Setup Guide - how to connect a Mixer to an Audio Interface for audio recording 

You go straight to the point, we like that.

The only 5-minute tutorial you ever need for this kind of subject. You don't bombard us with many technicalities and thus have managed to get your point across.

Why is it that when one speaks with a German Accent, you just assume; "this guy knows what he's talking about." Great Video Julian :)

"Unity" and "Zero" I never knew that. Thank you

I think that has to be the most straight talking advice video on here, more helpful than most without all the confusion. Thank you. :)

I really like your channel. Everything explained simply, sensibly and on the subject. Greetings!

FAQ: Q: Why would you want to connect a mixer to an interface? A: Let's say, you have a mixer where 8 microphones are plugged in. You could then record the combined audio of all the mics with the interface. Q: I only have one mic. Do I need a mixer in front of my audio interface? A: No, just plug the mic directly into the interface to record your audio. Q: Why would I want to connect a two-channel mixer into a two-channel audio interface? Couldn't I just connect the two mics directly to the interface? A: Yes, connecting a two-channel mixer to a two-channel interface is not really useful. I just used the hardware seen in the video for demonstration purposes. Q: Does this setup increase or decrease preamp noise? A: This depends on the preamps in the mixer and interface. If the preamps in the mixer are much better than the interfaces preamps, then this whole setup could improve your preamp performance. But this is also true the other way around. If the mixers preamps are worse than your interfaces preamps you end up with more preamp noise in your final recording.

Julian you are the best, Your content has helped my on not over budgeting myself (never bought a fethead thanks to you) and have helped me understand audio in a clear and concise way, here's hoping you get more recognition.

Thank you, Julian. You pretty much explained it succinctly whereas articles and other RU-vid videos are anything but. Now, I have the confidence I need to properly connect a mixer to my audio interface should I choose to buy one.

I just bought a yamaha mg06x mixer to go with my scarlett 2i2 studio interface, and this is literally the only video I could find that explains how I am supposed to use these things together. I am a beginner and I can't tell you how thankful I am for this video!! Great job and thank you, keep em' coming!

Another excellent video - competent, organized, efficient, no stumbling around, good production values

Thank you . Have the same Scarlett and similar mixer. Sitting dormant for 2 years. You gave me the inspiration to get away from the vicissitudes of life to connect and use them. Thx again.

I did this once. I had a vintage Tascam mixer that I love the preamps on them they were nice and warm. So I hooked up my microphones to the mixer and then the mixer to my interface and it sounded amazing! Great video

This is the kind of video I was waiting for. Very well explained!

I've been struggling with this. Thanks so much for clarifying this in easy to understand terms.👍🏼

What a guidance....to the point....no “hisssszzz” and personal jargon. Keep it up. From Sri Lanka

This was what I needed to know!!! THanks!! Connections are my waterloo.

The very best tutorial i could ever have

Such a great explanation! Thank you so much, I am going to order an audio interface to connect to my existing mixer and this video is such a gift right now

Thank you so much for this tutorial I’ve been looking at mixers without understanding how to connect them to my computer and I couldn’t find any info. You made this easy for me and helpful

What a coincidence I was just thinking about getting a mixer to connect to my interface. Thank you!

I had watched two tutorials on this topic before I watched this one, and holy shit, they were never as clear, precise and comprehensive as this one. Kudos!

Thank you SO MUCH! I have been looking for this info everywhere!

I was looking for a tutorial like this for a while. This was clear and extremely helpful. Thank very much.

Perfect! Just the info that I needed, and so easily and clearly delivered! Very much appreciated and certainly a thumbs up from me! :)

Best youtuber that describes audio and audio equipment in a professional way but also simple with detail information. Keep it up man :)

Your use of simple facts and efficient demonstration style are worth mentioning. Thank you.

Finally someone lays it all out in an understandable way. Thank you

Once again straight to the point, with actually useful information. If someone or Julian can answer these questions It would be very helpful: - Can you, or should you in stead keep the mixer gain to 0 and then increase the gain on the audio interface to make better use of the interface's better preamp ? Either through master out or insert out ? - If this is indeed possible, would there be any degradation in quality between directly connecting to the interface if the mixer has 0Gain, UVol, 0Comp, and Flat EQ?

