Q&A for How to Use a Mixer

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How do mixers work?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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Basically, mixers take sounds from 2 or more input sources and merge them together to create a single output. The sound engineer controls the way the inputs mix together to create the best-sounding output.

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Question

Is a mixer necessary for recording?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

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It’s not absolutely essential, although mixers are helpful for producing a polished and professional-sounding final product. For most home studio recordings, you can get a lot of the same functions out of a sound mixing program on your computer.

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How many channels do I need on my mixer?

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wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

It really depends on what kind of sound you are trying to achieve. For example, if you only have one or two tracks from single mics, you’ll only need 1 channel per track. However, if you’re adding in reverb or other effects, you’ll need more. A good rule of thumb for a basic mixer is to have at least as many input channels as band members.

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Question

How can I set up my mic with my mixer?

Community Answer

Through the mic input. It looks exactly like a guitar cable input, but it will have the word "mic" under it.

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Question

How do I connect my amps together?

Community Answer

Give the amps separate output speakers, but loop the input (or use cross overseas) to split the sound for the inputs.

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Question

Does the sound come from the mixer or do I need external speakers?

Community Answer

The sound does not come from the mixer; therefore, you do have to use external speakers. The mixer is the bass producer.

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Question

How do I connect two audio mixers together?

Community Answer

You can connect the main outputs of mixer A to an input on mixer B. Make sure you connect it to a line-input. You can use a standard line-input or an aux-return on mixer B.

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Question

How can I hook up three receivers to a mixer so that I can switch between them?

Community Answer

Hook one receiver to channel 1, another to 2, and so on. Mute the ones you don't need and unmute it when you need it to switch between them. (Turn the fader on and off if you don't have mute switches.)

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Question

When connecting instruments that have their own volume controls, such as keyboards, how do I balance the volume into and out of the mixer?

Community Answer

Most digital instruments do not allow you to control the volume once an output is connected. Even in a the case where it allows you to, you must keep it at a constant level, and control it only from the mixer or vice versa. If the balance is the problem, keep all bands at zero (nil) level or at the same level, and control it only by the mixer.

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Question

Do I need to buy music software, or is my mixer capable of doing everything?

PJ Smith

Community Answer

No, you will need audio software such as Cubase, Cool Editpro, Pro Tools, etc.

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Question

How do I get rid of noise out of my mic output?

Community Answer

Noise as seen in mic output could be due to a number of reasons, including faulty microphone itself, faulty mic cables, as well as reversed polarity of the power supply plug of the mixer board. Until you are able to identify the cause of the microphone noise, there's very little you can do. One general approach to cleaning microphone output sound is to EQ out the bad frequencies causing the noise. Also, in the case of feedback, it is imperative to consider the microphone and speaker arrangement as well as pay attention to on stage monitor volumes if they happen to be the case.

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Question

Output Right and Left: Which one supposed to be bass?

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Community Answer

Do you mean the subwoofer? Either would work, but the best choice is to connect the subwoofer to one of the GROUP outputs. Then you'd be able to adjust its volume independently of the main speakers' volume. Turning off send switches leading to the subwoofer's group on mic channels is also recommended to prevent undesired muddy vocals or pop sounds.

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