ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the principles of audio mixing systems. Because many design and layout concepts of analog mixers find a place in digital mixers, many DAWs implement mixers in software, and in many ways, it does not matter whether the audio processing is analog or digital, these aspects are covered in a fairly generic way. Audio signal processing and effects are often built into mixers or can be ‘plugged in’ to them. The chapter begins with a description of a simple stand-alone mixer and moves on to consider the facilities of large-scale multitrack systems. It deals with control systems, automation, and metering. A linear law means that a control will alter the level of a signal in a linear fashion: that is, a control setting midway between maximum and minimum will attenuate a signal by half its voltage.
