VLZ3-

44. MODE (NORMAL (AFL)/LEVEL SET (PFL))

You may have already seen some of this in the SOLO

 

 

discussion, but in case you missed it: The 1642-VLZ3’s

1642

solo system comes in two flavors:

• NORMAL (AFL) (sometimes called SIP, or solo-

 

 

in-place)

 

• LEVEL SET (PFL) (sometimes called PFL, or

 

pre-fader-listen)

In NORMAL (AFL), the soloed channel’s signal is sent directly to the control room, headphones, and me- ters, just as it would sound to the channel’s assignment switches: post-EQ [32], post-FADER [25] and post-PAN

[31].The only difference is that SOLO works regardless of the channel’s assignment positions, and that makes it really handy — you can check out a channel before you assign it.

NORMAL (AFL) is the preferred mode during mix- down. For example, if the channel has some midrange boost at 4.2 kHz, is panned a smidgen to the left, and its fader is at –5 dB, that’s exactly what you’ll hear if you SOLO during NORMAL (AFL) mode. It’s just as if you took the time to MUTE all the other channels.

LEVEL SET (PFL) solo is the key player in the all-important Level-Setting Procedure. It’ll send the channel’s actual internal levels to the meters so you’ll know just what’s going on, level-wise. This procedure should be performed every time a new sound source is patched into a channel’s MIC [1] or LINE [2] input jacks.

LEVEL SET (PFL) is also the preferred mode for SR (sound reinforcement, or live sound), to preview channels before they are let into the mix. It won’t give you stereo placement, but will give you signal even if the fader is turned down.

Remember, LEVEL SET (PFL) taps the chan-

nel signal before the fader. If you have a chan- nel’s fader set way below “U” (unity gain),

SOLO won’t know that and will send a unity gain signal to the control room, headphones, and meters. That may result in a startling level boost at these outputs, depending on the position of the SOLO level knob.

45. LEVEL SET LED

To quote step 6 of the Level-Setting Procedure, “Push in the MODE [44] switch in the output section (LEVEL SET (PFL) mode) — the LEVEL SET LED will light.” When the solo MODE switch is engaged, it’s in LEVEL SET (PFL) mode, the mode you must be in to set levels. Now, when you engage any solo switch, this LED will be a “green light” to set levels. If you tried to set levels during NORMAL (AFL) mode, the meter display would be at the mercy of the channel fader, and that would be a big problem.

20 1642-VLZ3

46. SOLO (LEVEL)

This knob controls the level of the signals coming from the SOLO system. It’s range is off when fully down, unity at the center detent, with 10 dB additional gain turned fully up. After the SOLO level is determined, the SOLO signals will proceed to take over the control room, headphones, and meters.

Once again, LEVEL SET (PFL) SOLO taps the

channel signal before the fader. If you have a channel’s fader set way below “U” (unity

gain), LEVEL SET (PFL) SOLO won’t know that and will send a unity gain signal to the control room, head- phones, and meters. That may result in a startling level boost at these outputs, depending on the position of the SOLO level knob.

47. RUDE SOLO LIGHT

This flashing LED (light emitting diode) serves two purposes — to remind you that you’re in SOLO, and to let you know that you’re mixing on a Mackie. No other company is so concerned about your level of SOLO awareness. We even force the soloed channel’s –20 LED to play along, so you can find that rogue switch fast.

If you work on a mixer that has a SOLO function with no indicator lights, and you happen to forget you’re in SOLO, you can easily be tricked into thinking that something is wrong with your mixer. Hence the RUDE SOLO LIGHT. It’s especially handy at about 3:00 in the morn- ing, when no sound is coming out of your monitors, even though your multitrack is playing back like mad.

48. METERS

The 1642-VLZ3’s peak metering system is made up of two columns of twelve lobster-hypnotizing LEDs. Deceptively simple, considering the multitude of signals that can be monitored by it. If nothing is selected in the SOURCE [42] matrix, and no channels are in SOLO [27], the meter display will just sit there. To put them to work, you must make a selection in the SOURCE matrix (or engage a SOLO switch).

Why? You want the meter display to reflect what the engineer is listening to, and the engineer is listening either to the C-R OUTS [9] or the PHONES [10] output. The only difference is that while the listening levels are controlled by the CTL ROOM and PHONES [43] knobs, the meter display reads the SOURCE mix before the controls, giving you the real facts at all times, even if you’re not listening at all.

When the solo MODE [44] switch is set to LEVEL SET (PFL) (down), all soloed signals will be sent to the left meter only. That, combined with LEVEL SET LED [45], are along the path of­enlightenment known as the Level- Setting Procedure. During NORMAL (AFL) mode, the meters will behave normally.