Key Features of a Sound Mixer

In sound production and sound engineering, a sound mixer is an electronic instrument for combining different sounds of different audio channels, thus creating a stereo effect. Mixing consoles can also be used to mix other audio instruments, such as guitar, vocals or instruments. A mixer will usually contain several knobs and buttons, but sometimes just one, to control what types of signals are being processed. The sound mixer will then send the processed signal out to a soundboard, for further processing.

There are many kinds of sound mixers, including those that are used for live sound mixing. A common example of this is a sound board, or DJ mixers. Live sound mixing, as opposed to studio mixing, usually involves fiddle, guitar, vocals, drums and other audio signals being fed through amplifiers, then compressed and sent either to headphones or CD players. An individual or a group of individuals may perform live sound mixing on their own soundboards. This is usually a complicated mix, and the sound mixer must set up the appropriate number of tracks, as well as monitor the performance from various locations.

A mixer's key features depend on the application. Some mixers are designed for a single input channel, while others can handle up to eight input channels. Some mixers are equipped with MIDI-based software that allows the user to control sound and mix it using an in-built program interface, or via the computer keyboard. Digital audio workstations (DAWs) also typically require a mixing console to handle the overall process. Mixers also run on memory devices that come with the sound craft, or they can be installed into an external device such as a USB drive.