1. Plug everything in first
  2. Make sure you can get a sound from each input, this is called a line check
    • Unmute one input at a time rather than turning on all of them at once, this way, you can be sure that you are hearing the one you are testing.
  3. Set the gain
    • With each input (if you can) ask each performer to play their instrument or sing into their microphone ]
    • You need to press PAFL / PFL or select the channel on the desk and raise the gain until the meters are just hitting the zero section 
    • If an input is too quiet you need to raise the gain 
    • If a red light is flashing on an input, the channel is coming into the desk too loud (peaking). You need to lower the gain.
  4. Try and avoid sharing inputs
    • It’s bad practice to let two people use the same microphone as you can’t control their levels individually 
    • Try and avoid sharing the same input for the PC as a mobile phone i.e. swapping them over as you need them as the levels can be different between changeovers.
  5. Unmute everything and bring all of the faders up to zero to check that they aren’t going to feed back if they are all on together.
  6. Bring the master fader up to where sounds correct
  7. Try and get the band to play together so that you can get your faders to a good position (to where you think sounds best) and then you can mute them in that position until you are ready. 
  8. Don’t forget to test that the mics are coming out at a fair volume to the wedges and that they aren’t going to feedback.

Just a general tip about playing music from the back: Try and get a copy of the music in advance ripped onto a reliable computer so that you can double click on the correct one rather than relying on playing the correct track number from a CD or phone. 

When playing from a mobile phone, put the phone onto aeroplane mode and silent to prevent phone calls and notifications being played across the speakers.