Write an article based on this "Turn the master volume and channel faders down completely. Plug microphones into channels using XLR cables. Attach instruments to the line inputs on your mixer. Connect the mixer output to an audio interface with TRS cables to use monitors. Plug headphones into the "Phones" port on the mixer. Turn on your mixer using the power switch."

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Look for the main volume control on the bottom right side of the mixer, which is usually labeled "Main Mix" or something similar. The faders are knobs or sliders that control the volumes of individual inputs found along the bottom of the mixer and are either knobs or sliders. If the controls are knobs, turn them counterclockwise until they don't go any further. If the controls are sliders, pull them down as far as you can to lower the volume. If you turn on the mixer without turning the volume and faders down, you could create loud feedback or damage the mixer. The main volume control and faders usually have a different color than the other controls so you can easily tell them apart. XLR cables are used to plug microphones in, and the ends have 3 pins inside a metal cylinder. Your mixer will either have XLR ports along the top edge or on the back side of the mixer. Plug the end of the XLR cable into the microphone you're using. Put the other end of the XLR cable in one of the ports on the mixer that has 3 small holes inside a circle The number above the port determines the input channel, which is a column on your mixer with knobs that controls that single input. You can buy XLR cables from a music supply store or online. The number of inputs you can have on your mixer depends on how many channels it has. An 8-channel mixer can have up to 8 different inputs while a 32-channel mixer can have 32 sources. The line inputs on your mixer are found near the XLR ports for each channel and fit 6.35 mm audio jacks. Plug the end of your audio cable into the instrument you're hooking up. Then choose a channel on your mixer that doesn't have another cable attached to it, and attach the other end of the audio cable to the line input. The number above the input tells you which channel controls the audio for the instrument. You cannot plug an instrument into a line input on a channel that already has an XLR cable plugged into it. You can also buy audio cables for instruments that attach to a mixer with an XLR cable. Either will work for your audio. TRS cables are a balanced audio source, meaning you'll get less feedback and noise from your inputs, and they look like 6.35 mm headphone jacks on the end. Locate the master output ports near the top of the mixer or on the side by the other ports. Plug one of the cables into the port labeled "L" and a second cable in the port labeled "R." Run the cables to your audio interface and plug them into the matching input ports on the back of the interface. You can get an audio interface and TRS cables online or from a music store. Interfaces allow you to play the audio from your mixer through speaker monitors or on a computer. Listening to your mixer through headphones allows you to hear the levels clearly so you can tweak them later on. Use a 6.35 mm headphone jack to plug in your headphones to the mixer. Make sure the headphone cord doesn't tangle around any of the knobs. You don't need to use headphones if you don't want to. The power switch is usually on the back of the mixer or on the top right by the other knobs. Check that all of the volume and fader controls are still turned down before flipping the switch to turn it on. You will see a light turn on as soon as the power is connected. Some mixers may have a switch labeled "phantom" which supplies electricity to microphones that require it. If you have a microphone that uses phantom power, also turn on the switch.