If you don't have xlr outputs on your audio gear, always use a TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) quality cable and not a regular 1/4" phone cable when connecting your audio equipment if you equipment supports it. 
While it is true that you can use a regular 1/4" phone cable in a TRS jack, you will not get any benefit of low noise, low hum, etc. unless you use quality TRS cables.  
Like these:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BP5?adpos=1o3&creative=54989267161&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CLS34uzHocQCFWdo7AodikIAmg
 
I lived with hum for years before I learned this lesson.  Don't go cheap on your cables!
 
 
 

Yes Jim, learned the hard way.

It's only Wednesday but what the heck.
 
I keep a big roll of two conductor with braided ground mic cable and a large assortment of XLR male and female connectors and stereo and mono 1/4 jacks on hand to make cables as the need arises. I've recently needed a bunch of insert cables for recording off the mixer, several instrument cables including an extra long instrument cable and just today I needed a new balanced TRS cable.
 
I spent maybe $150 or so on a huge roll of mic cable and a ton of various jacks. That amount of money won't buy much in the way of pre-made cables retail. Add another $100 for a decent soldering station and you're set.
 
Believe me, this setup will pay for itself. Making your own cables will save you a boat load of money that you'd much rather spend on shiny new gear.  
 
 

Karyn
Your ears are the most important tool in your mixing arsenal, and they're the one bit of kit that you're forced to use and you can't change them.  So learn to trust them.

Well,..... mine are changing. {-(

soens

Karyn
Your ears are the most important tool in your mixing arsenal, and they're the one bit of kit that you're forced to use and you can't change them.  So learn to trust them.

Well,..... mine are changing. {-(

Same here... SPAN is my friend, I'm afraid to say...

pilutiful
Tip 1: don't automate volume. Instead automate a gain plugin. That way you can use the volume fader to lower/raise the overall volume whenever you want, without selecting the whole envelope first.

 
Why this never occurred to me is mind blowing, but you just saved me a boatload of annoyance.  Thanks!  
 
My tip to any newcomers reading this would be to create reverb buses where you can pass entire groups of instruments through one reverb.  Not only will this save you on CPU and buffering, but you can EQ the reverb too with a low roll off and high roll off, plus a dip where needed for the lead instrument so you aren't overcrowding.