[navy]Hello,

I know most of us will be busy performing in the next 2 weeks, and I figured to post some of my
guide lines for LIVE sound. I hope this info will benefit everybody including me we all have a
tendency forgetting basic stuff especially when you are being pressured by the band, audience,
etc I know there are so many PROS in the forum, so your input is highly appreciated.
Btw, I will be using very minimum technical terms, numbers, or specs, I will try to list the
necessary and the critical points. Email me if you need more details.
You Packed all your gear and going to the GIG, and yes unfortunately you will be doing the sound
for the rest of the band, WHY? Because you are the PRO and knows how to do it, and guess
what? Everybody else is counting on you! I think that's a good starting point huh!!
OK, first of lets look at the MIXER. What is a mixer, its electronic device that is capable of
mixing .Genius huh?
-A Mixer is an electronic device that allows you to mix multiple audio signals called channels and
route it through multiple outputs
-A mixer can be un-powered, or powered
A non powered mixer: A mixer that doesnt have any way to amplify the sound, also means that
the output must be plugged to an external amp or an external powered speakers example Mackie
VLZ series, BEHRINGER XENIX mixers, Peavey PV series or others like it
A powered mixer: Its a mixer that has the amplifier (s) built in, meaning, the output can be
plugged in to PA Speakers (passive speakers) such as
Examples of Powered mixers: BEHRINGER PMH series mixers, Peavey XR series, Mackie
PPM 800 series.
Please note, the output of non powered mixer can not be plugged in to a speaker, what will
happen? You will not get any sound thats all

The MIXER in details:

The first thing is to keep in mind, dont let any mixer intimidate you. All mixers WORKS THE
SAME. If you own a Mackie you will be able to operate a BEHRINGER, Yamaha, or Soundcraft
.. And the list goes on...
When you look at a mixer just look at a single vertical line no more no less, the rest of the faders
and the knobs are basically multiples of what you looking at in a single unit.
The main components that you need to locate in ANY mixer are the followings:
-Channel input: Generally, a place where you can plug in your cable or XLR type (to
accommodate microphone cables) or maybe a combination input socket that can accommodate
both.
-Fader or a KNOB called Volume: basically in charge of increasing or attenuating the volume of
a channel
-Pan control: generally a knob that is capable of moving your sound to the left or the right output
or panning your input to either outputs (you will not see a pan control if your mixer is MONO)
-Mic Pre/Gain control/Trim: Its a little knob on the top of your selection that in charge of lifting or

increasing the voltage per that channel.

Why? Because, microphones elements have a very low voltage (around 1.5 volt) comparing to a
keyboard or a drum machine signal, the first scenario called a Mic signal the second one knows
as a line signal. Therefore, a Mic pre is very important to bring boost the signal of a microphone.
Well, maybe some folks will say, I DONT HAVE a MIC PRE, TRIM or GAIN control. Then your
non powered mixer is called a LINE MIXER.
Line Mixer: is a mixer that was designed to mix line signals only; such as Keyboards, Drum
machines, samplers, or others example: BEHRINGER RX1602, Peavey LM series, or others
Some powered mixers dont include a Mic trim, so, if you dont see an XLR input (Mic input) that
should be a good indication that this mixer is a line mixer
-EQ: It could be 2/3/4/ or more knobs: All are capable of altering the frequency response of your
signal. Or in other words give it a bit of color (bass, Treble, mid range, sweepable mids, or ...)
When you are setting up, please make sure all your EQ setting is totally flat. (Generally
12:00 Oclock position)Send busses: Effect send, Monitor send, Aux send 1/2/3/) they all work the same. Any of the
units mentioned are consider being a carrier or a bus that takes the signal from a channel and
deliver it to a destination such as the effect processor, monitor amp, or others. And generally any
of those MUST have a Master send, meaning the signal from any of those units must be
controlled by a master bus called, master Effect send, AUX send, MON send .etc.
-Master section: Generally a bunch of faders, knobs in the right side of your mixer that can
include, Main volume called Master fader, Aux send section, Effect controls, send and return
.
-Phantom Power: Most mixers have it either in the front or in the back, its a switch when turn on,
it will feed the Mic input up to 48volt. WHY?
When you plug in a condenser microphone, in order for it to work, it needs a power from the
mixer because the elements that generate the sound in a condenser microphone called Electrets
and must have power to sound.
In order for you to run a condenser Mic with phantom power, you must use an XLR Mic cable,
because the power and the voltage will travel through 3 conductor cable.
- Pad: sometimes you see Pad control (BEHRINGER MX, SL, and ZENYX, Yamaha O1V) the
pad attenuates a signal or filter out some frequency to defeat stage hum or a powerful Keyboard
output.

