What do studio mixers do

The insert is a connection that allows a piece of equipment to be plugged in directly after the input, so that it is unaffected be any of the other processes further down the channel. Here, the insert is a stereo jack, which both sends and returns the signal, to and from the connected device. Commonly, an insert has a separate send and return socket, however. Gain controls the input level of each individual channel.

Here you can set this so that individual sound sources do not cause the channel to overload and distort. EQ allows the user to change the frequency curve of a sound. For instance, if a sound source is very bright, the high frequencies can be turned down. A 3-band EQ will allow you to boost or cut high, mid and low frequencies separately. The auxiliary sends can be used for various things. That is, you connect the sends to monitor speakers at the front of a stage, so that the band can here what they are playing more clearly.

Aux sends are also used to send channel audio to an effects unit. When used with a common effect like reverb, it allows the engineer to adjust the level of effect of each individual channel, using just one effects unit. When used in this way, the FX unit output would be connected to the aux return inputs on the mixer.

If these do not feature, the FX unit would be routed down an input channel or channels. So, turning it all the way to the left will send the signal completely to the left output, and the turning it to the right, to the right output. The area between allows the signal to be more accurately placed by vary the level sent to each of these outputs accordingly.

When using a multi-bus mixer, these pan controls are more important. Often, routing to buses involves pressing a button on the individual channel, but these buttons will correspond to 2 outputs i. To send to bus 2, the pan would be turned to hard right. These allow the engineer to mute individual channels. In essence, it stops the channel being sent to any outputs.

All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Turn the master volume and channel faders down completely. The faders are knobs or sliders that control the volumes of individual inputs found along the bottom of the mixer and are either knobs or sliders.

If the controls are sliders, pull them down as far as you can to lower the volume. The main volume control and faders usually have a different color than the other controls so you can easily tell them apart. Plug microphones into channels using XLR cables. XLR cables are used to plug microphones in, and the ends have 3 pins inside a metal cylinder. Your mixer will either have XLR ports along the top edge or on the back side of the mixer.

Put the other end of the XLR cable in one of the ports on the mixer that has 3 small holes inside a circle The number above the port determines the input channel, which is a column on your mixer with knobs that controls that single input.

The number of inputs you can have on your mixer depends on how many channels it has. An 8-channel mixer can have up to 8 different inputs while a channel mixer can have 32 sources. Attach instruments to the line inputs on your mixer. The line inputs on your mixer are found near the XLR ports for each channel and fit 6. The number above the input tells you which channel controls the audio for the instrument. You can also buy audio cables for instruments that attach to a mixer with an XLR cable.

Either will work for your audio. Connect the mixer output to an audio interface with TRS cables to use monitors. Locate the master output ports near the top of the mixer or on the side by the other ports. Interfaces allow you to play the audio from your mixer through speaker monitors or on a computer. Listening to your mixer through headphones allows you to hear the levels clearly so you can tweak them later on.

Use a 6. Turn on your mixer using the power switch. The power switch is usually on the back of the mixer or on the top right by the other knobs. Check that all of the volume and fader controls are still turned down before flipping the switch to turn it on.

You will see a light turn on as soon as the power is connected. If you have a microphone that uses phantom power, also turn on the switch. Part 2. The main volume control will have numbers printed on the side so you can easily see its output level. Push the slider or turn the knob so it points at 0 dB, which is usually the maximum setting. Any louder, and the sound will start to get distorted.

Balance the channel faders so you can hear all of the inputs clearly. Continue turning up the faders for each channel that has an input attached to it so you can hear them through your speakers or headphones. Test the inputs at the same time to see if you can hear each microphone or instrument in the mix. Raise or lower the fader levels until you can hear each source of audio.

Change the treble, mid, and bass to adjust which frequencies come through. Each channel on your mixer has a column of knobs that control the treble, mid, and bass levels for your channel. The treble knob controls the high frequencies, the bass knob adjusts the lowest frequencies, and the mid knob changes everything in between. Listen to the audio input on the channel as you adjust the knobs to see how it changes the sound.

If the channel has an instrument, try adjusting each of the knobs and playing the instrument to see how it affects the sound. Use the gain knobs to continue increasing the volume of specific channels. If you do, all of the audio sources will sound muffled. The pan knobs control the balance between the left and right speakers, and they are usually located directly above the channel faders. When the knob points down the middle, the audio will play equally through the left and right speakers.

The mixer is the central hub where sound signals from different sources are combined and mixed. Effects and ambience can also be added, EQ and stereo imaging are balanced and then the output is directed to the monitor speakers using the mixer. Some people often become hesitant by the number of channel strips, faders and knobs they see on the mixing desk. In reality, most of them are just duplicated with only a few important controls to learn and master.

For instance, an audio mixer of a big cinema or concert may have about channels or more whereas a DJ mixer may just have only 2 channels which would be used to mix two signals from the sound source. The way a mixer works depends on the number of input and output channels it has. With more input channels a mixer has the more capacity of instruments and sound signals the mixer can combine and blend.

A standard analogue mixer usually has three parts. Understanding how it works will throw more light in learning other types. The input channels connect the microphones and instruments with the mixer.

It consists of:. The output directs the balanced mix to the track recorder. It is made up of the master channel meters and mixing circuits. The mixing circuit receives signals from the input and blends them together to then send them on to the recorder.