Studio Mixers & Control Surfaces

A studio mixer (also called a desk, board, or console) takes multiple signals and sums (blends) them into a combined output signal. For example, say you have a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. You'd run the signals from each instrument or microphone into the inputs on the mixer. You can then adjust their individual volume levels using controls called faders. Audio mixers have varying numbers of channels. The number of channels corresponds to the quantity of signals that it can accommodate. Besides combining signals (also known as mixing), studio mixers often include tone-shaping processors such as equalizers, compressors, and more. After they are mixed, the combined signals are routed to your recording device. Mixers also feature outputs that allow you to monitor (listen to) your recorded material.