Guide To Mixing - Connecting equipment

How to connect external equipment to your mixer

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mixer
• mixing
• soundcraft
• PA
• live
• stage
• band
• equipment
• sound

[fungirlbecky33]

Can i ultimately use any mixer with virtual dj? Or does it specifically have to be a usb mixer

[SoundcraftUK]

If the USB is just the audio output from Virtual DJ then the answer should be 'You can use almost any mixer' if you use the LINE OUT of the host PC/Laptop as the audio out... In the long term this is probably the better approach as most small USB mixers only allow their USB inputs to feed directly to the main output with no fader control or opportunity for voice over etc.

Richard Ayres - Product Manager Soundcraft & Studer

[JROK44]

Hello, I just purchased the MFXi mixer and was trying to hook up a fbq2496 feedback destroyer...the instructions state to plug into MAIN INSERTS, however the MFXi has no such inputs....is there an alternate way to get it into full mix??.........not sure if stereo returns are the same as main inserts...Thanks

[SoundcraftUK]

Hi...

For a processor such as this just connect it in series with the console mix outputs to achieve MFXi Mix OUT > FBQ2496 IN > FBQ2496 OUT > Power Amp/Powered Speaker/Speaker Processor IN.

Richard Ayres - Product Manager Soundcraft & Studer

[JROK44]

@SoundcraftUK Thank u, for responding, I did try out from mixer into fbq input and then fbq out into crossover then out to amps and it just made a loud hissing sound ,so I figured I should try the "main inserts" as listed in fbq manual...is the stereo return and alternative to main inserts to accomplish this ??.....or maybe a bad unit??

[SoundcraftUK]

Hi... Stereo returns are different from inserts and can not be used. There is no reason this setup should not work, in many ways is better than 'inserts' as the FBQ will not affect any record outputs. Since the inputs and outputs of the FBQ are on XLR just 'prove' the mixer and cables are OK by plugging the connectors of FBQ INPUT and OUTPUT together, if this works the problem is the Behringer else it's cables.

Richard Ayres - Product Manager Soundcraft & Studer

[LukeSega]

@fungirlbecky33

I use Focusrite Safire USB6 as my Audio Interface.

Do I need an external hardware mixer to add hardware effect units to my set up?

And how do i set it up?

[SoundcraftUK]

Hi;

How you hook it up depends on the mixer and recorder you have and what you want to do...

A simple system that works really well is to simply 'insert' the recorder on the input channels, another way is to hang it from aux or sub group outputs and return to the line inputs or if your mixer has direct outputs use these... Feel free to call me on 07766 525971 if you'd like to discuss in more detail.

Richard Ayres - Product Manager Soundcraft & Studer

[GrandMasterIV]

@whitexgreen Personally, I'd use your console's Group Out connectors to your recorder's inputs. Patch the recorder outputs to either unused input channels (if you have a standard live console or a split console) or your console's tape returns (if you have an inline console)