Technology

Audio Mixer Guide: How It Works and Its Key Features

Audio mixer features explained: what a mixer does, how analog and digital models differ, and how phantom power, gain and EQ work before you buy.

A man in a recording studio operating a large audio mixer with many knobs and faders.
AI illustration

Anyone in the music world knows the audio mixer. You usually find one in a recording studio, or it is used to control the sound at a stage show. Today there are plenty of stores selling the best audio mixers, both online and offline. Before you buy one, let's get to know it better.

Getting to Know the Audio Mixer

Just from the name, you can tell this electronic device is relied on to blend several sound sources. As technology has developed, the mixing console now comes in two kinds: the analog mixer and the digital mixer. Broadly, both do the same job, but each type has different strengths.

Sounds combined into one or two outputs do not clash with each other, because the user can control them with the many features available. The final audio sounds pleasant thanks to a well balanced mix. Of course, that balance comes from knowing how to operate the mixer properly.

This device is typically used for live performances, both off air and on air, for broadcasting on television and radio, for film post-production, for sound recording studios, and even for school stage shows. Look closely and you will see this console has many buttons and features, each with a different function.

Audio Mixer Features

Mixers usually come with advanced features that you can adjust to your needs. One example is the +48 switch, known as Phantom Power, which supplies extra electrical power of up to 48 volts. If this is hard to understand, ask the audio mixer stores before you use it.

Gain is another key feature. It sets how sensitive the mixer is to the input it receives. A good gain level sits at the yellow line or below the red line. If the gain level is still at the green line, you can raise it to the ideal limit.

Make sure the gain level is not at the red line, because that only makes the sound peak or distort. The equalizer is another feature that plays an important role in mixing sound. Thanks to it, the sound comes out sweeter than before.

The equalizer's main job is to adjust the tone, or character, of the sound. It can even be used as a fix when you hear humming or feedback. All of these features have to be used correctly to get a good mix. Fortunately, you can ask the audio mixer stores about each feature before you use it.

Goshen Swara Indonesia is one distributor of mixers that offers products from well known brands with guaranteed quality. Its prices will not drain your wallet either. It gives its customers the best service, so you should feel satisfied ordering there. Have you found the mixer you want?