How to Record Audio from a Mixer to Your Phone: A Comprehensive Guide

In today’s world of content creation, capturing high-quality audio is paramount. Whether you’re a musician, podcaster, live streamer, or simply someone who wants to record a jam session, using a mixer to refine your audio signal can make a significant difference. While professional recording setups often involve dedicated audio interfaces and computers, you can achieve impressive results by recording directly to your phone. This guide will walk you through the process, detailing everything from the necessary equipment to the actual recording process, ensuring you capture the best possible audio quality.

Why Record from a Mixer to Your Phone?

Before diving into the ‘how,’ let’s explore the ‘why.’ Recording directly into your phone’s microphone, while convenient, often suffers from limitations:

• Low Audio Quality: Phone microphones are typically designed for voice calls and are not optimized for capturing nuanced audio like music or complex soundscapes. They often introduce noise, distortion, and a lack of clarity.
• Limited Control: You have virtually no control over the input gain, EQ, or dynamics of the audio being recorded.
• Background Noise: Phone microphones are susceptible to picking up ambient noise, making your recordings sound unprofessional.
• Single Channel Input: Phones typically record only in mono, while mixers often provide stereo or multi-channel options, losing the richness of a stereo output

Using a mixer addresses these issues:

• Superior Audio Quality: Mixers allow you to connect professional microphones and instruments, providing a cleaner, clearer signal.
• Gain Control: You can precisely adjust the input gain to prevent clipping and distortion, ensuring a healthy signal level.
• EQ and Dynamics: Mixers provide EQ controls and often compression or other dynamic processing to shape the sound to your needs, as well as eliminating unwanted frequency ranges from instruments or mics.
• Multi-Channel Recording: Depending on your mixer and phone setup, you might even be able to record in stereo or use multi-track recording apps on your phone with certain adapters.
• Noise Reduction: With proper gain staging and mixer’s noise floor, you can reduce background noise significantly.

Essential Equipment

To record from your mixer to your phone, you’ll need the following gear:

1. A Mixer: Any audio mixer will work, but the ideal one depends on the number of inputs you require. Look for a mixer with an output that matches your phone’s input options.
2. The Phone: Any modern smartphone capable of recording audio will suffice. Be sure to consider your phone’s audio recording limitations, and consider apps that provide more control if needed.
3. Cables: The type of cables will depend on your mixer’s output and your phone’s input. Common options include:
   • 1/4″ (TRS/TS) to 3.5mm (TRRS) cable: Used with many mixers that have a dedicated 1/4″ output, going to a phone headphone jack
   • XLR to 3.5mm (TRRS) cable: Used if your mixer has an XLR output and your phone accepts a 3.5mm input.
   • USB Type A to USB Type B Cable: For mixers that act as a USB interface you might need these and adapter mentioned next.
   • USB Adapter for Phone: for connecting a mixer to phones, with a direct interface, often this might include, USB Type B to USB type C or lightning adapters.
4. Optional – Audio Recording App: Your phone’s built-in recording app will work, but more robust apps like Waveform Free(for Android), GarageBand (for iOS), or DAWCassette (for both) offer better control over recording parameters, multi-track, and compression or EQ, especially if using a phone with an interface, not just the 3.5mm jack.
5. Optional – Headphones: For monitoring your audio signal live, headphones are highly recommended. This will allow you to monitor the recording and adjust the levels on the mixer accordingly before actually recording to your phone.
6. Optional – Power bank: If recording for a long time or if using a USB powered mixer, a power bank is essential.

Step-by-Step Guide: Recording from a Mixer to Your Phone

Now, let’s get into the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Connect your mixer and audio source

First, connect your instruments, microphones, or other audio sources to your mixer. Ensure the gains are set appropriately for each input source and that the levels aren’t peaking.

Step 2: Choose the Correct Output from the Mixer

Identify the main output of your mixer. It might be labeled as ‘Main Out,’ ‘Stereo Out,’ or ‘Rec Out.’ Ensure the correct output is selected in your mixer settings. For example a mixer could have aux outputs and main mix outputs. Aux sends are primarily used for in ear monitors while main outputs are used for speakers and recording. You should choose the main outputs here.

Step 3: Connect the Mixer to Your Phone

Here’s where things can vary, depending on the outputs of your mixer and the inputs of your phone:

• 3.5mm Jack Connection:

  If your mixer has a dedicated 3.5mm (headphone) output, or if you are using adapters from other outputs, you will need a 3.5mm TRRS cable. Plug one end into the output of your mixer and the other into your phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack. If your mixer doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack, it might have dedicated ‘Rec Out’ or ‘Stereo Out’ that can be adapted to 3.5mm with appropriate adaptors

  Important: A regular 3.5mm TRS cable (stereo) might not work for recording. You’ll need a TRRS (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) cable because it includes an extra contact for the microphone input signal. Using TRS can result in only receiving mono audio.

• Using a USB Interface Mixer:

  If your mixer has a built-in USB interface, you will have to use a USB adapter that fits your phone (USB Type A to USB Type C or USB Type A to Lighting). Connect your USB cable from the mixer to your adapter, and then plug the adapter into your phone. Make sure your phone supports audio over USB OTG if using Android. Often, for a USB connection, you will need to utilize a recording app on your phone that can accept USB audio input. Not all of these apps support this connection.

  Important: Make sure your phone’s operating system or recording app fully supports your mixer’s USB audio interface. Sometimes you might need to download drivers on the phone or use a more updated app.

