Analog Vs Digital Audio Mixers

In this video we discuss the difference between analog audio consoles and digital audio consoles. For the purposes of the demonstration we are using a Yamaha MG16 and a Allen & Heath QU16.

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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:27 Mixing levels and sub-mixes
1:19 Analog pros and cons
1:51 Digital pros
2:22 Digital tools
4:07 Saving mixes
4:58 Final thoughts

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[gaarakabuto]

Just because i see a lot of people talking about how analogue sounds better than digital.If the recording media isn't analogue (vinyl pressing, tape recording, live performance) the analogue warmth will get lost either way while digitalised into a wav/mp3 digital file.Even if your A/D D/A audio card is the best, it simply won't keep everything.
But because also a lot of people seem confused to why digital still exist, workflow, workflow is everything in producing and when you hear the sound with all the analogue colouring you get a totally different vibe.Also for live performances analogue will be better on the experienced ears.

[carlstockmal]

It would be nice to have a closeup of each mixer, and maybe screenshots of some of the digital mixer's options/pages, to show the additional options on the digital. Also, the Yamaha is $460 (today, Jan 27 2021) and the Allen & Heath is $1700. I realize you're not apples-to-apples comparing, just showing examples of each, but if you spent the same $460 on a digital, would the sound quality be equal? Or would they both be too inexpensive to tell?

[giselapadro]

Do you have a video on how to ring out monitors to regulate feedback

[vlans]

Hi, what will the best digital mixers for live recording to connect via pc such as USB? This is for the house of worship.

[ThamilNesan]

great presentation bro but what is the price range????

[pitangshubhakta]

Want to buy a mixer. But confused between analog & digital. What is best for live sound Yamaha MGP32X or Soundcraft Si Impact?

[immensiverocker]

This was great video thanks for the information!

[mededmoon]

IS there a difference between mixers for live music and mixers for home studios(to mix beats etc.) If so can someone point them out to me?

[LaggyKikee]

However, analog mixers won't lose their value if you treat them correctly, vs digital mixers that you have to throw away like mobile phones after a few years. They also sound a bit better, as the Analog circuitry makes the mix a bit warmer and unstable.

I guess people just have to figure out what advantages they want more. If it were me, I'd rather get a mixer that could last me more than 30-40 years, and that I could sell for nearly retail price after many years too.

[juanprenteria]

So i have a pionner mixer ddj sx run with a hot signal, if i use a analog mixer after the pionner can i get i more cold signal ??

[EverettDudgeon]

I have a Soundcraft Signature 22MTK and it’s good but the main flaw is the audio over USB bypasses all the eq settings, faded settings and just transmits the raw audio into my DAW....is there a mixer that this doesn’t happen or perhaps I’ve set it up wrong but right now it just feels like a massive interface rather than a mixer. Keep in mind I have about 3 Stereo synths, Stereo Drum Machine, a guitar and bass inputs and two mono synths going at once so....I need inputs.

[ricardobarrera]

How about sound quality? Not sure if it's me but analog sounds better for some reason?

[InnerLifePhotography]

can you tell me the difference between "Powered Sound Reinforcement Audio Mixer (like Yamaha EMX5014C ) " and " Digital Mixing Console ( Soundcraft Vi7000 )"? Please HELP

[NJOverclocked]

I have a Toft ATB24 going through 3 Presonus 8-track converters. Should I keep this setup, or go full digital soon? Need opinions

[carlosramme]

Many thank,
What do you think about the Behringer X32 as Mixer vor a Studio..And sometimes vor an event..or do you recoment me an analoge..if yes wich ??

