Analog Board Cheat Sheet

First lets start with inputs! At the top are 16 XLR, Line In and Instrument inputs. XLR, Line in and Insert. XLR inputs are designed for XLR cable inputs such a microphones. Line in is for guitars and pianos using instrument cables. Inserts give you the ability to insert an outboard piece of gear for that specific channels signal chain. To utilize this you will need an Insert cable. There is also an insert for the entire mix labelled Main Insert L and R.

Aux Sends is a way to send your instruments to another output. I would recommend using these for your monitors. Anything labeled Aux 1 will be sent to Aux 1. The same with Aux 2. The part labeled Master Sends is the total volume that will be sent to that particular Aux. Each channel has and Aux 1 and 2 which allows you to send the signal to the Master Send. Each channel has a Pre-Fader Button. Pre-fader aux sends are generally used for the monitor mix, because the channel faders don't affect the signals sent from the aux sends. Any adjustments made to the front-of-the-house mix don't affect the balance heard by the performers onstage.

Simply pans between your left and right outputs. You can tell what outputs are using left and right as they will be labeled as L and R.

There are two effects inputs on this board. EFX 1 is external only and EFX can be external or internal. You would send the signal to the external EFX using EFX Send 1 and 2 then back in using Stereo EFX Return. Each channel allows you to turn up the amount of the effect on that channel. There is a master knob for each effect to increase the amount of signal for the entire mix. To Main Mix pushes the selected effect to the main and the same idea to Aux 1 and 2. Here is a link for more info on the built in effects.

This knob controls your gain on each channel. Use this link to learn about gain staging. You can use the solo button at the bottom of the channel and the Led lights on the far right of the board to see how hot your input is. You can use the Low Cut button to cut 100 HZ or from the EQ. This low cut (aka high pass) is for inputs that you don't want to hear below 100 hz such as vocals. More info under EQ and Graphic EQ

Each channel has a 3 band EQ. A high set at 12k, a mid with an adjustable frequency using the knob below labeled FREQ and a Low at 80Hz. You then have a 12 band graphic EQ which effects your entire board. More details on how to EQ instruments and your board can be found here.

Have you ever wondered why everything is unmuted and you have a signal but no sound from your mains? The culprit was likely the break switch. It is the global mute button located on the right of the board next to the  LED . The mute button simply stops the signal from reaching your outputs.

Sub Out should be really be called Sub Group Out as it does not send only the low end like the XLR Sub Out under Main Out and Sub. If you want to send only certain inputs to your groups you can use the Sub Groups Out. Select 1-2 if you want the signal to be sent to the 1 and 2 faders.  You can then choose if you want the signal send out to act as the left or right from the inputs running to that sub. If going to an output that you would like to be mono you can also choose both left and right.

This button allows you to see the input of the channel into the board and listen to the selected channel(s) using the "Phones" or headphones output in the top right of the board. You can select multiple inputs to see how they work together in your mix. Note you will want "flat" headphones so your perception of the sound is not thrown off. 

This an input and output using an RCA cable. Usually, one would use Tape input for an aux to RCA cable. This allows you to play music from a phone or other device. You can also use the Tape Out for recording.

This is your Main Output for the board. Main L and R are often referred to as "Mains". You are given the option to use XLR or 1/4 in jacks. S stands for you Sub Out. It will take the low end of your mix, 75 Hz and below, and push to that to your sub.