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Passive Audio Mixer W/ Channel Volume Control

By nighthawk454 (/member/nighthawk454/)
in Circuits (/circuits/) > Audio (/circuits/audio/projects/) 109,338 139 36

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This Audio Mixer mixes multiple audio inputs to a single audio output, with knobs to control the
volume of each channel.

My particular build features 4 stereo RCA inputs mixed to 1 stereo RCA output. You could easily
alter this design to any combination of jacks that you need. 

This mixer is passive, meaning it requires no external power. It also means that nothing is
amplified. Consequently, the mixed output will have to be amplified by your stereo or another
amplifier system. 

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Step 1: Circuit Diagram

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This circuit is actually really simple. All the complexity is due to repetition.

Basically, all circuits are as follows:

     input --> output

For an audio mixer, you need a resistor on each input. So, we have:

     input --> resistor --> output

But, it's stereo so you have to do everything twice. So, now you have:

     L input  --> resistor --> L output

     R input --> resistor --> R output

You could stop here, but if you want volume knobs, you have to go through that before the
resistor: 

     L input  --> volume knob --> resistor --> L output

     R input --> volume knob --> resistor --> R output

Finally, we repeat this for each input. 

So, the circuit is really a very simple idea repeated 8 times, twice per channel for four channels. 

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Step 2: Parts and Tools

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This project requires few parts and tools. It is also relatively cheap, mine cost me about $20, but
you can vary yours to fit your budget. 

Tools:

-- Soldering Iron and Solder

-- Dremel or Drill

-- Wire Strippers

Parts:

-- 1K ohm resistors x8 

-- 10K ohm logrithmic double-ganged potentiometer x4    (* explained below)

-- RCA panel mount input jacks x10

-- project box or other enclosure

*About the Potentiometers:

A potentiometer or 'pot' is the twisty knob that will act as a volume control. You want a
logarithmic pot (aka audio pot) because volume is on a logarithmic scale. Double-ganged
means that one knob controls two inputs at the same time, which is necessary if you have stereo
audio. That way each channel can be kept separate, and one knob will control both channels. If
you're building a mono mixer, you should just use single-ganged pots. 

The specific parts I got from Parts Express are as follows: 

-- 1.1K Ohm 1/2W Flameproof Resistors 10pcs.  Part #: 002-1.1K  Price: $0.75

-- 10K Audio Taper Stereo Potentiometer 1/4" Shaft.  Part #: 023-646  Price: $2.40 x 4

-- RCA Chassis Jack.  Part #: 090-280  Price: $0.73 x 10

 -- Project
Passive Audio Mixer Box Volume
W/ Channel 5-1/4" Control
X 3-1/4"   Part #: 320-430
by nighthawk454  Price: $4.25

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Total Cost:  ~$22

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Step 3: Drill the Enclosure

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(https://content instructables com/ORIG/F2C/L69W/HFSHEGBA/F

Here we need to drill all of the holes in the enclosure. I put all of my audio jacks on the back, and
the 4 pots on the front. 

1. Measure your components

2. Calculate where to drill the holes

3. Mark your enclosure with a pencil

4. Start drilling pilot holes, gradually increase the hole to full size

5. Test fit with your components 

I drilled all the input/output jacks first, and repeated the exact same process for the pots. 

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Step 4: Begin Assembly

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Start putting the components in their place and wiring them all together. 

1. Put output resistors on pots

2. Put jacks in enclosure

3. Put pots in enclosure

 ThisW/
Passive Audio Mixer is Channel
the majority
Volumeof the assembly.
Control After
by nighthawk454 this, we have to do all
(/member/nighthawk454/) the
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wiring. 

I recommend wrapping the resistor leads around the pot terminal, this makes a strong physical
connection.
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Step 5: Wire It Up

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The wiring consists of a few simple steps that are repeated a lot. 

You end up with a lot of wires, so be organized!

Note that you can and should test along the way.

If you make solid physical connections, you don't even have to solder to test. 

