Audio Mixer Channels, and Analog vs Digital Mixers
A mixer combines microphones and instruments into one output; count every source you will plug in at once, then add spares, to know how many channels you need.
By Andrian ChengContributing writer.
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The short answer
Count the sources you need to plug in at the same time, one channel per microphone or mono instrument and a stereo channel (or two mono ones) per keyboard, phone or computer, then leave a couple spare. Choose analog if you want one knob per job and simple setup; choose digital if you want built-in effects, more channels in a small box and saved settings.
What does a mixer do
A mixer takes several audio signals, such as microphones, instruments and playback, adjusts each one, and sums them into one or more outputs that go to speakers, headphones or a recorder.
Each input gets a channel strip, a column of controls that usually runs top to bottom:
- Gain or trim: sets how much the preamp boosts the incoming signal. A microphone needs a lot of gain, around +50 dB, while a line-level source needs much less.
- EQ: shapes the tone of that channel.
- Aux sends: send a copy of the channel to a separate mix, for example a stage monitor or an effects unit like reverb.
- Pan and fader: place the channel left or right and set its level in the main mix.
Channels can be grouped on a bus, so one fader moves all the drum mics together. The master section then sets the level of the whole mix.
How many channels do you need
| Use | Example channel count |
|---|---|
| DJ mixing two turntables | 2 |
| Small coffeehouse stage: two singer-guitarists and a percussionist | 6 |
| Rock club stage | 24 |
These examples come from the Wikipedia reference on mixing consoles. For your own setup, list every microphone, instrument and playback device that could be live at once, count stereo sources as two, and add a channel or two for a guest or a backing track.
Analog vs digital mixer
| Analog | Digital | |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | A physical knob and fader for every function on every channel | Shared controls and layers or pages; fewer knobs |
| Effects | Usually few or none; external units connect by aux sends | Often built in: compression, gating, reverb, delay, feedback suppression |
| Saving a mix | Write it down | Save and recall scenes, often on a USB drive |
| Latency | No digital conversion step | Small, from under 1 ms up to about 10 ms depending on model and processing |
Both types rely on analog microphone preamps. An analog board takes more space but every control is in view, which helps when you must react fast. A digital mixer packs more into less space, but its menus and layers take more learning. The small latency of a digital mixer is not a problem for speakers, though it can feel odd to a performer using in-ear monitors.
DJ and studio mixers on Wiki Shopping
Wiki Shopping lists 113 DJ and studio mixers. Among brands with their own page, Pyle has 9, Behringer 7, Fifine and Yamaha 4 each, and Mackie 3.
How we count
Brands are read from each store listing and grouped into brand pages. We counted those pages in a read-only query of our page data on October 26, 2026. Brands without enough listings for their own page are left out of the chart. The counts change as listings are added or removed.