Digital Mixers 101: Essential Tips on Gain, Compression, EQ, and Beyond

Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Dive into this episode of Gig Gab as Dave Hamilton walks you through setting up your digital mixer like a pro. From the basics of setting your input gain to the intricacies of dialing in compression, you’ll master the essential skills needed to get your sound just right. Dave breaks down the differences between Parametric and Graphic EQs and introduces you to the Real Time Analyzer (RTA), a powerful tool for refining your mix. Always Be Performing by ensuring every aspect of your setup is optimized for live gigs or recording sessions.

Moving beyond the basics, Dave shares expert tips on managing gain and compression for drums and other instruments, crucial for achieving a balanced mix. Learn how to tune your mixer to the room by turning on the speakers and using your iPhone’s Measure app to set the delay on your mains accurately. This episode is packed with actionable insights that will elevate your sound engineering game, helping you to Always Be Performing at your best.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 439 – Monday, July 22nd, 2024
  • July 22nd: Mango Day
• 00:02:07 Today we talk about how to setup your digital mixer!
  • Mackie DL32S
  • Mackie Master Fader
• 00:03:17 Setting your input gain
  • Heil PR-37
• 00:09:05 Dialing in Compression
• 00:14:05 SPONSOR: Bandzoogle makes it easy to build a stunning website and online store for your music in minutes. Try it free for 30 days, then use promo code “giggabpod” to get 15% off your first year.
• 00:15:51 How does my EQ work? And what’s the difference between Parametric and Graphic.
  • Also…What’s an RTA (Real Time Analyzer) and how do I use it?
• 00:26:04 A note about gain and compression on drums and other instruments
• 00:27:40 Time to turn on the speakers and tune the mixer to the room
• 00:32:46 Digesting what we’ve learned so far
• 00:33:23 Setting a delay on your mains (thanks, Robert Scovill!)
  • Use your iPhone’s Measure app to calculate the distance for the delay
• 00:37:03 Gig Gab 439 Outtro
  • Contact Gig Gab!
  • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
  • [e-mail]
  • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

The post Digital Mixers 101: Essential Tips on Gain, Compression, EQ, and Beyond — Gig Gab 439 appeared first on Gig Gab.