Operating the Audio Mixer, A Beginning Sound Engineer Course

This course provides a no-nonsense approach for beginning audio 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 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 learn those platforms much quicker as well.

The first three video lectures explain each component of a mixing board (control knobs, faders, buttons, etc.). The next three lectures show you exactly how to use those components. The final lecture 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.

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