How to Connect Your Cell Phone to an Audio Mixer

Connecting your cell phone to an audio mixer can greatly enhance your audio recordings or live sound setups. This guide will walk you through the necessary equipment and steps to ensure a seamless connection.

What You Need

To connect your cell phone to an audio mixer, you will need the following items:- Audio Mixer: Ensure your mixer has available input channels.- Cell Phone: Any smartphone with a headphone jack or Bluetooth capability.- Audio Cable: Depending on your phone's type, you may require: - 3.5mm TRS to 1/4-inch Adapter: For phones with a headphone jack. - 3.5mm TRS to RCA Cable: If your mixer has RCA inputs. - Bluetooth Receiver: If you want a wireless connection.

Steps to Connect

The process can be broken down into two main types of connections:

1. Wired Connection

Using 3.5mm TRS to 1/4-inch Adapter
Plug the 3.5mm end into your phone's headphone jack. Connect the 1/4-inch end to the mixer's input port. Using 3.5mm TRS to RCA Cable
Connect the 3.5mm end to your phone. Connect the RCA ends to the corresponding inputs on the mixer, usually labeled as RCA.

2. Wireless Connection

Using Bluetooth
Connect a Bluetooth audio receiver to one of the mixer's inputs using a 1/4-inch adapter. Pair your cell phone with the Bluetooth receiver according to the receiver's instructions. Adjust the mixer's input levels as needed.

Additional Tips

Adjust Levels: Set the mixer’s gain and volume levels appropriately to avoid distortion. Check Compatibility: Ensure your mixer can handle the signal from your phone, especially if using a TRS to 1/4-inch adapter. Use an Adapter: If your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack, use a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter for iPhones or a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for Android phones.

Testing and Troubleshooting

After connecting your cell phone to the mixer, play audio from your phone and monitor the mixer's output. Adjust levels and EQ settings as necessary to achieve the desired sound quality.

For mixers that have Bluetooth inputs, such as the Rode Podcasters, simply pair your phone directly to the mixer using Bluetooth. Otherwise, you'll need a way to take the headphone output and wire that to the mixer. Keep in mind the following:

Headphone outputs are stereo and unbalanced. The 1/8-inch male cable end needs to have two black rings on the shaft. Do not use the kind that has one or three black bands. For phones with a 3.5mm jack, you will need a cable that has a male 1/8-inch connector to 1/4-inch male connectors. The other end of the cable will likely need to be a pair of 1/4-inch male connectors. Alternatively, you could get a cable that is 1/8-inch male goes into the phone to a pair of RCA males, which could connect to the mixer provided it has an RCA input jack. Check the manual for any notes about how that RCA jack flows into the mixer. Lightning to RCA or 1/8-inch to RCA cables are available for phones without a 3.5mm jack. Be cautious when stringing adapters together, as it may introduce noise to the signal. The best option is a dedicated cable.

If you find any issues during the connection process, refer to your mixer's manual for specific guidelines. Odds are, they will have suggestions about adding devices.