Digital Mixers Explained

• Advantages of Digital
• Disadvantages of Digital
• Considerations
• Conclusion

Digital Mixers have been on stages and in studios for decades now. With models aimed at both seasoned professionals and hobbyists alike, many still lean towards analogue mixers due to their familiarity with the form and inherent simplicity. However, this is both a strength and a weakness of the analogue option. While simplicity is a consideration in choosing the right mixer, this blog explores a wider view at why you should be stepping into the world of digital mixers, their strengths, convenience and ultimate superiority in producing professional, consistent and tailored mixes both live and in the studio.

Advantages of Digital

• Scene Recall/User Presets:
  The ability to turn up at a gig, plug in and load up a preset from rehearsal or the previous show to provide an initial mix is an invaluable timesaver! This is especially useful with touring bands who have the same support act, as you can save each band’s set-up. This can be exceptionally useful for musicals and other stage shows where each scene can see entire groups of specific mics drop in and out.
• Templates:
  Very similar to the above, templates can have setups pre-saved. Run a live music venue? Have multiple scenes set up for a “4-Piece Band”, “4-Piece band + 2 vocals”, “DJ Set Up”, “Standup Comedy”, you get the idea. These can help you set up acts that have the same format without having to start from scratch every time.

Fully customisable to your needs

• Customisable workflow:
  This is a huge gamechanger, gone are the days of masking tape across the bottom and a good old Sharpie to remind you of channels. Most digital desks have a small screen or ‘Scribble Strip’, somewhere on the channel fader, you can set colours, names and icons for a lot of these. This way, you can instantly see which channel is which, also very handy in low-light conditions.
• Bus Groups & FX:
  Ever use Ableton Live or Steinberg‘s Cubase? You have your drum kits mix dialled in and group all 7 microphones so you can adjust the overall level with a single fader? That’s exactly what the majority of digital desks can offer, making live mixes less complicated.
• Monitoring:
  Many have local control for individual users/musicians to tailor their monitor mix on the fly from a phone or tablet app, making it highly customisable and allowing musicians to make the adjustments they need.

Compact yet packed full of features

• Not reliant on desk placement, the power of tablets:
  Use of a tablet and phone app to mix wirelessly in front of house without being tied to the mixer allows for mixing in front of the PA speakers. This provides more accurate and informed control of the final sound. It’s a well-known fact that the best spot for sound quality is where the mixing desk is, but now it can be anywhere.
• Advanced features & technology:
  Some of these aren’t on every digital desk but are becoming more common. Auto Gain, just like in some audio interfaces, can set the gain automatically to a healthy level, allowing you to focus on the mix. Feedback Suppression can, well, help with feedback! It can’t cut it out entirely, but desks can intelligently detect and target problem frequencies. Lastly, a hot topic, but AI, currently a rare sight, but there are some desks designed to help mix standard bands, function acts, singer-songwriters and podcasters in helping to get a healthy mix when you might not have the budget for a full-time engineer.
• Rapid Deployment:
  One data cable to a stage box instead of running huge looms & multicore of XLR cables.

Recording Powerhouse in the studio or live!

• The power of a DAW-based workflow in a live setting:
  Process each channel individually with production staples such as EQ, Compression, Saturation, Reverb, Chorus and more.
• Multi-Track Recording/Interface:
  Many digital mixers double up as a high-quality audio interface, providing an instantaneous multitrack mix of the performance ready for post-production editing and uploading to social media.
• High Channel count in a compact form factor due to layered design:
  This allows you to have a 32-channel desk in the form factor of This means you can save significant space, if space for a larger desk is a consideration.

Disadvantages of Digital

• Inherent initial learning curve:
  As with anything unfamiliar, a period of adjustment is to be expected; not every control is instantly accessible, some menu diving or page selection will be required, but you’ll get your head around these in no time.
• Software:
  Software/Firmware updates will be required periodically to ensure integration with the latest phones, tablets and computers. Something that the equivalent analogue mixer will never require, but then you don’t get access to the flexibility of smart devices. This, however, allows you to install and update the mixer with the latest and greatest features from the manufacturer, keeping it at the cutting edge.
• Lacking in analogue warmth:
  If used primarily in the recording studio, digital consoles typically will not provide as much character and greatly desirable ‘analogue warmth’, as the pristine, digital clarity can be perceived as ‘too perfect’. The reason that big analogue consoles are still used in some studios is the ability to drive those analogue channels. With that in mind, if the studio is to be the main use case, you may wish to consider a dedicated analogue studio mixer such as the SSL Big Six or Tascam Model 16. That being said, digital mixers can also be a bonus in the studio as they integrate much better with DAWS, with many offering DAW control and compatibility with motorised or ‘Flying Faders’.

Considerations

When shopping for a digital mixer, it’s important to balance your current needs with room to grow. Start by assessing the input/output (I/O) options, make sure it has enough main and auxiliary outputs for front-of-house and monitor mixes, especially if you’re running earphones (IEMs). Bus routing flexibility is key for setting up subgroups, FX sends, and custom monitor mixes. Wireless control is a major advantage in live settings; some mixers include built-in Wi-Fi, while others require an external router and offer control via apps or browsers. The physical layout also matters; some prefer a traditional console with tactile faders, while others go for compact touchscreens with multi-function rotary encoders. For expanding your setup, look for digital snake compatibility over Cat5/6, which lets you add more I/O without bulky analogue cabling. Built-in effects, customizable fader layering, and intuitive workflow (with minimal menu diving) all contribute to a smoother experience. Consider whether the mixer is rack-mountable for installation or touring, check the screen size for ease of use, and if you plan to record, ensure it supports multitrack output via USB, SD card, or direct-to-computer. Considering all these features will help you find a mixer that fits seamlessly into your setup, whether you’re in a studio, on stage, or somewhere in between.

Conclusion

Taking all this into account, utilising a digital mixer will offer you a wealth of options which would normally require an entire rack of equipment, owing to their high adaptability, customisable user experience and professional appointments. While initial cost is a consideration, for anyone that performs or uses a PA regularly in any setting, the convenience, power and countless features only available on a digital mixer will more than make up for this in a very short time. Before too long, you will be left wondering why you waited so long to make the switch.

Featured Digital Mixers:

• Yamaha TF-1 Digital Live Mixing Desk
• Behringer X32 Compact – Digital Mixing Console
• Allen & Heath CQ18T Small Format Figital Mixing Console With Touchscreen
• Behringer X-Air XR18 18-Channel 12-Bus Digital Mixer for iPad / Andriod Tablets

Check out our other blogs:

• Ultimate Guide to PA Speakers
• What is a PA System?
• Choose The Best Gear For Your Podcast
• The Top Studio Microphones Every Recording Engineer Should Know
• Moog Messenger: Comparisons & Your Questions Answered