Set the "Master Level" dial to zero. One loose cable or faulty wire can cause the mixer to create strange and unexpected sounds when you turn it on. If the mixer is at zero, these sounds aren't amplified and you can increase the volume slowly, from a silent base level. This is good practice for protecting your ears.
Gradually increase the "Gain" dial on each channel. This determines the channel output level relative to the other channels. If the volume unit's meter begins to flash red, reduce the gain. The vocal channel is typically required to be the loudest, but channel balancing is a matter of preference.
Set the equalization dials to the center. This provides a neutral starting point for tweaking. The equalizer dials control the strength of a certain frequency band in the sound. On basic models, such as the "Notebook" series of mixers, these dials are called "Treble" and "Bass." On more sophisticated mixers, such as GB2, there are dials for specific frequency bands, such as "Lo Mid."
Tweak the equalization dials to enhance the tonal qualities of the connected sound source. For example, if a voice sounds too tinny, reduce the "Treble" dial or dials governing the high frequencies. If a guitar sounds muddy or boomy, reduce the bass dial or the dials governing the low frequencies.
Adjust the "Pan" dial to set the stereo image. Pan determines the prominence of a channel in one speaker. Turned fully right, all of the signal will go to the right speaker. Turned fully left, all of the signal will go to the left speaker. If the dial is in the center, an equal amount of signal goes to both speakers and any settings in-between left and right send a proportionate amount of signal according to their proximity to either side.
Adjust the "Threshold" dial. A variety of Soundcraft mixer consoles, including the "Notepad," feature a threshold parameter control. The threshold parameter determines the maximum possible output level of the specified channel. No matter how loud the input signal, it cannot exceed the specified threshold volume. This application is particularly useful if the input source has a variable volume level, such as a microphone.