How to Use an Audio Mixer
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Learning how to use an audio mixer starts with plugging a microphone or instrument into a channel input and setting the gain for each channel, then balancing the channels with the faders. Start with faders down, bring each channel up one at a time, and adjust the EQ only after the levels sit where you want them.
Plug sources into the channel inputs
Connect each microphone or instrument to its own channel input on the mixer, using the cable that fits the input. A microphone that needs phantom power uses the 48V switch for its channel, so check the mixer's phantom power switch before you plug it in. Label each channel by its source as you connect it, so you can find the right fader later without tracing cables.
Set the gain for each channel
Turn the gain knob for one channel while its source plays, and raise it until the channel meter shows a strong signal without clipping. Set the gain for each channel one at a time, leaving the faders down while you work. If a channel distorts when its source plays loud, turn its gain down until the distortion stops, then leave it there.
Balance the channels with the faders
Raise the faders one at a time, starting with the source that carries the song or the speech, then bring the other channels up under it until the mix sounds balanced. Keep the main output fader lower than the channel faders while you build the mix, and listen for any channel that drowns out the rest. Small moves on a fader change the balance more than large moves on the gain knob.
Shape the sound with EQ and effects
Use the EQ knobs on a channel to cut what you do not want before you boost what you do want, and change one band at a time so you can hear what each move does. The Behringer XENYX X2442USB has British EQ on its channels and a 24-bit multi-FX processor, so you shape the sound with the mixer itself. Its USB audio interface connects the mixer to a computer for recording.
What you need
Behringer XENYX X2442USB Premium 24-Input 4/2-Bus Mixer
A 24-input 4/2-bus mixer with XENYX mic preamps, compressors, British EQ, a 24-bit multi-FX processor and a USB audio interface.
- Mixer channels / decks: 24
- Built-in effects / amp models
Custom Shop Body Filler Mixing Board
A reusable body filler mixing board with 4, 5 and 6-inch plastic spreaders and a scoop, made for automotive body fillers and putties.
Custom Shop Multi-Layered Disposable Paper Body Filler
A pack of 100 disposable paper mixing sheets for automotive body fillers and glazes, with a fresh sheet to tear off after each mix.
KREFINISH Body Filler Mixing Board Disposable Paper
A disposable paper mixing board with 100 solvent-resistant sheets and a 5-inch plastic spatula, made for body fillers and glazes.
These come from our ranked list Best Mixing Board, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need phantom power for a microphone?
Only microphones that need phantom power use it, and the 48V switch sends it to the channels it covers. Check the microphone's own specs first, and switch 48V on only for the channels that need it.
What does the gain knob do on a mixer?
The gain knob sets how strong the signal from one channel is before it gets to the fader. Set it while the source plays, so the signal stays strong without clipping, then leave it alone while you mix with the faders.
Can I record the mix on a computer?
Yes, if the mixer has a USB audio interface, like the Behringer XENYX X2442USB in this guide. Connect the mixer to the computer with a USB cable, and set the computer to record from the mixer.
Why is one channel louder than the others?
A channel sounds louder when its gain or its fader sits higher than the other channels. Turn the gain down on the loud channel first, then lower its fader until it sits in the mix with the rest.
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