Audio Mixers Buying Guide Part 2

October 18, 2017

Digital Audio Mixers Versus Analog Audio Mixers

The original audio mixers were all analog, prior to the introduction of digital consoles in the 1990s. At first, digital consoles were considered a novelty. However, as digital technology continues to improve, they are quickly becoming the standard option for audio mixer technology. Though lightweight, compact, digital mixers provide for greater flexibility, there are some clear downsides to the average digital processor. There are also many upsides that keep analog processors relevant in an increasingly digital world.

Digital Audio Mixers

Digital audio mixers take up less room and have many features that analog audio mixers do not. Digital mixers, for example, allow for one-touch signal rerouting, a variety of processing capabilities, and automatic feedback alteration. They are frequently expandable through software, allowing the user to even further extend their editing and processing capabilities. Some of the more basic functions of these processors can even be set to perform automatically, simplifying their usage in small, mostly uncomplicated settings like school auditoriums and courtrooms.

Of course, there are some factors that fans of analog mixers cite for avoiding digital mixers. For example, there is an unavoidable delay for digital mixers. This delay lasts anywhere from 1.5 to 10 milliseconds and though it is generally a non-issue when sound is being projected through loudspeakers at an audience, it can be disruptive for an individual reviewing the sound through a pair of headphones. Another factor that sometimes affects an artist's decision in the digital versus analog debate is the number of knobs necessary to perform tasks. Digital audio processors are generally quite compact, requiring very few buttons for processing. The upside to this is that digital processors take up significantly less room. The downside is that a person who has learned to use a separate knob for each function may not be comfortable adjusting to the simplified digital mixer setup.

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