Digital Mixer Function Analysis

Digital Mixer Function Analysis

This magazine takes the famous Mickey D8B as an example to introduce the representative functions of various digital mixing consoles to everyone, so as to serve as a "brick" for peers to discuss the use of digital mixing consoles in depth.

Note: Digital mixers, as a new force in audio equipment, have occupied an important position in the field of professional recording. In particular, in the past one or two years, digital mixers have begun to be used in sound reinforcement venues, which shows that the transition of mixers from analog to digital is a trend that cannot be ignored. However, due to the large number of interfaces and poor intuitive operation of digital mixers, many users feel that they are far away from them.

If measured by an ordinary analog mixing console, the Mickey D8B digital mixing console has completely exceeded the scope of a mixing console. In addition to having the functions of a large analog mixing console, it has a complete digital recording interface and software that supports a large number of third-party effect processing plug-ins, surround sound processing, and functions comparable to audio workstations, etc. All of these remind us: When learning about digital mixing consoles, you must first improve your "awareness", especially those who are engaged in sound reinforcement, and don't be surprised by the functions of digital mixing consoles.

The D8B digital mixer features powerful operating software and an intuitive display interface. You can operate this digital mixer directly without an external monitor, which makes it faster to operate. You can see 24 channels at the same time (including the V-POT multi-purpose adjustment knob). The buttons on the screen can control the corresponding functions on the 4 control pages.

Each channel on the screen includes: insert assignment display and pop-up window display before digital sound field processing (DSP) 1. Left and right channel assignment bus indication 2; direct assignment input and output, recording level adjustment of the recording seat, digital sensitivity adjustment 3; compression/threshold/equalization/phase polarity switch 4; equalization curve display 5; digital sound field processing DSP after insert assignment display and pop-up window display 6; auxiliary send indication 7; selected channel display 8; record/write status display 9; V-POT multi-purpose data setting button, by default, channel sound image control 10; select/solo listening/mute key 11; channel description 12; fader status display 13.

Fat Channel

Multi-purpose setting area

All channel effects, channel select, auxiliary send and digital sensitivity settings are displayed in a very intuitive way. Just double-click the channel select button when you need to adjust it. You can hide it when you don't need it.

Equalization: Adjust the 12 on-screen knobs and see the actual effect parameters being adjusted in the 12 data windows on the right - or drag the data to change its parameter configuration. You can even change the effect settings intuitively by dragging the effect or EQ curve with the mouse.

You can choose four-band equalization (BritishEQ): they are low-band/high-pass filter, two-band mid-frequency parametric equalization, and high-band/low-pass filter; you can also choose H/P equalization: it has 1 low-band/high-pass filter equalization and three high-end parametric equalization bands, a total of four parametric adjustment bands. The center frequency of each band can be scanned in the range of 20-20KHZ. At the same time, each EQ parameter and type can be saved and called out at any time during program operation, and can also be copied to another channel for use.

You can set two EQ parameter memory positions and quickly compare the A/B effect. You can also set a fade transition time between the two parameters, which will smoothly transition from EQ memory state A to memory state B within the time period you set.

V-POTTM Function Area

The V-POT selection operation area is on the right side of the main screen, which is used to assign adjustment and operation functions to each independent channel. Perform corresponding V-POT operations. Similar to the previous channel display, it also includes the insertion of left/right and main L/R bus 1; main fader selection and "write" function key 2; V-POT tracking and digital sensitivity indication 3; auxiliary allocation 4; monitoring level and monitoring sound image allocation allow you to establish two different monitoring mixes 5; main sound image and solo selection and front and back sound image status 6; main sound image control and status display 7; sub-control page selection 8; main fader 9.

Compression and Gate

Channel Select 1 lets you quickly select a channel from all channels, assign a channel to a bus or invert the signal phase. You can also assign a channel to a direct output by clicking the green button in the ROUTE TO TAPE selection area. The version 3.0 operating system supports pre-DSP or post-DSP insert selection, and includes an independent EQ adjustment function that can dynamically adjust its auxiliary output and digital sensitivity adjustment area 2 through the fat channel EQ control; more V-POT function setting details.

Mixing

The Mix Editor is an interactive display that provides nearly every adjustment option available on a channel, including channel fader levels, mutes, L/R and front main/rear surround pans, digital sensitivity, aux and monitor levels, monitor pans, bus and L/R assignments, phase flips, "soft-knee" compression and "key" input attenuation levels/EQ gain/EQ frequency/EQ bandwidth. In fact, everything is displayed graphically.

Surround Sound

The Surround Window lets you visually manipulate the position of the sound image in multi-channel downmix mode, with multiple modes to choose from: QUAD, LCRS, 5.1 and 7.1 channel modes. The display shows a visual "mixing platform" for a multi-speaker surround system. A glowing dot shows the position of the channel track image in the sound field space, and you can smoothly fade (change) a channel position variable over time. Version 3.0 surround processing enhancements include: sound image, center sound field sound field depth, surround sound LFE (low frequency effect) gain control for each channel, surround sound bus and track assignments, and a 72-channel surround sound status display. Needless to say, all of this can be performed fully automatically.
Local Remote Control:

This floating window is your "virtual remote control" that allows you to remotely control external digital recording devices, such as HDR24/96, or other devices that support the MIDI transmission control protocol (including MIDI sequencers and DAW digital audio workstations). It includes a time code display bar, a track list with a slider, and some operating function keys such as pan, mute and touch-sensitive automation mode.