Editing Audio control surface (section)

[[File:Com DigidesignProfile.jpg|thumb|A large control surface, the [[Digidesign]] Profile. This surface connects to the mixing hardware by way of four [[coaxial cable]]s.]]

In the domain of digital audio, a '''control surface''' is a [[human interface device]] (HID) that allows the user to control a [[digital audio workstation]] or other digital audio application.  Generally, a control surface will contain one or more controls that can be assigned to parameters in the software, allowing tactile control of the software. As digital audio software is complex and can play any number of functions in the audio chain, control surfaces can be used to control many aspects of music production, including virtual instruments, samplers, signal processors, [[Audio mixing|mixers]], [[DJ controller|DJ software]], and [[music sequencer]]s.

A control surface is a physical interface, often resembling an analog [[Mixing console]], used to manage your DAW ([[Digital audio workstation]]), plug-ins, and other audio software. There are many configurations of a control surfaces. They can contain a single fader like the Sparrow 3x100mm, to a large advanced console like the Avid S6.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Buyer's Guide: Control Surfaces |url=https://vintageking.com/blog/2021/09/buyers-guide-control-surfaces |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Vintage King Blog |language=en}}</ref> Control surfaces often features faders, knobs (rotary encoders), and buttons that can be assigned to parameters in the software. Other control surfaces are designed to give a musician control over the sequencer while recording, and thus provide transport controls (remote control of record, playback and song position). Control surfaces are often incorporated into [[MIDI controller]]s to give the musician more control over an instrument. Control surfaces with motorized faders can read and write [[mix automation]].

The control surface connects to the host computer via many different interfaces. [[MIDI]] was the first major interface created for this purpose, although many devices now use [[USB]], [[FireWire]], or [[Ethernet]].