Thanks to the 1642-VLZ3’s wide dynamic range, you

49

can get a good mix with peaks flashing anywhere be-

tween –20 and +10 dB on the meter display. Most ampli-

 

51

fiers clip at about +10 dB, and some recorders aren’t so

forgiving either. For best real-world results, try to keep

 

49

your peaks between “0” and “+7.”

Please remember: Audio meter displays are just tools

 

 

to help assure you that your levels are “in the ballpark.”

 

You don’t have to stare at them (unless you want to).

50

AUX DISCUSSION

51

SENDS are outputs, RETURNS are inputs. The AUX

50

[35] knobs tap the signal off the channel and sends it to

the AUX SEND [6] outputs: AUX 1 and 2 are sent to the

 

AUX SENDS 1 and 2 [49] master knobs before the AUX

 

SEND outputs, and AUX 3 through 6 are sent directly.

These outputs are fed to the inputs of a reverb or other device. From there, the outputs of the external device are fed back to the mixer’s STEREO RETURN [7] inputs. Then these signals are sent through the STEREO RETURN [51] level controls, and finally delivered to the main mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, the original “dry” signals come from the channels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

to the main mix and the affected “wet” signals come

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

from the STEREO RETURNS to the main mix, and once

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mixed together, the dry and wet signals combine to cre-

 

 

 

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ate a glorious sound. Armed with this knowledge, let’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

visit the Auxiliary World:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49. AUX SENDS (MASTER)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These knobs provide overall level control of AUX

 

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENDS 1 and 2, just before they’re delivered to their

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUX SEND [6] outputs. This is perfect for controlling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the level of stage monitors, since you’ll be using AUX 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and 2 for this, with their PRE [36] switches engaged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUX SENDS 3 and 4 have no such control — they just

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

send their mixes directly to their AUX SEND outputs at

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meters vs. Reality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

unity gain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These knobs go from off (turned fully down), to unity

You may already be an expert at the world of “+4” (+4

gain at the center detent, with 10 dB of extra gain

dBu=1.23 V) and “–10” (–10 dBV=0.32 V) operating

 

 

(turned fully up). As with some other level controls, you

levels. Basically, what makes a mixer one or the other

may never need the additional gain, but if you ever do,

is the relative 0 dB VU (or 0 VU) chosen for the meter

you’ll be glad you bought a Mackie.

display. A “+4” mixer, with a +4 dBu signal pouring out

These are usually the knobs you turn up when the

the back will actually read 0 VU on its meter display.

 

A “–10” mixer, with a –10 dBV signal trickling out, will

lead singer glares at you, points at his stage monitor,

read, you guessed it, 0 VU on its meter display. So when

and sticks his thumb in the air. (It would follow suit

is 0 VU actually 0 dBu? Right now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

that if the singer stuck his thumb down, you’d turn the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

knobs down, but that never happens.)

At the risk of creating another standard, Mackie’s compact mixers address the need of both crowds by calling things as they are: 0 dBu (0.775 V) at the output shows as 0 VU on the meter display. What could be easier? By the way, the most wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

Manual Owner’s

Owner’s Manual

21