I tend to approach how I mix in a logical order when it comes to monitors first or mains first. I think it makes sense to set the mains first because the band can hear *some* of what's coming from the mains you set them first, then fill in what they need in the monitors second. Otherwise you're setting levels for the mains based on what you can already hear from the monitors, which is less accurate method IMO.
It did help thanks. I have in ear monitors, so need quite a good stereo mix in my ears. I had thought of that work around, so I'm using Aux1 for all left panned and Aux2 for all right panned, which has sorted it. Thanks for your help.
The Monitor mix is a separate individualized mix of the instruments for each person on stage. The MAIN mix is your FOH mix, again totally separated for the Monitor mix. You never change signals from one to the other or back. Maybe some boards send the FOH mix to the "Monitor Out" but that would not be a monitor mix. That would be called Foldback, where you just loop the FOH sound back to the stage usually using side fills.
Thanks so much for your instructions, far better than Yamaha's useless manual. I have the MG166CX and was wondering can I run a 3rd stage monitor out of the effects channel which is in the aux sub-group? At the moment I am running 2 monitors linked out of aux 2 for myself up front and the drummer. Aux 1 is used for a single monitor for the lead vocalist and also for the guitarist on the other side. The lead vocalist has her voice at the same level coming through both front monitors. Thanks.
Sir i do surely thank God for you providing a clear explanatory video on how to setup a monitor mix! I've searched all over RU-vid and have gotten waaay to much jargon on this matter. Thanks again!
The monitor button is for home studio monitors, not stage monitors. :) What I DON"T cover in this video is HOW to get the mix TO the monitors. Run Aux1 send down the snake to a power amplifier and then from there into stage monitors. You control the volume of the monitors by the Aux1 send Master. Using the channel Aux 1 send you can mix what the performer needs to hear in the monitor. Hope that helps. This is a common mistake by beginners because it can be used as studio mixer or live mixer.
Man I've tried setting it up the way you've described and I'm getting zero results. I must be misunderstanding your instructions. I wish I could understand what you mean by aux 4. Is that a single channel ? I get no volume from the Aux volume controls. Everything keeps wanting to come through either the faders or gain controls. Guess I was born mixer stupid. Lol but thank you for your input. I plugged 2 speakers in the 2 input monitor outs and chose channel 6 to control the cell phone. Still only comes out of the speakers I play guitar through. 🎸
Something tells me I need to make a video about the labeling companies use on mixers are a BIG source of confusion to people starting out with todays studio/lilve mixers.
There is no way to run more than 2 monitor mixes. There are only two sets of controls for sending channel levels to the AUX sends 1&2. I personally have never used that 3rd aux output, but I do know it can't be used in that way. Might be time to upgrade to a board with 4 AUX sends if you're needing more monitor mixes.
Yes, the Aux 1,2 controls in the effects section can send out say Aux 1 to a pair of stage monitors. Please hit the subscribe button to help me get to 8000. Thanks.
I have this desk and have been using a midiverb (Alesis midiverb 4), I have connected the midiverb out into a channel on the console (to use the fader for the amount of effect) and the midiverb in is going to Aux 2 send I don't know if this is the correct way to set it up and use it, I'm using aux 2 on each channel for the effect... My midiverb has to inputs and 2 outputs, which I don't really understand how they work. Do you have any tutorials regarding this? There are also other controls on the desk that I don't know how to use or what they do
Yes. You could also run fold back speakers whoch is the whole mic like front of house but directed at he band for general monitoring. Use a 31 band eq on them to help kill feedback frequencies. Hope that helped.
L/R Monitor out is the same as FOH but the monitor outs are actually for studio monitors, not stage monitors. The AUX output jacks are mono so it doesn't matter how you have the instrument panned in the stereo mix for FOH. Stage Monitor mixes are not in stereo. You feed the Aux1 to the power amp L and Aux 2 to power amp R. Then connect the stage monitors to the power amp for two different stage monitor mixes using Aux 1 and Aux 2 on the boards channel. That help?
I believe you will need a separate monitor mixer for that setup. Because the pan is only in the signal path of the channel. There is no way to pan an auxiliary send, it's just a mono signal. This is why if you look at large concert setups you will see another large mixer at the side or behind stage. That mixer is just to do monitors and they can be 24-23 channel setups. I've never done what you want done but I can see the need for the channels being sent to your monitors & not just an aux send.
