It was nearly 8 years since the first Studiomaster power mixer hit the shops. Like the amplifier sector, a lot had changed. There was still some resistance to single package solutions with many users still preferring a separate amplifier and mixer. This was due to poor reliability, sound quality but also lack of facilities. To re-enter this market something very new was required. As always, market research produced a product brief- lots of power, on board effects good E.Q. and must be portable. This produced the first of a long line of Power House mixers. 500Watts of power, 128 program digital effects, twin 7 band graphic equalisers and available in 8 or 12 channel formats. This was also the first product to feature routable graphics. The user could now select what signals passed through the graphic giving much greater sound control. Its true to say the Power House set a new standard in powered mixers not bettered until the Vision series years later.

The term compact or small format mixer is now a common term but pre 1990 they didnt actually exist. There were plenty of small mixers but none taken seriously because of their poor performance directly linked to their low price. Studiomasters knowledge of the pro audio market soon identified how to put this right by designing the first quality compact mixer. Called the Diamond range it used all the high quality circuit designs from other Studiomaster products housed in a rugged, stylish steel case. The Diamond range became Studiomasters highest volume product proving that a vast market existed for uncomplicated, good quality mixers.

Development had not stopped on the larger format consoles and the new Showmix was just one example. A 2, 4 and 8 bus console range aimed at the live and theatre sectors was designed. 4 band E.Q. with 2 mid sweeps, 6 auxiliaries, 100mm faders were impressive features and 8 channel input expanders completed the flexibility. The internally modular design aided servicing increasing the appeal to PA rental companies.

While the Showmix was being developed it became apparent that although there was plenty of choice of PA consoles, the market was very limited when it came to low cost stage monitor mixers. Most bands wanted a dedicated monitor console but either didnt have the truck space, the finance or both. The Stagemaster 16-8 was a small size full featured mixer tailored for the small band. Facilities included input patching for a front of house console, an output DIM switch which reduced the output signal to help identify a rise in level due to feedback balanced xlr outputs.