The Channel Strip

  
Hello, my name is Gary Craig from Nauvoo, Alabama and today I will be discussing the channel strip on the mixing console.

   When talking about mixers the word "modular" often comes up. This means that the mixer itself is made up of smaller sections called "channel strips" and all of these put together create the mixer so in reality, you only have to learn how one channel strip works to know most of how the mixing board works. The number one rule to remember when understanding the channel strip is that sound moves from the top of the strip to the bottom, so it enters through the inputs and exits through the volume fader.

   The inputs, at the top of the board, mainly come in two different versions; the XLR input, for microphone inputs and the quarter inch or "instrument" input. Many versions will allow balanced (TRS) and unbalanced (TS) inputs in the quarter inch input. This is where you begin your "sound chain." On soundboards that have mic preamps, there will be a trim control knob next in line to set your line levels. DAWs do not have this feature because the audio interface acts as the preamp and this is where you set your initial levels before entering the DAW.

   The insert section is next on the channel strip and may be located on the back of the board or it may be located next to the line input, depending on what type of mixing board you are using. The inserts allows external processing equipment to be introduced to the signal flow in the mixer. These connections use insert cables which have a TRS (stereo) plug on one end and splits into two TS (mono) plugs on the other end. This creates a loop through the processing gear and back to the mixer. This is very useful when wanting to add processing to a single channel.

   Auxiliary sends are next on the list and these are used in a variety of ways. One way is similar to the inserts, in that it will route an outboard effect into the channel but instead of using insert cables, the signal is routed out to the input of the effect and out of it back into return jack, using two cables. Aux sends are a useful way of grouping two or more channels to use into one send, to use with processing or monitoring also.

   Equalization is the next section, moving down the strip and it’s main function is to change the frequency of the signal. Different mixing boards vary in the number of e.q. knobs they offer but they are usually three, (treble, mid bass) to five, with parametric sweeps between the treble and mids, and between mids and lows.

   Pan is the ability to move the mono signal of a channel between the left and right sides of a stereo signal. This is done with a single knob that varies from left to right. One thing to remember: When using pan on a stereo signal, you can’t move the sound from left to right but only increase or decrease the signal that is already there.
The mute and solo buttons do what the name implies. The mute button mutes whichever channel you have chosen and the solo button mutes all other channels but the chosen one. When working with DAWs, you can actually chose multiple solo buttons to achieve the combinations you are looking for.

   This leads us to the bottom of the channel strip which is the volume fader. This is the last action taken before sending the signal out of the channel strip. On many mixing boards, you will find a “unity” setting on the volume fader where the 0 would be. This is a level setting to where to signal is not being increased or decreased.
   When the signal leaves the channel strip it will go to the Master Bus or Master Fader. All the tracks on the board are connected to this bus and this is where the signal will exit the board. All boards have some kind of leveling meters in this section whether it be VU meters or led meters, that show what the master level is coming out of the mixing board.

In closing, I would just like to reflect on the order of the channel strip again, which is:
  Inputs, Inserts, Aux Sends, E.Q., Pan, Mute, Solo, Volume Fader and Master Fader. This is the order that the sound travels on a channel strip, from top to bottom.

   Thank you for reading this and I hope it was a bit informative for you.