Consider what you are going to be recording. If it’s vocals or specific instruments, use a directional microphone that will pick up sound from directly in front of it and not from the surrounding angles.
Use a microphone with an omnidirectional pattern if you are recording a group of people singing, an orchestra, or you want to pick up a wider range of sound.
Use a wireless microphone that can be clipped on if you’re recording a presenter or reporter speaking.
Place one or more microphones roughly 1 metre away from the signal source. This is called "distant microphone placement" and is ideal for ensembles. It can also be used to pick up a large portion of the sound of one instrument and allows some of the room’s acoustics to be mixed in, too.
Place the microphone between 2cm and 1 metre away from the source for "close microphone placement". This technique permits only the signal source to be picked up without any of the room’s acoustics or other instruments.
Place two microphones of the same model and brand opposite the signal source on either side. This is called "stereo miking" and can be positioned either close up or at a distance to the source. This technique creates a stereo sound. Another way of positioning mikes in this way is using the "middle and side" placement, where one mike is directly opposite the source while the other is positioned sideways.
Plug the microphones into the mixer’s XLR inputs.
Check to see that the device you are recording into is switched on and wired up to the mixer.
Get the performer to play the instrument and monitor the incoming sound levels to ensure he is not distorting or going above the "clipping point" (usually over into the yellow lights on an LED display).
Adjust the EQ levels if necessary. When you’re happy with the incoming level, hit record.