Route / Equipment guide

Analog mixers

Count useful buses, direct outputs, and monitor paths.

Updated · Editorial buying guide

Start with your setup

Map a recording session before counting knobs. A mixer can provide hands-on cue balancing while still needing a separate converter. Confirm whether USB, if present, carries a stereo mix or individual channels.

Choose for the session

Build a shortlist from the checks below, then compare the exact model manuals. A USB mixer is not necessarily a multitrack interface. Keep the source, monitoring path, and room consistent when comparing options. The broader mixers & consoles guide explains how this category fits the rest of the studio.

Before you buy

  • Direct outputs and inserts
  • Auxiliary sends
  • USB channel count

Put it into practice

Gain staging in the DAW

Further reading

Open the retailer category reference

The linked reference provides additional context, not evidence of hands-on testing. Check the exact model’s manual for compatibility, safety, and installation. Reference links are not affiliate links.

By PRODUCER.NETWORK

Prepared with AI assistance. Sources are linked where used; no hands-on testing or individual expert review is implied. Our editorial standards · Suggest a correction