Choose the Best Channel Mixer

To choose the best channel mixer, you need to evaluate wanted features against budget concerns and what you'll be using the mixer for. A basic, analog 2-channel or 4-channel mixer will usually be adequate for a beginning to intermediate DJ (disc jockey), but more advanced DJs and those wishing to record or podcast mixes will probably want more features. Doing plenty of research, talking to other artists and technicians, and testing equipment in person are all great ways to ensure that you choose the best mixer for your particular needs.

A channel mixer for recording purposes can have many channels, but most users will be looking at mixers with only four to eight channels, enabling them to hook up turntables, compact disc players, and other basic devices. Since mixers also come with different numbers of inputs and outputs, it's important to know the number of devices and components one is planning to use, and how they will connect to the mixer.

One of the most important factors to think about when choosing the best mixer is the quality of sound output. This can vary dramatically when mixing on a large sound system. On the other hand, for smaller sound systems, the difference in quality can be negligible. Sound quality will be noticed more by professionals using large systems than amateurs using smaller systems, and a little low noise is usually considered tolerable given the expense of getting completely transparent, warm, crystal-clear sound.


Additional basic concerns include the size of the channel mixer, the quality and number of equalizers and cross faders, the consistency of performance from different channels, and whether the mixer has all the features, or "bells and whistles," one desires. A small, very basic analog mixer will cost the least and is easy to transport. The number of features a mixer has will increase proportionally with price.

For about three to four times as much money as the most basic channel mixer, one can get a leading-brand 4-channel mixer with many features, as well as channel peak meters, an independent monitor switch, automatic BPM (beats per minute measurement), and more. For about twice that much, one can get a professional mixer with high-quality audio, advanced sampling and effect capabilities, automatic harmonic tuning, and other bells and whistles.

While analog mixers are still the standard, even for professionals, high-quality digital mixers are increasingly becoming popular and affordable. Your budget and the number of special features you need will set a pretty clear range of mixers to choose from. The more research you do and the more reviews you read, the better informed you'll be. Also keep in mind that it always helps to test your equipment hands on. Make sure to comparison shop, and if you're spending a lot of money, read each warranty carefully.

4-Channel Mixer

Components used to combine audio sources are called mixers because they mix multiple audio sources into a combined output. An audio mixer can include dozens of inputs, with advanced features to provide sophisticated signal routing to a variety of destinations. A smaller 4-channel mixer typically has only four channels to handle incoming audio sources, but can have multiple audio output channels. Generally, a 4-channel mixer is designed to solve more basic audio problems.

Disc Jockeys (DJs) typically use a 4-channel mixer to combine two stereo audio sources so music can be cross-faded from one song to another. Mobile audio production crews for film or television may use a 4-channel mixer to combine audio from two actors while also capturing the ambient sound from the location. The mixers are frequently used in conjunction with a public address (PA) system where solo performers need to blend a vocal microphone with an instrument. A 4-channel mixer might also be used in an auditorium where a group of speakers each require their own microphone.

Most 4-channel mixers include design features for specific applications. A mixer used by DJs typically will feature slider controls that are well suited for smooth transitions between sources. Mobile audio production units might use rotary knobs so an accidental bump will not cause an unwanted adjustment of the volume level. Depending on the application, mixers may also provide light-emitting diode (LED) displays that warn when input levels are too high, or a larger multi-color LED display that shows output levels.


Regardless of the number of inputs provided, mixers often include additional features to further control the audio signal. These features might include equalization for each channel. Equalization allows the user to adjust different parts of the audio spectrum. Reducing low, or bass, frequencies can help reduce feedback problems. Reducing high, or treble, frequencies reduces hiss or noise created by the input source.

Some mixers include the ability to send a separate audio level to additional outputs. A musician may need to hear themselves through a stage monitor, as well as send a separate audio level to the PA system. Mixers can allow performers to adjust both the stage monitors and the sound heard by the audience by having separate controls for each output. The cost of the mixer typically will increase with the number of added features.

A well-designed audio mixer generally will operate without adding additional noise or distortion from its internal electronic circuits. Mobile mixers used by musicians or mobile applications are designed to endure the bumps and scrapes that happen with frequent movement. As needs grow, 4-channel mixers can be replaced by models that feature more inputs for additional audio sources.

Best Tips for Home Video Editing

Home videos are drawing more attention thanks to new internet capabilities and uploading features. Even with no prior video or editing experience, a home movie can appear professional. These days, video camera and editing software are the only tools needed to make home videos. By following a few basic guidelines, these tools can lead to high-quality home video editing.

