How it works

By default, all input levels are set to the Rest Gain setting (accessed via the Gain Share Setup button on the control surface). The system measures the incoming mid-band speech frequency signal components on all inputs (this reduces the possibility of low or high frequency background noise triggering a gain increase on the input). When an input exceeds the threshold level, the maximum available gain is applied to that input, while the other inputs are attenuated to the Depth setting to maintain the feedback stability margin.

Part of the reason the Gain Sharing Automatic Mixers work so well is that the mics are never shut off. With no one speaking, all the inputs are set to the nominal Rest Gain setting. When someone speaks into a microphone, that input is set to full gain, while the other inputs are set to the lower Depth gain setting. Thus no input is ever gated off, and the changes in gain are made smoothly. When more than one mic is in use at the same time, the available gain is shared between the microphones in use.