Notes

• Power amplifiers – how to choose appropriate power amplifiers for a live
sound system:
o output wattage (RMS/peak)
o impedance
o digital and solid state designs.



• Mixing desk – how to choose different mixing desks for different live
sound applications:
o analogue desks
o digital desks
o functions – gain, equalisation (EQ) (high-pass filter (HPF), semi-parametric),
balance, pan, pre- and post-fade aux sends, pre-fade listen (PFL)
o subgroups.

Summary
Mitch Gallagher from Sweetwater compares analog and digital mixers, highlighting their similarities, differences, and unique benefits for studio and live sound applications.
Highlights
🎛️ Analog Mixers: Provide hands-on, instant access to controls, making them user-friendly.
💻 Digital Mixers: Offer extensive built-in features, including effects and routing flexibility.
🎚️ Control Layout: Analog consoles have dedicated knobs for each function, while digital consoles require menu navigation.
🎤 Routing Flexibility: Digital mixers allow dynamic routing of inputs, unlike the preset routing of analog consoles.
🎶 Recording Options: Both types often include USB outputs for recording, but digital mixers provide more flexibility.
📱 Remote Control: Digital consoles enable remote mixing capabilities, beneficial for live performances.
🔄 Learning Curve: Analog mixers are easier for beginners, whereas digital mixers require more training due to their complexity.
Key Insights
🎧 Instant Access vs. Features: Analog mixers excel in providing immediate control but lack the extensive processing options found in digital mixers, making the choice dependent on user preference and needs.
🔄 Flexibility: Digital mixers’ routing capabilities allow for complex setups and configurations, making them ideal for versatile live scenarios, while analog mixers are more straightforward for consistent use.
🎛️ Visual Feedback: The intuitive layout of analog consoles provides immediate visual feedback, aiding quick adjustments during live events, whereas digital consoles rely on screens.
📊 Metering Capabilities: Digital mixers offer advanced metering options, allowing for detailed monitoring of multiple channels simultaneously, enhancing control over the mix.
🎚️ Preset Functionality: The ability to save and recall settings in digital consoles streamlines live sound changes, while analog setups require manual adjustments.
🎤 Remote Mixing: Digital consoles facilitate individual monitor mixes for performers using mobile devices, enhancing live performance dynamics, a feature not available in analog systems.
📚 User Experience: While analog mixers are accessible for volunteers and beginners, digital mixers may necessitate prior training, impacting their usability in diverse settings.
mixing boards, explaining their importance in audio production and live sound. It covers the key features and controls found on mixing desks, including input channels, mic preamps, faders, EQ, filters, and mute functions. The article also discusses the evolution of mixing boards from analog to digital models, highlighting the advantages of digital mixers such as advanced processing capabilities and recall functions. Additionally, it addresses common questions about the necessity of having a mixing desk and the reasons behind their high cost.
1. What are the main differences between analog and digital mixing boards?
2. What are some of the key controls and features found on a typical mixing desk?
3. Why are mixing desks considered an essential piece of equipment in music production and live sound?
4. How have mixing boards evolved over time, and what are the benefits of modern digital mixing consoles?
5. When would a musician or audio engineer need to use a mixing desk, and when can they get by without one?
1. What are the main differences between analog and digital mixing boards?
Analog and digital mixing boards have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Analog mixers use traditional circuitry and physical controls, while digital mixers process audio signals using digital technology and often feature touchscreen interfaces. Analog mixers are known for their warm, natural sound, while digital mixers offer advanced processing capabilities, recall functions, and extensive parameter control. Analog mixers have a simpler signal path, while digital mixers can handle complex routing and effects processing. Additionally, analog mixers may have limitations in terms of channel count and recallability, whereas digital mixers offer greater flexibility and scalability.
2. What are some of the key controls and features found on a typical mixing desk?
Some of the key controls and features found on a typical mixing desk include:
Input Channels and Strips: These are connectors that take in external signals and send them to various mixer sections. They often include XLR, 1/4", or Combo jacks for mic and instrument cables.
Mic Preamp: Most channel strips come with a built-in mic preamplifier to amplify the signal from a microphone or instrument. The mic preamp is controlled via the input gain knob.
Faders: Each input has a channel fader that controls channel volume. Faders are used to increase or decrease the output level of a specific channel and are often assigned to subgroups.
EQ: Equalization is an essential feature for getting the mix right. It can range from simple one-knob tone control to complex multi-band equalizers. Digital mixers allow independent EQ per channel and sometimes per subgroup.
Filters: Most mixing desks have low-cut filters or high-pass filters to reduce bass as needed. They are controlled by a small switch or knob and can be used interchangeably.
Mute: There is a mute switch on each channel, which, when turned on, will mute and disable audio without affecting current levels.
Peak LED: A peak LED visually monitors if input or output signals are too high on all channels, allowing the audio engineer to prevent audio clipping and unwanted distortion.
These are just a few of the many controls and features found on mixing desks, each contributing to the overall functionality and sound shaping capabilities of the mixer.
3. Why are mixing desks considered an essential piece of equipment in music production and live sound?
Mixing desks are considered essential in music production and live sound for several reasons:
Signal Routing and Control: Mixing desks allow audio engineers to route and control various audio sources, making it possible to blend different musical elements into a cohesive mix. This is crucial for both recording and live sound applications.
Tone Shaping and Processing: Mixing desks provide tone-shaping controls through EQ, filters, and effects processing. This allows engineers to tailor the sound of individual channels and the overall mix to achieve the desired sonic characteristics.
Dynamic Control: With features like faders, mute switches, and peak LEDs, mixing desks enable precise control over volume levels, signal muting, and dynamic range, ensuring optimal audio quality and preventing issues like clipping and distortion.
