Operating the Audio Mixer, A Beginner's Guide to Mixing Live Sound

This course provides a no-nonsense approach for beginning sound engineers, allowing them to quickly learn to operate a professional audio mixer. The course is great for all beginning band, venue and church sound engineers and it covers all of the basic features of mixing boards and exactly how to implement them. There is no filler in this course. Every minute is packed full of valuable information.

This course focuses on using small to medium-sized analog mixing consoles in live sound applications. It is beneficial for a beginning sound engineer to learn to use an analog mixer before applying that knowledge to digital mixer operation because digital mixers are primarily based on the emulation of analog controls.

When you complete this course, you will know the basic workings of operating an analog audio mixer. In the future, if you decide to pursue either digital mixer operation or computer recording using programs like Pro Tools and Logic, this knowledge will give you a head start. It will help you to learn those platforms much quicker as well.

The first three videos explain each component of a mixing board (control knobs, faders, buttons, etc.). The next three videos show you exactly how to use those components. The final video shows you how to sound check a band from start to finish.

The information in this course is applicable to all manufacturers' mixing boards. Every mixer has a few unique features and the labeling varies a bit by the designer (we cover that). However, all analog mixers primarily work in the same way. This course covers features commonly found on small to medium-sized mixers like those used in small concert venues and houses of worship.

Videos segments include:

• Types of mixers
• Basic signal flow of a sound system
• Gain control
• Equalizers
• Auxiliary Sends
• Groups (or Submixes)
• Phantom power
• Other features
• Setting the gain controls
• Using equalizers
• Using groups (or submixes)
• Setting the stage monitors and/or in-ear monitors
• Using effects
• Compressors and limiters 
• Connecting devices using inserts
• Controlling feedback
• How to sound check a band

• Overview of Mixers
• Mixer Controls Part One
• Mixer Controls Part Two
• Mixing Procedures Part One
• Mixing Procedures Part Two
• Mixing Procedures Part Three
• How to Sound Check a Band