Best Passive Summing 2023 - Real Analog warm harmonics

6 min readApr 20, 2021

Analog distortion happens when an audio signal goes past the maximum level capacity of a system, which, in a DAW is generally 0 dBFS.

Achieving analog harmonic distortion on a passive summing mixer involves understanding how harmonic distortion works and how to manipulate it using the equipment you have. Here are some tips on how to hit the analog harmonic distortion on a passive summing mixer.

The analog summing mixer is designed to work at +4dB is capable of delivering +24dB levels. Lets see what’s happen in a PASSIVE SUMMING called SUM BUS

Choose the right summing mixer: Not all passive summing mixers are created equal. VintageMaker summings are designed for your DAW interface. By this you don’t have to worry about the proper gain working range, because the summing is designed for your interface.
Drive the input: To achieve harmonic distortion, you need to push the input levels of the summing mixer. This means feeding it with a hot signal, such as a preamp or compressor that is set to compress or distort the signal. The idea is to get the summing mixer to clip or saturate, which produces the desired harmonic distortion.
Experiment with different input sources: The type of input source you use can also affect the amount and type of harmonic distortion produced. Try using different types of instruments or sources, such as a guitar or synth, to see how they react to the summing mixer.
Use mono instruments on mono channels: The mono is real analog mono, like kick / bass, that will be the base of your manalog mix.
There are many benefits to using a mono switch on a passive summing mixer, especially when it comes to achieving a stable, real analog mono base for your mix. When mixing in stereo, it can be challenging to achieve a solid, stable foundation for the low end of your mix. But with the mono switch engaged, you can sum the left and right channels of your mix into a single mono signal that is free from any phase cancellation issues that may have been present in the stereo mix.

This mono signal can then be used as the foundation for your mix, providing a stable base for your kick and bass tracks. By doing this, you can achieve a more focused and punchy low end that will help your mix translate better on a variety of playback systems.
But that’s not all — using the mono switch on a passive summing mixer can also lead to a superior separation and 3D depth for your stereo instruments. By summing the left and right channels into mono, you are effectively reducing any stereo width in the mix. But when you switch back to stereo, the difference between the left and right channels becomes more pronounced, resulting in a wider, more spacious soundstage.
This is a technique that has been used on large-format analog recording consoles for decades, and it is just as effective when using a passive summing mixer in your studio. So if you’re looking for a way to add more stability, depth, and separation to your mixes, be sure to try out the mono switch on your passive summing mixer. You may be surprised at how much it can improve your sound.

Listen and adjust: The key to hitting the right amount of harmonic distortion on a passive summing mixer is to listen carefully and adjust as needed. Keep in mind that too much distortion can result in a muddy or cluttered sound, while too little can sound sterile or lifeless. Use your ears to guide you and make adjustments until you find the right balance.

How to hit the analog harmonic distortion on the PASSIVE side of summing?

Simply boost up your DAW output Level (master fader) — and you get some “nice” distortion because you’re pushing the SUMMIN INPUTS (SUM BUS) Passive side of Summing Mixer — quite a bit OVER its nominal level. (after that gain up the summed signal by your internal amp or external mic preamps or DAW mic preamps) Many people don’t know this, or they don’t care about proper gain staging, however it is the one of the most significant and important part of analog mix procedure.

Let’s see how are generated harmonic in the active transformer summing mixer (SUM BUS + Transformer amp)

How to hit the analog harmonic distortion on the PASSIVE side of summing mixer — SUM BUS + Transformer amp

The analog pro gear like summing mixer is designed to work at +4dB is capable of delivering +24dB output levels, so at 0 VU, you have a 20dB (24–4 = 20) margin of built-in headroom.

Headroom the safe place of your overloaded audio

What is the Headroom?
Headroom is the point “the safe place” where your transients are not damaged.
Headroom is how much room has your audio signal has before it starts to get compressed and distorted.
It provides buffer zone for harmonics, transients or loud sounds without risking clipping, which result a more dynamic open and wide, depth 3D sound.
It provides space for Gentle Harmonic Distortion (harmonic and non‑harmonic distortions — analog nonlinearities)

Contact: https://vintagemaker.net/contact/

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Best Passive Summing 2023 - Real Analog warm harmonics

Let’s see how are generated harmonic in the active transformer summing mixer (SUM BUS + Transformer amp)

The analog pro gear like summing mixer is designed to work at +4dB is capable of delivering +24dB output levels, so at 0 VU, you have a 20dB (24–4 = 20) margin of built-in headroom.

Headroom the safe place of your overloaded audio

Written by Paul Taylor