
Computer control surfaceIf you end up with a computer-based system with a software mixer, you’ll have some knobs, buttons, and faders to play around with on the computer control surface, as shown in the following illustration.Aside from being able to fiddle with knobs, you’ll find that a computer control surface is a handy tool if you decide to use a computer-based Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and want (or need) to control the virtual mixer with some hardware. Still, some people may not be too keen on mixing with a keyboard and a mouse instead of the more traditional knobs or slide faders.For those of you who want the best of both worlds - high-tech computer software and tactile stimulation - you can find control surfaces that allow you to control the software’s mixer using real faders and knobs. Because software mixers are digital, you have an almost infinite variety of routing choices that you can make without having to patch and repatch cables. Use your mouse and computer keyboard to control a software mixer.Software mixers work much the same way as digital mixers.
