Editing Mixing console (section)

===Sound quality===
[[File:BenAudioBoard.jpg|thumb|A studio engineer at a Control 24 mixing surface]]

Both digital and analog mixers rely on analog microphone [[preamplifier]]s, a high-gain circuit that increases the low signal level from a microphone to a level that is better matched to the console's internal operating level. 

In a digital mixer, the microphone preamplifier is followed by an [[analog-to-digital converter]]. Ideally, this process is carefully engineered to deal gracefully with overloading and [[clipping (audio)|clipping]] while delivering an accurate digital stream. Overloading during further processing and mixing of digital streams can be avoided by using [[floating-point arithmetic]]. Intermediate processing in older systems using [[fixed-point arithmetic]] and final output in all digital systems must be controlled to avoid [[Saturation arithmetic|saturation]].

Analog mixers, too, must deal gracefully with overloading and clipping at the microphone preamplifier and as well as avoiding overloading of mix buses. [[Noise (electronics)|Noise]] is present at all stages of an analog mixer, though good gain stage management and turning unused channels down to zero minimizes its audibility. Digital circuitry is generally more [[Electromagnetic interference|resistant to outside interference]] from radio transmitters such as walkie-talkies and cell phones. 

Many electronic design elements combine to affect perceived sound quality, making the global "analog mixer vs. digital mixer" question difficult to answer. Experienced live sound professionals agree that the selection and quality of the microphones and loudspeakers (with their innate higher potential for creating distortion) are a much greater source of coloration of sound than the choice of mixer.{{cn|date=March 2021}} The mixing style and experience of the person mixing may be more important than the make and model of audio console. Analog and digital mixers both have been associated with high-quality concert performances and studio recordings.