What’s the Best PA Mixer for Me? |
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One look at our range of PA mixing desks might leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed. Since there are so many different kinds of mixers to choose from, we’ve put together this helpful Buyer’s Guide so you can make a more informed decision. If you can’t see the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us! What is it? | Channels | Analogue | Digital | Amplifiers | Zone Mixers | Rack Mixers | Channel Strips | More 1. What is a Mixer?Put simply, a mixing desk (or just mixer) controls the volume of any connected instruments or incoming signals in an entire mix, as well as which frequencies are emphasised and which are reduced. But what kind of mixer do you need? The first question you need to ask yourself is what you want to do. Here are a few examples: 1. Do you have a home studio, or are you running a small stage where you usually need the same number of channels? Then you can use an analogue mixer. 2. Do you need something more flexible where you can connect more audio sources if needed? Then a digital mixer would be a better option. 3. Are you an on-the-road musician or technician who would prefer to use their own gear, then maybe take a look at some mixers with built-in amplifiers. 4. If you need audio to be sent to multiple rooms, then you’re likely to need a zone mixer. If you’re looking for a dedicated DJ mixer, then see our DJ Mixer Buyer’s Guide. Analogue Mixers
2. How Many Channels Should My Mixer Have?The answer to this question is simple: the number of instruments you want to amplify dictates the number of channels you’ll need. Are you part of an acoustic duo? Then a two-channel mixer that maybe has an extra stereo input would be perfect. Are you in a big brass band? Then you might need to group some of the sections of the band or get yourself an enormous mixing desk. If you want to keep really flexible in terms of what you can connect to your mixer, then a digital mixer would be perfect. Please note: If a manufacturer advertises a ‘12-channel mixer’, then make sure to double check all the inputs it actually offers. This is because stereo inputs are often counted as two inputs, while it’s not actually possible to connect two independent sources to them . If you want to know exactly how many channels a mixer has, it’s better to look at the number of volume faders it has (smaller budget mixers sometimes just have volume control knobs). Another thing worth knowing is that, if you’re browsing through all of our analogue mixers for example, you can use the filters on the left of the page to state how many microphone inputs and stereo channels you need. Analogue Mixers with 1 or 2 Microphone Inputs
3. What is an Analogue Mixer?With an analogue mixer, the sound of what you connect to a specific channel is adjusted by the controls of that channel. So, if you have a vocalist with a microphone connected to channel 1 of your mixer, then the sound of the microphone is adjusted using the controls of channel 1. If you then want to connect a bass guitar via a DI box to channel 1, then you need to unplug the microphone XLR plug and connect it to a different channel. Then you take the cable running from the DI box and connect it to channel 1. Earlier mixers were always analogue, so there was always a lot of unplugging and plugging back in before the right set up was complete. This might sound fussy, but if you have a fixed or small setup, then it’s not going to be problem since you won’t be swapping channels and inputs so much. If you find that you’re doing this a lot, however, then a digital mixer is probably a better option (see Question 4). Also, it’s worth noting that a lot of sound technicians actually swear by analogue mixers! Sometimes analogue mixers will come with built-in effects, but we advise always checking what’s possible with them. Usually, you can use one or two effects at the same time. The same goes for recording: most more expensive mixers can be used to make real multi-track recordings instead of just a two-channel stereo recording.
4. What is a Digital Mixer?Flexibility is the key word when it comes to digital mixers. In comparison to analogue mixers (see Question 3), you can use any channel to adjust any input. Unplugging everything and plugging it all back in just to swap channels around is therefore unnecessary. It’s much simpler since you can, for example, just assign input 1 to channel 6. The analogue signal from the audio source is then converted into a digital signal. This also ensures a cleaner signal with little to no noise. Also, you usually get an enormous arsenal of effects built in. All of the parameters that you need can usually be accessed via a built-in screen where you can also save different presets and ‘stack’ channels. Sometimes, you can also make adjustments remotely, using something like a tablet. It’s therefore possible that the channels look slightly different from the channels of an analogue mixer, to the point where some digital mixers don’t even come fitted with control knobs any more. Whether or not you’d find this a comfortable way of working is up to you. These days, it’s also less necessary to work with thick bundles of cables, since everything can be sent from the stage to the mixer via an RJ45 ethernet cable – exactly the same kind of cable you use to hook up the internet.
5. What Are the Benefits of a Mixer with a Built-In Amplifier?Mixers with a built-in amplifier are also known as power mixers. Using a power mixer, you can not only control and send any incoming signals, but you can also amplify the mix by connecting up a set of passive speakers. This is perfect if you want your own complete setup and want control over your own mix - ideal for smaller gigs and rehearsal spaces. Also, passive speakers are generally cheaper; you remove the need to buy an extra external amplifier, and all of the controls are in one place – a great all-in-one solution. Of course, with this setup, you can’t swap out the amplifer, and the mixers themselves are not really set up to be controlled by a sound technician (see the included image). It’s also really important to check the power capacity you’re going to need. For a little more help with what you need to look for, you can check out our Amplifier Buyer’s Guide. Mixers with Built-In Amplifiers
6. What is a Zone Mixer?The zone mixer is the odd one out. Around nine times out of ten, it’ll be a rack mixer (see Question 7), where a single volume control and a basic equaliser will do all the work. With this kind of mixer, you can send different signals to different rooms (zones). So, say you have an MP3 player and two microphones connected and three rooms that need sound. With a zone mixer, you can send a different audio signal to each room. So, in one room, you can hear an MP3 playlist, in another room you can hear someone giving a speech, and in the last room you can hear a singer with an acoustic guitar. Zone mixers are especially useful for controlling an audio audio system in spaces like a cafe, restaurant, or multi-stage complex.
7. What is a Rack Mixer?In Question 6, we already came across the term ‘rack mixer’. Generally speaking, you can roughly divide mixers into one of two categories: desk mixers and rack mixers. The difference is simple: the desk mixer can literally be placed on a desk or table and usually comes fitted with a mass of channels, faders, and control knobs. A rack mixer is installed in something like a 19” rack or 19” flight case. This means that you lose less space and that you can build a neat and more portable system. Sometimes, you can mount a normal desk mixer in a rack and some models even come with rack mount kits included so that you can install the mixer in the top of something like a combi flight case or rack. Rack Mixers
8. What Are the Functions of the Channel Strips of a Mixer?We’ve already come across them a few times: the channel strip, and they are actually quite simple. Here, we’ll explain all of the most common control knobs, buttons, and inputs fitted to most channel strips. The more expensive and bigger a mixing desk, however, the more options you’re likely to get.
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