Integration of Outboard Gear: Many mixing desks allow for the integration of outboard gear, such as external effects processors and dynamics processors, expanding the creative possibilities and sonic capabilities of the system.
Flexibility and Versatility: Mixing desks offer flexibility in managing multiple audio sources, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, from small studio recordings to large-scale live performances.
Phantom Power and Connectivity: Mixing desks often provide phantom power for condenser microphones and offer various connectivity options, including XLR, 1/4" jacks, and digital interfaces, accommodating diverse audio setups.
Overall, mixing desks serve as the central hub for audio management, processing, and control, playing a fundamental role in shaping the sound and ensuring high-quality audio production in both studio and live settings.
4. How have mixing boards evolved over time, and what are the benefits of modern digital mixing consoles?
Mixing boards have undergone a significant evolution over the years, transitioning from their early analog roots to the advanced digital mixing consoles of today.In the early days of audio production, mixing boards were primarily analog devices, relying on tube-driven circuitry and physical controls like knobs and faders. These analog mixers had a distinct sonic character, often praised for their warm, natural sound. However, they were limited in terms of channel count, signal processing capabilities, and recallability.As technology progressed, mixing boards began to incorporate solid-state components and stereo output, allowing for more complex signal flow and greater control over the audio. The introduction of digital technology in the 1980s and 1990s marked a significant turning point in the evolution of mixing consoles.
Digital mixing consoles offer a wealth of benefits that have transformed the way audio is produced and mixed. These modern mixers utilize digital signal processing (DSP) to provide advanced audio processing, automation, and recall capabilities. Some of the key advantages of digital mixing consoles include:1. Expanded Channel Count and Routing: Digital mixers can accommodate a significantly higher number of input and output channels, allowing for more complex and versatile setups. They also offer advanced routing options, enabling engineers to create intricate signal paths and sub-mixes.
Comprehensive Digital Signal Processing: Digital mixers provide access to a wide range of built-in digital effects and processing tools, such as EQ, compression, reverb, and delay. These can be applied to individual channels or the overall mix, offering unparalleled control over the sonic characteristics.
Automation and Recall: Digital mixing consoles often feature automation capabilities, allowing engineers to record and recall precise control movements, such as fader positions and effect parameters. This facilitates faster setup times, easier mix revisions, and the ability to recreate complex mixes with consistency.
Integration with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs): Many modern digital mixers seamlessly integrate with DAWs, enabling direct recording and playback of audio, as well as the ability to control the mixer's parameters from within the DAW software.
Improved Sound Quality: Digital signal processing and the use of high-quality analog-to-digital converters in digital mixing consoles have led to significant advancements in sound quality, often rivaling or even surpassing the sonic characteristics of their analog counterparts.6. Increased Flexibility and Scalability: Digital mixers offer greater flexibility in terms of signal routing, channel assignment, and the integration of external hardware and software. They also allow for easier firmware updates and the addition of new features over time, making them more adaptable to evolving production needs.
While analog mixing boards still hold a special place in the hearts of many audio engineers, the benefits of modern digital mixing consoles have made them the dominant choice in both professional recording studios and live sound applications. The combination of advanced processing capabilities, automation, and seamless integration with digital workflows has transformed the way audio is captured, mixed, and delivered.
5. When would a musician or audio engineer need to use a mixing desk, and when can they get by without one?
The need for a mixing desk in music production and audio engineering largely depends on the specific requirements of the project and the complexity of the audio setup. Here are some key considerations on when a musician or audio engineer would need to use a mixing desk, and when they can get by without one:When a Mixing Desk is Necessary:
Multi-track Recording: For recording music with multiple instruments and vocals, a mixing desk is essential. It allows the engineer to control the levels, panning, and processing of each individual track, enabling them to create a balanced and polished mix.2. Live Sound Reinforcement: In live performance settings, a mixing desk is the central hub for managing the audio signals from various microphones, instruments, and other sources. It allows the sound engineer to control the overall mix, apply effects, and ensure a high-quality sound for the audience.3. Complex Audio Setups: When working with a large number of audio inputs, such as in a band or ensemble setting, a mixing desk becomes necessary to effectively route, balance, and process all the different elements.4. Advanced Sound Shaping: Mixing desks provide extensive sound-shaping capabilities through features like equalization, compression, and effects processing. This level of control is crucial for achieving a professional-sounding mix, especially in genres that require intricate sonic manipulation.When a Mixing Desk Can Be Avoided:
Solo or Small-Scale Recording: For musicians or audio engineers working on solo projects or small-scale recordings with just a few tracks, a simple two-channel audio interface may be sufficient, eliminating the need for a full-fledged mixing desk.2. Basic Live Performances: If you're a solo performer or part of a small group, and the venue's sound system has a built-in mixer, you may not need to bring your own mixing desk for the live performance.3. Podcasting or Voiceover Work: For applications focused primarily on capturing and processing a single audio source, such as a podcast or voiceover recording, a basic audio interface can often suffice without the need for a dedicated mixing desk.4. Home Studio or Bedroom Productions: In small-scale home studio or bedroom production setups, where the complexity of the audio setup is relatively low, a mixing desk may not be necessary, and the audio can be managed through a computer-based digital audio workstation (DAW) and an audio interface.It's important to note that as the complexity of the audio project or live performance increases, the need for a dedicated mixing desk becomes more apparent. The decision to use a mixing desk should be based on the specific requirements of the project, the number of audio sources involved, and the desired level of sound control and processing.