The judge, witness, and each of the counsel tables should ALWAYS be assigned to what?

The correct answer is that the judge, witness, and each of the counsel tables should always be assigned to different channels. This setup is essential for maintaining clarity and minimizing confusion during recordings and proceedings. By designating separate channels for each participant, it ensures that their voices can be distinctly captured and later differentiated in the audio output.

Using different channels allows for better management of audio during transcription, as it becomes easier to identify who is speaking at any given time. This is particularly important in legal contexts, where accuracy in capturing dialogue is crucial for transcripts. If everyone were on the same channel, the recordings could become muddled, making it challenging to discern individual contributions, thereby compromising the integrity of the proceedings and transcripts.

Additionally, assigning random channels or only one channel would not facilitate the clear, organized recording process essential in legal environments. Hence, using different channels enhances both the clarity of the recording and the overall efficiency of the legal process.