A sound board, also known as a "mixing board", "mixing console", "sound desk", or much more simply "mixer", is a complex and often daunting instrument. Here you will find a very simple guide to getting started with a mixer in small live shows, paired with a very basic PA system.
Before starting, you need to understand the basic layout of a mixer. A mixer consists of two main sections: the input section and the output section, or master (output).
The input section consists of a number of separate channels, from 4 to 32. Each channel consists of a set of inputs, which are located behind the mixer, and a set of controls, which together are called the “channel strip”. A channel strip generally consists of a "gain" / "trim" control that controls the volume at the first stage of the signal, that is, before it is processed or routed; a "channel fader", which controls the volume after the signal has been processed; one or more "auxiliary sends", which function exactly like the fader, except that they send the signal to alternate outputs on the mixer - and are used for effects such as reverb or echo or for monitor speakers - a set of controls equalization buttons that select and control the high, middle and low frequencies of the signal; “buses” or “group assign buttons” that send the signal to the alternate fader buses and the outputs of the master section
The master section controls the signal output of the various mixer channels. The output section of a mixer generally consists of a "master fader", which controls the volume of the main outputs (in other words, it is the master volume of the entire system); the “auxiliary masters” which control the volume of the auxiliary outputs; "Auxiliary returns" which are used to transmit the signal from the reverb unit or other external effects to the mix, without having to use a channel; “Bus faders” which alternate the master faders for the bus outputs and which are used for alternating speakers and recording devices and for grouping multiple channels together
Steps
Step 1. Choose a suitable place to place the mixer
This is very important because the sound volume decreases the further you go from the source of the sound, also changing the world in which it is reflected on the surfaces of the room; the ideal would be to place the sound board in a place where you are far enough away from the speakers and are not directly hit by the sound waves, but close enough so that you don't need to turn up the volume too much to be able to hear it. You will also need to consider the length of the microphone / instrument cables and the placement of electrical outlets in the room.
Step 2. Place the speakers and power amps
Step 3. Connect the speakers
Connect the cables from the amplifier's “output” outputs to the speaker “input” inputs. Note: if you have powered speakers (or speakers with integrated power amp) you can treat all the steps regarding the power amp as if you were talking about the speakers themselves, since in this case the amplifier and the speakers are already connected.
Step 4. Connect the power amps
Connect the cables from the mixer "Main out" to the "input" of the power amp (or powered speakers).
Step 5. Connect the monitors
If you use monitor speakers on stage, which are used by the musician to listen to himself while playing, connect the cables from the "auxiliary output" (almost always labeled "Aux Out") of the soundboard to the power amp input of the monitor. Note: most soundboards have more than one auxiliary output, so be sure to keep track of which outputs you used for which amp / speaker.
Step 6. Create your stage setup
Place microphones and stands as needed, along with any DI box (direct input) you need for instruments, to plug them directly into the PA system (such as acoustic guitar or keyboard).
Step 7. Create an “input list”
Write down each microphone and DI box on a numbered list, from left to right. For example: 1. DI guitar 2. DI keyboard 3. Marco voice microphone.
Step 8. Label the mixer
Take a strip of painter's tape and attach it to the mixer just below the faders. Use a marker to copy the list you just made onto the tape, so that each fader is described by its caption (if you can't write everything on the labels you could use abbreviations, such as "vox" for "voice".).
Step 9. Connect the microphones
Connect the microphone cables to each microphone and DI box that you entered in the input list in step 7. In the above example, you would connect a cable from "input 1" from the soundboard to the DI box of the guitar, on input 2 the keyboard to the DI and so on. Street. Note: the smaller mixers allow you to connect a ¼ '' instrument cable directly to the mixer without the need for a DI box. This jack is labeled “Line in”, not to be confused with the “inst” jack, which stands for “insert point”, not “instrument”.
Step 10. Reset the mixer values
Make sure that all fader, gan and trim controls are at minimum on each channel. If your soundboard has “bus assignment” controls make sure the “Main mix” button for each channel is pressed and all other bus assigments are turned up.
Step 11. Turn on the soundboard first and then the power amps
Step 12. Turn on the outputs
It also raises the “Master fader” along with the master controls of all the auxiliary outputs you are using. Don't push the controls to the max. If there is a 0 or “unity” mark near the master fader, start by placing the control just below the mark.
Step 13. Test the audio
Ask a band member to speak into the microphone as you slowly raise the microphone fader. If the fader is high but the volume is too low, slowly raise the channel's “gain” or “trim” control until you are satisfied with the volume. Do the same for each microphone and DI box until you are sure everything is working as it should.
Step 14. Check the monitors
While someone is speaking into the microphone, slowly raise the Auxiliary send control of the channel for the auxiliary output you connected to the monitor (probably "Aux 1") and let the band members tell you when they can hear themselves in the monitor speakers. Generally, the volume of the monitor should be decided by the musician as it is he who has to listen to himself.
