How to Use a Mixing Board

While a mixing board may appear intimidating and difficult to understand, it's not as tough as it looks. Really! The board is just a repeating series of buttons, knobs and faders. Once you learn to use part of the mixing board, the other parts become easier to understand. As long as you know what you want to do, you can learn to make it all happen.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Mixer

How to Use a Mixing Board

1. Separate the board into parts. There are individual channels. Each is easily identifiable by a fader or knob at the bottom of the board. You'll recognize a channel by the uniform column that runs from top to bottom. To the side of these channels, you will find a bus and master channel strip. Buses are created by grouping individual channels together as a "group". This group will control all of the selected channels. The master channel fader controls the levels for the entire board.
2. Learn the channel strip. On each individual channel strip, there is a combination of buttons and knobs that control everything from panning left to right, to muting, soloing, and equalizing. While there may be a lot of knobs on each channel strip, most are self explanitory. Buttons and knobs on channel strips only control that particular channel. So, only the signal that is going through the channel at that particular time can be manipulated using the appropriate buttons and knobs.
3. Know your inputs. For each channel, you will be able to input audio through either a XLR, 1/4 inch, or RCA cable. Also, most mixers have spots for inserts. This allows a piece of outboard gear to enter the signal flow at the point of the mixer. (Refer to each specific piece of gear for how it interacts with the mixer.)
4. Watch your levels. For each channel, there may be an individual VU meter to control the level of that channel. If there is not, keep an eye on your master VU meter. Keeping your levels clean and workable is important for any mixer. Remember, when running audio through multiple channels at the same time, the master level will be higher than that of the individual channels. For example, if you are mixing a band, keep your drum levels manageable. You may need to add more to the mix as the recording session continues. If your levels start too high, the master level may be wrong when all the sources are playing together.
5. Harness the power of the mixer. Once you understand what each button and fader does on the board, you can use the power of the board to make it work the way you want it to. When you have the chance, play around with the board and see what everything does. Having all the features of a mixing board is of no use, if you don't know how to use it properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn one channel inside and out. Once you do that, you will know every channel.
• Understand basic signal flow. This will makes the board easier to handle and troubleshooting much easier to solve.
• Don't try to use the whole board.
• Keep mixers in a safe, dry environment. Avoid storing liquids nearby.