Also known as a mixing console or mixing board, an audio mixer combines the various audio channels generated during a music concert or recording session into a single sound. A good mixer gives you the ability to equalize the sound on each channel - treble, bass or midrange - to make the sum of the individual channels better in the final mix. Even for a novice, using a mixer is not too difficult and can give your music a professional touch.
Steps
Step 1. Connect your audio equipment to the mixer inputs
Mixers are identified by the number of inputs, or audio channels. A 16-channel mixer therefore offers 16 audio inputs, while a 4-channel mixer offers only 4 inputs. A microphone and other monaural instruments (1 channel) such as audio interfaces must be connected to a single input, while stereo devices must be connected to two inputs, one for the left channel and one for the right.
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Some mixers have separate inputs for microphones and CD / cassette players, called line inputs. These mixers have switches for switching between microphone channels and line inputs.
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Each type of musical instrument must be assigned its own entrance. While two trumpets can be recorded from a single microphone connected to a single input, a trumpet and a violin must be recorded on separate audio inputs so that the volumes can be balanced correctly. Some instruments, such as drums, need a microphone, and therefore a separate input, for each component.
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If your mixer has subgroup channels, you can group the microphones assigned to a complex instrument such as drums into 1-2 subgroups, mix them separately, and control the drum mix using the overall volume of the two inputs.
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Generally, the more inputs on the mixer, the larger its size. Portable mixers used in the field by videographers, for example, have only 2 or 4 channels, while a 32- and 48-channel mixer will be a much larger console, which must be transported by car or kept in the recording studio.
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Step 2. Connect your recording instruments or monitors to the mixer outputs
The mixer outputs are controlled via the VU scales and by connecting a pair of headphones to the auxiliary output.
Some mixers have separate monitor outputs from the master output, as well as output channels for the sound engineer to communicate with the recording studio or stage
Step 3. Turn on the channels to use
Each channel has its own on / off switch.
Step 4. Turn on phantom power for the channel if the connected item requires it
Phantom power consists of direct electrical current supplied by the mixer to the instruments. This type of electrical power is typically required by microphones (apart from ribbon microphones), amplifiers, and some video cameras.
Step 5. Adjust the volume for each channel as required
To do this, you will need to use a knob called a potentiometer (“pot” for short), although this controller may also be present on the mixer in the form of a switch, pad or slider, like that of the faders. Each channel requires its own volume level to be adjusted to sound its best.
Individual channels can be temporarily turned off during the recording session by using a mute switch to listen to the master without a particular channel. A master switch can also be used to turn off all but one channels so that the channel can be listened to individually
Step 6. Adjust the treble, bass and midband of each channel using the equalizer controls
This way you can improve the overall quality of each part of the recording. The quality of the equalizer often determines the quality of the mixer.
A mixer can also have separate EQ controls for each channel, as well as an overall EQ for the master
Step 7. Route channels that require special effects to an auxiliary channel
Also known as “aux” channels, these channels are used to create a copy of the original channel's signal. The redirection is done through a controller called "send".
Step 8. Adjust the volume of each channel as needed
To do this, you'll need to use a pan knob, also called a “pan pot” or “pan knob”. Turning this knob to the left will shift the signal to the left of the stereo field, while moving it to the right will shift it to the right.
For mixers with multiple outputs, the pan pot works in tandem with the redirect buttons. Each redirect button enables a couple of exits. If the redirect knob is turned to the left, the signal goes to the left bus output. If the signal is turned to the right, it switches to the bus on the right. If left in the center, the signal will go to both buses
Advice
- There are two types of mixers: analog and digital. Analog mixers work only with analog signals, while digital mixers work with both analog and digital signals. Mixers are not only classified by the number of inputs, but also by the number of outputs and channel subgroups. In order: entry, subgroup (if any), exit. An 8x2 mixer therefore has 8 inputs and 2 output channels. A 48x2 mixer has 48 input channels, 4 subgroups and 2 output channels.
- Nowadays it is possible to have many of the features offered by a mixer directly from a computer equipped with an audio sequencer and a multi-input audio interface, which is similar to a traditional computer but has multiple audio inputs and outputs. If your audio interface doesn't have one, you'll need to add microphone preamps. The use of the computer is highly recommended for those musicians who have a small number of instruments or work mainly with synthesized instruments and sounds and have a fast computer.