Step 4: Set Gain Levels Correctly

This is a very important step for a high-quality recording. Now, you’re almost ready to start recording. Before you do, adjust your mixer’s main output volume to a healthy level. A good rule of thumb is to aim for about -12dB to -6dB on the mixer’s meters for peaks during the loudest sections of your performance. Remember that your phone also has a digital input that can clip if the signal is too loud. Check the audio meters on your phone or audio recording app, and adjust the master volume on the mixer to prevent clipping and aim for an input signal between -6db and -12db at peaks, as well. You might need to experiment with these gain levels a few times before you have them set right

Step 5: Monitor With Headphones

Plug your headphones into the headphone output of your mixer. This allows you to hear the signal being sent to your phone. Listen carefully for any distortion, clipping, or other unwanted artifacts and address them accordingly, either by reducing the mixer gain or tweaking the gain on the microphone/instrument itself. Once your signal is clear, you are ready to record.

Step 6: Select and Configure the Recording app

Open your phone’s recording app. If you are using a third-party app, ensure that the proper input is selected, like the phone’s mic jack, or the USB interface if you are using one. Some apps allow you to adjust additional recording parameters, like sample rate, bit depth, or even audio compression. Experiment with different settings to see what gives you the best result. 44.1khz and 16bit is a good common starting point.

Step 7: Start Recording

Once you are ready, hit record on your phone recording app, and start performing. If everything is connected and configured properly, you should see the audio levels being shown in the app’s meters, and you should be able to hear your performance in the headphones plugged into the mixer.

Step 8: Monitor and Adjust as Necessary

While recording, continue to monitor the input levels on your phone app and ensure you are not clipping and your sound is balanced and clear. You can still make adjustments to the mixer’s gain and EQ if needed, especially in real time. However, if using compression or other effects on the mixer, do not adjust these mid performance as this can change the recording quality. These changes should be subtle and only be used when needed and before a recording begins.

Step 9: Stop and Save Recording

When you’ve finished your recording, stop the recording on your phone and save your audio file. Most apps allow you to save files in common formats like .wav or .mp3. Depending on your recording software the settings and save path may be different. Select a safe location for this file and label it appropriately.

Step 10: Listen and Evaluate Your Recording

Now, listen back to your recording on your phone or computer. Check the audio quality, dynamic range, and overall balance of the mix. If the recording is unsatisfactory, analyze what could have caused the problems, and repeat the process, adjusting your gains, EQ, or mixing levels to achieve optimal results. Sometimes it takes multiple tries before you get it right.

Step 11: Editing

If needed, you can now import your saved recording to an audio editing program like Audacity or GarageBand (on both computer and phone), and perform further editing to improve the sound quality. This could be noise reduction, adjusting volume levels, or mixing different track elements that were recorded in separate takes or tracks using your mixer.

Tips for Better Recordings

Here are some additional tips to help you get the best possible results:

• Gain Staging: Properly adjusting gains on both your mixer and your recording device is crucial to prevent clipping and maximize the dynamic range. Pay attention to all levels.
• Minimize Noise: Make sure your recording environment is as quiet as possible. Avoid recording near appliances, fans, or other sources of unwanted noise.
• Monitor with Headphones: Always monitor your audio signal with headphones while recording to catch any issues early on.
• Experiment with EQ: Use your mixer’s EQ to shape the sound of your individual tracks and the overall mix. Be conservative with EQ boosts, especially the higher frequencies, as that can introduce more noise to your recordings.
• Experiment with compression: Compression is a tool to help keep the dynamic range of your recording consistent, but you can easily ruin your recording if overdone. Be careful when implementing these, and keep the ratios low, at first.
• Use a Pop Filter: If you’re recording vocals, a pop filter can help reduce plosives (bursts of air that can cause unwanted popping sounds).
• Experiment with Recording Apps: Try out different recording apps to see which one works best for your workflow and provides you with the features that you need.
• Test Recordings: Do a short test recording to check your settings before recording a full performance.
• Backup: After any important recording, always make a backup to a computer or other source, to prevent losing your recordings.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter problems, here are some common issues and solutions:

• No Sound: Check all connections, make sure the correct input is selected, the cables are working, and that the recording software is working. Increase the volume on the mixer, and make sure both mixer and phone volume are not on mute.
• Distorted Sound: Reduce the input gain on the mixer and on the recording software.
• Weak Signal: Increase the input gain on the mixer, but do not increase it too much to induce noise. Consider also moving the mics closer to the source.
• Mono Recording (when expecting Stereo): Make sure that you are using a TRRS cable with 3.5mm connections (not a TRS cable), and that you are sending a stereo signal from the mixer by using a ‘Main Out’ or a ‘Stereo Out’ (not an Aux Out). Check in your recording app if your stereo input is active. Check to see if the app is only capable of recording mono tracks.
• No Audio Over USB: Ensure your phone’s operating system and the recording software support USB audio. Make sure you have OTG enabled if necessary. Download updated software for your mixer from the manufacturer.
• Buzzing Sound: This could be due to ground loops. Try using balanced cables (if possible), plug your mixer into the same power outlet as your phone, or try different outlets.

Conclusion

Recording from a mixer to your phone offers a portable and convenient solution for capturing high-quality audio. With the right equipment, careful setup, and attention to detail, you can achieve professional-sounding recordings without a complicated studio setup. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to making excellent recordings with your phone. Remember that it takes practice to get right, so experiment and refine your technique, and in time, you will be able to achieve impressive results and create high quality audio recordings. Happy recording!