Something no one seems to be mentioning is that this is a viable alternative to using a Fethead or Cloudlifter one-trick pony inline preamp for low gain dynamic and ribbon mics. With proper gain staging, there shouldn't be any noise issues, and unlike the Cloudhead or Fetlifter, the small mixer will allow you to make use of the low-cut filters and tweak your sound slightly via the EQ knobs if so desired. Plus on most mixers there's those handy little mute buttons right at your fingertips.

seriously the best and straight-to-the-point video w/o any nonsense! Thank you.

Concise & easy to understand. Other tutorials were (neurotically) difficult to understand. Thanks!

Now that you've introduced mixers into the equation, it'd be interesting to see how the interface of a USB Mixer fairs against a dedicated interface. I was looking at some general specs and they seemed decent, but not quite as good as a dedicated interface, and I've heard from other people that these sort of equipment do not last as much, even without taking them to on the road for gigs.

Nicely explained []-)

THANK YOU! Answered all of my preliminary questions!

I like it!! no fluff trying to add time just the facts of how to do it explained well and easy to follow

Kindly make a video on how from this connection with an additional device (a compressor to be specific)

Excellent! Although it is spooky that RU-vid somehow knew I was having a mixer/interface issue just yesterday...

That was refreshingly direct and detailed. Good job.

YOU WERE RIGHT , I SET IT JUST AS YOU SAID AND I AM HITTING ABOUT -19.8 Db ,THANK YOU HOPE THIS HELPS CLEAR UP THE VOCALS, IT HAS BEEN A HIT AND MISS DEAL. THANK YOU

So my interface only has 1 input, is the recordings not going to come out as good???

The best video ever, i have been looking for this

Julian, this was very clear and well presented. Thank you!

Thanks a lot sir for making this video as this is very important to people who are learning Pre-production audio job.

There is one downside: the signal being recorded is a combination of all the inputs to the mixer. You won't be able to separate them in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to control the quality of each different mixer input during editing.

you didnt show the gain staging on the interface.

Especially useful and straightforward video! Gave me the confidence to do what I need to do. Thanks!

My man thank you so much for this video this help me out tremendously. I've been trying to fix this issue for the last 2 hours and your processes got it done in less than 5 minutes💙💙💙👍🏽

Nice vid! Could you explain why -20 dB is a sensible level for recording into the daw?

Would it be better to record directly vo with your preamp, directly to your interface than use a mixer?

Very simply showed and explained. Thank you.

New subscriber here... thank you Julian for this very clear and easy to follow video guide. I was able to setup my audio interface to my mixer without any flaws.

The real question is: why do you need a two channel mixer if you already have a two input interface? Pointless. If you do use a (let’s say) 26 channel mixer to mix drums to two track, you are stuck with that mix once it’s on disc. There’s no adjusting levels on individual drums or compressing/gating separately. You have to commit. Are you ready to do that? It’s good practice but most people don’t start out with that skill. What would be much better is a multi channel interface. Forget the mixer. Unless the mixer is also a midi controller, there is no point.

The pre on that scarlet is definitely cleaner than the one in that mixer, you should be relying more on the interface’s input gain and less on the mixer’s.

Excellent beginners guide and studio quality production!

how can anyone thumbs down this video? great vid straight to the point and very informative.

Focusrite should PAY you for showing us all how to use it properly. They provide no such information.

If I have my speakers connected to my 2 main outs how would I connect my interface into my interface?

You make it really simple and understandable. Thank you.

Thank you for videos like this. I watched it, then saved it for reference when I choose a mixer for home use.

Why trs cables? Normal unbalanced jack cables work also. I wonder if a main output on a mixer is trs at all.

Really amateur question (just began learning about audio): why would someone want to do that? So you have more channels than there are on the interface?

Very clear and easy to follow. You did a very nice job on this video. I found it very helpful. Thank you!

