Introduction, HOW to USE this Manual | Mackie CR1604

INTRODUCTION

Thank you! There are a lot of makes and models of compact mixers out there, all com- peting for your bucks… but you have voted with your wallet for the folks in Woodinville who specialize in American-made mixers.

Now that you have your CR1604-VLZ, find out how to get the most from it. That’s where this manual comes in.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

Since many of you folks will want to hook up your CR1604-VLZ immediately, the first pages you will encounter after the table of contents are the ever popular hookup diagrams. These show typical mixer setups for Record/Mixdown, Video, Disc Jockey and Stereo PA. After this section is a detailed tour of the entire mixer.

Every feature of the CR1604-VLZ will be described “geographically;” in other words, in order of where it is physically placed on the mixer’s top or rear panel. These descriptions are divided into the first three manual chapters, just as your mixer is organized into three distinct zones:

1.PATCHBAY: The zillion jacks on the back of the “pod.”

2.CHANNEL STRIP: The sixteen channel strips on the left.

3.OUTPUT SECTION: The output section on

the right.

Whenever a specific CR1604-VLZ compo- nent is mentioned, it’ll be in all capital letters sans-serif type. That can help you find refer- ences to specific controls much faster, without slowing you down as you read normally. For ex- ample: The quick brown fader jumped over the

RUDE SOLO LIGHT.

120 VAC 50/60 Hz 20W	POWER	PHANTOM	MAIN OUT	MAIN INSERT	TAPE	TAPE	C-R OUTS	SUB OUTS			AUX RETURN				AUX SEND			DIRECT OUT
315mA/250V SLO-BLO			BAL/UNBAL		INPUT	OUTPUT	BAL/UNBAL	BAL/UNBAL			BAL/UNBAL				BAL/UNBAL			BAL/UNBAL
			L	L			L	3	1	4	3	2	1	5	3	1	7	5	3	1
				L			L			L	L	L
										L	L	L
			MONO	R			R	4	2					6	4	2	8	6	4	2
			R	R			R	4	2	R	R	R		6	4	2	8	6	4	2
	CAUTION:			R			R
			+6

INSERT

PATCHBAY

INSERT

LINE

LINE 14

LINE

LINE 9

LINE

LINE 4

LINE 3

LINE 2

LINE 1

MIC 16

MIC 15

MIC 14

MIC 13

MIC 12

MIC 11

MIC 10

MIC 9

MIC 8

MIC 7

MIC 6

MIC 5

MIC 4

MIC 3

MIC 2

MIC 1

TRIM

3 TRIM

4 TRIM

TRIM

6 TRIM

TRIM

9 TRIM

10 TRIM

TRIM 12

TRIM

15 TRIM

AIN

CR1604-VLZ

12V

0.5A

16-CHANNEL MIC/LINE MIXER

LAMP

AUX

TO AUX

SEND 1

+15

+10

+20

+15

EFFECTS TO

MONITORS

TO AUX

SEND 2

+15

+10

+20

+15

PRE

P E

PRE

AUX

S EREO AUX RETUR

SHIFT

CHANNELSHIFTSHIFTSHIFTSHIFTSHIFTSHIFT

SHIFTSTRIPSSHIFTSHIFTSHIFTSHIFT

SHIFT

SENDS

ASSIGN OPTIONS

5/6

SOLO

MAIN MIX

1–2

+15

OUTPUTSOLO

+20

TO S BS

3–

SOLO

+15

+20

C-R / PHNS

RE URNS

PHAN

PWR

ONLY

SECTION28

LEFT RIGHT

12k

0 dB=0 dBu

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

MAX

+20

MID

C-R / PHONES

TAPE IN

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

TAPE

TAPE TO

MAIN MIX

SUBS 1–2

LOW

MAX

LEVEL

80Hz

SUBS 3–4

SOLO

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

-15

+15

MAIN MIX

MODE

LOW CUT

SOURCE

NORMAL (AFL)

RUDE

75 Hz

SOLO

18dB/OCT

LEVEL SET (PFL)

LIGHT

PAN

ASSIGN TO MAIN MIX

LEFT

PHONES

MUTE

RIGHT

MAIN

L-R MIX

-20

SOLO

1–2

3–4

L - R

TRACK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Throughout these chapters you’ll find illus- trations, with each feature numbered. If you’re curious about a feature, simply locate it on the appropriate illustration, note the number at- tached to it, and find that number in the nearby paragraphs or refer to the table of contents.

You’ll also find cross-references to these num- bered features within a paragraph. For instance, if you see “To wire your own cables: ,” simply find that number in the manual and you’ve found your answer. (These are not page numbers.)

You’ll also notice feature numbers just float- ing in space, like this . These numbers direct you to relevant information. This icon marks infor-

mation that is critically

important or unique to the

CR1604-VLZ. For your own

good, read them and re- member them. They will be on the final test.

This icon will lead you to

in-depth explanations of fea-

tures and practical tips. While not mandatory, they’ll have some valuable information.

THE GLOSSARY: A HAVEN OF NON-TECHINESS FOR THE NEOPHYTE

Since the CR1604-VLZ is often purchased by folks who are new to the jargon of professional audio, we’ve included a fairly comprehensive dictionary of pro-audio terms. If terms like “clip- ping,” “noise floor,” or “unbalanced” leave you blank, flip to the glossary at the back of this manual for a quick explanation.

A PLUG FOR THE CONNECTORS SECTION

Also at the back of this manual is a section on connectors: XLR connectors, balanced con- nectors, unbalanced connectors, special hybrid connectors. Although we provide diagrams throughout the manual, the Connections appendix gives more of the whys and wherefores for beginners.

ARCANE MYSTERIES ILLUMINATED

Finally, we’ve included an appendix titled

“Balanced Lines, Phantom Powering, Ground- ing and Other Arcane Mysteries.” This section discusses some of the down ’n’ dirty practical realities of microphones, fixed installations, grounding, and balanced versus unbalanced lines. It’s a gold mine for the neophyte and even the seasoned pro might learn a thing or two.