Audio Mixer Setup: A Beginner's Guide

Want to learn how to use an audio mixer? Learn the basic layout, channel strip controls, and more features in this video. Thanks to @mackietv for sponsoring this video!

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00:00 Mixer Setup Tutorial
00:22 Basic Layout of a Mixer
01:17 Connecting outputs
02:52 Recording
04:03 Connecting Sources
05:39 Selecting Outputs
06:35 Adjusting Levels
07:19 The Significance of Unity Gain
08:02 Alternatives Uses for Stereo Channels
08:30 Connecting Inputs
10:50 Selecting Sources for Recording
12:02 Channel Strip Controls
12:16 Hi-Z
12:39 Low-Cut
13:48 Compressor
14:45 EQ
16:13 Aux Sends
17:07 FX Knobs + Reverb
19:28 Pan
20:18 Channel Fader
20:31 Insert Connection
21:17 NEXT VIDEO - How To Eliminate Microphone Feedback | 5 Must-Know Tips
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Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click them, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

[arradyyouness]

The best audio content in the internet

[sonnydangol]

Learned in 1/2 hour what I didn’t learn in 30 years or audio school .. Best thing I ever found on internet.. Thank you

[MaraldBes]

The best free university with excellent and clear examples. A truly professional channel which teaches better than most traditional schools do. Mackie has chosen a good channel to sponsor. Looks like a neat little device if you are looking for such a thing

[srijithps]

These days no one bother to read 'user manual' until they face some serious issues with it. That's where these kind of presentations help us learn a lot, even more than the manual, like those tips and tricks. Well done!

[kntmimi]

Thank you, I've been stumped for weeks on how those buttons on a mixer work. I've also been looking for tutorials, but most of them are too complicated. Finally I found this. I finally understand the buttons on a mixer.

[NickOvenden]

Absolutely exceptional. Expertise at the highest level, combined with a flawless presentation. Not only does Kyle possess a truly great understanding of all things audio, but he is a quite brilliant teacher, and having those two qualities side by side is so very rare.

The very best of audio YouTubers. Period.

[robertj.smalley]

Before this video I didn't even know what I didn't know. Now I know enough to ask some questions. Thank you!

[Shermanbay]

Excellent! This should be mandatory viewing for any budding audio engineer. I wish I had it when I was learning the science in the 1960's! I really like the way you take everything step-by-step, from start to finish, leaving nothing unexplained.

[johnjenkins]

This is the type of information that I’ve been looking for, now all I have to do is try and follow your advice. Thanks from a ‘ol timer from New Zealand 🇳🇿.

[varkboys]

I've been working with mixers of all shapes and sizes for about a decade now. I still found this video useful

[SupaKoopaTroopa]

Even though I don't have much use for it, I'm enjoying learning about production analogue equipment from this channel!

I've always found this stuff interesting. When I was in school, we had lots of mixer boards like this (but older and cheaper). Some in the music/theater building, and even one to control the gym audio system. The one for the theater was the most advanced by far. There was a booth in the back of the building that had all the audio equipment, as well as the controls for the stage lighting. There was a massive equipment stack in the corner, full of gear I couldn't even begin to identify! I was once in charge of this booth for a theater production. I figured out the mic levels and the lighting controls (I made a script for where each slider needed to be at each scene), but everything else was a mystery. I was told just to ignore the equipment rack, because there was only one person who knew how to use it!

Unfortunately the building was left unlocked one night, and someone stole a lot of the equipment.

[adrianwilliams]

The best instructional video on mixing I have seen. A keeper.

[heidigoodwinsinger]

Best video on using a mixer I have come across. Just upgraded from a Yamaha stagepass to an RCF F 12XR and had no idea on what most of the settings did but I feel 95% confident I could use it now. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏

[Zif-the-Old-Herring]

It's great that you inform using a piece of equipment that is actually affordable to the average Joe. I like to ohh ahh and drool at the latest Neve board. The channel strips are essentially the same as my Soundcraft. Videos like this help us understand that our 'what we can afford' equipment is fully capable of turning out the tunes. 73

[Brettd]

Fantastic job of breaking it down into clear comprehensive amounts of very useful info! Much appreciated 🎉

[sonicart]

Another great tutorial Kyle thanks....When I got to use my first-ever mixer at Audio University, it was a 32-track (I think) Neve VR Legend and I was totally overwhelmed by the beast! But one of the most reassuring & enlightening pieces of information given by our tutor was the fact that each channel strip was just a duplicate of the previous one....

[boutique]

Thank you! This video was extremely helpful! I was struggling with getting my band's mix right (I am by no means a sound man, but since I own the PA equipment, I inherited the job). Interestingly, I used to use a Mackie ProFX12v3 mixer, but upgraded to a Yamaha DM3 digital board because I needed more inputs. BIG difference in the way they operate, but the basic principles are the same. Anyway, our powered speakers are two LD Systems Maui 28 column arrays along with two QSC CP-8's. I used to set everyone's gain, set the speakers to about 75%, set the master to somewhere around -10 dB, then and adjust everyone's sliders to get the volume we wanted. This sort of worked, but the sound was less desirable than I had hoped for. After watching your video, I tried setting the master and individual sliders to unity, then bringing up the speakers until the volume was right as you recommended. Sounds much better now, especially the electric guitar (running through a Fender Tonemaster Pro). You are a true expert in audio engineering and I appreciate the help you've given me and my band! 🙂

[sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Released TODAY, and ALREADY 7.5K views!

You've ne KILLING IT. GOOD FOR YOU MAN. You're truly earning your views. You deserve success.

[BAdams]

A very good explanation for those of us that use digital boards. It is always great to know the basics for whichever type board one has. Thank for the video!!!

[JammyCrackcorn]

I have a Peavey Mark 111 Older Analog Mixer ( 80’s ) and I believe a lot of this information is useful for that..I’ll check and go from there…Thanks