Mixing software is a software program used to mix audio recordings. Mixing software controls the volume and balance of multiple audio and recorded spoken words, often by applying equalization (EQ) filters.
Mixing software is found in professional audio production (e.g., sound recording, broadcast engineering) and home video editing systems such as Apple Inc.’s Final Cut Pro, Adobe Systems’ After Effects, or Sony Vegas Pro in post-production settings where time constraints make it impractical for humans to try to achieve the desired results manually. Some small-scale or home video editing software is bundled with virtual audio mixing interfaces.
Video and audio editing software are often bundled together in a multi-track editor. Such applications allow a user to perform many operations, including:
There are several types of mixing software:
-External mixing devices are software adapters that do the actual mixing by taking input from other sources (like a microphone or a mixer) and converting it to a signal that the computer’s audio hardware can process.
-Virtual mixing devices are software that works through a host application as an audio device. They can be connected to the computer using a USB connection or accessed remotely using any internet connection. Video editing systems commonly use virtual mixing devices to send audio to the computer’s sound hardware. Many virtual mixing devices will allow you to mix and record audio specifically for video production, including:
-Audio production tools provide focused tools for audio professionals to produce their mixes (e.g., sound studio, studio monitor and headphone mixers, vocal booths) in a single place. These can be used by sound engineers and producers working on multiple audio streams or independently.
-Audio editing software is used to edit, analyze and mix the raw audio signal of the music, movie, or television program that has been recorded.
-Sound reinforcement systems are hardware devices that power an audio signal over a long distance. They are typically found at live venues where loudspeakers perform sound. In most cases, this signal is a high-fidelity digital audio signal. They are used to send the audio from the sound reinforcement system to audience seats or can be used to send the audio from a mixing board or PA system to multiple loudspeakers in different locations.
-Sound recording software is typically used for capturing sound onto an analog tape for further processing or recording. This can be done using a microphone, digital stereo recorders such as analog cassettes, or digital hard disk recorders.
Conclusion
Mixing software is used to mix audio recordings by combining various audio sources. Recordings are usually of varying volumes and ranges of sound timbres. By mixing these components, an engineer aims to create a single program that can be played back on various devices, from TV sets to portable players and from home stereos to professional sound systems.