Hi. Yes I understand that, but if I have my two quarter inch jacks coming out of the L&R monitor out, I get the same mix as FOH, do I not? So that's why I've looked up your video and found the Aux1 Pre you talk about. My point is, say I have vox in Ch1 and bass in Ch2 and have vox Ch1 panned hard left and bass Ch2 panned hard right, how do I get ta effect with just one Aux1 output jack at the top of the desk, or is that jack a stereo jack?
Hi. I have my left and right leads coming out of the 'monitor out' jacks to my left and right monitors. So I get what's going out front of house to the L & R monitors. Now you explained about using the Aux1 on each channel and the Aux1 send as the master, but you didn't say what other buttons need pressing or leads (L & R) need changing to change the signal over from the main mix. Can you please be clearer as to exactly what we need to do to switch over the monitor mix as it keeps playing.
I have the same mixer as you have in this video. I want to play music from a cell phone on only speakers for the cell phone music. I have a guitar peddle board running into the mixer also through 2 larger power speakers. How can I separate the 2 so that my guitar sound isn't coming through all 4 speakers , same as my cell phone music ? Thank you
Setup your phone the same as you would setup monitors. Run it out say AUX 4 to a second set of powered speakers or power amp and speakers. Keep fader down and use AUX 4 send control to send that channel to the AUX 4 output. Hope that helps.
Sorry, I was thinking about another mixer. Use the assign button for Group selection on the channel and the fader for the group you select. Use the group outputs to run into a different pair of speakers. Make sure the main selector is off so it won't send the signal into your mains with your guitar signal. I don't have this board anymore so please forgive my confusion.
Thanks for this video. I am a lead singer who uses in ear monitors. How do you pan monitor mixes? I would like to set up an in ear monitor mix that keeps my vocals/drums/bass centered in the stereo field but pans the guitars hard left or hard right, for example. My mixer only has a master pan for the house outs.
No. You will need a board with at least 3 Aux sends to do that which also means two power amps as well. So keep the expenses in mind here. Thanks for the kind comment!
I have the same mixer Yamaha mg 166cx, what this guys says does not work on mine ,and its a new mixer ,the aux send does not work the individual monitor ,only way to work monitors is with monitor button on the right in the master section , if anyone knows something I don't ,I,d sure like to hear it
You need to pan those hard left-right. Remember that each L-R outs on gear are basically, mono. It's the two panned which creates a stereo effect. This go's for your guitar processors and keyboards as well. Questions are always welcome here and that was a good question!
Hi again. Can I ask you one more question about this desk please? I'm using the new Roland Integra-7 sound module for my drums, bass and synth lines coming from midi files in Logic. EG. The drum samples are recorded in stereo, so some parts of the kits are panned partially left, some centre and some right. I'm coming out of the integra-7 L&R to two channels on the desk. Do I pan these hard left and right or just leave them both in the centre, as all the partial panning is done in the Integra?
Can you send the Aux to the return signals on the snake, and go directly from the snake to the monitors? Or do you send it to the snake and THEN to a power amp and THEN to the monitors? Sorry if that's a silly question, I'm trying to wrap my head around live. Only thing that I don't understand is exactly how to get the 1/4inch aux sends to a fully powered monitor meters away.
Monitor mixes are more important than people realize, especially for singers! When vocalists can't hear themselves they sing louder and can end up going sharp, on the other hand if their mic is too loud they tend to sing softer and can go flat. Acoustic guitarists also play harder when they can't hear their instrument and play harder, pushing it to go out of tune or break a string.
Hey how can I use or link an independent stage mixer for monitors to the FOH mixer for a live performance? I ask because I'm having problems when I send a mix to the stage monitors and it sounds way different from the FOH. I'm talking about the eq since my FOH mixer only have 2 aux sends and one eq section. What can I do?
This was a very helpful video. I have the exact same Yamaha mixer, and this answered my questions about setting up our monitors.... Thank you! And I totally agree with your comment about the useless manual that came with this unit.
No, do not use the snakes mic channels to send signals to the stage. Send the signal down the snake sends 1/4" connections, then to power amp, then to monitors or directly to powered monitors.
Thank you, Sir, for this video. I bought this Yamaha MG166 for a small church. I am not a sound tech and have no experiences. I am learning how to set it up. I have lots of feedback on the monitor speakers. What should I do to cut down the feedback? I bought the feedback destroyer and it still doesn't help or maybe I am setting it up wrong. Any info on how would be appreciated. God bless you. Thanks.
