How To Set Up A Mixer For Live Performance

(Last Updated On: Nov 17, 2022)

Have you always tried figuring out how the different sound inputs from various instruments and mics onstage come up out of the loudspeakers balanced and pleasant to listen to? If you lot accept, you're not solitary, for when I was a fleck younger, I also had been perplexed by it, and at present that I am onetime, I entirely understand that it is considering of the mixer that makes possible all these counterbalanced sounds from the loudspeakers.

If sound balancing is a war, the mixer is the headquarter where all the potential actions are coordinated. It is the hub where all the inputs from instruments, mics, FX, and many others are processed, controlled, so rerouted to the specific channels or outputs.

Mixing consoles vary from each other. You can find high-stop mixers with complicated and innovative features. You can also find low-terminate mixers that let you lot practise the very nuts of mixing. Nonetheless, they all perform the same essential functions.

How Does Audio Mixer work In Live Sound?

Mixing consoles are essential to audio reproduction and recording. It is the device that y'all would employ to combine sounds coming from different devices. The sound inputs that go into the mixing panel include audio inputs from singers' microphones, audio-visual instruments, electronic and electrical instruments, or recorded audio inputs.

Mixers tin as well control digital or analog signals, depending on the mixing console type. These signals are then modified by the mixers and summed up to come up with mixed output signals.

The mixing procedure is an essential process when you perform live or tape music. Information technology makes sure that no private signal input becomes overpowering than the others.

If it is your first time using or seeing a mixer, you will exist taken ashamed by the myriads of channels in a mixing console. Yet, once you start tinkering with its channels and knobs, you will quickly go the hang of its use.

In one case you've continued the instruments and mics, you can brainstorm adjusting each input volume until you get the right mix.

The typical consoles come with 8 to 32 channels, stereo "main outputs, multiple aux outputs for outboard effects and stage monitors, and a few subgroups. Once you've processed the signals, y'all can so route all channels to the master stereo outputs. From in that location, you tin send the outputs to the PA system and so that the audition can relish the mixed signals.

Techniques for Setting Up the Live Sound Inputs and Sound Outputs

The work of setting upwards the mixer for live sound is non for the newbies who have not nevertheless tried such a setup. Only if you want to know and larn the process, y'all tin check out the following techniques:

Board Mix

If you are but beginning to tinker with the mixing console, you will find that the typical mixing console has 16 channels with microphone options, aux sends, and inserts. If you desire to mix the sound inputs from a four-piece band similar the Queen, for instance, yous volition be working with two guitars, one bass, drums, and four vocals, because each of them will be singing.

The typical monitors' setup includes iv stage monitors: the centre phase, stage right, phase left, and upstage near the drummer . Furthermore, y'all tin connect these monitors to Auxes one to four.

Yous will also have two FX processors, one for the delay and ane for reverb. Moreover, you can connect the delay to Aux 6 and the reverb to Aux 5. Besides, you can apply this setup as your guide, at the onset, for your first mixing gig.

Principal Speakers

The endpoints of your signal chain are the speakers. They are the ones that broadcast the mixed sounds. Speakers tin either be passive or active. Agile speakers, of course, are powered speakers. They come with a built-in power amp. Thus, you need to plug in the IEC cable to the power outlet to make them piece of work.

Yous will often observe these speakers in portable systems. Moreover, you tin connect the active speakers to your mixing console using a TRS or XLR cable. Connect 1 cable end to the mixing panel main outputs and one end to the speakers.

Passive speakers, on the other mitt, are not powered. Thus, y'all must connect them to an external power amp to make them work. You lot will often find these speakers in permanently installed sound systems.

You tin can connect the passive speakers to your mixing panel by running an XLR cablevision from the principal outputs to the ability amps. Then, connect the power amps' outputs to the speakers' inputs using Speakon cables or TS cables. It will be useful to note that you lot need to pair each speaker with a GEQ along with a matching ability amp.

Subwoofers

Your system volition undoubtedly include many subwoofers for enforcing the low end. Nevertheless, if you are using two active subwoofers, you can road your mixing console outputs to the subwoofers' inputs. Afterward, you can apply the "thru" outputs for connecting the subwoofers using XLRs to the agile "tops."

Agile subwoofers come up with born "crossovers". These components split the signal into two: the low frequencies going to subwoofers and other signals going to the mains. You need to avail of an outboard crossover if you are using passive speakers.

Sometimes, you volition need more than subwoofers for a show or gig. In such a example, you must utilise a speaker management system that comes with many digital signal processors like pinch, EQ, and stereo imaging. These DSPs let y'all divide a stereo signal into viii outputs or more. In doing so, you become aplenty elbow room to come up with multiple subs.

