Union Audio elara.4 Analogue Mixer Review | Beatsource Tech

After they came out swinging with their first product, the $5,000 Orbit 6, Union Audio is back with its new mixer, the elara.4. On this episode of #BeatsourceTech, Mojaxx gives the more affordable four-channel, all analogue fader mixer a full review, and finds out exactly what makes it stand out from the crowd.
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0:00 Intro
1:00 Build
2:19 Faders
3:11 Connectivity
4:07 Sound Quality
5:17 Controls
6:27 Demo
16:40 Pricing
18:38 Conclusion

[@orgonsolo6291]

I really like that the DJ community is big enough that a relatively small company like Union Audio can design an analogue mixer in 2024, make a unit intruiging enough that there is a big enough market for this kind of hear, Even at the prices, to still keep their buisness rubbing and keep people gainfully employed in this club buisness. The mixer sounds really smooth too, this big knobs really enables you to colorize the tracks a great deal, Even if really simple, IT worx and that's the important thing

[@johnussher302]

I'm really enamoured by this mixer. I've already got a rotary, in the Condesa Carmen, so don't really need another (although, you can't have too many, lol) and then a whole collection of old battle mixers as well. One thing I would love is a brand new four channel fader mixer, and this basically ticks every one of my boxes. Love the size, I know it will sound great, it looks good (loooove the recessed fader panel, such a nice detail), its analog, and it has all of the features I could want (HPF, and Isolator). The only thing I don't love, like you, is the input layout, but I think I'd be fine with it. If I was currently in the market, I think this would be my next mixer purchase for sure (in the blue, which looks so good).

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

i love the red one .So many mixers now are a dull black or grey.These really pop.If i had space this would be for my vinyl set .When i have a house where i can put my record library then this sort of mixer would go between some Technics by the wall of vinyl.Just now need a large win on the lottery....

[@jamthechannel]

This is the mixer review I’ve been waiting for!

[@alexg8957]

I was waiting for this mixer’s review. Gracias Mojaxx!

[@leebenson2642]

It would be nice to see a rotary kit for the faders as an option for sure, but as a vinyl-only DJ seriously considering this mixer, I would forgo that for RIAA inserts on all four channels...

[@sumguy835]

I love a mixer review...

[@JoshuaKane.]

Cheers Mojaxx, great review! I hope it's big brother with a bit more space and an RIAA input on each channel is on the way, along with a fresh, Union Audio Fx unit!..Please Andy 🙏🙏

[@NueNueKiro]

Great video as always Chris. I would love an elara in my booth, it looks, sounds and (probably) feels absolutely epic. The isolator crossover feels a lot like a Rane mp2015, only that it’s purely analog

[@pWnaniX]

I emailed Union Audio and asked about why there's only RIAA (Phono) on channel 1 and 2, and they said they might consider changing it to have Phono on all 4 channels in a future batch if enough customers ask for it. I would buy it in a heartbeat if they did this!

[@MBinDenver]

I've been looking into a non-rotary mixer for a few years and this one beats them all...

[@JayElzDj]

Saw the screws on the bottom and thought the option for a rotary kit would be available. But that isolator oofff 👏👏👏 very nice

[@alexandrosroussos]

kinda ticks all the boxes for me, but I'll love if Pioneer made some more compact/more recessed design decks to go with this. Like the 10 years awaited XDJ-700 successor !

[@Positive_Tea]

Cool! I want one!!

[@jouraba]

A truly exceptional mixer can endure the test of time.

[@fpep5]

NIce mixer. Lost me at only being able to have turntables on channels 1 & 2

[@djvjnigel]

I'm in !!

[@rautshsale1948]

would love to see a 2 channel version of this, even without the isolator

[@MrTonig12]

Really impressed with this mixer. But I have a Xone 96 already and a Radius 4.

[@RussFryman]

I really like the sound of that.

[@devinmoran59]

Looking good pimp keep getting after it

[@pierredelux2319]

Add a third photo preamp and a mic input on the 4th channel and im buying it asap!

[@sr_naranja_music]

Rotary and a little bigger Elara 4 would be perfect for me.

