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Mixing Desks

Whether you're podcasting or streaming at home, building a project recording studio or mixing a live band, we've got a massive selection of Audio Mixing Desks to fit your requirements.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - MIXING DESKS IN-STORE NEAR YOU!

PMT stocks all the best audio mixer brands including Yamaha, QSC, Presonus, Allen & Heath, Mackie and Soundcraft and many more. Click & Collect from any PMT Store around the UK, or speak to our In-Store PA & Live Sound experts to find the right choice.

WHAT ARE MIXING DESKS USED FOR?

Mixing Desks are an ideal investment when you have multiple audio sources recording or capturing sounds simultaneously. For example, if you have 2 vocal microphones, a guitar, a keyboard and a drum kit on stage, you can feed each instrument into a channel on a Mixing Desk and individually control volume, EQ, Effects and more. With a mixer, you can tweak and optimise the sound of your inputs and outputs and prevent any mishaps whilst recording or playing live.

Most Mixing Desks fall under 3 categories:

ANALOGUE, DIGITAL, OR POWERED?

Analogue Mixing Desks are simple, straightforward audio mixers that don't use any digital processing or connectivity. These are perfect for connecting microphones or other instruments.

Digital Mixing Desks employ digital processing (DSP) or motorized faders and are commonplace for Studio Mixing Desks that interface with a PC or Mac. Many Digital Mixing Desks have USB, Firewire or Thunderbolt connections for simple connectivity and use with DAW Software.

'Powered' mixing desks provide an amplified power output, ideal for use with 'Passive' (or un-powered) PA Speakers. These may be a common feature of live sound desks if the venue does not have a dedicated PA Amplifier.

 

WHAT IS A CHANNEL ON A MIXING DESK?

A channel on a mixing desk represents one 'input'. For example, you can plug one microphone into Channel 1, a Keyboard into Channel 2, and a Guitar into channel 3. A single channel will often feature EQ Controls (to adjust Treble, Mid and Bass Frequencies), as well as Gain, Volume or Effect levels. Most mixers feature XLR and jack inputs for instruments with stereo for backing tracks and keyboards.

Smaller, compact mixers between 4-6 channels are suitable for solo musicians, podcasters or Twitch streaming. These usually have 1-2 microphone inputs, an aux input, and several stereo outputs to connect monitor speakers or an amplifier.

For larger installations and professional touring musicians, 24 and 32 channel mixing desks are available.

WHAT IS ROUTING ON A MIXING DESK?

Signal routing allows you to 'send' several channels on your mixer to a single 'Auxilary' channel. For example, you can combine two microphone inputs and route it to one Aux Channel, which has many benefits. You can apply the same level of effects to several inputs at once, which makes for a more cohesive sound and overall mix.

Whilst many mixers have built-in effects like Reverb or Delay, a mixer with FX routing allow you to 'send' your signal to an external Effects Processor, which is sent back to your mixing desk.

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Guitar Amp FAQs

  • What kind of guitar amp is right for me?

    Pick a guitar amp based on what sort of sound you are aiming for. By taking a look at what some of your favourite bands and guitarists are using you can get a good idea of the type of amplifier you need.

  • What size guitar amp is best for me?

    Choose the size of your amplifier based on how you plan to use it. For practicing at home, pick something under 20w. If you are gigging at small venues, 20-50w will suffice, and anything bigger will probably be best for larger venues.

  • How do I connect two guitar amps together?

    The easiest way to use two guitar amps is with an A/B/Y switch. This allows you to play through either amp (A or B) or both (Y).

  • Can I use a guitar amp for electronic drums?

    Whilst this is possible, it is not advisable due to the extended range of frequencies that will be produced by an electronic drum kit. Guitar amps are designed to handle a specific set of frequencies and they can be damaged by those outside of this range.

  • Should I get a combo amp or head amp?

    Guitar heads must be used with a matching cabinet in order to produce a sound. If you use a cabinet, an amplifier head will be what you need. A combo contains both an amplifier and a speaker and therefore can be used just with the guitar.

  • What are the best inexpensive guitar amps?

    Some of the best inexpensive guitar amps are produced by Fender, Marshall, Blackstar, BOSS, and Vox.