I can't cover all the things which can be giving you problems here. Key areas however are: speaker vs. mic placement. Mics MUST be behind the front of house system speakers and not ever pointed while in use at the monitor speakers. You need to learn about gain structure within a sound system to balance the levels to help in avoiding feedback. Stage monitor levels are to be kept at a minimum and place correctly as to mot feed into other stage micing to avoid these problems. Feedback destroyers only work when you know what frequencies to clamp down. The machine can't do it all or do it right. Do a search for Yamaha's Sound video and buy it for your team. It is a good video to start with in learning about setting up a sound system. I do find it difficult to engage audio teams in the knowledge of how to do this ministry right. Do it right brother! :)
Hi' Running a yamaha 166 cx mixer I have the main sound and vocals/mic; set on chan;1 but wish to use foldback monitor for her vocals, I plugged the monitor speaker into aux 1 on desk set the speaker to left of her do I use aux1 on channel 1 to lift sound to floor monitor so she can hear herself is this correct ?????
If you are plugging the active(?) monitor into the AUX 1 send on the board you can control the monitor with the channel 1 Aux 1 control. Sounds like you are on the right track.
If you connect reverb and eq units to the output between the mixer and the transmitters, sure. But you can't do it on the channels because it will effect the house mix. Hope that helps.
Thanks for this, very informative. One question, will the special effects on the channel (specifically reverb in my case) be heard through the stage monitor as well as front of house?
Hi. Thanks for that will check out the monitor ( active as With all my speakers ) just was'nt sure how to lift the sound /make the monitor work using a MONITOR is new to me and I now want to start using this at gigs for my daughter I always thought it was set/mixed seperate to the monitor throught a seperate channel setup but understand now by turning up aux1 that this is how to acheive and get the sound to the foldback , MONITOR SETUP also understand not to get the signal too hot , what I have not seen is somebody showing from plugging CABLE into speaker then desk AND THEN !!!! going through set up SEQUANCE of monitor setup showing clearly how this is achieved that's what is lacking on youtube all they show is what you have basically !!! I just figured out this by watching your clip thanks !!! maybe you should do this showing start to finish would help people out and stop confusion with people trying to use MONITOR OUT for when you are recording Left and Right in this particular area THANKS AGAIN. JIMMYMAC ps: I am self taught how to use a desk through reading and trying to understand the workings also never araid to ask but still have lots to learn thanks again.
Yeah, I used to have a full sound system and thought about doing a video on the entire setup LOL. I don't have any monitors, snakes, mains anymore. Cabling of pa systems varies a lot even though basically they are all the same. Wierd I know. I would still like to 'show you' the process though. Maybe I can borrow the churches monitors and make another video.
james mcguffie Yeah, today's setups are basically done in two different ways to achieve the same goal with the introduction of powered mains, powered monitors and digital mixers vs. mains, monitors, processing rack, power amps and mixer. They both still need cables and snakes but the types and uses have changed a bit.
Do I use a 1/4" phone to phone cable to connect the monitor speaker to the mixer through the aux plug? Does it matter if the cable is balanced or unbalanced?
Depends on your setup but this is how it is wired usually. Connect the snake sends to the Aux output(s), at the stage box end run an XLR cable to the power amp, from the amp run a 1/4" Speaker Cable (not instrument cable) to the monitor speaker. For POWERED Monitors, connect snake send as above but at the box run XLR cables to the powered speakers. If the monitors are powered and the mixer is on stage instead of out in the room somewhere, you can run the 1/4" speaker cables directly from the mixer aux sends to the powered monitors. Speaker cables come in 25' and over lengths so you have plenty of cable to position your monitors and speakers. Speaker cables are not balanced but XLR connections are balanced. Cables used will depend on your setup and gear requirements. Just make sure those 1/4" cables are speaker cables or you will blow a power amp. Cables will be stamped "Instrument" or "Speaker" on the casing.
Thanks for that, it's hard getting information about this. These ones should do the trick! - www.swamp.net.au/swamp-pa-speaker-cable-dual-1-4-jack-15awg.html
Luke Stone Yep! At one point I was wanting to do a set of actual pa setup on a live stage. Showing everything involved. But then I got smart and didn't. LOL!