Understanding Faders In Audio Mixing: What Are Faders? How Are They Used?

Audio mixing is a complex and fascinating process that requires both technical knowledge and artistic intuition. 

Whether you’re working in a professional studio, creating your own music at home, or managing the sound for a live event, one of the most essential tools at your disposal is the humble fader.

What are faders on a mixer?

Faders on a mixer or in a DAW are controls that adjust the volume or intensity of individual audio channels or the overall mix. They are essential for balancing the audio levels of different sound sources in a mix.

Found on every mixing console and digital audio workstation (DAW), faders play a crucial role in shaping the sound of a mix. They allow you to control and balance the volume levels of individual tracks, groups of tracks, or the mix as a whole. 

But faders aren’t just simple volume controls – they’re also used for creating dynamics, applying effects, and more.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of faders. We’ll explore different types of faders – including channel faders, master faders, subgroup faders, and motorized or “flying” faders – and discuss their functions and uses in the mixing process. 

What Are Faders On A Mixer?

Faders on a mixer, also known as slide potentiometers, are control devices that allow you to adjust the level or intensity of different audio signals. They are typically used in audio production to balance the sound levels of multiple tracks or channels. 

By moving the fader up or down, you can increase or decrease the volume of a particular track. This is extremely useful for making sure that all the elements of a song or sound mix are at the appropriate levels.

Here are a few common types of faders that you might encounter on a mixer:

1. Channel Faders: These are the faders that control the volume of individual tracks or channels. In a typical mixing console, each track will have its own fader.
2. Master Fader: This fader controls the overall volume of the mix. It’s usually located on the right side of the mixer and is used to control the volume of the final mix output.
3. Subgroup Faders: These faders allow you to control the volume of a group of channels. For example, if you have several microphones set up to record a drum kit, you might route all of these to a subgroup, allowing you to control the overall volume of the drums with a single fader.
4. Auxiliary Send Faders: These faders send a portion of a channel’s signal to an auxiliary output, which can then be routed to external effects processors, monitor speakers, or other destinations.

The exact layout and number of faders on a mixer can vary widely depending on the specific model and its intended use.

What Are Faders Used For?

Faders on a mixer serve several purposes in both live and studio audio production:

1. Volume Control: The primary function of faders is to control the volume of individual tracks or channels. By adjusting these faders, you can ensure that no single sound source overpowers the others and that all elements of the mix can be heard clearly.
2. Balancing the Mix: Faders allow you to balance the levels of various sound sources in a mix. This is crucial for creating a well-balanced mix where all elements can be heard clearly and contribute effectively to the overall sound.
3. Creating Dynamics: Faders can be used to create dynamics within a song or performance by adjusting the volume of different elements over time. For example, you might lower the volume of a vocal track during a guitar solo to make the solo stand out more.
4. Subgroup Mixing: Subgroup faders allow you to adjust the volume of a group of channels collectively. This can be very useful when dealing with multiple mics on a single source (like a drum kit) or when you want to adjust the levels of all backing vocals at once, for instance.
5. Auxiliary Sends: Auxiliary send faders allow you to control how much of a channel’s signal is sent to an auxiliary output. This is useful for applying effects to a channel or for creating monitor mixes in live sound situations.
6. Fade In/Fade Out: Faders can be used to smoothly increase or decrease the volume of a track at the beginning or end of a song, a technique known as a fade-in or fade-out.
7. Master Volume Control: The master fader controls the overall volume of the final mix. This allows you to easily adjust the overall level of the mix without affecting the balance between individual tracks.

Faders play a crucial role in the process of shaping and crafting the sound in both live and recorded audio. The ability to control and manipulate these various elements is what makes a good mix engineer.

Types Of Faders On A Mixer

Different types of faders can be found on a mixing console or digital audio workstation (DAW). Here are the main types:

1. Channel Faders: These faders control the volume of individual audio tracks or channels. They are the most common type of faders and can be found on virtually every mixer.
2. Master Fader: This fader controls the overall volume of the mix. It allows you to adjust the volume of the final mix without altering the balance between the individual channels.
3. Subgroup Faders: These faders control the volume of a group of channels collectively. They are useful when you want to adjust the level of several channels at once, such as when you have multiple microphones recording a single instrument or multiple backing vocals.
4. Auxiliary Send Faders: These faders control the amount of an audio signal that is sent to an auxiliary output. This can be used for sending signals to external effects processors or monitor speakers.
5. VCA Faders: VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) faders control the volume of multiple channels at once without combining their signals into a subgroup. This means you can control the level of several channels, each with its own EQ and pan settings, with a single fader.
6. Motorized Faders: These faders can move automatically to preset positions. This is particularly useful in digital audio workstations or high-end digital mixers, where the fader positions can be saved and recalled as part of different mix scenes or automation data.
7. Linear Faders: These are the most common type of fader, moving up and down in a straight line. They provide a visual representation of the volume level.
8. Rotary Faders: Also known as rotary potentiometers or knobs, these faders are turned clockwise or counter-clockwise to increase or decrease volume. They are common on smaller mixers and some digital audio interfaces where space is limited.

Each type of fader has its own specific applications and uses, and many mixers will include several different types of faders. The choice between them often comes down to the specific requirements of the audio project and the preferences of the sound engineer.

What Is A Motorized Fader?

A motorized fader is a type of fader found on some mixing consoles and digital audio workstations (DAWs) that can move automatically to different positions. The motorized fader is designed to provide automatic control over the volume level of an audio signal, and it can be programmed to move to specific positions at specific times.

