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Read more →What is an input list?
An input list (sometimes called a channel list) is a table of every audio source on stage and the mixer channel it plugs into. Kick drum on channel 1, snare on channel 2, and so on down to the last playback track.
If the stage plot shows where everything is, the input list shows how it connects. Together they let a venue’s crew patch your whole stage before you load in, which means line check takes minutes instead of an hour.
The columns that matter
Keep it to what the engineer needs to patch and mic the stage:
- Channel: the mixer channel number.
- Source: what it is. “Kick in”, “Snare top”, “Lead vox”.
- Mic or DI: the mic model you want, or “DI” for line sources. Add “or similar” if you are flexible.
- Stand: short boom, tall boom, clip or none.
- Phantom power: mark anything that needs 48V, such as condenser mics and active DIs.
- Stage box or stage position: which stage box input it goes into, or which side of the stage it lives on.
- Notes: anything unusual. “Bring own mic”, “Stereo pair with ch 12”, “Insert compressor”.
An example input list
Here is a typical five-piece band:
| Ch | Source | Mic / DI | Stand | 48V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kick in | Beta 91A | none | yes |
| 2 | Kick out | Beta 52 | short | |
| 3 | Snare top | SM57 | clip | |
| 4 | Hi-hat | Condenser | short | yes |
| 5 | Rack tom | e604 | clip | |
| 6 | Floor tom | e604 | clip | |
| 7 | OH L | Condenser | tall | yes |
| 8 | OH R | Condenser | tall | yes |
| 9 | Bass DI | DI | none | |
| 10 | Gtr amp | SM57 | short | |
| 11 | Keys L | DI | none | |
| 12 | Keys R | DI | none | |
| 13 | Lead vox | SM58 | tall | |
| 14 | BV gtr | SM58 | tall | |
| 15 | BV keys | SM58 | tall | |
| 16 | Spare | |||
| 17 | Playback L | DI | none | |
| 18 | Playback R | DI | none |
Numbering tips
- Follow the convention: drums, bass, guitars, keys, vocals, playback. Most engineers expect this order and their mixer layouts are built around it.
- Keep stereo pairs together, odd then even. Keys L on 11 and Keys R on 12, not 12 and 13. Many mixers link channels in odd-even pairs.
- Leave spare channels. If you might add a guest vocal or acoustic guitar, leave a gap so you do not renumber everything.
- Match your stage plot. If the lead vocal mic is “Vox 1” on the plot, call it “Vox 1” on the input list too.
Outputs and monitor mixes
If you bring in-ears or need specific monitor mixes, add a short output list underneath: mix number, who it is for, wedge or in-ear, and mono or stereo. Number wedges on the stage plot to match.
Keep the plot and the list in sync
The most common input list problem is that it drifts out of date. The stage plot was updated for the new keys player but the input list still says acoustic guitar on channel 11.
Building both in one place helps. In H2R Gear you can:
- Draw your stage with the free drawing tools.
- Add your mixer, stage box, DIs and mics as gear, with their real inputs and outputs. Build any missing items with the gear builder.
- Connect each source to its stage box or mixer input with a cable.
- Open Patches (a paid feature) to see every connection as a list of cable, output and input, and copy it out as CSV into a spreadsheet for your rider.
Change a connection on the plan and the patch list changes with it.
Input list checklist
- One row per source, numbered in the order the engineer expects
- Mic or DI, stand and phantom power on every row
- Stereo pairs on odd-even channels
- Matching names on the stage plot
- Monitor mixes listed underneath
- Dated, so everyone knows it is the latest version
Send it with your stage plot as part of your technical rider.