Matrix mixer

It usually employs level controls such as potentiometers to determine how much of each input is going to each output, and it can incorporate simple on/off assignment buttons.

Matrix mixers are often used in a complex listening space to send audio signals to different loudspeaker zones.

They may be used to provide the producer or director different blends of a mixing project for television, film or recording studio.

Each row of electronic mixer circuits, one from each input, feeds a summing amplifier or combining amp at the output.

It is possible in a matrix mixer to combine an all-analog signal path with digital control of level.

Many audio manufacturers have produced matrixes incorporating digital signal processing (DSP) which offers additional tools such as compression, equalization, ducking, gating, and loudspeaker system management.

[5] However, such a use of the matrix is limited by the likelihood that the musicians on stage would be disturbed by any changes made to the channel levels by the front of house operator.

A 19-inch rack holding several professional audio devices including an 8×8 matrix mixer at the bottom, made by Midas Consoles . The matrix mixer has 8 vertical faders to control output level, 8 light gray potentiometers (rotating pots) for input level control, and 64 dark gray pots for matrix mixing. There are also 64 on/off buttons, one for each input/output intersection.
Yamaha M7CL 19×8 matrix section, showing the 16 mix buses plus the main L/R/Mono buses routed to 8 matrix outputs. The individual level controls are shown as horizontal bars in dark orange. The 8 matrix outputs are controlled by 8 white faders at the bottom.