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DO I NEED A MIXING BOARD FOR MY STUDIO? – SETTING UP YOUR HOME RECORDING STUDIO

Let’s take a trip back in time to the golden age of music. There was a time when recording studios recorded to tape since computers were not readily available. Recording music was a costly activity limited to only the most affluent recording studios. To mix down recording sessions to tape, recording studios used large and unwieldy analog mixing desks. It was necessary to make decisions on how to use the restricted number of accessible channels.

Returning to the present, thanks to digital audio and contemporary computers, we now have access to an almost infinite number of tracks. We no longer need to record because of virtual synthesizers and sample libraries. So Do I need a mixing board for my studio?

What Is A Mixing Desk?

It’s simple: a mixing desk was designed to allow audio to be mixed on a desk with faders. The fader is a small piece of plastic (or metal if you have the luxury edition) that you may move up and down to change the volume of a particular source.

We also have knobs that we may twist to change the EQ (equalization) low, mid, or high frequencies, gain, which adjusts the volume of the source, pan from left to right, and AUX sends and REC sends for recording to other audio sources on more advanced radio station mixing desks.

Traditional Mixing Desks vs. Virtual Mixing Desks

Using Different Apps on Your Desk

We talked about why I believe mixing desks are no longer necessary. This is because you may utilize a dedicated computer, whether it’s a Mac, PC, or even a tablet, to function as your mixing desk. It will be less clumsy, have more usefulness and utility, and may even be less expensive. In the UK, for example, you can acquire a Tesco Hudl with the latest version of Android OS and put a sophisticated mixing desk on it, and you’ll have a virtual mixing desk that won’t take up too much space in your workspace and can be used to play Plants vs. Zombies once you’re done with your work! So you’ll only need to invest a few hundred dollars on a reasonably nice Android tablet and a few pounds on a competent mixing desk app.

Real Mixing Stations

A mixing desk may be more appealing for a radio station with callers and an operator. However, it’s still a matter of getting used to it because, with the right mixing desk software, you can accomplish all of those things digitally.

The Insider’s Guide To Complicated Mixing Desks

My opinions on the mystery of sophisticated mixing consoles were expressed. With all the buttons, lights, and controls, a mixing desk appears to be somewhat sophisticated, yet you only utilize a few of them.

Combining the Benefits and Drawbacks of a Desk

To explore the factors you should think about if you think you need a mixing desk, namely the potential benefits and obvious drawbacks of having a mixing desk.

Virtual Mixing Desks Are Increasingly Popular

Many audio platforms are now creating their digital mixing desks, which is one rationale for not needing a mixing desk. Speaker, the site on which we present this show, is continually working to improve their live mixing console, which will eventually allow you to bring numerous inputs as well as effects and EQ.

Real mixing desks frequently include features that aren’t necessary.

Another example is that when you buy a mixing desk, you pay for the number of channels you want, but you’ll always find that there are a couple you don’t need. In my case, I purchased a Behringer mixer that had vocal effects and 8-bit quality mono sound effects that I’ll never be able to use in real-world production. While you can add a lot of reverb or echo to your voice in real-time with the vocal effects, I’m not sure I’ll be able to use it in a live atmosphere for my job.

Upgrades to Digital Mixing Desks!

In comparison to a manual mixing desk, where you’ll have to buy a new one if you want to upgrade, digital mixing desks are considerably more likely to be updated regularly. And, given how quickly these things change, moving forward with digital versions would be significantly more advantageous.

Mixing Desks for Audio Producers

We also discussed how mixing consoles might benefit audio producers by automating a process while making a promo or anything similar. When you don’t use a physical fader, some people claim that it’s just not the same because you can’t truly feel how you’re moving the music up and down.

Mixing Desks Are No Longer In Use!

Although mixing desks have useful capabilities that allow you to work in real-time, the answer to the issue of whether or not you need one is no. Mixing consoles, like cassette tapes and compact discs, seem to be on their way out.

Quick Tips for Mixing Audio on a Computer

If you have a Mac, soundflower, and LadioCast is worth looking into. I use two amazing free apps to do real-time mixing all the time.

Conclusion

You might not require some of the capabilities available in most mixers if you’re a newbie with a small home studio or extremely simple recording needs. While this eliminates the need for a hardware audio mixer, we still recommend that you mix your songs using music production software on your computer.

If you just record from one or two sound sources, a dedicated mixer may not be necessary. The audio interface, on the other hand, is a different matter. This device is a must-have if you desire high-quality audio.

However, ” Do I need a mixing board for my studio?” Your choice is largely determined by your personal preferences and long-term objectives. You can always obtain both if you have the money, the space, and the patience. This is especially true if you want to experiment with a mixer and see what it can do to change your sound. It’s well worth the expenditure if you want to pursue a career in music production. Do I need a mixing board for my studio?