MIXER ANATOMY: CHAPTER 2

Inputs, Outputs, and Related Controls

Mackie E-Z Interfacing

Concerned about levels, balancing, impedance, polarity, or other interface goblins? Don’t be. On your Mackie mixer, you can connect almost anything almost anywhere, with nary a care. Here’s why:

•Every main input and output is balanced.

•Every 1/4" input and output jack also accepts unbalanced connections.

•Every input is designed to accept virtually any output impedance.

•The main left and right mix outputs can de- liver +28 dBu into a 600 ohm load (that’s hot!)

the mixer. So, while there’s a wide adjustment range for both mic and line inputs, the mic inputs have higher gain.

Don’t forget the Level-Setting Proce-

dure at the beginning of this book. Mic and line inputs are happiest when running at the optimum levels. That procedure will get

you there.

Check the Tips section and Glossary for more information about terms we’ll be using here like operating level, impedance, balanced, unbalanced, XLR, and TRS. Also study the mixer block diagrams, as each one is worth a thousand words or more.

•All the other outputs can deliver +22 dBu into a 600 ohm load (that’s plenty).

•All the outputs are in phase with the inputs.

All Mackie mixers have both microphone and line- level inputs. Some channels have both, some channels have only line-level inputs. Consult your mixer’s quick start guide (or just look at the connector panel) for the exact arrangement. Below is the rear panel of the 1604-VLZ PRO.

Mic? Line? – What’s The Difference?

Microphones produce a relatively low

voltage, generally in the range of 1 to 250 millivolts, depending on the sensitivity of

the mic, and how loud the sound is. Voltages in the

0.15to 3 volt range are considered to be line-level. These aren’t rules or standards, just ways of talking about two widely different operating voltage ranges, both of which are common in audio.

A microphone typically requires 20 to 60 dB of gain in order to bring its signal up to the mixer’s operating level. A line-level signal requires little if any gain, and may need to be brought down in level to match

Mic Inputs

Mackie mixers include phantom-powered, balanced XLR microphone inputs just like the big studio mega-consoles, and for exactly the same reason:

A fully balanced circuit is excellent at rejecting hum and noise, and phantom powering means that condenser mics can be used without external power supplies or batteries.

You can plug in almost any kind of mic that has a standard male XLR-type connector without fear of overloading the preamp. Professional ribbon, dy- namic, and condenser mics all sound great through these inputs.

XLR Input Connectors – Mic wiring

Nearly all professional mics are designed to connect to a low impedance input, and employ balanced wiring terminating in an XLR-style plug. You’ll find an illustration and wiring diagram in the Tips section, chapter 9. We use the wiring convention:

Pin 1 = shield

Pin 2 = positive (+ or hot)

Pin 3 = negative (- or cold)

120 VAC 50/60 Hz 20W

POWER

PHANTOM

1A/250V SLO-BLO

ON

ON

 

CAUTION:

 

 

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF

 

 

FIRE REPLACE WITH SAME

 

 

TYPE FUSE AND RATING

 

UTILISE UN FUSIBLE DE RECHANGE DE MÊME TYPE. DEBRANCHER AVANT DE REMPLACER LE FUSIBLE

INSERT

INSERT

INSERT

MAIN OUT

MAIN INSERT

TAPE

TAPE

C-R OUT

SUB OUT

 

 

AUX RETURN

 

 

 

AUX SEND

 

 

DIRECT OUT

 

 

BAL/UNBAL

(TIP SEND

INPUT

OUTPUT

BAL/UNBAL

BAL/UNBAL

 

 

BAL/UNBAL

 

 

 

BAL/UNBAL

 

 

BAL/UNBAL

 

 

L

RING RETURN)

 

 

L

3

1

4

3

2

1

5

3

1

7

5

3

1

L

 

 

 

L

 

 

L

 

 

L

L

L

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONO

 

 

 

 

 

(MONO)

(MONO)

(MONO)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

R

R

 

 

R

4

2

R

R

R

 

6

4

2

8

6

4

2

 

R

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OO

+6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSERT

INSERT

 

INSERT

INSERT

INSERT

 

INSERT

INSERT

INSERT

 

INSERT

INSERT

 

INSERT

INSERT

 

INSERT

LINE

16

LINE

15

LINE

14

LINE

13

LINE

12

LINE

11

LINE

10

LINE

9

LINE

8

LINE

7

LINE

6

LINE

5

LINE

4

LINE

3

LINE

2

LINE

1

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

BAL

 

BAL

 

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

UN-

 

UN-

 

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

UN-

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

BAL

 

BAL

 

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

BAL

 

MIC 16

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 15

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 14

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 13

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 12

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 11

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 10

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 9

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 8

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 7

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 6

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 5

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 4

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 3

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 2

R MIC

PRE

XD

MIC 1

R MIC

PRE

XD

XDRTM EXTENDED DYNAMIC RANGE MIC PREAMPLIFIERS ARE PROPRIETARY TO MACKIE DESIGNS, INC.

CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND MANUFACTURED BY MACKIE DESIGNS INC • WOODINVILLE • WA • USA • MADE IN USA • FABRIQUE AU USA • COPYRIGHT ©1998 • THE FOLLOWING ARE TRADEMARKS OR REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MACKIE DESIGN INC.: "MACKIE", "VLZ", "XDR", AND THE "RUNNING MAN" FIGURE • US PATENT NUMBER 29/049,129

 

 

Compact Mixer Reference Guide

17