The first step in digital editing is moving the footage from the camera to the computer. The footage can be broken up into smaller files to be more manageable, and a program such as Adobe® Premiere® can help load the footage shot by shot. Once the footage is uploaded, shots need to be chosen. This is just a matter of finding the best angles filmed. The shots can be dragged into a time line so they will hook together and create a movie.

With these three steps, a raw home video can be created. Of course, additional steps can be taken along the way to improve the quality of home video editing. Smooth transitions should be inserted between scenes so the video flows from start to finish. Most computer editing software will have built-in transition features — including dissolves, fades, wipes and others — which can be dragged between two clips on the time line.


Videos have several sources of sound, including the natural sounds of subjects in the movie, background music and narration. A raw video will only have the first. Music can create certain feelings in viewers and change the entire tone of the movie, while narration can be used to clarify confusing points or to explain what is going on. These sound sources can make home video editing seem more professional.

Music must be imported into a sound file and will mix with the original sound track of the video. One or the other can be set to fade with the home video editing software so that both can be used at once. Narration should be read into the camera, and the narration sound track can be separated from the video track. Once narration footage is taken, it can be uploaded to the time line, along with the music.

Three free programs for PCs that can make home video editing simpler are Windows® Movie Maker, Avid Free DVD and Virtual Dub. Windows® Movie Maker is useful for cutting out unnecessary shots, and it’s user-friendly for beginners. Avid Free DVD is a little more intimidating, but it has helpful features for trimming video, editing audio and creating titles. VirtualDub is a fast program with special capabilities for adjusting brightness or clarity of images. For Mac users, iMovie® is well-known as user-friendly software for any level of home video editing.

About Stereo Video Mic

A stereo video mic is an external microphone used in video production that records audio through dual channels. Mounted on a camcorder or boom pole, or held with a pistol grip, this microphone provides higher-quality recording than a built-in camera mic. It can attach directly onto a camera's hotshoe connecting mount, or via data cable or adapter and three-pin connector. Contrasted with single-channel mono shotgun mics, stereo mics record in a widespread area pattern divided between channels. This allows a greater sense of physical space through the multichannel placement of audio cues, as in recording room ambiance or high-quality studio vocals.

Contrasted to a directional shotgun mic, the stereo video mic picks up more ambient sounds to the side and rear of the mic. This gives sounds a physical sense of direction and movement, and allows listeners to feel as if they are in the same room producing the sound for a more natural ambient experience. A more complex technology and recording process, stereo mics are used in broadcasting and music. In contrast, mono mics home in on targeted speakers and eliminate room noise in order to make dialogue crisper and cleaner.


Although much larger than a built-in camcorder microphone, a stereo video mic may not be as heavy as it looks. Wind noise is further reduced by a windscreen, which makes this an essential piece of equipment for any serious videomaker. Some mics offer noise cancellation for sudden audible spikes, and indicators for battery level. High-pass filters reduce low-end frequencies to minimize noise from traffic or camera mechanisms.

Used in documentaries and shooting live events, the stereo video mic provides even simple productions more professional quality. For picking up voices, the mic works best in a short radius, due to its wide pick-up angle. This makes shooting events like social gatherings or sports games more immersive. For longer-distance targets, however, the mic performs less accurately, hollowing out the sound with audible artifacts from the immediate area. The addition of this technology with mixing software or hardware makes it possible to create audio that far outperforms typical camcorder mics.

A built-in condenser mic enhances sound quality by channeling sound through a capacitor, providing sensitive, subtle conversion of acoustics to electronic signals. This usually requires an on-board household battery, without which the mic will not function. Integrated shock-mounts provide further noise reduction from movement. The stereo video mic is an essential component for providing quality audio for productions, and a quantum leap from the indistinct audio produced by tiny camera mics. Headphones add another vital measure over audio control when using an external mic.

Choose the Best Free Video Mixer Software

To find the best free video mixer software, you should begin by considering what you need from such a program and ensuring you choose software that can function with any hardware and software you already use. This means you should consider what types of video files can be imported and exported into and from the software you choose and also ensure that a version of that software is compatible with the operating system (OS) you are running on your computer. You should also look for free video mixer software that can be downloaded from a reputable website to avoid malware.

