Understanding the Audio Mixer: Basic Sound Engineer Training

Both digital and analog mixing boards are addressed with an emphasis on how digital mixers emulate their analog counterparts. This understanding will help the budding church or band sound engineer get a jump start on sound system operation. This concise guide will help clarify digital mixing confusion and act as a complete primer for analog mixer users.

This is a non-technical, to-the-point layperson’s guide to get the reader started as a sound engineer.

Topics covered include:

Understanding the mixer’s channels and master section

Setting the Gain Control (digital and analog mixers)

Using Aux Sends and Returns

Equalization

Controlling feedback

Basics of using compressors

Using Groups and DCAs (VCAs for analog)

Phantom Power

Adding effects

Using monitor mixes

Connectors found on mixers

A sound system’s basic signal path

Avoiding common operator errors