requirements