[@moket123]

Really cool mixer. Would have probably bought one if didn't already have a formula sound FF4.2L. Definitely needs to be more high quality (hifi/ boutique etc) linear fader mixers in a market currently dominated by rotaries

[@rhysdavies9163]

What’s the ff like dude? I’m well keen on them

[@moket123]

@@rhysdavies9163 best mixer I've ever used. Took some getting used to coming from my old pioneer mixer, particularly to do with how it sounds and how much more detail you can hear from your speakers and through the headphones. Incredible build quality and most importantly, incredible sound. Really great set of features as well and workflow, has completely transformed the way I mix. Probably my favourite thing, which is one of the more unique things about this mixer, is the individual HPF and LPF filters on each channel. I almost exclusively with them, e.g. cutting the bass from the incoming track with the hpf rather than using the low EQ. The combo of the filters and 4 band EQ and summing of the mixer leads to some incredibly smooth blends By far my favourite mixer I've ever used and probably the only one I'll ever need. Mixing on it is so much fun that it makes mixing a much more enjoyable experience Highly recommend it

[@JohannesNielsen]

Going in the budget

[@sashabeep]

Size, design and overall look is great. Some tightness at cue buttons and xy switches zone imo, replacing the fader caps with regular style ones would be hard. I don't get the idea of master isolators...

[@jp99301]

Would be awesome if they offered a rotary kit for this.

[@Ysosassythedj]

What do I think of the Elara well well I think it’s great. I think some djs want linear and an xfader

[@leebenson2642]

Now available in the USA through Sweetwater, but still built in the UK and retailing for $1799 which is £400 cheaper than the UK price...

[@matteorizzo]

A logical order of the inputs would've made this a perfect mixer, shame!

[@tuukkak3390]

That, and a return low cut button, like in model 1.4, would've made this perfect.

[@declin_ro3823]

what do you mean exactly?

[@matteorizzo]

@@declin_ro3823 it's been mentioned in the video: the phono ins are all the way to the left (1and2) instead of being mirrored (either 1and4 or 2and3). That becomes awkward especially when dealing with turntables + players. It's mostly a convenience thing, it makes things smoother to approach in a club situation so you can focus on working, instead of keeping track of how the channels are arranged. Mirrored is more natural. I remember hopping on a setup once to cover for a DJ and they routed the channels backward, which made the first couple of minutes really awkward to figure out.

[@GiftDigital]

Total deal breaker. Feeling thankful they saved me $1800 😅.

[@matteorizzo]

@@GiftDigital lol

[@gal3sz]

Good looking mixer and im sure it works great and sounds great but that decision that there is 2 phono output and also only on the first 2 channels is kinda dumb!Similar issues with the Model 1.4 but there at least on the 2nd and 3rd channel.For the price this is not okay.Xone 92 cheaper and has 4 phono and more or less the same mixer.Still want one though... The review is great, thanks Mojaxx🙌!

[@pWnaniX]

I emailed Union Audio and asked about why there's only RIAA (Phono) on channel 1 and 2, and they said they might consider changing it to have Phono on all 4 channels in a future batch if enough customers ask for it. I would buy it in a heartbeat if they did this!

[@ScantSquad]

I’m not used to mid isolator, i always stick with hi’s or low’s…i actually hadn’t thought about that until you started playing with the mid. Is there some tardiness going on with the isolator knobs? Sounds kinda digitalish to me…looks like a lovely mixer though, board style upfaders look strange, but takes me back to the mid 90’s with my first non dj mixer i used 😀

[@abrahamrios6503]

Sir, I have to ask a question. I see you using the Denon sc6000? Have they been discontinued? I been trying to buy a pair for the last 6 months. They went from back order to showing discontinued on all web site I have checked.

[@adam____]

It must be admitted that he is beautiful. The red one 😍

[@Judasz696]

Model 1 fader curve better for cutting acid techno transistions ;) Its also that kind of curve becouse it has no crossfader in the first place.

[@alexg8957]

How the sound compares to the cousins Model 1 ans Xone 96?

