mixing desks

Sound control surfaces

A mixing desk is a piece of audio equipment that combines and adjusts multiple sound inputs into a unified output.

Sound engineers use them in recording studios, concert venues, and broadcast facilities to control volume levels, tone, and effects for each channel: She adjusted the levels on the mixing desk during rehearsal.

Also called a mixing board, mixing console, or simply a mixer.

controls

faders

Audio level controls

channelsPaths for transmission
knobsGraspable protrusions for turning
slidersSmall hamburgers or adjustable controls

equalizer · panning · gain · mute · solo · auxiliary · inputs · outputs · routing · LED indicators

studio

console

Comfort in distress

multitrackMultiple parallel recording channels
recordingCaptured audio or video
tracksMarks showing passage

automation · producers · engineers · mastering · soundproofing · acoustics · microphones · monitors · preamps · compressors

crossfader

Audio blending slider

turntablismPhonograph-based music creation
beatmatchingAligning tracks' tempos
cueingSignaling when to start

scratching · BPM · sync · transitions · looping · effects · headphones · monitoring · vinyl · platter

sound

equalization

Making things uniform

balanceSteadiness or amount owed
levelsHeights or ranked stages
dynamicsStudy of forces

compression · bass · treble · midrange · clarity · stereo · loudness · decibels · headroom · clipping

Opposites

audio signal function

mixing desksspeakers

Audio output devices

output devices · playback devices · loudspeakers · studio monitors · amplifiers

signal flow direction

mixing desksmicrophones

Audio input devices

instruments · input devices · pickups

Family

mixing, mixed, mixes, mixer, mixers, mixture, mixtures, unmixed, remixed

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G