The sound mixing console, also known as the mixing console, is called Mixer in English. Among them, "Mix" means mixing, and we can usually understand Mixer as a mixer, but the functions of a sound mixer go far beyond these.

A mixing console is a device with multiple inputs, each sound signal can be individually processed and processed for various artistic purposes, and the mixing ratio can be adjusted. It has multiple output sockets (including left and right stereo output, grouping output, mixing output, recording output, monitoring output, and various auxiliary outputs).

The mixing console is widely used in various sound reinforcement systems or recording performances, and is also the most commonly used professional audio equipment for mixers and recorders. It can be said that the mixing console is the most important equipment in professional audio systems, and a professional audio system often takes the mixing console as the core of the entire system.

When choosing a sound mixing console, attention should be paid to five aspects. The mixing console is an important equipment in recording and sound reinforcement systems, and its quality directly affects the sound quality of the sound. Therefore, purchasing a mixing console has strong professionalism. There are many parameters for a mixing console, and generally, frequency response, gain, noise, distortion, and linearity can be used as the selection criteria.

01 frequency response
Also known as frequency response, it characterizes the bandwidth of the mixing station and the consistency of the level within the specified width. Generally, the frequency response requirement for professional mixing stations is 30Hz --18000Hz ± ldB. This is the frequency response of the total channel of the audio mixing station. If the frequency response of the mixing station is not wide enough, both high and low frequencies will be cut off, so it is not possible to record the original sound signal with high fidelity in a wide range. Even with sufficient bandwidth, without a flat frequency response, it is impossible to achieve true recording of the original sound signal. Because the levels of different frequency bands are not consistent, it will inevitably cause signal distortion. So the frequency response of the mixing console should be wide enough and have a flat characteristic. Only in this way can sound engineers or sound engineers have the original basis for signal processing, that is, to increase or decrease by how much in which segment of the frequency band, and to increase or decrease around a certain central frequency.

02 Gain
The gain referred to here refers to the total gain of the mixing station, which is the logarithm (dB) of the ratio of the output voltage of the mixing station to the input voltage. The gain of the audio mixing console is divided into two indicators: maximum gain and rated gain. The maximum gain is the highest level of the mixing station, the rated gain is the rated operating level of the mixing station, and the maximum level is the upper limit of the dynamic range of the mixing station. In the case of microphone input, the minimum gain of the mixing table should not be less than 70B, and the maximum can be above 90dB.

03 Noise
The noise of a sound mixing console is commonly characterized by the signal-to-noise ratio in general electroacoustic equipment to represent the relative relationship between signal and noise. The noise of the mixing console is represented by converting the noise at the output end to the equivalent noise level at the input end. The equivalent noise level converted to the input end is generally required to be around -125dB. In this way, the signal-to-noise ratio of the mixing console can reach 80dB.

04 Distortion
Distortion is a phenomenon in which a simple signal, after passing through a nonlinear component, generates multiple harmonics that alter the waveform of the original signal. This distortion is often referred to as harmonic distortion, expressed as a percentage, and is distinct from linear distortion and intermodulation distortion. The calculation formula is as follows: the harmonic distortion of the mixing table, under the rated output conditions, the total harmonic distortion coefficient THD is ≤ 5%. At maximum output, it should be less than 1%.

05 Linear
The linearity of a mixing console, like other electroacoustic devices, refers to dynamic margin, also known as reserve. The calculation method is the logarithmic value (dB) of the ratio of the maximum output voltage to the rated output voltage. The expression can also be expressed as the difference between the maximum output level and the rated output level. Professional level mixing consoles should generally have a linearity of 15dB to 20dB or higher.