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What is the role of a digital audio processor?

What is the role of a digital audio processor?

Update Time:2021/11/16
     Many customers don’t know what the digital audio processor is for when they buy a stage performance audio package. Because there is no such device in the KTV sound system, some stage sound systems are also not equipped with a processor. Some people even regard KTV pre-effects and digital audio processors as one product.
    So in the professional stage performance speaker system, what role does the processor play and what specific functions does it have?

     How many parts does the stage performance sound system have? We can divide the whole system into 4 parts.

1. Audio source part
   Mainly provide audio signals, such as microphones, musical instruments, music players, etc.
2. The mixer part
    Now they are all digital mixers. The equalizer, compressor, noise gate, and effects are all in the digital mixer. The mixer processes the input signals once, and then mixes them together to control the playback content of each speaker.
3. Processor
    It is responsible for processing the audio signals mixed by the mixer, and processing these audio signals according to the system and on-site conditions, so that the speakers can better reproduce these audio signals.
4. Power amplifier and speakers
    The power amplifier and the speaker are responsible for energy conversion. The power amplifier provides energy for the audio signal and drives the speaker to vibrate to play the sound. 

   Therefore, the processor is in the middle of the professional audio system and plays a role of linking the previous and the next.

Why does a digital mixer need a processor?

   On an analog mixer, many functions such as howling suppressor, compression, compression, equalization, and delay are not available. So it needs to be equipped with an independent compressor, equalizer, delayer and howling suppressor, or with a processor. But on a digital mixer, it has most of the functions of a digital audio processor! You read that right, most of the functions of digital mixers and processors are duplicated! So many technicians who make stage audio equipment do not have a processor.
    However, digital audio processors can be seen in most stage performance audio packages.Why do the functions of the digital mixer and the processor repeat, and we still need to match the audio processor?
     The explanation given by many tuner is as follows:
1. The parameters of the digital mixer are more complicated, so after connecting the stage performance audio equipment, you can use the previous parameter settings. (Improve work efficiency)
2. Sometimes some speakers are added (the brand is not the same), just adjust it directly on the processor. (Avoid changing the mixer parameters)

    To sum up, it is: save tuning time and reduce the risk of sound system operation.