1. Wire input jacks to pots. 

2. Wire the output resistors together.

3. Wire final resistor output to output jack 

4. Wire ground connections of pots and jacks together

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Step 6: Final Product

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Done!  We now have a functional 4 channel to 1 channel stereo mixer. Have fun twisting the
knobs!

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3 People Made This Project!

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36 Comments

(/member/spunker/) spunker (/member/spunker/) Question

3 years ago
Answer / Upvote
Danke für die Anleitung ich habe meinen eigenen Mixer gebaut diesen Sommer. Nur als 6 Kanal Mixer.
Ist leider nur ein bisschen Fehlerhaft. Die Kanäle beeinflussen sich leider gegenseitig von der
Lautstärke. Liegt wohl daran das ich 6 Eingänge habe. Vielleicht hast du oder jemand anders hier
einen Tipp für mich wie man das beheben kann. Habe mich an deinen Schaltplan gehalten nur halt 2
Eingangs Kanäle mehr.

Das Geheuse ist übrigens ein alter Deutscher Telekom DSL Router

English translation:

Thanks for the manual I built my own mixer this summer. Only as 6 channel mixer. Unfortunately it's
just a bit faulty. The channels influence each other from the volume. Probably because I have 6 inputs.
Maybe you or someone else have a tip for me on how to fix this. I stuck to your circuit diagram only 2
input channels more.

The Geheuse is by the way an old German Telekom DSL Router

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auto=webp&fit=bounds&frame=1&height=1024&width=1024) auto=webp&fit=bounds&frame=1&height=1024&width=1024)
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(/member/gm280/) gm280 (/member/gm280/) 5 years ago Reply / Upvote

I see this is a very simple solution for mixing multiple inputs. However, if you have no isolation between
the individual inputs, then anything you adjust in one circuit effects all the circuits. So if you have a
tone control and adjust that in one input, all the other inputs will change as well. A better, but equally
more expensive, way to mix inputs for one output, is to use op amps for each circuit. Then one input
does not effect any other. I learned that the hard way decades ago. JMHO!
2
replies
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(/member/meekeee/) meekeee (/member/meekeee/) 5 years ago Reply / Upvote

Thanks!!!!!!!
Is it correct that the underlying hypothesis for this analog "sum" unit is that almost no input current
should be drawn from the output device - i.e. very high load ?
Is it correct that the output is then the arithmetic mean not the sum of the input voltages (i.e.
(V1+V2+...V4)/4) ?
Additional thought: say I want mix the audio signals from a (iPhone) microphone with a line-in source:
how do I protect the microphone itself from experiencing an input current caused by the other input? A
diode? How do I chose the diode and where do I place it in the circuit?

(/member/MaceN2/) MaceN2 (/member/MaceN2/) 5 years ago Reply / Upvote

Does this work with 3.5mm jacks? They use the same ground fpr right and left channel, is this a
problem or will it work?

(/member/AndreaS76/) AndreaS76 (/member/AndreaS76/) 6 years ago

Reply / Upvote
Hi, many thanks for your project. It would be possible to invert the flow in it to have 1 input to multiple
output? Thanks again, Andrea

(/member/Djmadhatter86/) Djmadhatter86 (/member/Djmadhatter86/) 6 years ago

Reply / Upvote
ok so I'm going to do a 3 channel

I have 4 pot's I'd like to use one as a master volume for all 3 inputs
my question is do I put my resistors before the last potentiometer which will act as a mains volume for
all channels or do I put the resistors after the mains pot or both

(/member/JhomarA/) JhomarA (/member/JhomarA/) 6 years ago Reply / Upvote

 how to change the one RCA input into mic input thank you...need reply asap
Passive Audio Mixer W/ Channel Volume Control by nighthawk454 (/member/nighthawk454/) Follow

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(/member/SteamS/) SteamS (/member/SteamS/) 6 years ago

Reply / Upvote
What, if i didn't use potentiometers?
It works!
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(/member/jgibbs3718/) jgibbs3718 (/member/jgibbs3718/) 7 years ago

on Introduction

Reply / Upvote
Why use resistors instead of diodes? Wouldn't the resistors cause a volume drop?
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