Understanding the Audio Mixer

With this revised edition (2022) of Understanding the Audio Mixer, the reader can quickly and easily learn the basics of operating a sound reinforcement system. Great for beginning and upcoming sound engineers, this brief but thorough book is packed with easy-to-follow instructions and helpful illustrations.

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