Audio mixing

Audio mixing is used in sound recording, audio editing and sound systems to control the relative signal levels as among a number of signal sources, typically the different instruments in a band.

Sometimes audio mixing is done live by a sound engineer, for example at rock concerts and other musical performances where a public address system is used. A typical concert has two mixers, one located in the audience to mix the PA heard by the audience, and the other is located at the side of the stage, mixing for the monitor speakers positioned directly in front of the performers so that they can hear one another.

At other times, audio mixing is done in studios as part of multitrack recording in order to produce audio recordings for release on Compact Disc or as part of a film or television program.

An audio mixing console or desk (Brit.) may have several controls such as rotating or sliding knobs, one for each channel of audio. Each channel of the console may have other knobs which equalize, or attenuate certain frequencies, of the incoming audio signal. Larger and more complex consoles such as are used in film and television production can contain dozens of channels, and they may be automated so that the movement of the console's controls is performed automatically, not unlike a player piano.

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Audio mixing, or just mixing can also refer to a DJ mixing the end of one pre-recorded song into another so that the transition is seemless. Sometimes called beat-matching or beat-mixing.