Mixing Bench Overview

Overview

The Audio Mixing Benches are our introductory audio edit suites.

The have one computer station with a variety of accessories and software.
They are designed to be used by 1-2 students.
They are available for students to use for academic use.
The labs require the proficiency badge and also the quarterly access badge.
Students in approved programs or contracts will be added to the access badge each quarter.

They are in their own rooms on the first floor of Evans Hall in 1520 and 1522.
From the lobby walk past the Multimedia Lab and turn left at the garbage and recycling station.

The labs require the proficiency badge and also the quarterly access badge.
Read the Electronic Media Lab Access page for proficiency information
Read the Media Labs Access Policy for lab polices
REad the Scheduling General Access Media Labs article for scheduling procedures
Schedule time at Media Loan or the Multimedia Lab or Self Service in Schedule Evergreen.
Get keys from Media Loan for your scheduled time.

Always enter your name and time into the logbook, along with any problems you encounter during your time in the lab
If you need help, go to the Multimedia Lab L1404.
In the dock there is a folder with an orange M called Manuals that contain PDF’s of some of the manuals
The Evergreen Help Wiki – has helpful Mixing Bench articles as well as various audio editing software cheat sheets

Turn down the volume on the Volume Box. It’s the metal box with a red knob.
Turn on the power strip located on the right corner of the computer desk.
Wait 10 seconds for the sound card to fully start up, sound card should read 48k.
Turn on the computer
Log in to the computer and wait for the user template to fully start up.
1. The MOTU audio driver software appears on the desktop, do not close this application.

Adobe Audition: Multi-track audio recording and mixing
Digital Performer: Multi-track audio recording and mixing. It also does MIDI editing.
Pro Tools: Multi-track audio recording and mixing.
Audacity: Open source audio editor.
Waves Native Power Pack: Audio Plug-ins.
NI Komplete Soft Synths
Ableton Live: Music Production

Sound card upon start up should be in 48k sample rate
There are 2 Mic/Line inputs
1. Trim knob = controls the microphone sensitivity
2. Push the Trim knob engages a PAD to attenuate or reduce your input level.
3. Push and Hold the Trim knob engages phantom power if you are using a condenser microphone.

The patchbay is used to connect the audio equipment.
The inputs and outputs of most of the equipment are connected to the patchbay.
Some of the connections are normalized.
- This means that no patching is required.
The 1/4" patch cords hanging from the side of the rack are used to connect different pieces of equipment.
For example the turntable outputs can be patched to the mixer line inputs 1 and 2.
When you start it’s a good idea to remove all the patch cords from the patch bay.

The is a small Behringer mixer in the room.

It is used when recording from the analog equipment in the room;.
- the cassette deck
- turntable.
- phone hybrid

The volume control box is used to set monitoring volume.
On the Volume Box choose MIXER to listen to the mixer or MOTU 828 to listen to the MOTU audio interface.
- The computer is designed to send signals through the MOTU 828.
On the mixer, the knob labeled Phones/Control Room controls the volume that is sent to the Volume Box.

All file storage on the computers is local to that computer. You need to back up your files in order to use them in another lab.

Make a folder on the desktop to store your files.
When working save often
When you are done save and quit any applications you are using.
Back up your files to:
- OneDrive
- External hard drive
- Thumb drive
If you have a fast USB three hard drive you can work directly of your drive.
We erase all the student files off the computers on Thursday of every eval week.
Always back up your files