Audio Equipment Tips & Tricks

Let's be real, there is nothing like jumping back in time and listening to an audio broadcast. It's timeless and nostalgic. To ensure that you give the listener the best audio experience possible, here are a few tricks of the trade that will enhance your audio quality to the max. 

How To: Audio to my Computer?

Once you have decided to bring your audio through your mixer to your computer, there are a couple of different ways that you can do so.

1. Auxiliary Cord (1/8 inch ends)

   1. Connecting through an audio mixer board

      • Attach a 1/4 inch adapter to your 1/8 inch auxiliary cord

      • Plug the 1/4 inch end into the Main Out input and then plug the 1/8 inch end into the Mic input on your computer. 

2. If your Mixer Board has both L & R channels for the Main Output and you have a 1/4 inch splitter adapter, you will be able to make that connection as well.

1. Connecting through a JK Audio Remote Mix

   1. Attach a 1/4 inch adapter to your 1/8 inch auxiliary cord

   2. Plug the 1/4 inch end into the 1/4 inch input underneath either Mic 1, 2 or 3 and then plug the 1/8 inch end into the Mic input on your computer

      • If you have access to a XLR cable with a 1/8 inch end, you can connect the XLR cable to the "Fixed Level Balanced Output" input & then plug the 1/8 inch end into your computer.

1. USB Connection

   1. Since most audio mixer boards come with the option for a USB connection on the back of the mixer, you can also run from that connection to a USB port on your computer to feed your audio that way as well.

The Importance of Audio Levels

When conducting an audio broadcast, you never want the audio to be too soft or too hot that it's distorted. For the cleanest audio, a simple trick is to just adjust all of your levels on your mixer to the halfway point (50%). It doesn't take much, but this should be more than enough for your audio to come through at the proper volume.

To Gain or Not to Gain?

If your audio is still a little hot or soft, the next step would be to adjust your Gain in the proper direction as needed. It can be easy to get caught up in "The Gain", but a rule of thumb is to usually adjust your audio from the Gain once you have set the rest of your levels at about 50%.

On the other side of that, don't disregard the rest of your levels, especially the Main Volume, and go all Gain all the time. Too much on the Gain can result in a distortion of your audio, and nobody wants that. 

If you run into any other audio tips & tricks along the way, don't be afraid to send them our way!

Audio(s) Amigos!