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A sound card mixer is the part of a Sound Card that can mix the sound generated or coming from different sources.


WINDOWS MIXER

The way this mix is done can be controlled throught some software programs.
This software is either provided by the soundbcard maker, or by the Operating System . In Microsoft Windows operating systems such software is often called Windows mixer.


In the Windows mixer there are two modes: Play control and '''Record control'''. In each mode there are a set of controls that allow to control the volume and balance (for stereo sources) of several sources. In "record control" mode you alse select which source is going to be used for recording.
There can also exist other modes for non-sound card sources of sound (for example for the sound coming from a TV-card)


MIXING SCHEME

In the following graph it's shown the way the main controls modify the amount of sound coming from the sources.


PLAY CONTROLS







































ControlchannelsControlled source
Wave Stereo Sound generated by the computer when playing MP3 , WAV ,...

Also the sound when playing a CD-DA in some programs ( Windows Media Player , Media Player Classic ) or playing a MIDI in other programs ( JetAudio )
SW Synth Stereo Sound generated when playing a MIDI file in most programs ( Windows Media Player , IrfanView , Media Player Classic , ...)
CD playback Stereo Sound generated when playing a CD-DA in most programs ( JetAudio , IrfanView , ...)
Microphone Mono Sound entering through the internal microfone or the muicrophone jack
Línea in Stereo Also sound coming from the microphone (¿?)
Aux Stereo ¿?
SPDIF Mono Uncommon digital interface of some devices
PC beep Mono Sound generated in the old internal PC Speaker . This is the sound heard in old MS-DOS programs, usually just beeps
Volume control Stereo Mixed sound sent to the speakers



RECORD CONTROLS















ControlChannelsSource
Stereo mix Stereo Mixed sound sent to the recorder
Mono mix Mono Mixed sound converted into mono, sent to the recorder
Microphone Mono Sound from the microphone that is directly going to be recorded



SOME TIPS


  • Convert MIDI into WAV: Play a MIDI file with ''SW synth'' or ''Wave'' (depending on the playing software) controls at high volume. In ''record control'' select ''mono mix'' or ''stereo mix'' (depends of whether you want a mono or stereo output). The sound can be recorded using any recording software like Windows Sound Recorder .

    In order to avoid interferenced, all other controls in ''play contol'' should be muted. If you want to hear the sound while being recorded, you can set volume of ''volume control'' but muting microphone or wearing ear-phones in order to avoid feedback.
  • Record streamed sound (i.e. sound from an internet-radio station): As this sound is controlled through ''wave'' control, you have to set this volume in the ''play control'' (maybe it's convenient to mute all others, except ''volume control'' if you want to hear it meanwhile)
    In ''record play'' select ''stereo mix'' or ''mono mix''.

    In this way you can also record any other internal sound of your PC, i.e. voices of TTS engines, sounds of the operating system, ...
  • A sound coupling can be easily produced setting ''microphone'' and ''volume control'' controls to high volume, specially if the ''advanced'' setting of ''microphone'' ''mic boost'' is set.



REFERENCES