Editing Mixing console (section)

{{Short description|Device used for audio mixing}}
{{Redirect|Audio mixer|the film profession|Production sound mixer|and|Re-recording mixer|the music profession|Live sound mixing|and|Audio engineer}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2010}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}

[[File:SSL SL9000J (72ch) @ The Cutting Room Recording Studios, NYC.jpg|thumb|[[Solid State Logic|SSL]] SL9000J (72 channel) console at Cutting Room Recording Studio, NYC]]
[[File:PawelLucki20060424.jpg|thumb|An audio engineer adjusts a mixer while doing live sound for a band.]]

A '''mixing console''' or '''mixing desk''' is an electronic device for [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] audio signals, used in [[sound recording and reproduction]] and [[sound reinforcement system]]s. Inputs to the console include [[microphone]]s, signals from electric or electronic instruments, or recorded sounds. Mixers may control analog or [[Digital signal (signal processing)|digital signal]]s. The modified signals are [[summation|summed]] to produce the combined output signals, which can then be broadcast, amplified through a sound reinforcement system or recorded.

Mixing consoles are used for applications including [[recording studio]]s, [[public address system]]s, sound reinforcement systems, [[nightclub]]s, [[broadcasting]], and [[post-production]]. A typical, simple application combines signals from microphones on stage into an amplifier that drives one set of [[loudspeaker]]s for the audience. A [[DJ mixer]] may have only two channels, for mixing two [[record players]]. A coffeehouse's small stage might only have a six-channel mixer, enough for two singer-guitarists and a percussionist. A nightclub stage's mixer for [[rock music]] shows may have 24 channels for mixing the signals from a [[rhythm section]], [[lead guitar]] and several vocalists. A mixing console in a professional recording studio may have as many as 96 channels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/products/mixers/dm2000vcm/ |title=96 Inputs and 22 Buses For Glorious Surround Sound |publisher=[[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] |access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref> Consoles used for live sound can go even higher, with some having up to 384 input channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quantum852 |url=https://digico.biz/consoles/quantum852/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=DiGiCo |language=en-US}}</ref>

In practice, mixers do more than simply mix signals. They can provide [[phantom power]] for [[condenser microphone]]s; [[Panning (audio)|pan control]], which changes a sound's apparent position in the [[stereo field]]; [[Filter (signal processing)|filtering]] and [[Equalization (audio)|equalization]], which enables sound engineers to boost or cut selected frequencies to improve the sound; [[dynamic range compression]], which allows engineers to increase the overall gain of the system or channel without exceeding the dynamic limits of the system; routing facilities, to send the signal from the mixer to another device, such as a [[sound recording]] system or a control room; and monitoring facilities, whereby one of a number of sources can be routed to loudspeakers or headphones for listening, often without affecting the mixer's main output.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rumsey |first1=Francis |last2=McCormick |first2=Tim |title=Sound and Recording |url=https://archive.org/details/soundrecording00rums |url-access=limited |date=2009 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=9780240521633 |page=[https://archive.org/details/soundrecording00rums/page/n133 109] |edition=Sixth}}</ref> Some mixers have onboard electronic effects, such as reverb. Some mixers intended for small venue live performance applications may include an integrated [[power amplifier]].