summing for a noob

[mshilarious]

There is active and passive summing, but I'd have to think that practically every modern mixer uses active summing. Big consoles may have stages of summing for groups of channels.

What kills me is the price of summing boxes. They cost as much as mixers, with a fraction of the features.

 

[NL5]

What kills me is the price of summing boxes. They cost as much as mixers, with a fraction of the features.

Which summing box is as much as a mixer? (or do you mean a Behri?)


This thread reminds of that quote "talking about audio is like dancing about architecture." - or the Harley one "if I gotta explain it, you just won't understand"

 

[mshilarious]

Which summing box is as much as a mixer? (or do you mean a Behri?)


This thread reminds of that quote "talking about audio is like dancing about architecture." - or the Harley one "if I gotta explain it, you just won't understand"

Check the link earlier in the thread, the price range was like $800-$4000

 

[fraserhutch]

Actually, I meant "analog summing"

In fact, I am not even faintly touching on tape. Purely analog summing, of which I am considering aquiring, FWIW. In fact, most of those who advocate anolog summing are purely digital elsewhere.

BTW, I am not saying they're right or wrong, only adding what I think their point is.

who?

I use tape because I feel I am getting a more *accurate* representation of the original sound than I do with digital converters. I don't want to argue that point, let's just call it a personal preference. That isn't based on "harmonic distortion" figures.

As far as I can see, there are three ways to "sum" signals together. Voltage summing, current summing, and digital summing. with most outboard "summing" devices you are getting voltage summing, which was found in the old neve consoles. Current summing is what you would normally find in a small analog mixer. Digital summing, if you guessed correctly, is done by a mathematical algorithm.

Technicalties aside, everyone has already pointed out that there are a million other factors that can get involved (converters, mixer quality, outboard gear, flying faders, etc, etc.) but in the end it all comes down to "personal preference". I tend to prefer current summing to digital summing, and don't have very much experience with voltage summing. Now, someone will come along and say that I'm wrong because there is "theoretically" no difference between them and maybe there isn't but remember I said its all about personal preference. when you start discussing this kind of stuff its really splitting hairs.

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[NL5]

Check the link earlier in the thread, the price range was like $800-$4000

Yeah, but a similiar mixer/console to each of those SB's will be hella more expensive. That's not really a fair statement. Also, they get way more expensive than 4k, but your talking fully discrete, hand wired, etc.

I am not saying analog summing is for everyone. And, I agree, if you have a Mixwizard, you are probably better off ITB - heck I do most of my mixes ITB rather than on my Ghost ever since SX3 came out with "external hardware plugins". And, there are way better areas to focus your money and attention BEFORE analog summation.

I do, however, still love the sound of a big console..........