What to Look for in Mixing Capabilities

A good multimedia system for either a user or a developer should have mixing capabilities. Look for the following features:

• The mixer should mix input from four sources (WAV, MIDI, Redbook, AUX) and present the output as a stereo, line-level audio signal at the back panel of the computer. Each input should have at least a 3-bit volume control (8 steps) with a logarithmic taper.
• Make sure that all sources are within – 10 dB and without attenuation. This will ensure that the mixer will not clip, meaning that if a sound peaks, the audio clicks instead of playing that sound. It also ensures that the mixer will output between 0 dB and +3 dB.
• The preferred system should have individual audio source and master digital volume control registers and extra line-level audio sources.