Been looking for a video that would perfectly explain this setup, well done thank you Julian

Please do a "How to wake up in the morning" video!

I thought you died at the end of The Dark Knight Rises?

thank you for the simplicity with which you have take us through the video!

One of the best videos I've ever seen. THANK YOU.ممنون.

another advantage is the ability to use EQ on the way in ,i dont like EQing digitally, its not the same.Obviously this video features a 2 band EQ ,but some have 7 etc..

When plugging into mono IN and OUT jacks (as on the mixer here) using separate L and R, the 'TRS' cables shown in this video are incorrect. TRS cables are designed for stereo jacks which carry both left and right channels within a single cord. The correct cable when using separate L and R jacks is a 'TS' (mono) cable.

Wow because this is excellent work! Congrats and keep it up.

Your explanation is really praiseworthy.

This is how all tutorials should be no matter the subject. Thanks!

A simple and very clear explanation. Thank you so much.

A great to the point really clear video In fact in my opinion the best video I have ever watched in this field

This video is really helpful, so simplistic to understand. Thank you!

This was very informative, i now know how to improve my production studio, keep it up dude you rock!

A succinctly explained guide! Thank you.

Excellent job ! .... loved the instructions,... straight to the point, thx !

A GOOD TEACHER INDEED,I UNDERSTOOD EVERYTHING AND LEARNED NEW THINGS TOO

Great Video! you explained and made it very simple

This is so helpful for the beginners and for the home setup

In der Zwischenzeit hab ich auch gemerkt, deshalb hab ich auch gleich nochmal aufgesucht und hab deine schnelle Rückmeldung gesehen. Ich hab's verwechselt und meinte zunächst, dass es nicht die schmalen schwarzen Ringe sind, die zur richtigen Benennung führen, sondern dass es auf den Ring zwischen den beiden Schwarzen ankommt . Somit ist auch mir wieder klar, was TRS bedeutet. Vielen Dank für deine Mühe, Julian und frohe Ostern!

This Is The Best Video I've Ever Watched On This Topic. Thank You Very Much.

Nice tips and tutorial especially for those in audio related works

Thank you so much for this perfect, simple, clear and basic explanation of this technical aspect of digital recording. I would really love to watch you explain how to connect multiple synths and other instrument to a mixer and a interface and what type of mixer would be required. I have a few synths (SH-32, yamaha CS, and Roland XP-50 which I use as a midi controller mostly and I am struggling to set them up permanently so I can use them when the inspiration hits. I have a few challenges because I am not an engineer and am of the analogue time. I do though, totally love these new technologies and would like to be able to have a better basic, fundamental understanding of of they work together. The external hardware issue is a bit more easy to grasp but when it comes to setting the software part of the sequence it becomes a real mess... I use Logic Pro with a Scarlett 4 pre, and I am a composer. You also did not mention where the output is routing. My set-up has the monitors going through the interface and into Logic, so I need my computer to hear sound through the monitors.

The best channel i have for audio system. Thanks

Julian, this was fantastic. I really like how you take a very deliberate approach and allow the viewer (me) to follow along at a very nice pace. Too many of these type of videos try to be too slick and go so fast I cant see or understand what they are doing. A question for you..... My mixer has a monitor out. Can I connect my computer using the monitor out and then Live Stream a performance to a computer audience and then use the mains for the live ("in studio" audience?

Thank you for a clear idea given to all about connection of audio interface with a mixer. Again thanks a lot.

Very well done edit. Thank you!

Short, straight n detailed. Thank you

Thank you Julian. It really helped !

Good interpretation..Thank you...

This is the second of your videos I've watched, Mr K. Your explanations and demonstrations are so well done, so clear and concise. This makes me wonder, have you done a course on teaching and training adults? You certainly have a skill in that regard.

This is what Exactly I needed, thanks bunch !!

Julian is the king of harwares!👑

Mate, such a simplistic but informative video, thank you :)

Very precise and useful Information. Nicely explained

Just the information I was looking for thank you

Thank you so much . A very clear and simple manual. You are very good.