Whether mixing music or any other audio signal in a studio or on stage, the mixing console is the tool of choice. How do I choose a mixer console? You can connect your devices, instruments, sound card, computer, and listening system to send the result to a sound or recording system and add effects. Mixers come in wide varieties, so you must know what you need. Here are a few tips to help determine which mixer best suits your home studio.
What is a mixing console?
How do I choose a mixer console? Analog or digital mixing consoles consist of a master section and several slices. A slice corresponds to a source and has several stages: physical input, volume control, panning, equalizer (see compressor), sending, and insertion effects. As a result, the mixer can have multiple XLR, jack, and stereo inputs and outputs. You can avoid buying an additional amplifier by connecting the preamp outputs to the speakers.
Mixing consoles should be chosen based on the following three criteria:
- Preamplifier quality
- Slices and microphone inputs
- Number of auxiliaries and possibility of putting them in “pre” mode
As you add MIDI hardware (samplers, synthesizers, expanders), you’ll need more channels on your console to mix them, especially if you want to work with each sound independently. Because each instrument requires a different mix, this is highly recommended. How do I choose a mixer console? Consider phantom power and USB outputs in your home studio setup if you have a condenser microphone.
Digital Mixer
As a result of computerized data processing, most recordings today are digital. This mixer can mix and convert data directly on your computer. It combines the features of an analog mixer and a digital converter. How do I choose a mixer console? Furthermore, it includes all the effects you need for sound processing (compression, delay, limiter…) and allows you to save your settings. The digital tables can be easily converted into controllers by connecting to MIDI or USB.
Although the digital table has many advantages, it is also more expensive than the analog mixer. In some cases, people will find that digital sound is less “warm” than analog, especially for the processing of strings, wind, and voices.
Analog mixer
Accordingly, the musicians looking for the realism and warmth of the sound of musical instruments will prefer analog mixers. How do I choose a mixer console? The major disadvantage of an analog mixer is that it lacks effects, unlike a digital console. Due to this, be prepared to spend extra money on effects in the future. Furthermore, the analog does not allow you to save or save the settings, so you need to start setting up again before each recording.
Despite the increasing power of digital mixers, analog mixers are still more common on stage and in studios due to their lower price and higher quality sound. How do I choose a mixer console? An authentic sound engineer combines these two techniques by recording electronic instruments directly in digital and acoustic instruments in analog.
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