Why Digital Audio Consoles Offer So Much More

Does it seem to you that everything is going digital these days? You are not alone in your thinking! If it can be made digital, it seems that is the trend, from telephones to televisions. The sound industry in no different. Within the last few years more and more technicians are switching from analog to digital audio mixers.

It is not that the old analog consoles are bad—there are some wonderful systems still out there. With one knob or fader per function, they are easy to master and use. Analog consoles are capable of producing very high sound quality, too. The digital consoles offer so much more, however. While more complex to master in the beginning, the features digital offers more than make up for it.

Digital consoles allow you to save multiple mute groups and channel settings. You can reconfigure signal routings with a flick of a finger. There are also many added special effects on many models, such as parametric EQ, tap delay, automatic feedback reduction, and reverb. Some consoles allow for expansion by using “plug ins.” Such software can provide additional reverb, delay, and tone-shaping capabilities.

One of the best things about digital, however, is the portability of the data needed to make set-up in a new venue move quickly. Saved data in the form of USB flash drives or other devices can easily transfer data from past performances to the mixer in a new venue. A few brief input and output adjustments, and you are completely ready for the night’s show!

If you are having trouble deciding between digital or analog or between different manufacturers, it helps to have the guidance of someone who represents multiple types of mixers and can objectively guide you to the console that is right for your needs. Hi-Tech Audio has expert staff whose dedication to great sound is immediately apparent. Relied on by some of the top sound technicians in the business, they have been providing high quality consoles to all types of users for over two decades.