Mackie 1402-VLZPRO AUX TALK, AUX 1 SELECT, AUX 1 MASTER, AUX RETURNS, AUX, (or, ) and, RETURN, MAIN MIX, MAIN MIX, AUX SEND, SEND 1 (or 2) and AUX, ticular alliance between AUX

AUX TALK

First of all, there is no par-ticular alliance between AUXSEND 1 (or 2) and AUX

RETURN 1 (or 2). They’re just numbers. They’re like two complete strangers, both named Fred.

Here’s the whole idea behind sends and re- turns: sends are outputs, returns are inputs. AUX SENDs tap signals off the channels, via their AUX knobs , mix these signals, then send them out via the AUX SEND jacks .

These outputs are fed to the inputs of a reverb or other device. From there, the outputs of this external device are fed back to the mixer’s AUX RETURN jacks . Then these signals are sent through the AUX RETURN level controls, and finally delivered to the MAIN MIX.

So, the original “dry” signals go from the channels to the MAIN MIX and the affected “wet” signals go from the Aux Returns to the MAIN MIX, and once mixed together, the dry and wet signals combine to create a glorious sound. So, armed with this knowledge, let’s visit the Auxiliary World:

UU

OO +10		OO	+20	1
AUX 1 MASTER			U NORMALLED
PRE				2
POST				AUX
AUX 1	EFX TO
		OO	+20 RETURN
SELECT	MONITOR
C-R/SOURCE		LEFT	RIGHT
		0dB=0dBu
			28
MAIN MIX			10
			7
ALT 3–4			4
			2
			0
TAPE			2
			4
ASSIGN			7
			10	LEVEL
TO MAIN MIX
				SET
			20
NORMAL (AFL)			30
LEVEL SET (PFL)
SOLO
MODE		RUDE
		SOLO
PHANTOM POWER		LIGHT
CTL ROOM /SUBMIX		MAIN MIX
dB	dB
10	10

5	5
U	U
5	5
10	10
20	20
30	30
40	40
50	50
60	60
OO	OO

AUX 1 SELECT

Besides being used to work effects into your mix, Aux Sends serve another critical role — that of delivering cue mixes to stage monitors, so musicians can hear what they’re doing. On the 1402-VLZ PRO, AUX SEND 1 can play either role, depending on the position of this switch.

With the AUX 1 SELECT switch up (disen- gaged), AUX SEND 1 will tap a channel pre-FADER and pre-MUTE/ALT 3-4, meaning that no matter how you manipulate those controls as they feed the MAIN MIX, the AUX SEND will continue to belt out a constant signal level. This is the preferred method for setting up stage monitor feeds. EQ settings will affect all AUX SENDS.

With the switch down, AUX SEND 1 becomes an ordinary effects send — post-FADERand post-MUTE/ALT3-4. This is a must for effects sends, since you want the levels of your “wet” signals to follow the level of the “dry.”

AUX 1 MASTER

The AUX 1 MASTER provides overall level control of AUX SEND 1, just before it’s delivered to the AUX 1 OUTPUT. (AUX SEND 2 has no such control.) This knob goes from off (turned fully down), to Unity gain at the center detent, with 10dB of extra gain (turned fully up). As with some other level controls, you may never need the additional gain, but if you ever do, you’ll be glad you bought a Mackie.

This is usually the knob you turn up when the lead singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor, and sticks his thumb up in the air. (It would follow suit that if the singer stuck his thumb down, you’d turn the knob down, but that never happens.)

AUX RETURNS

These two controls set the overall level of effects received from STEREO AUX RETURN inputs 1 and 2 . These controls are designed to handle a wide range of signal levels, from off, to unity gain at the detent, with 20dB gain fully clockwise, to compensate for low-level effects.

Typically, these knobs can just live at the center detent, and the effects device’s output control should be set at whatever they call Unity gain (check their manual). If that turns out to be too loud or too quiet, adjust the effects device’s outputs, not the mixer. That way, the mixer’s knobs are easy to relocate at the center detent.

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