10. Glossary
Below is a small selection of terms that you might come across frequently when dealing with digital mixers:
- Real Time Analyzer
- VCA/DCA Group
- Mute Group
- Sends on Fader
- Redundancy
- Scribble Strips
- Personal Monitor Mixer
Measures and displays the frequency spectrum of an audio signal in real time. It's a very helpful tool for identifying troublesome frequencies and, for example, precisely eliminating feedback.
Voltage Controlled Amplifier/Digitally Controlled Amplifier. VCA/DCA groups allow multiple signals to be collectively adjusted in their volume. Unlike subgroups, no further signal processing is possible.
Several channels can be muted or un-muted simultaneously using a mute group.
The Sends on Fader function uses channel faders instead of encoders to send signals to a bus. This allows for quick and precise creation of monitor mixes or assigning channels to effects.
The duplicate presence of something. For instance, a cabling setup between a digital mixer and a stagebox can be redundant. Two cables are run for this purpose. If one line becomes faulty, the signal is rerouted through the redundant line.
Digital "label strips". They display the name of the corresponding channel. Often, you can even change colors and symbols. Scribble strips significantly enhance the clarity and organization of a digital mixer!
User-friendly and simplified mixing consoles that allow musicians to create their monitor mixes themselves.
