How to Setup a Mixer Based Studio

Mixing boards are an important part of a recording studio.

Technology is enabling professional and amateur musicians and recording enthusiasts to inexpensively set up small recording studios in their home. Mixing boards support the use of multiple microphones and instrument combinations that can send the audio signal to a tape recorder or to a computer operating digital audio recording software. Results can approach commercial-quality recordings made in million-dollar studios.

Things You'll Need

• Stereo audio connecting cables (the type and number of cables depends on your personal setup).

Instructions

1. Write down the criteria you need for your mixer before you go shopping. Your budget will dictate how much you can spend on a mixer, but this will be the heart of your studio, so budget as much as you can. Select a mixer that has more channels than you think you will need (live drums alone can easily require a half-dozen channels). If you plan on operating your mixer for both input to a recording device and for mixing down from its multiple outputs, account for the need for these extra channels. You won't need a mixer that has built-in effects if you are recording to a computer-based DAW (digital audio workstation), but you might if you are recording directly to a tape recorder, unless you plan on using external hardware processors. Purchase your mixer.

2. Plug the mixer's stereo line level "Main Output" into the "Line In" jacks on a tape recorder, computer's sound card or DAW interface. A stereo audio cable with "RCA" male plugs on both ends commonly is plugged in to make line-level connections.

3. Connect a stereo cable from the "Line Out" jacks on the tape recorder, computer sound card or DAW interface to the "Line In" on two mixer channels (one for "Left" and one for "Right" audio signals).

4. Plug the mixer's stereo "Monitor" outputs into the inputs of a stereo amplifier or directly into powered-monitor speakers. This not only lets you monitor audio signals when playing back from a tape or computer source, but it also lets you (and other musicians) play through the mixer to practice without having to turn on a tape recorder or boot-up a computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Having plenty of available input channels on your mixer makes it handy to leave microphones and instruments plugged into the board, even when they are not in operation.

• The more expensive hardware interface devices for use with DAWs are available with 4, 8 and even 16 inputs and outputs. Routing tracks on the DAW to outputs on the interface and then using connecting cables between these outputs and line inputs on individual mixer channels allows the board to be utilized for mixing down multitrack recordings to a final stereo output, which can be recorded on a stereo recorder.

• Purchasing a mixer is an important step, and one that should be well-thought out (you only want to do this once). Be sure the mixer has all the features you think you will need now and in the future as your studio expands. "Sends," "inserts," phantom power for mics, effects, MIDI capabilities and similar features all must be carefully considered.

References

• Home Recording Now: Example Studio Setups
• Earthlink: The Musician's Guide To Home Recording
• Tweakhedz: Choosing A Mixer For Your Home Or Project Studio