Digital mixing desks rental

What is a digital mixing desk?

A mixing desk is the point where all the sound sources of an event come together. Microphones, music players, sound from video and instruments are connected to it, and on the desk you bring those sources into balance: you decide how loud each sound is, how it sounds and where it goes. With a digital mixing desk that processing happens digitally, and that opens up a world of possibilities an analogue desk does not offer.

The biggest advantage is that you can save and recall settings. For a programme with different parts, for example speeches first and a band later, you save a complete setup per part and switch with a single action. In addition you can edit each channel precisely, for example adjusting the tone of a specific microphone or removing unwanted frequencies. And because the desk is digital, you can operate it wirelessly via a tablet, so the technician can control the sound in the middle of the room, where the audience actually hears it. HuurAV uses digital mixing desks when a programme calls for precision and flexibility.

What do you use a digital mixing desk for?

Digital mixing desks come into their own with programmes that have many sources or many switches. At a corporate event where speeches, presentations, videos and music alternate, the sound has to keep moving smoothly along. With saved settings the technician switches between those parts without improvising, so every transition runs seamlessly.

At a conference or presentation with several speakers, a panel and videos, the precise control per source is a big advantage. Each microphone gets its own treatment, and the sound of the picture runs along in balance. At a party or company party with a live band or DJ, the interplay of many instruments and microphones calls for a desk that can handle all of it at once. And at a wedding where the day moves from ceremony to dinner to party, saved setups keep the sound exactly right at each moment. It is always about grip: many sources, many moments, and yet an overview.

Wireless operation from within the room

A particularly strong point is the wireless operation. Because the technician can walk around with a tablet, they can judge the sound where the guests are sitting instead of behind a desk in a fixed spot. The sound is slightly different everywhere, and the only place that counts is where the audience is. This freedom makes it possible to balance far more precisely than from a fixed position.

The technology behind a digital mixing desk

Behind the scenes a digital mixing desk does far more than control volume. Per channel you can shape the tone, remove unwanted frequencies that lead to feedback, and add effects such as a light reverb on a voice or vocals. For speakers that ensures natural, clear intelligibility; for music a full, balanced reproduction. HuurAV programmes those settings as much as possible in advance, based on the running order, so on location only fine-tuning remains.

A digital desk also makes it possible to send different sound streams to different destinations. The room gets the full mix, while performers on stage hear their own mix through monitoring and a livestream in turn receives a separate, clean mix. Sending several mixes at once is one of the most powerful properties of a digital desk. We tune those streams to what your programme calls for. You can read more about our wider approach on the page about sound.

Reliability and backup

Because the mixing desk is the heart of the system, nothing may go wrong here. We work with professional desks and ensure a stable power supply. We keep the saved settings so a setup is back straight away after an unexpected restart. For large productions we keep backup provisions on hand where needed, so a single problem never brings the sound to a standstill.

Preparation based on the running order

A big advantage of working digitally is that much preparation can be done before the day itself. Based on your running order we set the desk up in advance: we create a complete setup per programme part, name the channels so everyone’s microphone is immediately recognisable and set the first balance. When we arrive on location, only fine-tuning to the acoustics and the real voices remains, instead of building everything from scratch. That saves time during setup and reduces the chance of mistakes under pressure. It also makes the desk predictable during the event: the technician knows exactly which setup belongs to which moment and can recall the complete sound for the next part with a single action. For programmes with a tight schedule, that preparation is the difference between rushing and calm.

Setup, tuning and operation by HuurAV

At HuurAV you rent a digital mixing desk with the knowledge to get everything out of it. We choose the desk based on the number of sources and the complexity of your programme, and programme the settings in advance based on your running order. On the day itself we set up, connect all the sources and test the complete chain, from every microphone to the sound of video and music. We tune the desk to the acoustics of the room.

Because a digital mixing desk is complex to operate, we recommend a technician for almost every event who manages the desk live, switches between setups and watches the balance. If you still choose individual equipment that you collect and operate yourself, that is possible through SpeakerVerhuur.nl. That way HuurAV handles the advice, the setup, the testing and the operation, while rental without support is possible through SpeakerVerhuur.nl. HuurAV is part of Speaker Verhuur Amsterdam. Request a no-obligation quote.