The first step to a great mix (Live Sound Essentials)

Heads Up! The example I give in this video references 0dB, which is 0dBVU (not dBFS, like Yamaha mixing consoles).

For most analog mixers or any board that utilizes the dBVU scale, you'll want to end up around 0 dB on the meter for inputs like guitar or keyboard and somewhere around +3 dB for drums. (Remember: 0 dBVU means you still have headroom!) If your console utilizes dBFS metering, the equivalent that guitar or keyboard channel would hover somewhere around ~18-20 dB.

Thank you, I appreciate the information. I had to stop halfway through for a rest from the background music.

Question, I was trained to put the fader at unity, then adjust the gain till the signal “fills the room.”

But upon reading my user guide (an Allen & Heath Mix Wizard 16:2,) it tells me to do that with a headphone.

I found your video trying to learn why.

So why choose the headphones over the room? (When it comes to setting the initial gain coming into the mixer, assuming just a straight mic going into the channel.)

fader to 0
then adjust gain.

Why is it that everyone who does these kinds of videos looks like a Dr. Seuss character. 😅

Kill the background

How can I set gain if my mixer doesn't have a pfl/solo button?

Good info with distracting background noise.