About Live Mix Settings
If you've ever walked up to an unfamiliar console with a band waiting, this site is for you. I've been there more times than I can count. I started mixing at church when I was 8, taught myself everything, and I've mixed well over 1,500 shows since. I've led sound for several churches, run full theatrical productions and full-band live streams, and covered every genre from metal to worship. I've worked everything from small rooms to big ones, and from cheap old DJ speakers to full production line arrays.
I'm not a set-it-and-forget-it mixer. I'm listening the whole night, tweaking and adjusting. Every song gets treated as its own, and I'm always asking what should stand out in that song or that moment: the vocal, a guitar lead, the kick in the breakdown. And I never forget who I work for. The band and the artists come first, and I'm there to serve them, not the other way around. When I do my job right, nobody talks about the mix. They just say the band sounded great.
Today I run Rock The Boat Studio, mixing live sound for bands and venues across central Ohio.
Every new console and every new band starts the same way: a blank channel and not enough soundcheck time. Live Mix Settings is the cheat sheet I wish I'd had. It's a free, console-by-console library of sensible starting settings, with the reasoning behind every number and where to find each control on the console in front of you. It's not a set of magic presets. Rooms, mics, players and PAs all differ, so each card ends with what to listen for.
How the cards are made
Every card starts from common practice and the console makers' manuals, then I check it against what actually works at real gigs.
What's coming
- New cards every week. Consoles so far: X32/M32, XR18/X Air and Allen & Heath Avantis / Avantis Solo. More consoles coming soon.
- Downloadable scene and channel preset files.
- A weekly newsletter: this week's starting point and one mixing tip.
Affiliate disclosure
Some gear links on this site may become affiliate links in the future (for example Reverb, zZounds or Guitar Center). If you buy through one, the site may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Gear mentions are what's common on local stages, not paid placements. Right now there are no affiliate links on the site.
Trademarks
Behringer, Midas, X32, M32, X Air, Wing, Allen & Heath, Avantis, CQ, SQ, Yamaha, TF and DM3 are trademarks of their respective owners. Live Mix Settings is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by them.