Free video mixer software is a type of computer program that is free to use, usually through a download online, and allows a user to combine multiple video files in a variety of ways. Rather than simply editing video clips together, a video mixer can typically be used to cut different video clips together in real time. Such software can be used for artistic performances, especially by video jockeys (VJs) who often work with video and audio much like a disc jockey (DJ) mixes audio. Free video mixer software you choose should function with the OS you have installed on your computer.


You should also make sure that any free video mixer software you choose functions with the hardware you prefer to use. Different programs can utilize different input devices, such as a standard keyboard and mouse or even musical keyboards. You should be sure any program you choose also supports the specific model of input device you use, especially if you prefer a more exotic device.

Since there are many different file types that can be used for audio and video, you should be sure that any free video mixer software you choose can utilize file types you need. This is important for both the video files you wish to work with and any files you might want to save for future use. You should also look at the different features provided with free video mixer software, including the ability to save presets for use in real time mixing, differences in user interfaces, and the video quality and resolutions supported by a program.

Any free video mixer software you choose should also be provided by a website you trust. Many different types of malware, including viruses, Trojans, and spyware, can be distributed through the Internet using malicious downloads. You should look for sites with a solid reputation for providing safe and reliable downloads and use these sites for software downloads.

Choose the Best Video Mixer Software

To choose the best video mixer software, you should consider what type of features you are looking for, the hardware and software you want to use it with, and that it will function with your operating system (OS). Different programs often provide users with a wide range of tools and features that can be utilized while mixing video, so you should be sure any program you choose offers the features you need. You should also be sure that the video mixer software you choose is compatible with any input devices and video files you want to use, as well as the OS you have installed on your computer.

Video mixer software is a type of computer program used to edit and mix video files, in much the same way that a disc jockey (DJ) mixes audio together. These programs are often used by video jockeys (VJs) who then use these videos, with music, to create live performances and upload their work onto the Internet. If you are interested in video mixer software, then you should consider the types of features you want from such a program. Basic features you should look for include the ability to load multiple video files at once, mixing tools built into the user interface (UI) of the software, and the cost of the program.


You should also consider any hardware devices you may want to use with your video mixer software. Some of these devices include touch screens that can be connected to another display system, which can then allow you to more easily manipulate and mix video in real time. If you are interested in using this type of hardware, then you should be sure to choose a program that utilizes the tools presented by such a device.

Since different types of video files are often used by VJs, you should also be sure that any video mixer software you choose can use the videos you have. You may be able to use such software to convert between video file types, though this is not always offered by these programs. At the very least, however, you should be able to open the video files you have and save your work as any file type you prefer.

It is also important to ensure that the video mixer software you consider is compatible with whatever OS you run. You should be sure that it is not only compatible with the brand of OS you use, but also the particular version you are running. Some of these programs may also offer demo versions you can use for free, allowing you to try out the features in the software before you purchase it.

About Vision Mixer

A vision mixer, also referred to as a video switcher, is a machine that is used to take different sources of video and create a single output. It is most often used in live situations where video broadcasting or recording is being done. In addition to being able to draw from different sources, it can also usually add special effects or mix two or more sources together to form one output. The term video mixer is most prevalent in Europe, whereas in the United States (US) the term for such a device is usually video switcher or production switcher. Vision mixer, video switcher, and production switcher can also refer to the person who operates the machine, although in the US the operator is referred to more often as technical director.

The most common uses of a vision mixer are found in professional video production. This can range from a production studio to a remote truck doing a live broadcast, although more frequently vision mixers are used in live-feed, also called real-time, productions. The mixers range in quality and effects, depending on their use. Video mixers used for remote broadcasts are typically smaller and have fewer capabilities than a larger one used in a production facility.


Vision mixers work in a very similar to how its audio counterpart, the audio mixer, works. They create a master image from several sources and, typically, add some sort of effects, such as a special transition screen between different images. The vision mixer has a variety of types available, but most share some basic components.

The most basic part of a vision mixer is the bus, which contains several buttons that serve to switch between the various signals coming into the device. Typically, a vision mixer will have at least two buses: the program bus and the preview bus. The program bus usually contains the image or images that are being recorded or broadcast, and the preview bus reviews and adds effects to images before they are broadcast. Having a dual bus setup allows for the transitions to be smoother, and it avoids showing any images or footage that is unnecessary.

A vision mixer operator is responsible for manipulating the images and co-coordinating the buses. Most often, this person will receive input from a director as what to do, and when. In many recorded situations where the editing is done after the fact, the effects and mixing are done with a computer rather than with vision mixers.