Monitors

A mixing console setup for live sound will never be complete without the needed monitors. The ring members, for case, need to hear themselves to ensure that they are playing in synchrony. Yous tin can connect the stage monitors in a similar fashion that you have connected the mains. Nevertheless, instead of using the principal outputs, you will need to utilize the aux outputs.

Each phase monitor necessitates an aux transport and graphic EQ. To connect each stage monitor, you tin brainstorm at the console. Hook the aux outputs to that of the GEQs. Use either a TRS or an XLR cable to connect them. Afterward, hook the GEQs using a TRS or XLRs to those of the ability amps. Lastly, you can connect the monitors to the power amps using Speakon or TS cables.

Setting Upwardly the Microphones

The testify will non outset without the microphones. So, y'all need to set up the microphones with stands for each band member. If yous are setting up for a band like Queen, you lot need to set up iv mics. You demand to set mic stands for each guitarist. For drums, yous need to set up up the stands and mics for the snare, kick, hi-hat, overhead, and toms.

Figuring Out the EQ Settings

In one case yous've fix the mics, yous can then tinker with the EQs. Using an analog console, you will see that information technology comes with iv ring semiparametric EQ. The looks of information technology may intimidate y'all, but they are non what they appear to be.

Y'all will have a fixed high ring and low band while adjusting the frequencies and proceeds. You will as well meet a bell-shaped high-mid and low-mid band that comes with adaptable frequency, gain, and Q parameters. Lastly, yous will encounter a loftier-pass filter switch that yous would set to a particular frequency and slope.

Utilizing the Aux Sends

Your indicate would pass through the Aux Sends. The typical analog console comes with 4 or more aux sends. Yous tin can employ the aux sends to indistinguishable signals. Yous can then channel the signals to i or two endpoints: the FX processors or the stage monitors . You tin look for the desired channel at the Aux Send section. Then, turn up that specific send relative to the Aux.

Nevertheless, yous need to check the board's dorsum if the Aux Outputs are continued to the correct FX processors or stage monitors. When utilizing the FX processors, you may road from the Aux Sends a indicate. However, you can never hear information technology. If yous want to listen to it, so you must render the signal to you as well. Many consoles come with a Stereo Aux Returns for FX.

You tin can also find the Aux Master department at the console's center portion. Information technology has the master volume control for every Aux Ship. You can use it if you lot take the right residue but want less overall volume. Turn it upwards to ensure that you can transport signals.

Tinkering with the Fader, Pan Knob, and Routing Buttons

Most signals during a live mix are panned towards the center. You may occasionally pan the tom a flake to the right or left or move i signal over there to unclog the busy mix. Nevertheless, panning signals in the heart is the best matter to do for alive sound. It is reasonable, of class, to pan signals if your crowd are all wearing headphones. Yet, it doesn't make sense to overdo the panning during the alive mix. Moreover, more than bug would emerge when you pan a lot during live performance.

With regards to the fader, you can get the hang of the fader by feeling it. If you are using an analog console, you volition see some buttons like the M1=two, three=4, next to every fader. These buttons allow you lot send a signal to the subgroups or the mains.

You can process individual signals using the aqueduct strips. Then, use the subgroups for balancing the mix. In doing and then, you are in a better position to balance the levels by way of controlling many mics at the aforementioned time. This leaves your free hand for mixing and running lights and effects.

Volume and Panning Adjustment

Once you've set each aqueduct correctly, y'all tin can have a warmup jamming for the musicians. Let them play one of their songs. Then, take that fourth dimension to suit the book through the faders to achieve a well-balanced output. It will be useful to think that you demand to brand the less sounding inputs aural to the listeners.

Be mindful of the balance between the instruments and vocals. Make sure the instruments do not overpower the vocals. You tin can also accommodate the left-right residuum of sounds. You can apply the PAN controls for this purpose.

It will exist useful to pan the bass guitars and kick drums to the eye. In doing so, you balance the music. Moreover, it will likewise aid to pan the vocals to the middle for a more than balanced mix. You lot will go the hang of panning as you often practice mixing alive sounds.

Decision

As an aspiring sound engineer, you lot need to have a solid understanding of how signals flow. Without such knowledge, you will never thrive as a sound engineer. You need to figure out where y'all will channel signals and where these signals must go. To achieve such skills, you need to know the dissimilar PA organisation components and how each piece works.

As mentioned above, the mixing panel is your hub from where y'all can control all the inputs and procedure and route the correct outputs. Thus, it behooves you to understand the mixing panel and master how to use it for live sound mixing. With the mastery of the mixing console, yous tin claim that you are indeed an able sound engineer.

James Mann is a 36-year-old session singer and vocal coach who loves to share his singing and musical experiences online. Besides focusing on singing. Songwriting, music production, studio setups and vocal recording and mastering other musical instruments are his passion likewise.