The detent refers to the physical stopping point or tactile click sensation perceived when rotating a rotary control, such as a knob on a mixing console or peripheral. This mechanical feature is widely used to allow the user to find the center position of a control without having to look at it, as in the case of pan adjustment or the neutral position of an equalizer, indicating that there is no change in the signal. The detent is also used in gain controls to create the sensation of steps or fixed positions, which facilitates precision and allows sound engineers to replicate the exact same settings later.