Hi! I'm new here!
In the past I've built multiple simple synthesisers but nothing really that processes audio. For a long time I've wanted to build a mixer and I'm getting around to planning it now. I'm an audio coder at heart so I have some interesting ideas on how I plan to fuse software with an analog mixer.
As I have never built a mixer before I wanted to ask if this link is a good place to start?: How to build an audio mixer
Will this be good quality? Obviously I can change some of the modules out (eq etc) but is the general summing part good enough to get good results? If not, does anyone have any other suggestions?
I appreciate any suggestions given.
Thanks!
In the past I've built multiple simple synthesisers but nothing really that processes audio. For a long time I've wanted to build a mixer and I'm getting around to planning it now. I'm an audio coder at heart so I have some interesting ideas on how I plan to fuse software with an analog mixer.
As I have never built a mixer before I wanted to ask if this link is a good place to start?: How to build an audio mixer
Will this be good quality? Obviously I can change some of the modules out (eq etc) but is the general summing part good enough to get good results? If not, does anyone have any other suggestions?
I appreciate any suggestions given.
Thanks!
As a decent enough mixer for mixing audio in a studio. Something that I can experiment adding special features with.
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I am currently in the process of building a custom miwing console you can find the tread here Custom Build Mixing Console
Now the first thing you have to know is the concept of your mixer. A simple summing bus can be easy but then you start adding preamps/EQ/Auxes/Busses/Muting etc....
So first question what do you want to do with this mixer?
Then what kind of summing do you want to use? Most of the time the choice you have is passive or active summing. I don't like the name because in my opinion it's voltage or current summing. The you can use a balanced bus for some small noise advantage.
Then the next question. Are you gonna pan with a pot or pan hard lef/right with a switch. The switch type is easier and was used on early mixers. If you just use it to sum audio from a DAW you could use this. Channel seperation will always be better with a switch instead of a pan pot.
A good article on mixing busses can be found here =>Audio Signal Mixing
The guy also has a modular mixer design on his site.
Do you want it to be modular?
Then there are the practical design issues. wich connectors to use? etc..... It's also very easy to get ground loop problems. We are now building this mixing desk for a little more then a year and we are about getting there. We had some ground issues etc... I still need to update the tread but didn't have time yet as I'm busy with this mixing desk 🙂
How are you gonna switch audio signals? I like using relays and normal switches but remember to keep impedance as constant as possible when switching signals to avoid plopping. And use a diode over relais coils.
One more thing. If you want to use active summing use a good opamp (I personally would prefer a current feedback opamp as the bandwith stays constant when gain changes) If you want to use passive summing I would use a good opamp that has very low noise For passive suming it's very important to keep the bus impedance as constant as possible.
A transformer on the summing amp can also work very good for how it sounds.
Another thig is do you need a preamp? does it need an EQ? Does it need inserts? etc...
Ok that is it for know. A lot to think about 😉
Now the first thing you have to know is the concept of your mixer. A simple summing bus can be easy but then you start adding preamps/EQ/Auxes/Busses/Muting etc....
So first question what do you want to do with this mixer?
Then what kind of summing do you want to use? Most of the time the choice you have is passive or active summing. I don't like the name because in my opinion it's voltage or current summing. The you can use a balanced bus for some small noise advantage.
Then the next question. Are you gonna pan with a pot or pan hard lef/right with a switch. The switch type is easier and was used on early mixers. If you just use it to sum audio from a DAW you could use this. Channel seperation will always be better with a switch instead of a pan pot.
A good article on mixing busses can be found here =>Audio Signal Mixing
The guy also has a modular mixer design on his site.
Do you want it to be modular?
Then there are the practical design issues. wich connectors to use? etc..... It's also very easy to get ground loop problems. We are now building this mixing desk for a little more then a year and we are about getting there. We had some ground issues etc... I still need to update the tread but didn't have time yet as I'm busy with this mixing desk 🙂
How are you gonna switch audio signals? I like using relays and normal switches but remember to keep impedance as constant as possible when switching signals to avoid plopping. And use a diode over relais coils.
One more thing. If you want to use active summing use a good opamp (I personally would prefer a current feedback opamp as the bandwith stays constant when gain changes) If you want to use passive summing I would use a good opamp that has very low noise For passive suming it's very important to keep the bus impedance as constant as possible.
A transformer on the summing amp can also work very good for how it sounds.
Another thig is do you need a preamp? does it need an EQ? Does it need inserts? etc...
Ok that is it for know. A lot to think about 😉
Wow, that is incredible, great work!
I'm wanting a good high quality mixer that I can show off some special features that I'm not ready to give away yet.
I think active (or current?) summing is what I will go for as I do want it to give some character.
Pan pot, although designed to work with a daw, I don't want to think to much about the daw.
Thanks for the rest of the thoughts, I need to make some more decisions!
I'm wanting a good high quality mixer that I can show off some special features that I'm not ready to give away yet.
I think active (or current?) summing is what I will go for as I do want it to give some character.
Pan pot, although designed to work with a daw, I don't want to think to much about the daw.
Thanks for the rest of the thoughts, I need to make some more decisions!
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