Audio Info & Education

In Part 1 of this series we discussed how you can use the PFL system to listen in on different parts of the mix individually. In Part 2 we'll learn how your PFL system can also help you see what is happening too.

A high-performance sports car can be exciting to drive even if you don't know anything about auto mechanics. But if you are having performance issues or you want to tune the motor to perfection, you're going to have to look under the hood. With all the great features that the latest generation of mixers have to offer it is easy to get distracted by bells and whistles and overlook how useful the simple tools can be in helping you to achieve a great sound. One of those important tools is PFL (which is an abbreviation for 'pre-fader listen'). If the Digital Signal Processor on your mixer is like the sports car's turbo boost, then the PFL would be like the headlights. Sometimes you need to be able to focus your ears on individual sounds in order to make sure you're going in the right direction with your mix. But to get there you need to learn the techniques which make PFL the Sound Tech's Secret Weapon.

Part 3: Putting the Final Polish on Your Mix

This is a continuation of our first two articles, Mixing Live- 10 Steps to Pull Your Mix Together Quickly: Part 1 and 2

This is a continuation of our first article, Mixing Live- 10 Steps to Pull Your Mix Together Quickly: Part 1. 

Part 2: Perfect is the Enemy of the Good- Just Try to Get a Good Mix!

Your band spent a lot of time practicing in order to put on a really great show. No doubt each player also invested a lot of time and creativity into getting their instrument to sound its best. But even if your band sounds amazing in the rehearsal room, you've probably found that getting it to come across that way live is very difficult to accomplish. To make things even more challenging, being allowed enough time for an extended soundcheck is rare. Sometimes you might even have to finish "mixing on the fly," while the band is playing their first number. If this happens and you aren't prepared it could ruin a great show, and learning how to get a good mix quickly is a learned skill. But if you follow these basic guidelines consistently (and perhaps invest in an ear training app like this one), you will be able to approach the situation with confidence and achieve success.