Here you can set this so that individual sound sources do not cause the channel to overload and distort. Gain controls the input level of each individual channel. Commonly, an insert has a separate send and return socket, however. Here, the insert is a stereo jack, which both sends and returns the signal, to and from the connected device. the most common use for an insert is to connect a compressor or gate. The insert is a connection that allows a piece of equipment to be plugged in directly after the input, so that it is unaffected be any of the other processes further down the channel. These days, itвЂ™s common to see stereo input channels, too (like the two to the right of the inputs shown in the mixer above, that arenвЂ™t in a coloured box). Usually, youвЂ™ll have both a ВјвЂќ jack input for line signals, and an XLR connection for microphones. These can be anything from a line-level signal, such as that from a keyboard or piano, to microphones. These are where the audio sources are connected. The various parts of the channel are described below. Water enters the mixer at the input, and then travels down through the various parts of the channel to the fader, before being sent to the outputs. The truth is that if you understand one channel, you basically understand how a mixer works. The mixer above has 20 sets of channel controls, for example. It is also the reason that many are intimidated by the mixer, as the channel controls are repeated many times over the mixer surface (providing the arsenal of complex looking knobs and faders). The channel is the basic вЂunitвЂ™ of the mixer. This mixer is a simple 20 input to stereo output design.

The map above shows which part we are referring to. Pretty simple, eh? But what do all those controls do?Д«elow is a simple summary of what the different controls of a mixer do.

So at its simplest, a mixer allows the user to take lots of audio sources and manipulate them before sending them to output channels. If it said 24:2, this would mean it had no bus outputs. For example, a 24:8:2 mixer would have 24 inputs, 8 output buses, with a stereo (2 channel) master output. Many mixers describe their input-output functionality with a 3-number descriptor. These assignable outputs are usually termed buses or group outputs. As a result, some recording desks may have as many outputs that can be routed to as they have inputs. In a studio situation, this might involve taking inputs from microphones or other sources in a live room, and directing them towards the inputs of your recording rig (which could be a computer based set-up with scores of inputs). So, at its most simple, this might involve taking the audio from performers in a live situation, tweaking and adding effects, then combining these to a stereo or mono output which can be amplified with a PA system. Put simply, a mixer (sometimes known as a mixing desk, mixing console, mixing board, desk or console) takes various audio sources through its multiple input channels, adjust levels and other attributes of the sound, then usually combine them to a lesser number of outputs.

2 input audio mixer