Input signal

The sound from the vocal or instrument, travels to the stage box, then to the desk. Each input signal goes to a particular ‘channel’ on the mixing desk. The keyboard has two channels for it’s stereo output. These channels are linked on the desk so that adjustments are made to both channels at the same time.

To modify the input signal for a particular channel first ‘select’ it on the desk. Once the channel is selected, the knobs in the top left corner of the desk will adjust the selected channel.

Gain

This adjusts the level of the signal entering the mixer. Increasing the gain makes the vocal or instrument louder. Reducing the gain reduces the signal amplitude and make the instrument or vocal appear quieter. It is analogous to a volume control for what goes into the sound desk.

The gain should be checked at each time of playing. This is achieved in the following manner:-

• One at a time, each member of the band (and a vocalist with an instrument goes twice, once for the vocal and once for the instrument) needs to play. With a fair bit of enthusiasm.
• The gain on the input signal into the desk should be adjusted so that the bars on the visual are just going into the amber for that channel
• Do each input signal in turn
• Then get the band to play something with a fair bit of oomph. This is where you find out whether everyone plays more loudly or quietly when performing together.

The gain is now set on the input signals. Note that this has been done without considering any of the levels or volumes of the instruments. The purpose of this process is to ensure that there is enough of an input signal into to be able to process it and mix the individual channels effectively.

Channels

All inputs aside from the keyboard are assigned their own channel. The keyboard has two which are linked. The sound desk and the stage box ae identically labelled so that we can have the same instruments plugged into the same channels every time. This makes getting a consistent sound easier.

When a channel is selected (using the ‘select button above the fader) channel controls across the top of the desk are active for that channel. The selected channel can also be modified using the buttons on the screen.

Channel adjustment

EQ

The EQ (equalisation) is used to boost or attenuate different frequencies using different ‘filters’. These are:

• low cut (high pass) which allows the higher frequencies to pass through. Used on vocal channels at about 100-200Hz
• high cut (low pass) which removes te higher frequencies
• VEQ/PEQ which allows the selection of a frequency, the gain (multiplier) applied and the breadth of the filter to be adjusted.

Gate

The gate is used to attenuate all of the input signal below a user controlled threshold. Unless the input from the band is loud enough, then no sound reaches the sound desk.

Compression

Without compression, the input from the band is always magnified by the gain at the same rate. The use of compression means that once the band reaches a certain limit, the amplification of the band is reduced. We amplify the lower signal more, and the more powerful signal less. Both the threshold and the gain are adjustable.

groups

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Master volume

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EQ

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Gate

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Compression

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Reverb

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Scenes

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Foldback

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Controlling the desk from the PC

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Controlling the desk from a tablet

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