[@TheDjed19]

Does this ISO have a full kill? how would you compare it with the Omnitronic 422

[@VictorKibalchich]

the mid isolator appears to act like a sweepable mid eq on a mixing desk

[@MrLee-ny6jd]

Looks like the fader panel is just one piece and easily swappable. A rotary version would be really nice.... :-)

[@vasiliszaxaropoulos8726]

😮😮😮😮🎉🎉🎉

[@hoozn]

Beautiful unit. Would be right up my alley, in terms of looks, features, and handling. However, two phono amps only, AND putting them on CH1 & 2 seems like a pretty weird decision. And the labeling is really... not that great. For one, what is "RIAA out (line out) / line in" even supposed to mean? Is one of the connectors really a line out? Why not just "Phono/Line" or "Line 1/2"? And, as you mentioned in your video, the center marks on the knobs are really impossible to see, even in a brighter environment since the caps appear to be a bit reflective. Overall, a very intriguing mixer, but with some absolutely unnecessary flaws. So, at least for me, the quest for finding the perfect mixer does not end here....

[@pWnaniX]

I emailed Union Audio and asked about why there's only RIAA (Phono) on channel 1 and 2, and they said they might consider changing it to have Phono on all 4 channels in a future batch if enough customers ask for it. I would buy it in a heartbeat if they did this!

[@hoozn]

Thanks for the heads up@@pWnaniX

[@pWnaniX]

@@hooznYou're welcome, my dj friend :) Now you know who to email. Tell your friends ;)

[@qwertySnowy]

Model 1.4 better you thing guys?

[@tech1238]

Sounds like a great mixer, but the offset crossfader is a big no from me

[@frederikjacob1985]

Nice mixer but... At this price point i would have done 3 phono inputs also.

[@seanpumfrett6265]

Shame you cannot use IEM’s on this. I emailed UA about using IEM’s and they said no, as it will damage the mixer.

[@Mojaxx]

I’m not sure what you/they could mean by that? I used it with IEMs on twitch a number of times, they’re just headphones that go in your ears…

[@declin_ro3823]

IEM?

[@Reticuli]

@@declin_ro3823 in ear monitor. Not sure why it would be an issue.

[@declin_ro3823]

@@djstuc if its the headphones than maybe damage the headphones not the mixer

[@seanpumfrett6265]

IEM’s (In ear monitors) have an impedance a lot less than 33 ohms. The specifications says, avoid using headphones that have an impedance of less than this, as it may cause damage to the circuitry. Normal headphones are fine, but worth checking that they are in tolerance.

[@roseutterback5755]

Why are the still using rcas in 2024

[@hello21707]

Because turntables, also it's an analog mixer so no digital inputs

[@aaronw4537]

Basically all DJ media players have RCA outputs as do turntables and many audio interfaces.

[@kennethmalafy8012]

You realize that the Pioneer S11 is only 200$ more and the new Alpha Theta stand alone is actually less than this. They seem to have a cult "ish" following in the DJ world but, sorry, these mixers are way overpriced. Line this up with the Xone 96 and compare the sound. The Xone blows this out of the water, pay attention especially to the bass response. Being "boutique" is only a selling point if you are able to do something differently that the mass produced models can not (maybe a different sound or feel or something), if there's no difference then what is the point? At that point, the "boutique" part is just a marketing gimmick.

[@aaronw4537]

If you buy both today it’s very well possible that this one will still be working fine when the Alpha Theta stand alone unit has already devolved into a plasticky pile of garbage.

[@hoozn]

If you consider the S11 or the Alpha Theta, then the whole concept of the UA probably wasn't right for you to begin with...

[@persona250]

I’ve not heard this mixer . I’ve had a play on an s11 it sounded like garbage compared to a mastersounds …

[@kennethmalafy8012]

There was a problem with your S11, cables or speakers then (or a problem with the quality of the track). The S11 up samples to a high rate, so even if your track is bad....... They use the S11 at festivals on those cutting edge systems, if there was any problem at all with the sound- it would be insanely obvious on those systems and they wouldn't use it. I have yet to to see any of this companies mixers on a set up like that.@@persona250