Sound mixer: How Does A Sound Mixer Work?

An audio mixer is device which is used to mix several sounds together. The user can control the volume on
each channel or sound source to be as loud as they want. The amount of channels may vary depending on
the mixer. Different sources may be used such as microphones, sound cards and CD players. Usually mixers
have pre-amplifiers for microphones and inputs may be balanced. It is a device that allows you to edit the
pitch and other aspects of sound.
Each channel has their own volume control but also there is main volume control that changes all channels
the same way. Some mixers will also have an equaliser.
A sound mixer can also be known as a mixing console or more commonly as an audio mixer. This is an
electronic device used for mixing, balancing and combining different sounds and audio signals, sources like
microphones, instruments, and synthesizers or previously recorded audio.
The adjusted sound signals are then sent to a result known as the output, which is then transmitted and
amplified using a sound system.

The mixer is the central hub where sound signals from different sources are combined and mixed. Effects
and ambience can also be added, EQ and stereo imaging are balanced and then the output is directed to the
monitor speakers using the mixer.

What are channel strips?

Some people often become hesitant by the number of channel strips, faders and knobs they see on
the mixing desk. In reality, most of them are just duplicated with only a few important controls to
learn and master. For instance, an audio mixer of a big cinema or concert may have about 100
channels or more whereas a DJ mixer may just have only 2 channels which would be used to mix two
signals from the sound source.
There are different types of mixers.
· A digital mixer can both receive digital and more common analogue signals.
· An analogue mixer can receive and process analogue signals.
· A software mixer makes use of digital recording software, which is done via a computer.
The way a mixer works depends on the number of input and output channels it has. For instance, 8×2 mixer
means there are 8 inputs channels being mixed into 2 output channel for a stereo recording while a 16×8
mixer means there are 16-in and 8-out options on the mixing console with 16 input channels and 8 output
channel for recording a multi-track. With more input channels a mixer has the more capacity of instruments
and sound signals the mixer can combine and blend.

Whats in an analogue mixer console?

A standard analogue mixer usually has three parts. Understanding how it works will throw more light in
learning other types.
The input channels connect the microphones and instruments with the mixer. It consists of:
 Aux (auxiliary): this dictates the number of effects and reverb each channel has blended. A separate aux also
sets the volume of the sound through the monitors and or headphones
 Channel faders: controls the volume of the respective instruments in the mix
 Equalization (EQ) knobs: the tone or timbre of each instrument can be parted into bass, treble or midrange
by the EQ knobs. More detailed sound mixers will have more detailed EQ options.
 Bus (sends): Bus channels are used to mainline an effect or processing aspect through the mix. Each
instrument track can be fed the bus information in amounts that suit the sound engineer or producer who is
working. Using multiple bus options and experimenting with different routing combinations can create
different interesting effects for your mix.
 Pan pots: these direct each sound whether instrument or vocal to a particular place in the stereo image field.
(you can learn more about vocal mixing here.)
The output directs the balanced mix to the track recorder. It is made up of the master channel meters and
mixing circuits. The mixing circuit receives signals from the input and blends them together to then send
them on to the recorder. It also receives return signals from effects such as reverb and delay.
The output section connects also to the monitor amplifier. The meters adjust to the recording volume in
order to help you prevent sound distortion.
A mixing console or mixing desk is an electronic device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording
and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. Inputs to the console include microphones, signals from
electric or electronic instruments, or recorded sounds. Mixers may control analog or digital signals. The
modified signals are summed to produce the combined output signals, which can then be broadcast,
amplified through a sound reinforcement system or recorded.
Mixing consoles are used for applications including recording studios, public address systems, sound
reinforcement systems, nightclubs, broadcasting, and post-production. A typical, simple application
combines signals from microphones on stage into an amplifier that drives one set of loudspeakers for the
audience.
In practice, mixers do more than simply mix signals. They can provide phantom power for condenser
microphones; pan control, which changes a sound's apparent position in the stereo
soundfield; filtering and equalization, which enables sound engineers to boost or cut selected frequencies to
improve the sound; dynamic range compression, which allows engineers to increase the overall gain of the
system or channel without exceeding the dynamic limits of the system; routing facilities, to send the signal
from the mixer to another device, such as a sound recording system or a control room; and monitoring
facilities, whereby one of a number of sources can be routed to loudspeakers or headphones for listening,
often without affecting the mixer's main output.[2] Some mixers have onboard electronic effects, such as
reverb. Some mixers intended for small venue live performance applications may include an
integrated power amplifier.
A mixing console is also known as an audio mixer, audio console, mixing desk, sound
mixer, soundboard, or simply as a board or mixer.

