Amazing Grace (Understanding Mixers)

[BillyFurnett]

Having been raised on cassette based (All in one mixer/multi-track) recording; I had never really given much thought to even the simplest of stand alone mixers, well, that is I didn't until I laid my hands on an 8 track reel to reel machine...

This is when the nightmares and ulcers began.

Most of my waking moments (and many sleeping ones too) were plagued by terms like "Aux Returns", "Insert Points" "Pre and post fader", "Solo" and "Sub-Groups".

I was hungry, I was scared....
I was soooooo lost!!

I spoke to fellow muscians, implored sales staff down at the 'Rip Off Hut'..., Hell, I even considered consulting my local clergy to help me make some sense of it all!!!

Seeking comfort I turned to various on-line forums, and while many (Such as this) have been (and continue to be) very very useful, I still couldn't get a handel on thngs...
It just felt the world had moved on and I was left behind in mixing board limbo needing to actually SEE a visual of what a mixer does in diagram form that I might come to terms with the daunting labyrinth of signal path!!!

Then it happened.

I saw Angels! I heard trumpets!!
I did a crazy little happy dance that I'd rather not discuss!!!!

I found salvation at SOUNDCRAFT.COM in the "Learning Zone" section!!!!

Devine intervention? (Maybe)
Well laid out, easy to grasp visuals and text? (Damn right!)


"...I once was lost but now I'm found."

[macafied]

And nice post, i enjoyed reading it. Great information on that site clears up alot of my confusions as well. You should post the link in the beginners forum.

[TexRoadkill]

The www.mackie.com manuals are also great. It amazes me that people will spend days trying to get one off answers on the internet when all the info they need is usually in the manual sitting in the box.

[BillyFurnett]

Hey Macafied,
Glad you enjoyed the post as well as the site. I wasn't kidding, It really helped me out.

I agree with you on the Mackie manuals Tex. I recall looking at one a few years ago and it was actually kind of entertaining.
My PC seems alergic to PDF files, so I haven't had much luck checking any out online, but thanks for the link.