This is particularly useful in a few different situations:

1. Mix Automation: In a DAW or digital mixer, you can automate the movements of the faders over the course of a song or track. For instance, you might program the faders to lower the volume of a vocal track during a guitar solo or to gradually increase the volume of a track for a fade-in. The motorized faders will follow the automation data you’ve set, moving up and down as needed.
2. Recall of Mix Settings: If you’re working on a mix and need to take a break, or if you’re working in a studio where the mixer is used by multiple people, motorized faders can be a huge help. You can save the positions of the faders as part of a mix “scene” or “snapshot” and then recall that scene later. The motorized faders will automatically move to the positions they were in when you saved the scene, allowing you to pick up exactly where you left off.
3. Control Surface Integration: If you’re using a control surface (a hardware device designed to provide tactile control over a DAW), it may have motorized faders. When you switch between different tracks or projects in your DAW, the faders on the control surface can automatically move to match the levels of the tracks in the software.
4. Remote Control: In some cases, motorized faders can be remotely controlled by a DAW or other software. This allows the engineer to control the faders from a different location, which can be useful in large studios or live sound situations.

Motorized faders provide a visual and physical representation of the mix settings or automation data, which many audio engineers find helpful for making precise adjustments to the mix. 

Flying faders, due to their automated and motorized nature, tend to be more expensive than regular, manual faders, so they’re typically found on higher-end mixers and control surfaces. 

What Are Flying Faders?

“Flying faders” is a term used to describe motorized faders that can automatically adjust their position based on pre-programmed settings or automation data. The term “flying” comes from the visual effect of the faders moving up and down on their own, as if they’re “flying” across the mixer.

Flying faders are most commonly found in digital audio workstations (DAWs) and high-end digital or analog mixing consoles. They are used in a variety of applications, which are listed in the precious section.

What Are Channel Faders?

Channel faders are controls found on a mixing console or digital audio workstation (DAW) that adjust the volume or intensity of individual audio tracks or channels. In a mixer, each input channel will typically have its own dedicated channel fader.

These faders allow the audio engineer to balance the relative volumes of different sound sources. For instance, in a music mix, you might have separate channels for vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and other instruments. 

The channel faders would allow you to adjust the volume of each of these elements independently, helping to ensure that no single instrument or voice overpowers the others and that all elements can be heard clearly in the mix.

Channel faders can also be used to create dynamics within a song or performance by adjusting the volume of different elements over time. 

For example, you might reduce the volume of a vocal track during a guitar solo to let the solo stand out or increase the volume of a quiet instrument during a particular section of a song.

In some advanced mixing consoles and DAWs, channel faders may also be used to control the amount of a channel’s signal that is sent to auxiliary outputs (for effects processing or monitor mixes), though this is typically controlled by separate “aux send” controls.

Channel faders are a fundamental tool in audio production, playing a vital role in shaping the sound of a mix.

What Is The Master Fader?

The master fader on a mixing console or digital audio workstation (DAW) is a control that adjusts the overall volume of the entire mix. 

Unlike channel faders, which control the volume of individual tracks or channels, the master fader controls the final output level of all tracks combined.

Here’s a more detailed explanation of its role:

1. Overall Volume Control: The master fader is used to control the overall volume of the mix. This allows the audio engineer to adjust the overall loudness without altering the balance between individual tracks that have been set with the channel faders.
2. Prevent Distortion: The master fader is also important for maintaining the integrity of the audio signal. If the combined levels of all the tracks exceed the maximum level that the mixer or audio interface can handle (known as “clipping”), it can cause distortion. By adjusting the master fader, you can ensure that the overall level of the mix doesn’t exceed this maximum level.
3. Final Adjustments: In the final stages of mixing or mastering a track, the master fader can be used to make small adjustments to the overall volume level. This can be useful for ensuring that the track is at an appropriate volume level compared to other tracks.

The master fader is typically located on the far right of the mixer or DAW interface, separate from the channel faders. Adjustments to the master fader do not affect the individual track levels when it comes to exporting stems or individual tracks – it only affects the final stereo mixdown.

What Are Subgroup Faders?

Subgroup faders are controls on a mixing console or digital audio workstation (DAW) that allow you to control the volume of a group of channels collectively. They’re useful when you want to adjust the level of several channels at once.

For example, you might have multiple microphones set up to record a drum kit, each capturing a different part of the kit (snare, kick, hi-hat, toms, cymbals, etc.). 

Instead of adjusting each channel’s fader individually every time you want to change the overall volume of the drums, you could route all of these channels to a subgroup. Then, by adjusting the subgroup fader, you could control the overall volume of the drums with a single fader.

Similarly, if you have several backing vocal tracks that you want to treat as a single unit, you could route them all to a subgroup. This would allow you to adjust the overall level of the backing vocals, apply effects to all of them at once, or mute them all at once, among other things.

In essence, subgroup faders give you more control over your mix by allowing you to manage groups of related tracks as a single unit. This can make the mixing process more efficient and help you create a more balanced and cohesive sound.

Conclusion

Understanding the different types of faders and their roles in audio mixing is fundamental for anyone involved in audio production, whether you’re a professional sound engineer, an aspiring producer, or a musician recording your own work. 

Faders are more than simple volume controls – they are essential tools for balancing the mix, creating dynamics, applying effects, and shaping the overall sound of a track or performance.

From the individual control of channel faders, the collective adjustments of subgroup faders, the overall control provided by the master fader, to the automated precision of motorized or “flying” faders, each type of fader has its unique function and place in the mixing process.

While technical knowledge is good to know, don’t forget that the best mixes also require a good ear, creativity, and a feel for the music. With practice and experience, you can learn to use faders effectively to bring your artistic vision to life. Happy mixing!