Structure
An analog mixing board is divided into functional sections. Some of the more important functional sections
are subdivided into subsections.
Channel input strip
The input strip is usually separated into sections:

 Input jacks
 Microphone preamplifiers
 Equalization
 Dynamics processing (e.g. dynamic range compression, gating), if supported
 Routing, including direct outs, auxiliary-sends, panning control, and subgroup assignments
 Level-control faders (on small mixers, these may be rotary knobs to save space and cost)
Basic input controls
Auxiliary send routing
Channel equalization
Cue system
Busses and submix
VCA groups
Master output controls
Metering
Hardware routing and patching
Other features
Most, but not all, audio mixers can
 use monaural signals to produce simulated stereo sound through panning.
 provide phantom power required by condenser microphones.
Some mixers can

 add onboard external effect units (reverb, echo, delay). Mixers with onboard digital effects typically
offer a wide range of these effects.
 create an audible test tone via an oscillator. The test tone can be used to troubleshoot issues before the
band arrives and determine if channels are functioning properly.
 read and write console automation.
 be interfaced with computers or other recording equipment.
 control or be controlled by a digital audio workstation via MIDI, USB or other communication interface.
[c]
 be powered by batteries.
 provide amplifier power for external passive speakers
Mirroring
Some mixing consoles, particularly those designed for broadcast and live sound, include facilities
for mirroring two consoles, making both consoles exact copies of each other with the same inputs and
outputs, the same settings, and the same audio mix. There are two primary reasons for doing this; one, in the
event of a hardware failure, a second redundant console is already in place and can be switched to (an
important feature for live broadcasts); second, it allows the operators to set up two identical mix positions,
one at front of house — where the audio will be mixed during a performance — and the other at some other
location within the theater (e.g., with the broadcasting equipment); this way, if the acoustics at front of
house are unfavorable, a mix can be programmed at an acoustically better position in the room, and the
presets (on the faders and knobs) can be accessed from the front of house console during the performance.

Applications
Public address systems in schools, hospitals and other institutions use a mixing console to set microphones
to an appropriate level and can add in recorded sounds such as music into the mix. PA mixers usually have
controls that help to minimize audio feedback.
Most rock and pop bands use a mixing console to combine musical instruments and vocals so that the mix
can be amplified through a nightclub's PA system. Among the highest quality bootleg recordings of live
performances are so-called soundboard recordings sourced directly from the mixing console.[8][9]
Radio broadcasts use a mixing desk to select audio from different sources, such as CD players, telephones,
remote feeds, prerecorded advertisements, and in-studio live bands. These consoles, often referred to as air-
boards are apt to have many fewer controls than mixers designed for live or studio production mixing,
dropping pan/balance, EQ, and multi-bus monitoring/aux feed knobs in favor of cue and output bus
selectors, since, in a radio studio, nearly all sources are prerecorded or preadjusted.
DJs playing music at a dance club use a small DJ mixer to make smooth transitions between songs which are
played from sources that are plugged into the mixer. Compared with other mixers that are used in sound
recording and live sound, DJ mixers have far fewer inputs. The most basic DJ mixers have only two inputs,
though some have four or more inputs for DJs using a larger number of sources. These sources could include
turntables, CD players, portable media players, or electronic instruments such as drum
machines or synthesizers. The DJ mixer also allows the DJ to use headphones to cue the next song to the
desired starting point before playing it.
Hip hop music DJs and Dub producers and engineers were early users of the mixing board as a musical
instrument. In the 1970s, hip hop DJs developed a technique of adjusting the fader and crossfader controls of
mixers at the same time as they manipulated records on turntables, creating unique
rhythmic scratching effects.
Noise music musicians may create feedback loops within mixers, creating an instrument known as a no-
input mixer. The tones generated from a no-input mixer are created by connecting an output of the mixer
into an input channel and manipulating the pitch with the mixer's dials.