Guidelines in Choosing a Mixer

Audio mixers come in many different sizes and at all price
levels, so it’s little wonder that people are confused as to
what type is actually needed for the job in hand. However
there are several questions you can to ask yourself that will
help you narrow your search to the most appropriate
models.
• What am I going to be using the mixer for - i.e.
multitrack recording, live PA work or both?
• What is my budget?
• How many sound sources do I have? As a guideline your
mixer needs to have at least as many inputs as sound
sources. If you are likely to be buying more equipment in
the future you should budget for extra inputs.
• What particular mixer facilities must I have for my
application? i.e. plenty of EQ, auxiliaries, or Direct Outs
for recording.
• How portable does the mixer need to be?
• Will I be doing any location work where there won’t be
any mains power available?
• Have I read the Soundcraft Guide to Mixing from cover
to cover?
Once you can answer these questions satisfactorily you
should have a fairly accurate specification for the mixer you
need.