Colombia. Juan Fernando Montoya, strategic manager of Smart Environments, shared the key points when choosing the right mixer, from the point of view of an integrator, this because each project is different and "each design requires a personalized approach".
According to this industry expert, the choice of a mixer is something that must be analyzed, taking into account the demands of the project. "A mistake that we see with worrying repetition is that of using a mixer that is not appropriate for the project" issue that is mostly influenced by the mixers that are usually used by musical groups, devices with a great trajectory in the market.
These mixers, in the words of Juan Fernando, are ideal for when for musical groups that have various instruments and vocalists that require equalizations and effects according to individual characteristics, they are also usually operated by a sound artist with experience and good ear.
However, in sound projects where there is no live music, they become a problem due to their complex handling. That is, in spaces with ambient sound, announcements, conference rooms, meetings and auditoriums should not be installed mixer of musical groups. Because these devices can be easily unbalanced (lose settings), not to mention that they take up valuable physical space.
For this type of requirements, projects that do not have live music, Juan Fernando recommends Rack mixers such as the MZPA-200MX model from DreamSound, which is easy to install, locate and handle. Wear and tear must be taken into account for "the operator, who usually does not have advanced technical knowledge in audio or has little time to bring the device to an ideal fit".
Other important points are to ensure "sufficient balanced microphone inputs, even with 'phantom power' to be able to use condenser microphones, such as gooseneck microphones, which are located on a table at relatively long distances."
Juan Fernando explained that the management of priorities in the entrances serves so that a main signal can mute others of lesser importance. An example of this would be for a microphone to lower the ambient music or for an emergency announcement to lower the volume to the other signals.
In addition to this it is important to determine the line signal inputs for auxiliary music sources and balanced outputs in stereo, to place power amplifiers.
According to the specialist of Intelligent Environments, thanks to a good mixer "a person without greater knowledge will be able to keep the audio system of the place in a better operation without having to frequently call maintenance services, since it will not be confused with buttons that will never use and that are normally raising the cost of the product without real need".
Moreover, he pointed out that there are versions of this device that include automatic feedback destroyers to prevent feedback between microphones and speakers, as well as resonance cancelers that census the acoustics of the site and automatically make a reduction of the frequencies that most affect intelligibility. This last characteristic is very important in churches or temples whose spaces are a challenge for acoustics, due to the possible distortion in the clarity of the voice.
For this case, the Mixer TOA M-633D is the ideal solution, as it meets the additional qualities described of destruction of feedback and cancellation of resonance.
Now, for cases of automation and videoconferencing, it is recommended that the mixer can be managed remotely, either through a graphical interface on a mobile device or from a computer, as well as from a touch screen that integrates other additional equipment.
At this point Juan Fernando recommended solutions such as the Solus line of the Symetrix brand. "It allows for the flexibility to create custom interfaces, but I can also create my own flow of required processes, selecting the option that best suits my needs from a huge library of options, at no additional cost."
In addition to the above, it is also crucial to have a connection to Zoom/Teams video conferences through USB ports and echo cancellation and meeting recording. In this case an interesting recommendation is the equipment such as the Radius Nx of Symetrix or the Converge of ClearOne.
So, to summarize, the indications that Juan Fernando gives us from Digital Environments are:
1. Consider what function it is required for
2. Avoid music mixers when the project doesn't have live music
3. You must take into account the knowledge of the person who is going to operate the mixer
4. Think about the "additional" features that are required of the device, such as destruction of feedback, cancellation of resonance or noise, graphic or personalized interface, as well as ease of recording meetings. Since this will give audio quality and in the experience in the use of the system.
Finally, we also recommend taking into account expert reviews and the product warranty in the country or region where you will perform the installation.
