The difference between analog mixer and digital mixer.

1. Analog mixer

This is a mixer that we often use to date, from the stereo stage, the hall until the music cafes, karaoke … and service characteristics in the analog mixer recognizable it is always to have a technician standing adjusted directly on the device every time you need to tweak the sound.

The principle of operation of analog mixer is: when you speak into the microphone, a signal will be emitted from the speaker’s mouth is represented by sound waves pass through the microphone, the signal will be generated by converting the signal into Power, which is an analog signal (analog and continuous). This electrical signal is transmitted over the wire through a signal jack and into the mixer. The mixer will take the form of electric signals and adjust the original wave signal, it can be increased, decreased, connectors and process them until it reaches the desired sound

Clip preview Mixer Yamaha MG 16/6CX

The mixer signal after processing will continue transmitted to other devices such as Equalizer (EQ) or Compressor and then will be amply amplified signal for transmission to the speaker. The signal is then passed from the amplifier to the speaker wires, where the signals are converted back into the atmosphere through the pressure. Both these lengthy processes are done very quickly, and there is no delay in the process of transmitting voice from the microphone via the signal processing device and emits speakers.

And also so that the advantages of this type of mixer that is effective analog signal processing fast, compact, quick operation through the adjustment screw on the mixer table. It is also a familiar mixer most audio players now make up the custom, treatment is relatively easy, familiar. However, apart from that it still has some drawbacks that we easily recognize it is always necessary to have an alignment technician standing mixer and if electricity does not meet the requirements, the sound output voice distortion, automatic outage source or cause adverse effects on the equipment in the sound system.

2. Digital mixer

Although not as common as other types analog mixer, but today digital mixer is also used quite a lot in the big stage sound system, the professional recording studio. The whole point of most use digital stereo mixer that is used a lot of instruments, different sound sources.

Just take example of a microphone as above, when you use a microphone in digital mixer desk, when analog signals transmitted from the microphone to the mixer, it will be converted into a digital signal, this signal is used binary format, is a computer language that is used to handle. And it is because the digital signal, so you can easily stand mixer remote control via PC, or devices such as iPad, Smartphone … just install the software on the type of mixer you use digital , you can easily customize the mixer without necessarily stood and manipulating the fader knob and the same again. However, producers are often still designed lever, like the type of mixer knob on digital analog mixer, we can still adjust directly as the type analog mixer if nontraditional as well as lack understanding of the computer software. But you should also understand that a digital signal is completely without the use of the knob and fader to control it.

digital mixer

For example, you can use a computer screen with an image of a table mixer and just click, drag and save your settings, digital signals will be processed until what output should reach there, and emitting the signal is digital or conventional over again converted to an analog signal reverse signal after conversion by the amplifier and the mixer switch loudspeakers.

An important difference between analog and digital mixer that is when analog moving it in digital latency latency is generated when switching from analog to digital signals and can be measured in units of milliseconds . Cheap digital mixer, the greater latency, but it does not affect the use of a sound system to play music, you can only be perceived when using headphones only.

Thus, the advantages of the digital mixer type that you can set, processor, mixer presets for devices via laptop, ipad … using wifi connection without having to stand directly corrected immediately in the staging machine. And of course the application of such technologies also help the digital mixer type for the excellent sound quality that you completely unexpected. But its a small drawback is that the cost of this type of digital mixer is high compared with analog mixer with the same number of channels.

So after reading this article, if you feel wondering whether should buy analog or digital mixer, the advice that you take based on the need to use your stereo that decision. Analog or digital mixer offers effective signal processor good for sound system, but if your needs are not used high, little stereo equipment, all kinds of analog mixer will be selected accordingly. And if the sound system hall, church, theater … great, digital mixer will bring greater efficiency.