[edifierbass]

Even digital still using analog controllers like sliders, rotary knobs so i guess call it an ANA-DIGI

[christoroppolo]

Analog is more elegant. Simple is better. Peace ✌🏻🎶👽👍🏻🛸Christo

[nounix]

hi! 've been flirting with the idea to get a Qu-16 chrome, or an MG12XU or a Signature 12 but am totally confused... As you specialize in audio products, maybe you could share your knowledge with me via advice that may also be helpful to other newbies that want to get into this field ;) So here goes:
I don't know much about sound mixing - studio or live bands (next to nada actually), but we set up sound & lighting systems for medium and large private events. 99% of the time, they are set up for a DJ's performance, so there is no need to mix & filter signals from different sources (vocals, bass, guitars, synths etc). However in the odd occasion that a band or singer may perform (usually before the actual party), we either outsource the live support setup (mixers, mics etc), or the band brings their own equipment set and just gives us the "final", processed/mixed, sound signal via master line-out and they just plug into our DJ mixer which plays through our speakers. Pretty simple - and we just don't bother with all the live stuff ourselves.
However, I think that it's time we got a sound mixer to be able to accommodate those bands (whenever the situation arises) instead of needing to outsource it.
So my question is if you think that we should just get a basic analog mixer like the Soundcraft Signature 12, or the Yamaha MG12XU, as I suppose they'll be easier to use and get to learn the basics with; or do you think that getting a much more expensive & digital Qu-16 chrome instead is a good investment (for OUR level)? I mean, do you think that the Qu would be way too complicated to use for basic use (until such time I actually learn what to do with it - whenever that'll be lol), or will it be as straightforward as the analog ones (for simple use)? Also, do digital mixers change a lot (technologically), very fast - so if it takes me/us 2-3 years to actually "need" & use its functions/potential, by that time it'll be an "old" mixer (technologically), so it'll be better to first by a cheaper analog one until I know "what's what"? So is spending the extra money going to be wasted, or will it still be a good investment?
Scenario A means buying a cheaper analog one first, and when/if I need more, buying a second, digital one later (potentially). Scenario B means directly buying a much more expensive digital one like the Qu, so I'll only need to buy one. But if in a couple of years this digital one will be considered an old-tech "has-been", maybe it's not worth investing in it now whereas the analog one will pretty much remain unchanged years from today..
What do you think?

[TrueBlueMarketView]

Are there any good sounding, reliable mixers under $500 which can work as a PC audio interface?
Basically just want to run a dynamic mic (heil sound pr 35), with good CLEAN gain - and I do own a Cathedral Pipes Durham JEFT to help the preamp of course - that I can also connect to my computer, as well as have a clean connection from the mixer to my tascam dr100 mkii line in. I'm not really clear on whether XLR out from a mixer is powered or not, but what I hear on the mixer monitors is the exact same sound I'd want output to my tascam.. Whatever the best way to do that is.

Currently using a Mackie 402 VLZ4, and a Zoom H4n, and a Tascam DR100 MKII. The Line in/3.5mm mic on the Zoom is hideous. The XLR preamps on the Tascam are as bad or worse than the 3.5mm on the Zoom. The Tascam doesn't act a PC Audio interface, but the Zoom does, however in order to connect my Mackie 402 VLZ4 to my Zoom H4n I'm using the Zoom H4n XLR, after using $80 worth of line attenuators... And I don't like how it sounds coming out of the Zoom H4n into the PC this way.

I'd like an easy way to record lossless but also connect a good quality sound to my PC without all this extra stuff everywhere. It might be that I have to buy a Presonous Studiolive AR8, stay with what I got, or save up a whole hell of a lot more money for something that will give me what I want (and probably 1000 things I don't).

It is kind of crazy.. you ask that to a total novice, and they'll tell you to buy a behringer or mackie or something like that.. If you ask somebody that's really well informed, they just tell you there's no such thing as a good sounding sub $500 mixer.. Which.. NEITHER of those answers are helpful, lol

I've heard presonous studiolive is just hyped consumer grade garbage that breaks.. but.. if you search enough you pretty much find the same comments about Soundcraft, Yamaha, Mackie, Steinberg.. etc.. etc..

[stroker]

Analog doesn't have a word clock, that's why it's perfect stereo 3D spaciousness. Even an atomic clock of 10Mhz won't do justice compared to analog because of jitter. Jitter will always be digital's downfall.