How to Connect a Mixer Board to PC

If you are creating music on your computer through outside peripherals like musical instruments or a separate CD/MP3/tape player, you really need an audio mixer board. Your computer likely only has one or two audio input ports, so you won't be able to connect many peripherals. If you connect a mixer to the computer, you can then connect the instruments and players to the mixer and record all of them to the computer. Any mixer should connect to the computer's stereo input, but more advanced ones can use USB or FireWire connections.

Things You'll Need

• Audio Mixer
• Computer
• RCA to Stereo Cables
• USB or FireWire Cable

Instructions

1. Look over the master output ports for the mixer board. Every mixer board should at least have RCA output ports, which use the red and white composite plugs. If the mixer was designed to interface with a computer, it might also have a USB or FireWire output.

2. Check the audio input ports on your computer. If the mixer has a FireWire or USB output, make sure those input ports on your computer connect to the sound card. Ask a computer technician if you're not certain. It should at least have a mini stereo port, which is exactly like the output ports used to connect speakers and headphones.

3. Connect the mixer to the computer using a computer cable connection if possible. This will get you the best sound quality. The mixer's output and computer's input need ports for the same cable. Use FireWire first if you can; otherwise, use a USB cable.

4. Link the mixer and computer through the stereo input if you have no other option. You need an RCA to mini audio cable, which has the red and white RCA ports at one end and a mini stereo plug (the single 1/8-inch plug with double black bands) at the other. Connect the RCA end to the mixer and the stereo plug to the computer.

5. Install any software that came with the mixer. This is needed so the computer will recognize the mixer's drivers. If the mixer didn't come with a software CD, or if you connected the mixer through the stereo ports, this isn't necessary.

6. Connect any instruments, music players and other sound peripherals you will use to the mixer. These should use RCA or stereo cables; you might need more RCA to stereo cables. Check the outputs of your peripherals and the mixer's inputs to see what you need.

Tips & Warnings

• The computer's stereo input port is often right next to the input ports, which use the same type of cable. Don't confuse the ports. If you plug the mixer into the output port, you won't get any sound.