So, those are the main components that you should see in any mixer. Before turning on the
power make sure to plug your instruments and all the faders, knobs, master faders must be at
zero value.
Oh, its really important before you plug in your instruments, to check the integrity of your cables;
- Is the cable that you are using an instrument or a speaker cable (Speaker cable is
generally thicker in diameter and will give you very nasty hum because its not shield it) so,
you better check first some are marked some not.
- I find it very handy to always carry a cable tester, you can pick one up for about $30.00
( BEHRINGER CT100) that will test your inch cables,1/8 inch TRS, Mic cables., midi
cables. Guys, Cables GO BAD all the time, a cable tester will save you a lot of headache
-Make sure your AMPS are shut off.
-We need to locate unity gain.
Unity gain: generally every fader, volume knob, master fader, effect send has a bunch of values
such as -6, -3, -2, 0, +3, +6 DB, or it can have the letter U for unity. OK, without complicating the
issue, you basically need to start either at 0 Zero value or at U unity. For every knob and fader
that you have except for Mic Pre/Trim.
Unity gain, adjustments indicates that you are NOT adding or Subtracting or other words not
coloring your sound. The inputs will be equal to the outputs.

Well, lets plug a microphone in channel (1) for example and here is what we need to do:
-Move your fader or Volume knob read zero or U
-Move the master fader of your mixer to read the same (0 or U)
-Watch the level indicator of the mixer, and start increasing the Mic gain/Trim to read a value of
ZERO DB on your LED indicator in some occasions you can hit +3 its OK, to get a good and hot
signal of course before overloading your input
Depending on the kind of mixer and the microphone, some mixers will give you unity or zero db
results when Mic/trim reaches 1 Oclock position, or maybe 2 or 4 Oclock.
Its totally OK; to have your Mic pre turned hot enough in order to reach zero DB. As an example,
Shure Beta Microphones have higher output while the regular SM57 will take more voltage to get
to zero.
At this point your level should be OK. And the sound of your microphone shouldnt have any extra
color to it (bass /Treble) because all EQ setting must be at zero
Should be at 12:00 Oclock.
-You can do the same for all other instruments and microphones. You can monitor your mix at this
point using a headphone
A stereo Keyboard will require for you to plug 2 channels of the keyboard to the mixer and in
order to establish a good stereo field. Place both pan control hard right and hard left. If your mixer
has a stereo input (L and R) just leave the PAN control in the middle that will do the trick for you.
-Place your master fader down
- Turn the amp on
-Raise your Master Fader gently to say -3 db and keep going up till you reach 0.
- While Master fader at zero, mute all your channels and focus on the microphone inputs to get
the maximum volume before feedback, when you start experiencing feedback, gently move some
of your EQ setting to defeat it.
-At this point you can add in a moderate way the color that you prefer ONLY if you HAVE to not
because you want to, or because your other buddies like it this way, when you start adding Bass,
Treble, mid, you are not doing anything to your sound other than basically wiping out the original
tone and a true sound of Shure SM57, or SM58, and ruining the factory sounds of your keyboard.

Remember, all the EQ parameters are there to solve a problem and not to be addressed or
tweaked as an effect.
The level between different instruments should be your preference, just be sure that you give
enough volume or headroom to the main vocalist by lowering volume on other players.
Points to consider:
- Define the main element of your performance, if its dance driven, then lets bring out the
Drum Machine, Tabla player, Bass (Keyboard or a live player). If its Tarab and melody
driven lets make sure all the melodical instruments such as Oud, Kamnga, Nay are
dominate in the mix.

- It really helps to find a friend that you can trust their ability in understanding your sound
and maybe get their opinion
- Your Power Amps volume must be UP all the way, your master fader of your mixer will be
in charge of the over all volume.
- Turning your Amp volume at MAX help your amp to process less therefore, it will last
longer.
- Turning the mixer UP and the Amp volume down may cause blowing up your speakers
specially your tweeters and horns. It may not make any sense huh, but trust me, take my
word for it.
- Of course taking good care of your gear is a must before and after every gig, rapping
cables, folding stands, regular maintainance of your gear should be a periodic task.
- Your Gear is your investment; your audience will never understand any technical issues.
Basically because of a bad cable and a nasty hum, audience will likely to say oh, the band
sounded terrible tonight.
- Always carry one or 2 extra cables just incase, you will never know.
- Every Venue, club , sound stage, or a room will have a different frequency response
therefore, your setting will change often as you changing venues
- Voltage and Power will play a big part of your sound, it may color it, your amps may not
give you the regular sound that you are used to if you are dealing with so many variances
in voltage changes, it pays to invest in a good power conditioner like FURMAN products
- Believe it or not, your mood plays a big part as well, actually, it will alter your perception
and you end up with false opinions so go to your gig with good attitude, and forget about
all your other problems. Its not fare to see 400, 300, or even 2 people in your club that
took the time wanted to see you performance and end up disappointed. If you are going to
perform leave your problems at home.
- A Sound System or a PA's (Public Address) main function is to AMPLIFY your sound and
not to color it.
- Stay away from common EQ shapes and styles (smiley or sad face EQ) hate to tell you. IT
DOESNT WORK
We can certainly talk about FX settings, Signal Processing, Ring out the
system, EQ in details and FBQ parameters. But my main objective on this
post is to give a generic idea about setting up a mixer. I hope I didnt bore
you with the lengthy post.
Let me know if you guys would like me to continue
Bahaa