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PA Beginners Guide
What Mixers Are Used with PA Systems?
Playing in a Band

Small Music Group Mixers are items of equipment that arrange multiple input audio signals in a suitable balance, and they adjust tone quality so
that the output audio is easy for the audience to listen to. There are many types and models of mixer.
For Meetings

DJ Party
Types of mixer
Microphone types

Cable types Mixers are broadly classified into three types, based on their internal structure.

Mixer types (1) Analog mixers

Power Amplifier types

Analog mixers adjust the volume and tone of input audio signals. Most of the control knobs and
Speaker types
faders are arranged on the top panel, so it is easy to understand the signal flow and what state
What is reverberation? the audio is in. Operating analog mixers is normally an intuitive process.

What are compressors?

What are equalizers?

(2) Digital mixers

Digital mixers process input audio signals and adjust their volume and tone using digital signal
processing technology. Various kinds of tone control that would be impossible using analog
equipment can be applied using digital processing. Digital mixers can store the positions of faders
and knobs, and recall these positions in an instant. The faders and knobs perform various
functions, so the unit itself remains compact, even if the number of channels increases. Generally
a digital mixer will require more experience to set up effectively, but will offer far greater
functionality than an analog mixer.

(3) Powered mixers

Powered mixers are analog mixers with built-in power amplifiers. For this reason, sound can be
played with the mixer directly connected to speakers. In cases where the same equipment is
always connected, powered mixers can be used by simply turning the power on, so operation is
simplified and convenient.

Reference: All-in-one PA systems

All-in-one PA systems consist of a powered mixer, speakers and speaker cables. They are easy
to configure, easy to carry due to their light and compact format, and suited to small events and
band lineups.

Input channels

Number of microphone input and line input channels

The number of input channels in a mixer is extremely important, as this indicates the number of microphone and musical
instrument signals that can be handled. In addition to the number of input channels in a mixer, it is also important to consider
such factors as how many of those input channels are for microphones, whether line input channels are monaural only, and
whether inputs will accept stereo signals.

For example, when using a mixer with a band, at least eight channels for input may be required for microphones to pick up the
sound of the whole drum kit. In this case, a model that is equipped with enough channels that are compatible with microphones
should be chosen.
A mixer with many stereo channels is useful for connecting multiple devices that output stereo signals, such as synthesizers.
Likewise, a mixer that has built-in effectors, such as compressors or reverberation, is recommended for situations where audio
such as vocals will be input. Finally, a mixer that is able to connect to a personal computer via USB is recommended for home
studio applications.

Differences between microphone input and line input

- Microphone input channel

Audio signals picked up by a microphone are very weak, so they
must be amplified by using the head amplifier (GAIN) of the mixer.
Connect to the MIC connector.
Note: Phantom power (often labelled as "+48V") is required when
using a condenser microphone.

- Line input channel

Line level devices such as keyboards and CD players are
connected to the LINE connector.
Generally, phone connectors and RCA pin connectors are used in
this case.
When both MIC and LINE inputs are available on same channel,
use the LINE connector. When the same connector is used for
both MIC and LINE, reduce the level by pushing the PAD button
so that audio is not distorted (Remember line signals have a
higher level than mic signals).

Tips
Sometimes a combination jack is used as both a microphone and a line connector. Activate the PAD when using a line input, to
avoid distorting the louder signals.

Mixer Functions

This section describes how to adjust the audio of each channel

(1) Equalizers
Mixers are equipped with equalizers that adjust the tone of each channel. Some equalizers have just 2-bands, which can adjust
lows and highs. Some are 3-band equalizers, which modify the sound by boosting and cutting lows, mids, and highs. And some
3-band equalizers include a MID-sweep, which can modify the mid frequencies which characterize most musical instruments
and voices. The more frequency bands there are, the more detailed the sound production can be.

Knob Characteristic Affected sounds Boost Effect Cut Effect

HIGH 10 kHz (+/- 15 dB) High overtones exceeding the Crunchy, metallic echoing Tones become smooth. "S"
register of the instrument. increases, and the tone noise canceling is effective. If
becomes sharp. If boosted cut too much, high range
too much, will sound noisy. transparency will be lost.

MID 3 kHz (+/- 15 dB) Instrument/vocals high Sound becomes bright and Audio balance tends toward
registers hard. Sound becomes lows. If cut too much, audio
modulated and bright. If will become dark.
boosted too much, sound will
become unpleasant.

1 kHz (+/- 15 dB) Instrument/vocals medium
registers.
The outline of the audio can
be made clear. Audio sounds
as if it is projected forward.
Emphasizes the attack of
toms and bass drums.
Tones become rounded and
pleasant. Sounds are more
muffled and no longer stand
out in the mix.

500 Hz (+/- 15 dB) Instrument/vocals medium-
low registers.
The sound becomes thicker
and more powerful, and tonal
balance tends toward lows. If
boosted too much, the sound
becomes unnatural, as if it
were coming out of a
telephone.
The sound becomes hard and
has a feeling of attack. Tonal
balance tends toward highs. If
cut too much, the sound
becomes thinner.

LOW 100 Hz (+/- 15 dB) Instrument low registers. The sound becomes rounder
and deeper, giving it more
strength and a sense of
scale. If boosted too much,
the sound becomes less
crisp.
The sound takes on a lighter
quality, improving its
crispness. Floor noise or
howl canceling is effective.

(2) HPF (High Pass Filter)

The HPF cuts unnecessary low frequencies at the input. Most microphone and mic/line inputs have an
HPF function, but some dedicated line inputs may not.
HPFs are often used for hi-hat, snare, and vocals to cut unnecessary low frequencies and therefore
create a cleaner sound. They are also used to eliminate unwanted popping noises when picking up
voices, such as during speeches.

(3) Pan
This adjusts the output ratio when playing audio from left and right speakers. It is used to widen the
sound image, or to position each input relative to their location on the stage. Audio for stereo channels is
already set in the stereo image, so a BAL control is used to adjust the balance between the left and right
speakers.

(4) Level Faders/knobs

These adjust the volume of each channel, group, stereo
output, etc. Fader-type controls allow for quick
operation. Though some mixers use knob-type volume
controllers.

How to output audio from the mixer?

Mixers can output various separate channels of audio, depending on the needs of the event, such as sending audio meant for
the audience to the main speakers and audio meant for the performers to the monitor speakers on stage:
STEREO OUT is normally used to send signals to the audience AUX SENDs for performers' monitor speakers and external
devices MONITOR OUT is for monitor speakers used when mixing audio in the studio GROUP OUT for outputting several
signals together REC OUT for connecting with recording devices and PHONES for connecting headphones.

(1) AUX bus

The AUX bus is a circuit used to send signals to external devices. It can be used to send signals to performers' monitor
speakers separately from the main output, or to send signals to external effects and recording devices. A mixer with many AUX
sends should be chosen if there are many people in the band or if separate monitor signals with individual balances need to be
sent to the performers.

(2) GROUP bus

The GROUP bus is a circuit for controlling multiple channels at once. For example, if there are eight microphones (for eight
channels) placed around a drum set and you want to raise or lower the volume of the entire set, it would be difficult to accurately
raise or lower the faders for all eight channels. If these channels are all set to a single group, the volume of the entire drum set
can be raised or lowered, while maintaining the same balance, merely by raising or lowering the fader for the group.

(3) STEREO bus

The STEREO bus is a circuit for combining each input coming into the mixer or each GROUP bus signal, adjusting the overall
level, and outputting the audio through stereo output connectors.

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