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Connect Mixer To Audio Interface For Recording: Step by Step

Learn how to connect your mixer to an audio interface for recording or live streaming. Discover the cables you need, and how to get the correct recording levels in your DAW or recording software.

If you want to record music via a mixer on your computer, or get a great livestream setup, then this short video will take you through the connections step by step.

How To Connect Mixer To Interface: Contents

Connecting a Mixer to an Audio Interface: Video Tutorial

Connect Mixer To Audio Interface For Recording: Step by Step Tutorial
Video Tutorial: Connect your mixing console to your audio interface

All The Gear You Need

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Here is a list of the gear used in the video tutorial and this step-by-step guide:

Why Connect Your Mixer to Interface?

image of audio mixers and usb audio interfaces
How to Connect A Mixer to An Interface

Can you connect an mixer to an audio interface? Yes you can! This post will show you how, step by step.

Why should you want to connect your mixer to an audio interface? It will allow you to either record the microphones, instruments and other audio sources plugged in to your mixer on your computer or live stream your stereo mix.

In this post we will focus on the connections. Discover what cables you need and what plugs in to where.

Different Mixers and Interfaces = Different Cables

As you will see, the cables you need are going to depend on your particular mixing console and interface. To demonstrate, we look at two different mixers and two different interfaces to explain some of the things you need to think about.

Install Your Interface and Switch to Line Level

image of hand with audio interface
Switch interface to Line Level

Firstly, make sure your audio interface is correctly installed and connected to your computer, most likely via USB. The audio signal coming from your mixer will be line level, so make sure if you have Combo inputs that you have switched them to line level. On a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, you can just toggle the switches on the interface itself.

With a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 you need to do this in the Focusrite control panel.

By way of comparison, the simpler Behringer U-Control only has line inputs, so there’s nothing to do. You can make a direct connection from your mixer, via line out.

If your audio interface has onboard gain control, begin with the gain knobs turned right down when you plug your cables in.

The Behringer U-Control has no onboard gain adjustment so this is not an issue.

Later in the post you will find out how to set your recording levels.

Set Mixer Main Outputs to Unity

image of hand adjusting knob on audio mixer
Set Mixer Main Outputs to Unity

Moving back to the mixers now. Let’s assume you have already plugged in all your audio sources and adjusted the gain and levels for each channel individually. There are plenty of tutorials on how to setup your mixer elsewhere.

Now you need to set the main output of your mixer to the unity setting. On the Yamaha MG06 mixer Unity is at three o’clock and is marked with a little arrow.

On the Behringer Q802USB, the unity setting is at 12 o’clock and is marked with a zero. Refer to the manual for your mixing console and set it at unity. Now, you are ready to take the line outputs from the mixer to the line inputs of your interface.

Connect Line Outputs from Mixer to Line inputs on Interface (Balanced)

image of audio mixer, audio interface and cables
Balanced XLR to TRS Cables

The Yamaha MG06 mixing console, has two sets of outputs and they are both balanced. The line inputs of the Focusrite 4i4 audio interface are also balanced. You have a choice in this case. You can use balanced XLR to TRS cables, one for the left channel and one for the right.

Or you can use a pair of balanced, TRS quarter inch jack cables. Again one for the left and one for the right.

Take the cables of your choice and connect the left output from the mixer to the channel one input on the interface and the right mixer output to channel two.

Pro Tip: What you should not do is use XLR to XLR cables in this scenario even though physically they will fit. If you have any interface with combi inputs, like the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4.

Why?

Because if you plug an XLR cable, into this type of interface, then the interface will expect a mic level signal.

You must plug a quarter inch jack cable, into the interface and make sure you have selected the line level option. That way your line level signal from the mixer will be treated correctly.

Connect Line Outputs from Mixer to Line inputs on Interface (Unbalanced)

image of interface, mixer and unbalanced audio cables
Unbalanced TS Cables

Compare the Yamaha MG06 to the Behringer mixer. The Q802USB happens to have a USB audio interface built in, so it is possible to plug it straight into a computer to record or stream. But for the purpose of tutorial, let’s assume this is a standard non-USB mixing console.

The Behringer Q802USB only has quarter inch outputs, not XLR and according to the manual these are unbalanced. So, in this instance, use quarter inch jack cables again, but you can use TS cables, which are unbalanced.

If you want to know more about audio cables and connecters, and the difference between balanced and unbalanced signals, read this post for more information.

And follow this link if you want to know what is an audio interface.

The Focusrite interface can accept either TRS or TS for line in so it is fine to use TS cables. If you are confused about the difference between TRS and TS or tip, ring, sleeve and tip, sleeve, then that post on audio cable types will help.

Now let’s compare the above to the Behringer U-Control audio interface. It only has line inputs and these are unbalanced RCA inputs. To connect a mixer to this type of interface, you use unbalanced TS to RCA cables, again one for the left and one for the right.

Monitor Your Signal

image of headphones plugged into audio interface
Monitor your signal with headphones plugged into audio interface

Now you have connected the line outputs of the mixer to the line inputs of the interface. How and where are you going to monitor or hear the sounds? The answer is through your audio interface.

You need to monitor how the signal sounds, through the interface, because that is the signal you want to record or stream.

You can either plug in studio headphones or connect the outputs of your interface to a set of studio monitors. Be careful, though! If you plug microphones into your mixer, you don’t want to get into feedback issues or for microphones to pickup sounds coming from the speakers while you’re recording or streaming.

Unless you are not recording through any mics or your mixer is in a different room, you should use headphones.

Set Up Your DAW or Recording Software – Get the Correct Levels

screenshot of audacity recording software
Aim for -12dB peak in recording software

Finally let’s talk about levels. In your recording software or DAW, you will select your audio interface, as your default audio device and when you record you want to see a good signal that peaks at around -12dB.

Whatever recording software you use, arm your tracks for recording, then do a quick test to check the signal. Now, remember you set the level of the signal from the mixing console at unity. To adjust the recording levels on an interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4, you can adjust the variable gain for each input.

Adjust the gain until you are seeing your signal peaking at the -12dB level. Most interfaces like this have some kind of visual feedback. In the case of the 4i4 it has gain halos and you want to see them light up green, which indicates a nice, strong signal with some headroom. You never want to see them lighting up red, which indicates you are getting distortion.

The Behringer U-Control is a much simpler audio interface. There is no adjustable gain on the interface. In this case, you will need to adjust the signal, coming from the mixer to get a satisfactory recording level.

Although the method is different, you are aiming for the same thing in your recording software, a peak of about -12dB. This gives you a strong enough signal with some headroom and you should avoid any clipping or digital distortion.

Levels for Live Stream

I you want to live stream and so you are not doing any post production, you might want to push the levels up a bit to a peak of about -6dB in your streaming software. Then your audience will get a good strong signal. Just be careful not to go any high than that.

Quick Recap – The Studio Gear Used Here

A quick reminder of all the gear used in this step by step tutorial:

Summary and Further Information

Well, we hope you found this helpful. You may find the following posts useful for further reading: